2016. No. 4 (38)

Evgeny Z. Zinder - Chairman of the Board, NCO “Foundation for System Engineering, Standardization and Project Management Support” (FOSTAS Foundation)
Address: mailbox 563, Moscow, 107061, Russian Federation  
E-mail: ezinder@fostas.ru

      The nature of changes in the enterprise engineering paradigm and, in the first place, in the concepts of this complex discipline, is important for the selection of enterprise engineering (EE) areas development and forms of accumulation of knowledge in this area and their transfer to professionals, as well as for the stability and flexibility of application of EE in practice. Analysis of these changes is particularly important, due to the high turbulence of EE methods and technologies in the modern segment of technology development, productive and other relations, as well as due to the possibility of interpretation of private schemes and methods of EE as a new paradigm.
      To give a meaningful estimate of changes in the EE paradigm, there have been defined basic and additional EE concepts that at the end of the 20th century formed the classical EE paradigm. The results of comparative analysis of classical EE paradigm concepts and the tasks which are common to various enterprises until 2030 have been set forth. These results demonstrated that the classical EE paradigm retains its performance ability in this perspective. The paper points out the open character of the set of EE paradigm concepts and methods, whereby its composition naturally comprises the concepts formulated already in the 21st century, as well as alternative concepts. Meanwhile, the total “picture of the EE world” does not change to something incompatible with the former one, but at the same time it does not remain unchanged: we see a permanent expansion of the EE paradigm due to new methods of implementing the concepts, as well as new concepts applied in parallel and in combination with the classical ones.
      The conducted analysis has allowed us to pass on to the definition of substantively new concepts and emerging ones, to propose directions for further research, as well as to define the conditions under which the formation and application of a truly new EE paradigm can be justified.

[1] The present research paper has been executed within the framework of project RFBR 16-07-01062: “Development of methods and resources of enterprise engineering based on the smart technologies”.

Kirill A. Kniazev - Director, Netbell LLC; Doctoral Student, Department of Innovation and Business in Information Technologies, National Research University Higher School of Economics
Address: 20, Myasnitskaya Street, Moscow, 101000, Russian Federation
E-mail: kk@netbell.ru

Mikhail M. Komarov - Associate Professor, Department of Innovation and Business in Information Technologies, National Research University Higher School of Economics
Address: 20, Myasnitskaya Street, Moscow, 101000, Russian Federation
E-mail: mkomarov@hse.ru

      In modern society, skills of working with information play a significant role. The influence of information in our everyday lives is rapidly increasing, while methods of data processing remain the same.
      Research is being directed at problems of data processing and visualization of information, which become more popular with each year. This paper describes infological models, a new method of data visualization and information processing based on technologies of information presentation, as well as on principles of semantic networks, open data and data banks.
      The technology of infological models represents a new approach to data storage and exchange which enables us to look at information processing in a new way. Based on principles of open data, semantic networks and data banks, the concept seeks to  define the set of entities and relations, based on which an independent information block is displayed as a block diagram, which is easy to understand for an average user with a computer.
      This work provides a brief overview of the information overload problem, describes the technology of infological models, its general principles and contains an application of mentioned methods in e-commerce using the example of knowledge bases, news portals, on-line shops, smart house and Internet of Things, with description of features and advantages, ending with an overall conclusion.

Dmitry A. Aldunin - Doctoral student, Department of Innovation and Business in Information Technologies. National Research University Higher School of Economics
Address: 20, Myasnitskaya Street, Moscow, 101000, Russian Federation
E-mail: daldunin@hse.ru

      Nowadays, the e-learning market is rapidly growing both financially and geographically. More and more often, e-learning resources involve a multicultural audience and are becoming available to people with different educational backgrounds. However, there are cognitive specificity and different approaches to the learning process in different cultures. This paper is devoted to illustrating a possible solution for adaptation of content of an e-learning resource to a multicultural audience. The solution described applies the adaptive content concept based on individual educational trajectories and preparing content according to the individual cultural characteristics of learner and his or her competencies, both obtained and desired.
      During the research, the learner-centric model of learning processes was developed. In the article, both high-level and detailed models are presented. Principles of planning the individual learning trajectory based on the learner’s obtained and desired competencies, and statistical data about his or her learning style are also described. As an example of the possibility to apply historical data on how learning style affects successful passing through the learning course, the statistical analysis is provided. The analysis relies on person-course de-identified dataset from seven courses on HarvardX and MITx platforms provided during the 2013/14 academic year. This analysis demonstrated the statistical significance of several parameters. A comparison of algorithms for estimating the probability of successfully passing the course depending on the learning style, is also presented.

Andrei I. Kolomiets - Student, Faculty of Computer Science, National Research University Higher School of Economics
Address: 20, Myasnitskaya Street, Moscow, 101000, Russian Federation
E-mail: aikolomiets@edu.hse.ru

Olga V. Maksimenkova - Senior Lecturer, School of Software Engineering, Junior Researcher, International Laboratory for Intelligent Systems and Structural Analysis, National Research University Higher School of Economics
Address: 20, Myasnitskaya Street, Moscow, 101000, Russian Federation
E-mail: omaksimenkova@hse.ru

Alexey A. Neznanov - Associate Professor, School of Data Analysis and Artificial Intelligence, Senior Researcher, International Laboratory for Intelligent Systems and Structural Analysis, National Research University Higher School of Economics
Address: 20, Myasnitskaya Street, Moscow, 101000, Russian Federation
E-mail: aneznanov@hse.ru

      Nowadays peer assessment is recognized as a crucial part of a wide range of active learning routines. Nevertheless, practitioners and educators speak of the complexity and high resource consumption for the implementation of this type of assessment. Undoubtedly, convenient software that supports peer assessment processes may substantially raise productivity of its participants.
      A review of educational literature and free software shows there are several bottlenecks in the business processes of peer assessment and key user roles. First, most of the programs examined are web-based and expand a set of tools for teachers and learners by extra interfaces. Moreover, this logically creates a new branch in the learning business process. Second, there is probably no peer assessment system which allows users to attach something other than the text to be reviewed. There is a gap in the market of free peer assessment software. This paper offers a peer assessment system specification that attempts to eliminate these disadvantages in order to improve user experience and thus increase the use of information technologies in peer assessment. The specification is based on a thorough description of the peer assessment process involving complex artifacts and double-blinded peer review. Software called PASCA (peer assessment system for complex artifacts) is introduced to illustrate the specification achieved. PASCA uses habitual e-mail services and does not affect other business processes. It supports standard features like blinding and randomization, and it provides a set of original features. They contain evaluation of arbitrary artifacts, creation of complex peer review forms with their validation and scoring, and easy analysis of data from peer assessment sessions. 

[1] The article was prepared within the framework of the Basic Research Program at the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE) and supported within the framework of a subsidy by the Russian Academic Excellence Project “5-100”.

Arkadiy I. Maron - Associate Professor, Department of Business Analytics, National Research University Higher School of Economics
Address: 20, Myasnitskaya Street, Moscow, 101000, Russian Federation
E-mail: amaron@hse.ru

      The Jaynes’ information principle (formalism) advanced for the solution of problems of statistical thermodynamics is applied to the solution of a task of assessing the fairness of a contractor who carries out restoration work on a technical system by the method of replacing elements.
      The task is the following. The customer possesses a fleet of similar technical devices (for example, cars) certain elements of which are subject to planned replacement. According to the contract, such replacements are carried out by a contractor. Spare elements of three types can be used: new original, new non-original and restored elements. The contract specifies what percentage of spare elements of each type may be used. It is difficult for the customer to check what type of element has been applied. However, for an element of each type it is possible to calculate the average time before the next replacement will be required. The actual average time between requirements for replacement is fixed by the customer.
      Based on these data and with the help of Jaynes’ information principle, it is possible to find the most objective probabilities of using elements of the various types. Having compared these probabilities with restrictions specified in the contract, the customer draws a conclusion about the fairness of the contractor and, if necessary, takes appropriate action. According to Jaynes’ principle, the most objective are probabilities for which entropy according to Shannon reaches a maximum under the set of restrictions. Respectively, the problem of finding their probabilities is simplified to a problem of finding the maximum nonlinear function under the set of restrictions. In this article, the task is formulated mathematically and solved for a case of three variables using the Lagrange method. Calculations for a real situation from the author’s practice are given. 

Yu.V. Minaeva - Senior Lecturer, Department of Computer Aided Design Systems and Information Systems, Voronezh State Technical University
Address: 14, Moscow Avenue, Voronezh, 394026, Russian Federation
E-mail: julia_min@mail.ru

      Evolutionary search methods are successfully used for deferent modeling and optimization tasks due to their universality and the relative simplicity of realization in practice. However, a significant problem of using them is related with premature convergence of the computational algorithm due to incomplete exploration of the search space. This happens when all particles come into space of the first found, perhaps local optimum and cannot get out of it. To solve the problem, it is necessary to develop control procedures correcting movements of the individuals in the population. 
      This paper proposes a particle swarm optimization adaptive modification, permitting dynamic changes to the particles’ trajectory to find more promising locations. The method is based on the opportunity to change the displacement vector individually for each particle depending on previous iteration effectiveness. For this purpose, procedures of direction choice and dynamic change of particle movement free parameters are added in the proposed modification. As opposed to the canonic swarm algorithm version, where all individuals converge on one particle with the best value found, in the new modification each particle chooses its displacement direction independently and can change it if the direction will be identified as ineffective. This approach makes it possible to reduce the probability of premature convergence of the algorithm and to explore given search space better, all of which is especially important for the multimodal function with complex landscape. The proposed method was tested on the standard set of test functions for continuous optimization, and it showed high reliability with relatively small use of time and computer resources. 

Natalia F. Altukhova - Associate Professor, Head of Department of Business Informatics, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation
Address: 38, Scherbakovskaya Street, Moscow, 105187, Russian Federation  
E-mail: nfaltuhova@fa.ru

Elena V. Vasileva - Professor, Department of Business Informatics. Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation
Address: 38, Scherbakovskaya Street, Moscow, 105187, Russian Federation  
E-mail: evvasileva@fa.ru

Boris B. Slavin - Scientific Advisor, Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Information Technology, Professor, Department of Business Informatics, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation
Address: 38, Scherbakovskaya Street, Moscow, 105187, Russian Federation  
E-mail: bbslavin@fa.ru

      This article presents the results of research into the possibility of adapting flexible methods of project management to the organization of activities of public servants of the Russian Federation and recommendations on combined approaches. The objectives of this research: to identify special aspects of project management in the public service and to evaluate the possibilities for adapting flexible methods of project management to the organization of activities of Russian public servants.
      The activities of the public service are becoming increasingly innovative and intelligent and, as a consequence, less predictable. These days the public authorities are not only customers in relation to third organizations, but they themselves act as the direct executors of projects in the  elaboration of development programs and legislative initiatives in the framework of executing orders of the President, Government and the higher state authorities. In these circumstances, management principles of the PMBOK and similar standards, which are strictly formalized and require clear planning of processes, no longer work. When the problems are large-scale, technologies are known, and the resources are defined, classical design techniques work flawlessly. But when any innovative goals are set, there may be high risk of exceeding budget funds and time; therefore in this case it is necessary to consider the feasibility of applying Agile-like technologies.
      Possibilities for the combination of tough methods (in terms of responsibility and formalization) and flexible methods (in terms of goal-setting and continuity) of project management in the civil service were investigated using analysis of business processes and based on the results of a survey of the public servants participating in the implementation of certain tasks with respect to execution of public functions. It is noted that in contrast to the business-oriented organizations the government authorities are characterized by a significantly reduced motivation to informal leadership and undeveloped self-organization and self-management. This fact imposes restrictions on the processes of implementing approaches of flexible project management in the activities of public servants, but it does not mean it is impossible to formulate and use them. Based on the results of the study we carried out, we determined principles of flexible project management in the civil service, the knowledge of which can be useful both for the public servants and businesses working with government agencies.

[1] This article was prepared based on the results of research carried with the support of government funds by the State Order of the University of Finance for the year of 2016 “Analysis of the best international practices of information support to realization of public functions. Development of proposals on improvement of information support to activities of civil public servants”, state registration number AAAA-A16-116070610054-7

Dmitry V. Isaev - Associate Professor, Department of Business Analytics, National Research University Higher School of Economics
Address: 20, Myasnitskaya Street, Moscow, 101000, Russian Federation
E-mail: disaev@hse.ru

      This paper focuses on the questions of combining management accounting and an expert approach for decision making in the sphere of economics and management. The background of such a combination is that within both approaches there are a decision making goal, a set of alternatives and criteria for their assessment, as well as the possibility of multivariate evaluation of the alternatives for different possible situations.
      The basic decision making processes provide similar data processing. Their scope relies on classification of assessment criteria into three types: quantitative criteria, for which source information for management accounting is available, quantitative criteria with lack of source information for management accounting, and qualitative criteria, for which management accounting methods are not applicable. Relying on such classification, four basic processes are defined: pure management accounting, management accounting supplemented by estimates according to predefined rules, management accounting supplemented by expert estimates, and the pure expert approach.
      Relying on different basic processes, fifteen working processes (including the generalized working process including all four basic processes) are defined. Conclusions are made regarding the practical applicability of different working processes, depending on the scope of decision making criteria.
      Approval of the combined approach is performed with the help of an example of investment appraisal relating to a manufacturing company’s development, using three classic management accounting criteria (payback period, net present value, internal rate of return), and three criteria of a qualitative nature.