Determinants of Effective Problem-Solving

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oran R. Young
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Significant Variation ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone Layer ◽  
Causal Connections ◽  
Governance Systems

Adopting a problem-solving perspective on governance leads to a focus on the determinants of success or failure in efforts to solve specific problems like the thinning of the stratospheric ozone layer or the onset of climate change. In this regard, it is helpful to begin by distinguishing among outputs, outcomes, and impacts. Outputs are the administrative apparatus and compliance mechanisms created to move governance systems from paper to practice. Outcomes are the behavioral changes brought about by the operation of governance systems. Impacts are the effects of such systems on the alleviation of the problems that motivate their creation. While it is easier to establish causal connections in analyzing the outputs of governance systems, interest in the operation of governance systems arises ultimately from the effectiveness of such systems in solving problems. Qualitative and quantitative research on international regimes has led to the conclusion that these arrangements do make a difference with regard to problem solving. But this is a realm of complex causality in which numerous other factors play a role, and there is significant variation in the effectiveness of governance systems both across regimes and across time with regard to specific regimes.

The influence of transport model resolution on the inverse modelling of synthetic greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ioannis Katharopoulos ◽  
Dominique Rust ◽  
Martin Vollmer ◽  
Dominik Brunner ◽  
Stefan Reimann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Inverse Modelling ◽  
Model Resolution ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone Layer

<p>Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of the modern era. Halocarbons contribute already about 14% to current anthropogenic radiative forcing, and their future impact may become significantly larger due to their long atmospheric lifetimes and continued and increasing usage. In addition to their influence on climate change, chlorine and bromine-containing halocarbons are the main drivers of the destruction of the stratospheric ozone layer. Therefore, observing their atmospheric abundance and quantifying their sources is critical for predicting the related future impact on climate change and on the recovery of the stratospheric ozone layer.</p><p>Regional scale atmospheric inverse modelling can provide observation-based estimates of greenhouse gas emissions at a country scale and, hence, makes valuable information available to policy makers when reviewing emission mitigation strategies and confirming the countries' pledges for emission reduction. Considering that inverse modelling relies on accurate atmospheric transport modelling any advances to the latter are of key importance. The main objective of this work is to characterize and improve the Lagrangian particle dispersion model (LPDM) FLEXPART-COSMO at kilometer-scale resolution and to provide estimates of Swiss halocarbon emissions by integrating newly available halocarbon observations from the Swiss Plateau at the Beromünster tall tower. The transport model is offline coupled with the regional numerical weather prediction model (NWP) COSMO. Previous inverse modelling results for Swiss greenhouse gases are based on a model resolution of 7 km x 7 km. Here, we utilize higher resolution (1 km x 1 km) operational COSMO analysis fields to drive FLEXPART and compare these to the previous results.</p><p>The higher resolution simulations exhibit increased three-dimensional dispersion, leading to a general underestimation of observed tracer concentration at the receptor location and when compared to the coarse model results. The concentration discrepancies due to dispersion between the two model versions cannot be explained by the parameters utilized in FLEPXART’s turbulence parameterization, (Obhukov length, surface momentum and heat fluxes, atmospheric boundary layer heights, and horizontal and vertical wind speeds), since a direct comparison of these parameters between the different model versions showed no significant differences. The latter suggests that the dispersion differences may originate from a duplication of turbulent transport, on the one hand, covered by the high resolution grid of the Eulerian model and, on the other hand, diagnosed by FLEXPART's turbulence scheme. In an attempt to reconcile FLEXPART-COSMO’s turbulence scheme at high resolution, we introduced additional scaling parameters based on analysis of simulated mole fraction deviations depending on stability regime. In addition, we used FLEXPART-COSMO source sensitivities in a Bayesian inversion to obtain optimized emission estimates. Inversions for both the high and low resolution models were carried out in order to quantify the impact of model resolution on posterior emissions and estimate about the uncertainties of these emissions.  </p>

The Governance of International Spaces and Earth Systems

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oran R. Young
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Social Solidarity ◽  
Ordinary Sense ◽  
Regime Formation ◽  
Earth Systems ◽  
Governance Systems ◽  
Collective Action Problems ◽  
National Jurisdiction ◽  
Over Time

The absence of a government in the ordinary sense coupled with a low level of social solidarity poses serious obstacles for solving a variety of collective action problems in international society. Nowhere is this more apparent than in dealing with needs for governance relating to international spaces and Earth systems. Nevertheless, some efforts to develop regimes to deal with these needs do succeed. Drawing on examples relating to biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, maritime commerce, climate change, and the depletion of stratospheric ozone, this chapter examines processes of regime formation and implementation, interactions among issue-specific regimes, and the evolution of regimes over time to identify conditions that determine success and failure in the development of governance systems for international spaces and Earth systems.

Introduction: The Age of Complexity

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oran R. Young
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Earth System ◽  
New Era ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Governance Systems ◽  
The Social ◽  
Anthropogenic Drivers

The Earth is moving into a new era, frequently referred to as the Anthropocene, in which anthropogenic drivers have become major determinants of the trajectory of the Earth system. Compared to the Holocene, a relatively benign era from the perspective of human well-being, the Anthropocene is emerging as a more turbulent era featuring processes of change that are often nonlinear, frequently abrupt, typically surprising, and generally challenging from a human perspective. Our basic understanding of governance, derived from the effort to solve largescale environmental problems like the depletion of stratospheric ozone remains relevant in this setting. But now we must supplement this understanding with new perspectives on meeting needs for governance that will augment the social capital available to those responsible for creating and implementing governance systems that will prove effective in addressing problems like climate change and the loss of biological diversity.

A Tale of Two Cultures

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Goertz ◽  
James Mahoney
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Quantitative Research Methods ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
The Social ◽  
Scientific Worldview ◽  
Different Cultures

Some in the social sciences argue that the same logic applies to both qualitative and quantitative research methods. This book demonstrates that these two paradigms constitute different cultures, each internally coherent yet marked by contrasting norms, practices, and toolkits. The book identifies and discusses major differences between these two traditions that touch nearly every aspect of social science research, including design, goals, causal effects and models, concepts and measurement, data analysis, and case selection. Although focused on the differences between qualitative and quantitative research, the book also seeks to promote toleration, exchange, and learning by enabling scholars to think beyond their own culture and see an alternative scientific worldview. The book is written in an easily accessible style and features a host of real-world examples to illustrate methodological points.

scholarly journals Leveraging human factors in cybersecurity: an integrated methodological approach

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Pollini ◽  
Tiziana C. Callari ◽  
Alessandra Tedeschi ◽  
Daniele Ruscio ◽  
Luca Save ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Cyber Security ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Quantitative Research Methods ◽  
Security Culture ◽  
Technological Factors ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Technical Solutions

AbstractComputer and Information Security (CIS) is usually approached adopting a technology-centric viewpoint, where the human components of sociotechnical systems are generally considered as their weakest part, with little consideration for the end users’ cognitive characteristics, needs and motivations. This paper presents a holistic/Human Factors (HF) approach, where the individual, organisational and technological factors are investigated in pilot healthcare organisations to show how HF vulnerabilities may impact on cybersecurity risks. An overview of current challenges in relation to cybersecurity is first provided, followed by the presentation of an integrated top–down and bottom–up methodology using qualitative and quantitative research methods to assess the level of maturity of the pilot organisations with respect to their capability to face and tackle cyber threats and attacks. This approach adopts a user-centred perspective, involving both the organisations’ management and employees, The results show that a better cyber-security culture does not always correspond with more rule compliant behaviour. In addition, conflicts among cybersecurity rules and procedures may trigger human vulnerabilities. In conclusion, the integration of traditional technical solutions with guidelines to enhance CIS systems by leveraging HF in cybersecurity may lead to the adoption of non-technical countermeasures (such as user awareness) for a comprehensive and holistic way to manage cyber security in organisations.

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