vol. 14 núm. 24 (2018)

Introduction: The article derives from the research project “Mathematical model for the creation of efficient work teams” funded by the Center for Research and Scientific Development, Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas and conducted as part of the activities of the Business Management and Technological Innovation Group (geit) at the same university, between 2016 and 2017. Aim: To determine and know the characteristics of work teams and identify the variables affecting their efficiency. Methods: Research papers published from 2010 onwards were reviewed (the references include some exceptions). Specialized databases such as Scopus, Science Direct and Redalyc, among others, were used. Results: 57 papers were found among articles, dissertations and other documents that met the research guidelines. We also identified great advantages in using work teams in organizations. Conclusion: The variables found are a way of measuring teamwork. The implications of this finding can be used in a mathematical model or a series of indicators that allow to appreciate team-level results, given that the literature advocates teamwork but its quantification falls short. This contribution promotes the quantification of the benefits of work teams. Limitations: The most general characteristics are considered and hence the influential variables, which is why it is a starting point but not a universal formula to measure the efficiency of all work teams.  

Introduction: The literature review article derives from the research “Implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems in organizations since coevolution” conducted in 2016 and 2017 at the School of Industrial Engineering, Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas. Problem: According to various research papers, ERP implementations have failed and generate business losses. Aim: To design a study proposal for the successful implementation of ERP in organizations. Methods: We started from a review of the literature related to ERP implementation of in organizations and identified that 70 % of companies did not obtain the expected results. It is argued that erp adoption can be understood as a coevolutionary process based on the interaction among employees through formal and informal affiliation networks. Results: It is proposed that individuals who have the greatest potential to influence others are identified in order to initiate an information dissemination process that flows from the most influential nodes to those with which they interact. Conclusion: The understanding of change as a coevolution process in formal and informal networks provides an opportunity to discuss and rethink the way in which companies are organized.  

Introduction: This is a case study article derived from the research “Virtual platform as an e-government mechanism between young population and local administration of Mosquera, Cundinamarca” conducted at Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas in 2017. Methods: A mixed method with a qualitative component was developed through semi-structured interviews with actors involved in youth, technology and public administration issues. Results: Three factors stood out in the analysis: benefit-cost, cultural resistance and state procurement conditions, regarding the existence of political will and bureaucratic requirements for its implementation, associated with benefit-cost. In addition, accessibility, security, design, usability, investment and human management factors were rated as highly important with 90% average favorability in the surveys. Conclusion: Accessibility, security, design, usability, investment and human management factors are synergistic and important to the successful implementation of virtual platforms. The benefit-cost ratio, culture, political will and bureaucratic requirements are other factors that must be considered when developing technologies with government institutions. Originality: It reinforces the bases for the implementation of e-government strategies in local administrations with highly reliable statistical support. Limitations: The implementation of e-government tools is subject to the provisions contained in national laws that have not yet been updated to adopt technological systems in their processes.

Introduction: The article derives from the research “Design of a system for the control and automation of temperature, soil moisture, and relative humidity to optimize greenhouse crop yields at Corhuila” conducted at Corporación Universitaria del Huila between 2016 and 2017. Aim: To improve growth rates of greenhouse crops. Methods: The study was based on a comparison of growth and number of fruits between greenhouse and outdoor tomato crops; said items were monitored weekly by direct observation of the two groups of crops. Results: Development during the first five weeks was similar; as of the seventh week, the greenhouse crop had 38% more branches, equal number of fruits and was 28% higher; on week 13, the differences increased to 64% in the number of branches, 65% in the number of fruits and 55% in height. Conclusion: It was proved that the implementation of this technological solution can promote an increase in the growth and production rate reached by plants. Originality: Development of an electronic system for the agricultural sector in an intermediate region of Colombia to improve the efficiency of crops. Limitations: The lack of Internet access made it impossible to implement a web-based control system.

Introduction: The article derives from the research “Alarm monitoring system based on unmanned aerial vehicles” conducted at Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia in 2016. It shows the construction phases of an electronic alarm monitoring platform prototype using cloud computing, supported by surveillance drones. Aim: To improve response times in the surveillance of rural properties upon a warning signal of possible theft by quickly collecting external evidence captured in photos and videos. Methods: We identified how the monitoring service is provided in Colombia and then five modules were designed and implemented: intrusion, reception, management, monitoring and surveillance. Results: Once an intrusion variable was altered and detected by the sensors, the alarm system transmitted the warning signal through ip/gprs communication to the signal receiver in the cloud, which translates the message and directs it to the management software responsible for sending the flight plan and geographic coordinates required for onsite drone surveillance. Conclusion: Response times on drone surveillance could be calculated with favorable results for the monitoring service, and the management software was developed. Originality: We obtained a platform with innovative elements associated with the integration of drones and cloud computing. Limitations: Colombian regulations on drones restrict unmanned flights. 

Introduction: This article derives from the research “Cloud business intelligence and analytics model for smes in the retail sector in Peru” conducted in 2016 at the School of Engineering, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC) in Lima, Peru. Problem: The research papers reviewed determine that Peruvian retail smes have a considerable need for information for decision making in inventory planning and management. Aim: To design a technological model that allows to implement a business intelligence and analytics solution using cloud computing services. Methods: We started from a literature review on the benefits of migration to and implementation of cloud business intelligence and analytics in North American, European and Asian SMES. Based on this, a technological model aimed at Peruvian retail smes was proposed and each of its components described. Results: The model was validated both through its implementation in a Peruvian retail SME in which financial indicators were assessed and through surveys of technology experts. Conclusion: The model allows smes to integrate and process their data in order to obtain relevant and timely information for inventory optimization. Originality: The literature on this type of implementation in Peruvian retail smes aimed at improving decision making is scarce. Limitations: The proposed model is only applicable to retail smes that use transactional systems to record their operations.

Introduction: The article derives from the research “Software design for carbon and water footprint calculation in coffee production” conducted at the Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Neiva, in the period 2016-2017. Aim: To design software for calculating carbon and water footprints in coffee production. Methods: The research process is both qualitative and quantitative, acknowledging opinions, contexts and experiences of coffee farmers in the municipalities of Acevedo, San Agustín, San José de Isnos and Pitalito. Results: The design of a web application to calculate carbon footprints and water footprints in coffee growing, integrating technologies under a free software license that show performance efficiency and effectiveness. Conclusion: The xp methodology ensures flexible development in software design, which will allow carbon and water footprint calculation adaptable to changes and requirements in a short time and at a low cost. Originality: So far there is no evidence in the literature of a design for carbon and water footprint calculation in coffee production in southern Huila. Limitations: This project used a methodology that may be applied to various crops; however, footprint calculations are specific to these areas given the environmental variables

Introduction: The research “Improving the control methods for winding structure at friction drive machines” was conducted at Azerbaijan State Economic University in 2017.  Methods: To assess the efficiency of the proposed technique for processing signals, a model of a WA device, which allowsthe unwinding of the package, was designed and manufactured.  Results: The authors developed a methodology and a corresponding device to quantitatively assess the parameters of the winding structure by the light-section method.  Conclusions: The dimensions adopted while designing the device make it possible to exclude the influence of the non-roundness of the bobbin on the measurement results.  Originality:  The equipment advancement and quality control improvement are the most urgent issues in textile industry. The quality requirements for package is constantly growing, while this research contribute to maintain it at a corresponding level, which ensures further development of textile industry as a whole.  Limitations: The research results can be practically implemented in new winding motion design for spinning frames with cross-winding bobbin.

Introduction: The article derives from the research “Implementation of a mobile application to facilitate self-control of hypertension in Panama” conducted in 2016 and 2017 at the Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, in the province of Chiriquí. Aim:  To develop a mobile application that allows the self-control and self-management of hypertensive patient data in Panama through mobile and biometric devices. Methods: A mobile application that allows patient self-control of hypertension using his mobile device was designed. The information generated by the device was captured from a sphygmomanometer and stored locally and remotely. This information was linked to the AmIHealth platform. Results: Use and acceptance of the proposal by users was assessed through the analysis of data based on the downloads from the Google’s Firebase Suite. Conclusions: This solution provides a tool that facilitates patient self-control of hypertension and data management by health specialists, thus helping decision-making. Originality: Panama does not have a basic patient data management system like the one developed. Limitations: This study considered only applications or solutions in the Panamanian environment because most existing applications are proprietary and not manageable by health institutions in each country.

Introduction: The article is the result of the investigation “Technical and economic comparative study of the system of horizontal perforation “ramming” and the conventional system, case study”, developed in the Universidad Católica de Colombia during the year 2016. Objective: Perform a technical and economic comparison with reference to a construction site located in the municipality of Tocancipá, which identify amounts of work, costs, construction processes, environmental impact, equipment, and construction workers, of the systems referred to in construction sites of underground networks. Methodology: It consisted of a collection of bibliographic information on the theme, acquisition and analysis of field data, and present conclusions clear and ordered fulfilling with the main purpose of the project. Results: The information of field data were obtained to make the economic comparison of direct and indirect costs, also failed to make a parallelism in the technical aspects of both technologies of intervention and finally they determined the execution times. Conclusion: Managed to find the direct and indirect costs where there is evidence that for direct costs open pit system is more economical than the excavation system, and for the indirect costs it happened otherwise. The project is a contribution of originality and interest in civil engineering since it has managed to do a complete study on a work with two techniques of intersection of pipes and an important input for developing future research has delivered. The limitation is the scarce information about the use and published research of new technologies of construction of crossings of pipelines in Colombia. 

Introduction: This article shows the result of the research “Prototype for the graphic management of active network devices in multivendor environments by means of a single management platform” conducted by the Orión research group at the School of Technology, Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas in 2013. The work itself has been analyzed and updated with the results of the latest research on the subject until 2017. It covers network monitoring and management, which are essential operations to maintain and control it environments that are increasingly complex and heterogeneous. Methods: Construction of the software prototype called DeviceView is described, which allows network administrators to graphically manage active network devices (switch type) in a LAN. Results: The network administrator does not have to handle each manufacturer’s management tool. In order to facilitate and centralize the task for the network administrator, DeviceView is integrated into the open source nms Nagios. Conclusion: DeviceView is a very useful unified tool for network administrators working in a multivendor environment, such as those that organizations have at present. Originality: Until now, there have been no unified management projects based on open source tools in a multivendor environment. Limitations: DeviceView in its first version includes 36 object identifiers, but it can be extended to support other switch brands and families. 

Introduction: The article derives from the research “Use of augmented reality in the teaching-learning of natural science” conducted in 2016 and the first half of 2017 at the School of Computer Systems Engineering, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá. Problem: Currently, Panama does not offer technological solutions in the educational field that support the process of teaching-learning about natural areas and their conservation. Aim: To contribute to improving the process of teaching-learning natural science and the conservation of the environment through mobile devices and augmented reality. Methods: Research-action was used, for which the work to be done was planned, the application was developed, students using the application were then observed, and the results were presented according to the observations and a rubric applied to students. Results: An application with augmented reality was developed to support the process of teaching-learning natural science and, in this case, the teaching and conservation of natural areas. Conclusion: We have managed to create animations that allow students to take in the information of natural areas and thus strengthen their learning through interactive contents. Originality: So far, the implementation of this type of applications in rural schools had not been addressed from this perspective. The project has enabled the academic community to have a valuable application to teach about the conservation of natural areas. Limitations: The project only covers the learning and conservation of natural areas.