Information systems researchers have often turned to a variant of the Delphi surveytechnique to support their research of key issues in their field. n o particular weaknesses of past studies using this approach have been a lack of a definitive method for conducting the research and a lack of statistical support for the conclusions drawn by the researchers. In this paper, the author presents a method, based on nonparametric statistical techniques, to conduct ranking-type Delphi surveys, perform analysis, and report results. The author takes this one step further by illustrating an actual analysis of a Delphi survey. The analysis is compared to results that were presented without the benefit of the author's approach. This paper shows that use of the advocated approach can streamline and strengthen studies, improve the validity of results. and thus better serve the consumers of the research findings. Since the ranking-type Delphi is so popular among information systems researchers, a consistent method is needed to apply to their data collection, analysis, and reporting of results. This paper provides such a method in concise form and illustrates the use of the method in a manner affording comparison between it and previous practice. S h j e c t Areas: Group Decision Making, Nonparametric Staiistics, Research Design, andStrategic P h n i n g .

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BackgroundStem cells from adipose tissue offer a novel therapy for patients with damaged tissue. Stromal vascular fraction (SVF) injected into patients may reduce inflammation, promote healing, and repair damaged/scarred tissue. SVF can be isolated from fat (adipose) tissue in an outpatient procedure. The SVF population includes mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), pericytes, endothelial/progenitor cells, fibroblasts and growth factors where the adipocyte (fat cell) population has been removed. Here we describe the use of SVF in the clinic for degenerative diseases in orthopedics, neurological conditions and systemic conditions in 676 patients.MethodsThis study demonstrated the strong safety profile from a multi-center analysis of SVF injection in treating various diseases. Approximately 60 mL of fat tissue was removed from the abdomen or flanks using a local tumescent liposuction procedure. The fat was separated via centrifuge to isolate the SVF and the cells were delivered intraarticularly, intravenously, intrathecally, or intradiscally directly into the same patient. All subjects were monitored for adverse events.ResultsThe procedure demonstrates exceptional patient safety, and the study underscores the safety of autologous stem cell therapy in general. Few adverse events were reported and were overwhelmingly of mild and transient nature, such as the expected soreness at the site of liposuction and occasional headache.ConclusionThe three deaths reported were most likely not related to the treatment but instead to the underlying disease. Our study demonstrates a strong safety profile with low complication rates.

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Internet‐based projects are those that are managed through the Internet. By using the Internet as the channel of communication, project managers can pull together teams that are dispersed geographically and temporally. New software and new services are reaching the market to support Internet‐based project management. It is anticipated that improved communications and better workflow management software will reduce threats to the successful completion of projects. Nonetheless, the new approaches and software introduce new complexity and possibly new risks to Internet‐based projects. This chapter is an introduction to project risk and the management of project risk in Internet‐based software projects. Potential risks arising from Internet‐based project management, as opposed to traditional project management, are discussed. Then approaches to the management of risk are compared. An integrated approach to risk assessment and management is advocated.

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