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Air Force Institute of Technology

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Articles 1 - 30 of 61

Full-Text Articles in Databases and Information Systems

Feasibility Evaluation Of Secure Offline Large Language Models With Retrieval-Augmented Generation For Cpu-Only Inference, Erick Tyndall, Torrey J. Wagner, Colleen Gayheart, Alexandre Some, Brent T. Langhals Aug 2025

Feasibility Evaluation Of Secure Offline Large Language Models With Retrieval-Augmented Generation For Cpu-Only Inference, Erick Tyndall, Torrey J. Wagner, Colleen Gayheart, Alexandre Some, Brent T. Langhals

Faculty Publications

Recent advances in large language models and retrieval-augmented generation, a method that enhances language models by integrating retrieved external documents, have created opportunities to deploy AI in secure, offline environments. This study explores the feasibility of using locally hosted, open-weight large language models with integrated retrieval-augmented generation capabilities on CPU-only hardware for tasks such as question answering and summarization. The evaluation reflects typical constraints in environments like government offices, where internet access and GPU acceleration may be restricted. Four models were tested using LocalGPT, a privacy-focused retrieval-augmented generation framework, on two consumer-grade systems: a laptop and a workstation. A technical …

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Modeling & Engineering Of Usmepcom Business Intelligence Data, Merrick A. Bedford Mar 2024

Modeling & Engineering Of Usmepcom Business Intelligence Data, Merrick A. Bedford

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the USMEPCOM’s issue of modeling and engineering Business Intelligence data centralized around the MEPS of Excellence (MOE) program. MEPS around the US conduct military personnel in-processing and in doing so have a vested interest in the standardization and application of the data associated with such processes. There are currently 65 MEPS stations and one RPS that handle military personnel onboarding paperwork and make determinations for military eligibility. This topic is important due to the MEPS cloud data processing system modernization efforts requiring data processing adaptation to ensure relevant and meaningful usage of current data.

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Pattern-Of-Life Modeling With Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (Ads-B), Sarah J. Bolton Sep 2023

Pattern-Of-Life Modeling With Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (Ads-B), Sarah J. Bolton

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation and research were sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory Layered Sensing Exploitation Branch (AFRL/RYA) to investigate the utility of using the data found within aircraft secondary radar to make predictions about aircraft characteristics and intent. The research focuses on making predictions on aircraft characteristics using only the kinetic data within one type of secondary radar, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), as a surrogate for primary radar. The results from this research provide a means to reduce the reliance on a type of aircraft tracking that is vulnerable to cyber attack and other integrity concerns.

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Analysis And Optimization Of Contract Data Schema, Franklin Sun Mar 2023

Analysis And Optimization Of Contract Data Schema, Franklin Sun

Theses and Dissertations

agement, development, and growth of U.S Air Force assets demand extensive organizational communication and structuring. These interactions yield substantial amounts of contracting and administrative information. Over 4 million such contracts as a means towards obtaining valuable insights on Department of Defense resource usage. This set of contracting data is largely not optimized for backend service in an analytics environment. To this end, the following research evaluates the efficiency and performance of various data structuring methods. Evaluated designs include a baseline unstructured schema, a Data Mart schema, and a snowflake schema. Overall design success metrics include ease of use by end …

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Bayesian Convolutional Neural Network With Prediction Smoothing And Adversarial Class Thresholds, Noah M. Miller Mar 2022

Bayesian Convolutional Neural Network With Prediction Smoothing And Adversarial Class Thresholds, Noah M. Miller

Theses and Dissertations

Using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for image classification for each frame in a video is a very common technique. Unfortunately, CNNs are very brittle and have a tendency to be over confident in their predictions. This can lead to what we will refer to as “flickering,” which is when the predictions between frames jump back and forth between classes. In this paper, new methods are proposed to combat these shortcomings. This paper utilizes a Bayesian CNN which allows for a distribution of outputs on each data point instead of just a point estimate. These distributions are then smoothed over multiple …

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A Methodology To Identify Alternative Suitable Nosql Data Models Via Observation Of Relational Database Interactions, Paul M. Beach Sep 2020

A Methodology To Identify Alternative Suitable Nosql Data Models Via Observation Of Relational Database Interactions, Paul M. Beach

Theses and Dissertations

The effectiveness and performance of data-intensive applications are influenced by the suitability of the data models upon which they are built. The relational data model has been the de facto data model underlying most database systems since the 1970’s. However, the recent emergence of NoSQL data models have provided users with alternative ways of storing and manipulating data. Previous research has demonstrated the potential value in applying NoSQL data models in non-distributed environments. However, knowing when to apply these data models has generally required inputs from system subject matter experts to make this determination. This research, sponsored by the Air …

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Relational Database Design And Multi-Objective Database Queries For Position Navigation And Timing Data, Sean A. Mochocki Mar 2020

Relational Database Design And Multi-Objective Database Queries For Position Navigation And Timing Data, Sean A. Mochocki

Theses and Dissertations

Performing flight tests is a natural part of researching cutting edge sensors and filters for sensor integration. Unfortunately, tests are expensive, and typically take many months of planning. A sensible goal would be to make previously collected data readily available to researchers for future development. The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) has hundreds of data logs potentially available to aid in facilitating further research in the area of navigation. A database would provide a common location where older and newer data sets are available. Such a database must be able to store the sensor data, metadata about the sensors, …

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Testing The Fault Tolerance Of A Wide Area Backup Protection System Using Spin, Kenneth James Mar 2019

Testing The Fault Tolerance Of A Wide Area Backup Protection System Using Spin, Kenneth James

Theses and Dissertations

Cyber-physical systems are increasingly prevalent in daily life. Smart grids in particular are becoming more interconnected and autonomously operated. Despite the advantages, new challenges arise in the form of defending these assets. Recent studies reveal that small-scale, coordinated cyber-attacks on only a few substations across the U.S. could result in cascading failures affecting the entire nation. In support of defending critical infrastructure, this thesis tests the fault tolerance of a backup protection system. Each transmission line in the system incorporates autonomous agents which monitor the status of the line and make decisions regarding the safety of the grid. Various malfunctions …

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Evaluating Machine Learning Techniques For Smart Home Device Classification, Angelito E. Aragon Jr. Mar 2019

Evaluating Machine Learning Techniques For Smart Home Device Classification, Angelito E. Aragon Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Smart devices in the Internet of Things (IoT) have transformed the management of personal and industrial spaces. Leveraging inexpensive computing, smart devices enable remote sensing and automated control over a diverse range of processes. Even as IoT devices provide numerous benefits, it is vital that their emerging security implications are studied. IoT device design typically focuses on cost efficiency and time to market, leading to limited built-in encryption, questionable supply chains, and poor data security. In a 2017 report, the United States Government Accountability Office recommended that the Department of Defense investigate the risks IoT devices pose to operations security, …

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Imitating Human Responses Via A Dual-Process Model Approach, Matthew A. Grimm Mar 2019

Imitating Human Responses Via A Dual-Process Model Approach, Matthew A. Grimm

Theses and Dissertations

Human-autonomous system teaming is becoming more prevalent in the Air Force and in society. Often, the concept of a shared mental model is discussed as a means to enhance collaborative work arrangements between a human and an autonomous system. The idea being that when the models are aligned, the team is more productive due to an increase in trust, predictability, and apparent understanding. This research presents the Dual-Process Model using multivariate normal probability density functions (DPM-MN), which is a cognitive architecture algorithm based on the psychological dual-process theory. The dual-process theory proposes a bipartite decision-making process in people. It labels …

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Evaluating Annual Fixed Wing Maintenance Costs, Kirsten Bunecke, Edward D. White, Jonathan D. Ritschel, Brett A. Bush Oct 2018

Evaluating Annual Fixed Wing Maintenance Costs, Kirsten Bunecke, Edward D. White, Jonathan D. Ritschel, Brett A. Bush

Faculty Publications

This article serves two purposes: first, to empirically model the annual percentage increase of operations and support (O&S) costs for fixed wing aircraft; and second, to place into the archival realm another reference for other researchers to consider when investigating other O&S topics. For this study of 21 different airframes grouped together at the Mission- Design Series (MDS), maintenance subcategories 3.1 Consumable Materials and Repair Parts, 3.2 Depot Level Repairables (DLR), and 3.4 Depot Maintenance accounted for an average 91.5% of annual organic maintenance costs. For contractor-maintained MDS, subcategory 3.7, Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) accounted for 96.6% of annual maintenance …

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A Methodology For Evaluating Relational And Nosql Databases For Small-Scale Storage And Retrieval, Ryan D. Engle Sep 2018

A Methodology For Evaluating Relational And Nosql Databases For Small-Scale Storage And Retrieval, Ryan D. Engle

Theses and Dissertations

Modern systems record large quantities of electronic data capturing time-ordered events, system state information, and behavior. Subsequent analysis enables historic and current system status reporting, supports fault investigations, and may provide insight for emerging system trends. Unfortunately, the management of log data requires ever more efficient and complex storage tools to access, manipulate, and retrieve these records. Truly effective solutions also require a well-planned architecture supporting the needs of multiple stakeholders. Historically, database requirements were well-served by relational data models, however modern, non-relational databases, i.e. NoSQL, solutions, initially intended for “big data” distributed system may also provide value for smaller-scale …

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Evaluation Criteria For Selecting Nosql Databases In A Single Box Environment, Ryan D. Engle, Brent T. Langhals, Michael R. Grimaila, Douglas D. Hodson Aug 2018

Evaluation Criteria For Selecting Nosql Databases In A Single Box Environment, Ryan D. Engle, Brent T. Langhals, Michael R. Grimaila, Douglas D. Hodson

Faculty Publications

In recent years, NoSQL database systems have become increasingly popular, especially for big data, commercial applications. These systems were designed to overcome the scaling and flexibility limitations plaguing traditional relational database management systems (RDBMSs). Given NoSQL database systems have been typically implemented in large-scale distributed environments serving large numbers of simultaneous users across potentially thousands of geographically separated devices, little consideration has been given to evaluating their value within single-box environments. It is postulated some of the inherent traits of each NoSQL database type may be useful, perhaps even preferable, regardless of scale. Thus, this paper proposes criteria conceived to …

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The Application Of Text Mining And Data Visualization Techniques To Textual Corpus Exploration, Jeffrey R. Smith Jr. Mar 2018

The Application Of Text Mining And Data Visualization Techniques To Textual Corpus Exploration, Jeffrey R. Smith Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Unstructured data in the digital universe is growing rapidly and shows no evidence of slowing anytime soon. With the acceleration of growth in digital data being generated and stored on the World Wide Web, the prospect of information overload is much more prevalent now than it has been in the past. As a preemptive analytic measure, organizations across many industries have begun implementing text mining techniques to analyze such large sources of unstructured data. Utilizing various text mining techniques such as n -gram analysis, document and term frequency analysis, correlation analysis, and topic modeling methodologies, this research seeks to develop …

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Situational Awareness/Triage Tool For Use In A Chemical, Biological, Radiological Nuclear Explosive (Cbrne) Environment, John N. Scarlett, Heather L. Gallup, David A. Smith Dec 2013

Situational Awareness/Triage Tool For Use In A Chemical, Biological, Radiological Nuclear Explosive (Cbrne) Environment, John N. Scarlett, Heather L. Gallup, David A. Smith

AFIT Patents

A method of managing patient care and emergency response following a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, or Nuclear Explosive (CBRNE) attack and maintaining compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The method including identifying each patient with a unique patient identifier, the identifier based upon the geospatial location of the patient, the geospatial location including at least the latitude and longitude of the patient when first treated, the unique patient identifier being part of patient data. Providing a collection point of patient data to form a patient data database where in the patient location data may be used to …

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War Fighting In Cyberspace: Evolving Force Presentation And Command And Control, M. Bodine Birdwell, Robert F. Mills Apr 2011

War Fighting In Cyberspace: Evolving Force Presentation And Command And Control, M. Bodine Birdwell, Robert F. Mills

Faculty Publications

The Department of Defense (DOD) is endeavoring to define war fighting in the global cyberspace domain. Creation of US Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM), a subunified functional combatant command (FCC) under US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), is a huge step in integrating and coordinating the defense, protection, and operation of DOD networks; however, this step does not mean that USCYBERCOM will perform or manage all cyberspace functions. In fact the vast majority of cyberspace functions conducted by the services and combatant commands (COCOM), although vital for maintaining access to the domain in support of their operations, are not of an active war-fighting nature. …

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Multi-Objective Constraint Satisfaction For Mobile Robot Area Defense, Kenneth W. Mayo Mar 2010

Multi-Objective Constraint Satisfaction For Mobile Robot Area Defense, Kenneth W. Mayo

Theses and Dissertations

In developing multi-robot cooperative systems, there are often competing objectives that need to be met. For example in automating area defense systems, multiple robots must work together to explore the entire area, and maintain consistent communications to alert the other agents and ensure trust in the system. This research presents an algorithm that tasks robots to meet the two specific goals of exploration and communication maintenance in an uncoordinated environment reducing the need for a user to pre-balance the objectives. This multi-objective problem is defined as a constraint satisfaction problem solved using the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II). Both …

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Mitigating Insider Sabotage And Espionage: A Review Of The United States Air Force's Current Posture, Erika C. Leach Mar 2009

Mitigating Insider Sabotage And Espionage: A Review Of The United States Air Force's Current Posture, Erika C. Leach

Theses and Dissertations

The security threat from malicious insiders affects all organizations. Mitigating this problem is quite difficult due to the fact that (1) there is no definitive profile for malicious insiders, (2) organizations have placed trust in these individuals, and (3) insiders have a vast knowledge of their organization’s personnel, security policies, and information systems. The purpose of this research is to analyze to what extent the United States Air Force (USAF) security policies address the insider threat problem. The policies are reviewed in terms of how well they align with best practices published by the Carnegie Mellon University Computer Emergency Readiness …

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Cyber Power In The 21st Century, Joseph M. Elbaum Dec 2008

Cyber Power In The 21st Century, Joseph M. Elbaum

Theses and Dissertations

Historically, the United States Congress has acknowledged that a separate branch of military service is required to exert supremacy over each of the recognized Domains of Operation. Throughout the evolution of modern warfare, leading minds in military theory have come to the conclusion that due to fundamental differences inherent in the theory and tactics that must be employed in order to successfully wage war within a domain’s associated environment, a specialized force was needed - until now. With the recent inclusion of Cyberspace as an operational domain by the Department of Defense, the case should be made that it, too, …

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Identification Of Command And Control Information Requirements For The Cyberspace Domain, Brian D. Aschenbrenner Mar 2008

Identification Of Command And Control Information Requirements For The Cyberspace Domain, Brian D. Aschenbrenner

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to develop an information requirements analysis method that would provide the Director of Cyberspace Forces with the information required to support effective command and control of cyberspace. This research investigates the role of information in command and control, information in the traditional war fighting domains, cyberspace as a war fighting domain, and various methods of determining information requirements of organizations. This research produced an information requirements analysis method that is suitable for identifying the command and control information requirements of the Director of Cyberspace Forces.

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Methods And System For Equalizing Data, Jaiganesh Balakrishnan, Richard K. Martin, C. Richard Johnson Jr. Dec 2007

Methods And System For Equalizing Data, Jaiganesh Balakrishnan, Richard K. Martin, C. Richard Johnson Jr.

AFIT Patents

A method for equalizing data and systems utilizing the method. The method of this invention for equalizing (by shortening the channel response) data includes minimizing a function of the data and a number of equalizer characteristic parameters, where the function utilizes auto-correlation data corresponding to equalized data. Updated equalizer characteristic parameters are then obtained from the minimization and an initial set of equalizer characteristic parameters. Finally, the received data is processed utilizing the equalizer defined by the minimization. The method of this invention can be implemented in an equalizer and the equalizer of this invention may be included in a …

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Methods And System For Equalizing Data In Multicarrier Receiver Systems, Richard K. Martin, Jaiganesh Balakrishnan, Wonzoo Chung, C. Richard Johnson Jun 2007

Methods And System For Equalizing Data In Multicarrier Receiver Systems, Richard K. Martin, Jaiganesh Balakrishnan, Wonzoo Chung, C. Richard Johnson

AFIT Patents

A method for equalizing data and systems utilizing the method. The method of this invention for equalizing (by shortening the channel response) data includes minimizing a function of the data and a number of equalizer characteristic parameters, where the function utilizes cyclic differences of equalized data. Updated equalizer characteristic parameters are then obtained from the minimization and an initial set of equalizer characteristic parameters. Finally, the received data is processed utilizing the equalizer defined by the minimization. The method of this invention can be implemented in an equalizer and the equalizer of this invention may be included in a system …

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Using Concept Maps To More Efficiently Create Intelligence Information Models, Christopher E. Coryell Mar 2007

Using Concept Maps To More Efficiently Create Intelligence Information Models, Christopher E. Coryell

Theses and Dissertations

Information models are a critical tool that enables intelligence customers to quickly and accurately comprehend U.S. intelligence agency products. The Knowledge Pre-positioning System (KPS) is the standard repository for information models at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC). The current approach used by NASIC to build a KPS information model is laborious and costly. Intelligence analysts design an information model using a manual, butcher-paper-based process. The output of their work is then entered into KPS by either a single NASIC KPS "database modeler" or a contractor (at a cost of roughly $100K to the organization). This thesis proposes …

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Multi-Dimensional Range Querying Using A Modification Of The Skip Graph, Gregory J. Brault Mar 2007

Multi-Dimensional Range Querying Using A Modification Of The Skip Graph, Gregory J. Brault

Theses and Dissertations

Skip graphs are an application layer-based distributed routing data structure that can be used in a sensor network to facilitate user queries of data collected by the sensor nodes. This research investigates the impact of a proposed modification to the skip graph proposed by Aspnes and Shah. Nodes contained in a standard skip graph are sorted by their key value into successively smaller groups based on random membership vectors computed locally at each node. The proposed modification inverts the node key and membership vector roles, where group membership is computed deterministically and node keys are computed randomly. Both skip graph …

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Towards The Development Of A Defensive Cyber Damage And Mission Impact Methodology, Larry W. Fortson Jr. Mar 2007

Towards The Development Of A Defensive Cyber Damage And Mission Impact Methodology, Larry W. Fortson Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to establish a conceptual methodological framework that will facilitate effective cyber damage and mission impact assessment and reporting following a cyber-based information incidents. Joint and service guidance requires mission impact reporting, but current efforts to implement such reporting have proven ineffective. This research seeks to understand the impediments existing in the current implementation and to propose an improved methodology. The research employed a hybrid historical analysis and case study methodology for data collection through extensive literature review, examination of existing case study research and interviews with Air Force members and civilian personnel employed as …

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Bda Enhancement Methodology Using Situational Parameter Adjustments, Michael V. Carras Jr. Mar 2006

Bda Enhancement Methodology Using Situational Parameter Adjustments, Michael V. Carras Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

In the context of close ground combat, the perception of Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) is closely linked with a soldier’s engagement decisions and has significant effects on the battlefield. Perceived BDA is also one of the most complex and uncertain processes facing the soldier in live combat. As a result, the modeling and simulation community has yet to adequately model the perceived BDA process in combat models. This research effort examines the BDA process from a perception standpoint and proposes a methodology to collect the pertinent data and model this perception in the Army’s current force-on-force model, CASTFOREM. A subject …

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The United States Marine Corps Data Collaboration Requirements: Retrieving And Integrating Data From Multiple Databases, Pamela J. Cole Mar 2004

The United States Marine Corps Data Collaboration Requirements: Retrieving And Integrating Data From Multiple Databases, Pamela J. Cole

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this research is to develop an information sharing and database integration model and suggest a framework to fully satisfy the United States Marine Corps collaboration requirements as well as its information sharing and database integration needs. This research is exploratory; it focuses on only one initiative: the IT-21 initiative. The IT-21 initiative dictates The Technology for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, 2000-2035: Becoming a 21st Century Force. The IT-21 initiative states that Navy and Marine Corps information infrastructure will be based largely on commercial systems and services, and the Department of the Navy must ensure …

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An Exploratory Analysis Of Factors Affecting Participation In Air Force Knowledge Now Communities Of Practice, David C. Fitzgerald Mar 2004

An Exploratory Analysis Of Factors Affecting Participation In Air Force Knowledge Now Communities Of Practice, David C. Fitzgerald

Theses and Dissertations

As the AF continues to lose its knowledge base through retirements and downsizing, the need to get maximum use from the remaining knowledge base becomes increasingly important. In their efforts to help the Department of Defense and the Air Force Chief Information Officer (AFCIO) meet their knowledge management goals, Air Force Material Command (AFMC) has been working to implement the use of communities of practice. A primary goal of AFMC/DRW , the AF Knowledge Now program office, and the office of the AFCIO is to increase effectiveness and participation within communities of practice. The goal of this research is to …

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Exploring Content Management Issues In Air Force On-Line Communities Of Practice: A Multiple Case Study Approach, Jaime A. Rodriguez Mar 2004

Exploring Content Management Issues In Air Force On-Line Communities Of Practice: A Multiple Case Study Approach, Jaime A. Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

The practice of content management attempts regardless of platform to ensure that pertinent information is current, relevant, and presented in a usable manner. The Air Force Communities of Practice (CoPs) are hosted by AFMC/DRW, The purpose of these CoPs is to facilitate and promote an environment of capturing and sharing knowledge among members of a particular field task or common practice. As the host for these CoPs AFMC/DRW desires to increase CoP participation efficiency and effectiveness. Addressing existing or potential content management issues will help do so. This multiple-case study research observed and interviewed managers and members of eight active …

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An Exploration Of Cultural Factors Affecting Use Of Communities Of Practice, Peter L. Hinrichsen Mar 2004

An Exploration Of Cultural Factors Affecting Use Of Communities Of Practice, Peter L. Hinrichsen

Theses and Dissertations

On-line communities of practice are potentially powerful social learning networks that can improve organizational performance. Unfortunately, administrators of on-line communities of practice report that community members do not take full advantage of this potential. This study used Shaw and Tuggle's (2003) factors of knowledge management (KM) culture affecting organizational acceptance of a knowledge management initiative to explore this issue. It was hypothesized that respondents whose communities of practice possessed higher average community use per member would rate KM culture variables higher than respondents whose communities possessed a lower average community use. An analysis of survey data collected from Air Force …

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