Developing a risk-assesment methodology in the U.K.defence industry

As a leading defence equipment company, the Dynamics Divisionof British Aerospace Defence Company (BAeDef(DD)) has experiencedthe worst effects of post-Coldwar defence cuts, a global recession,and a determination by the U.K. Government to achieve greatervalue for money in defence procurement. The major tenet of thisnew approach to defence prwurement was 'eyes on, hands off',promoting a shift of the management of project risks from theMinistry of Defence (MOD) to industry. Initial industry reactionwas sceptical but bxame increasingly compliant as tenderingrequirements included visibility of contractors' risk assessment.This paper describes the risk-assessment methodology createdby BAeDef(DD) to meet these changed conditions. The human and organizational aspects of these developments onrisk have helped create a pro-active risk-management cultureat BAeDef(DD). Continuous assessment of project risks providesthe impetus for wider thinking beyond risk-taking or risk-aversionpreferences, leading to greater realism in planning. Decisionsto implement risk resolution measures require competence incost-benefit analysis. The conditions to foster this new behaviourare better-informed senior management, with the rejection ofbad news eliminated at all levels, and the laying of a pathto becoming a learning company.     

Heat-treatment studies of molybdenum oxide-monohydrate

The dehydration of molybdic acid, MoO₃---H₂O, was studied by thermal analysis, X-ray diffractometry and FTIR spectroscopy. The results show that an intermediate phase, MoO₃-2/3H₂O is formed at 216 °C and the monoclinic form of MoO₃ is grown above 350 °C. The mechanism of dehydration and structural rearrangement were confirmed by the features of the infrared spectra showing formation of corner-shared MoO₆ octahedra.     

Existence of black hole solutions for the Einstein-Yang/Mills equations

This paper provides a rigorous proof of the existence of an infinite number of black hole solutions to the Einstein-Yang/Mills equations with gauge groupSU(2), for any event horizon. It is also demonstrated that the ADM mass of each solutions is finite, and that the corresponding Einstein metric tends to the associated Schwarzschild metric at a rate 1/r ², asr tends to infinity.Research supported in part by the NSF, Contract No. DMS-89-05205Research supported in part by the DE, Contract No. De-FG 02-88 EF 25065     

Identification of nonlinear elliptic equations

An optimization theoretic approach and algorithm for the estimation of state-dependent coefficients in nonlinear elliptic equation is presented. It is based on a splitting method combined with convex analysis techniques. Convergence of the algorithm is established and numerical examples are included.The research of K. Kunisch was supported in part by a grant from the Bundesministerium für Wissenschaft und Forschung, Austria.