bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GSS Facilitation
Authors: Yoong Pak , Gallupe Brent
Published: May 2011

The objectives of this chapter are to describe the nature of reflective practice and the development of reflective practice in one human aspect of information technology application, namely, the facilitation of face-to face electronic meetings.
Extending Collaboration Support Systems
Authors: Rura-Polley Thekla , Baker Ellen
Published: May 2011

This chapter first examines the role of collaboration and collective learning in regional and industry-wide innovation and how remote innovation–that is, innovation organized through electronic collaboration–could be enhanced by comprehensive computer support tools that include sensemaking aids. We look at the importance of sensemaking in collaborations and report on a study in which we analyzed sensemaking processes among students collaborating remotely. We describe a web-based computer system called LiveNet, that incorporates sensemaking aids to facilitate remote innovation. It brings together members within one workspace, provides them with the ability to locate needed information quickly, and supports this process with an agent-based structure that can assist members to achieve their goals. In addition, LiveNet supports the development of a common language and facilitates knowledge sharing, processes deemed important in the innovation and collective learning literatures. In the final section, we describe how this system can be used in remote innovation.
Research Partnerships to Support Rural Communities in Malaysia with Information and Communication Technologies
Authors: Harris Roger
Published: May 2011

Governments and aid agencies now recognize the potential for sustainable economic development from the deployment of information and communication technologies (ICTs) among marginalized and poor populations. Yet such populations have little or no access to such technologies. Deriving sustainable development from the provision of such access requires more than mere technology. The emerging discipline of Community Informatics addresses community-based approaches to development with ICTs. New knowledge is required to understand how development activities can be merged with Community Informatics in a way that is capable of providing sustainable benefits to communities in developing countries. This chapter describes a university-based research initiative that builds on community partnerships that have been fostered in an action research project aimed at deriving tangible benefits for a remote rural community from the use of ICTs.
Towards Establishing the Best Ways to Teach and Learn about IT
Authors: Cope Chris , Staehr Lorraine , Horan Pat
Published: May 2011

In this chapter we report on an ongoing project to improve the ways we teach about IT in an undergraduate degree. Using a relational perspective on learning, we have developed a framework of factors to encourage students to adopt a deep approach to learning about IT. We describe the design, implementation, evaluation and refinement of learning contexts and learning activities based on the framework. Results are encouraging and show a significant positive effect when compared with a previous study by other researchers involving a different teaching and learning context.
Information Technology Model Curricula Analysis
Authors: Scime Anthony
Published: May 2011

Most information technology (IT) bachelor degree recipients get jobs after graduation, rather than attend graduate school (Freeman & Aspray, 1999). They enter the workforce because of the tremendous demand for the IT skilled professionals. This means students (and employers) are looking for a practical rather than a theoretical education to fill the computing careers. Such a practical education necessitates a variety of approaches to work in various computing careers. “The traditional career path of programmer to systems analyst to project manager and eventually to IS manager” no longer holds (Urquhart, Perez, Rhoden & Lamp, 1996). With many career paths there is a need for varying academic tracts to start students in their careers.
Adoption and Use of Computer Technology in Canadian Small Businesses
Authors: Duxbury Linda , Decady Yves , Tse Angel
Published: May 2011

This chapter examines the impact of company size on the adoption, use and perceived impact of computer technology in Canadian businesses. Such research is critical for several reasons. First, while there is a large body of research that examines the adoption, use and impact of computer technology, most studies either ignore workplace size or focus exclusively on medium and large workplaces. Second, most research on computer use in small business has grouped businesses of various sizes (that is under 99 employees, under 200 employees) into one category for study, with the assumption that all small businesses have similar computing applications needs and adoption practices (e.g., Malone, 1985; Nickell and Seado, 1986). Third, our previous research with small businesses would suggest that owners of Canadian small businesses are becoming more interested in computer technology (Duxbury and Higgins, 1999). Finally, research in this area is critical because of the increasing economic importance of this sector to the Canadian economy.
Web Initiatives & E-Commerce Strategy
Authors: Craig Ron
Published: May 2011

Two important forces are at work today in the Canadian and global economies. First is the traditional force of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Statistics Canada reports SMEs account for more than 60% of Canada’s private sector employment and 40% of gross domestic product. Second, Information Technology (IT) and the Internet continue to change the way businesses and individuals work, shop, and/or relax. In particular, the Internet and Electronic Commerce (EC) are heralded as a great opportunity for business, consumers, and governments. The impact on SMEs is somewhat uncertain and still emerging. Some argue the Internet levels the playing field, giving smaller firms greater opportunity to compete against larger firms. Others argue that, since SMEs generally have fewer resources available for IT or other initiatives, they could be left behind. In addition, because of their size, SMEs have minimal control or influence over such external forces.
Building the Professional Services E-Practice
Authors: Fink Dieter
Published: May 2011

Information Technology (IT) has played an important role in the professional services sector for many years. Professional firms such as accountants, lawyers and management consultants have used IT to increase internal efficiencies, and the expertise gained has enabled some of them to offer IT-related professional advice to their clients. Over time, IT has increased in sophistication and we have now entered the Internet or electronic age (e-age) where the letter ‘e’ precedes commerce, business, government, learning and so forth. The emergence of the World Wide Web (Web) on the Internet has created even greater scope for professional firms to manage their internal affairs more efficiently and effectively, and to improve client services. The purpose of this chapter is to provide small professional services practices with an understanding of how to enter the e-age by building an e-practice. It proceeds by mapping the progress that needs to be made in moving from a previous stage of organizational development to one that is suitable for the ‘virtual age.’ In the transition to the mature stage of development, they need to re-engineer their practices to offer online services and to maximize their intellectual capital through technology-enabled knowledge management.
How a Procedural Framework Would Assist SMEs in Developing Their E-Business Strategy
Authors: Stiller Anthony
Published: May 2011

While Small-to-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Australia have an excellent opportunity to take advantage of the growth of e-commerce in Australian and the Asia Pacific region by reducing the effects of Australia’s relative isolation to Asian and world markets, a large number of managers choose not to take advantage of the opportunity to reach both the local and global markets because they do not know how to go about developing a strategic e-business and marketing plan. While there is plenty of literature provided by government agencies, business interest groups and commercial Web development houses, there is no procedural framework available for SME managers to follow when designing their e-business plan and revenue model so they can remain in charge of the process and not be pushed into a particular template designed by a consultant to suit their hardware and software platform.
Management's Contribution to Internet Commerce Benefit - Experiences of Online Small Businesses
Authors: Poon Simpson S.
Published: May 2011

In this day and age, IT applications are no longer just about in-house business software applications or local area networks. Today’s IT issues are invariably linked to the Internet and Internet Commerce applications. Is there any difference between traditional IT applications and e-commerce? Can we apply what we have learned from earlier small business IT experiences to e-commerce? Does the largely external nature of e-commerce systems mean that management needs to play a different role than in the past? These and many other questions need to be properly addressed. The aim of this study was to explore the answers to some of these questions and bridge the knowledge gap between traditional small business IT systems (such as Accounting, Inventory Management, and so forth) and Internet Commerce systems. The results may help management to rethink how they can secure Internet Commerce benefit, and avoid activities that are non-effective.
Training for E-Commerce Success in SMEs
Authors: Duan Yanqing , Mullins Roisin , Hamblin David
Published: May 2011

Rapid developments in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), such as electronic commerce (e-commerce), have revolutionized the way that business is conducted. E-commerce refers to the process of buying and selling goods and services electronically involving transactions using Internet, network, and other digital technology. It offers companies tremendous opportunities to improve their business performance in new and innovative ways. However, its huge potential benefit would only be realized by capable managers who can deal with these emerging technologies and implement them wisely. A skills shortage has been categorized as one of the challenges facing global e-commerce by Bingi and Khamalah (2000). The demand for highly knowledgeable and skilled managers and workloads places enormous pressure upon companies to improve or update their current knowledge and skills. This is particularly important in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as compared with their larger counterparts, as they are often described as “lacking the expertise needed to set up the technologies necessary, despite having a great deal to gain from doing so” (Anonymous, 1998).
Towards an ERP Life-Cycle Costs Model
Authors: Esteves Jose Manuel , Carvalho Joao Alvaro , Santos Aldemar A.
Published: May 2011

Many organizations have adopted ERP systems, but most of them are not aware of the total costs associated with them, and they only consider the costs related with the software acquisition. This article is an exploratory study that sets out to identify other costs related to ERP systems during their life-cycle. Through the different phases of the life-cycle we define and categorize the various costs. The costs were classified as tanglible and intangible. We also describe a case study where the costs related to the three initial phases of the life-cycle were analyzed: acquistion, implementation, and usage and maintenance. Finally, some conclusions are drawn and we pose some research questions for further work.
The Next Wave in ERP Implementation
Authors: Siau Keng , Tian Yuhong
Published: May 2011

Although the benefits of ERP are obvious, the risks and costs associated with it are very high. Some problems in implementing ERP system are documented, but the real challenge comes from the Internet and E-business. ERP is an enterprise wide system whose purpose is to achieve internal efficiency, while E-business cuts across different enterprises and extends the individual value chain into an Internet based, dynamic process aimed at maximizing external efficiency. To survive the E-business challenge, the arguably single, and also the best, solution for ERP systems is to integrate with E-business applications, which we call ERP II. By properly resolving the issues of integration via newly emerged technologies, and embracing the extended function of mobile-commerce, ERP II will continue to flourish in the next century.
The Impact of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems on Organizational Effectiveness
Authors: Hedman Jonas , Borell Andrea
Published: May 2011

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have an organizational impact and are in most cases implemented to improve organizational effectiveness. Shortcomings in current research make it difficult to conclude how an organization may be affected. This paper presents an artifact evaluation of the functionality and perceived benefits of ERP systems. The evaluation is based on the Competing Values Model. The evaluation shows that ERP systems support effectiveness criteria (such as control and productivity), related to internal process and rational goal models. The evaluation also points out weaknesses in ERP systems and especially in areas related to human relations and open systems models. The result of the evaluation is used to discuss the impact of ERP systems on organizations and is presented as a series of hypotheses.
A Framework for Assessing ERP Systems Functionality for the SMEs in Australia
Authors: Hossain Liaquat , Rashid Mohammad A. , Patrick Jon David
Published: May 2011

Anticipating the use of the ERP systems among small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) to be the future area of growth ERP vendors such as SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, JDEdwards and Bann are introducing ERP software that appeal to the market segment of the SMEs. Introduction of the ERP systems for SMEs includes compact packages, flexible pricing policies, new implementation methodologies, and more specialized functionalities. The strengths-weakness-opportunity-threats (SWOT) framework of the ERP software offered by the aforementioned vendors for the SMEs requires in-depth analysis based on real-field data. The aim of this study is to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of ERP systems offered by the five leading vendors for the SMEs in Australia. Multiple case study design approach is used here for collecting the primary data from the ERP vendors. A SWOT framework is developed to study the functionality of the ERP systems offered by these vendors. This framework may guide the managers of SMEs in selecting and implementing ERP systems for their organizations.
The SAP Ecosystem
Authors: Timbrell Greg , Gable Guy
Published: May 2011

This paper derives from a parent study titled, Co-operative ERP Lifecycle Knowledge Management (Gable et al., 1998). The central goal of that study is to rationalise knowledge management activities of the three key players involved in ERP lifecycle support; namely the client, the vendor and the implementation partner or consultant. The consultant can play varied roles in a greater or lesser capacity across client ERP installations. It is posited in the parent study that the consultant’s role (and the roles of all key players) should be driven by a carefully considered ERP lifecycle-wide knowledge sourcing strategy for the client. Understanding the ERP knowledge marketplace and related dynamics is of clear value to the development of such strategy. In this paper we tentatively explore the concepts of “knowledge-sourcing” and “knowledge strategy friction.” We further describe a preliminary attempt to instantiate these concepts through an exploratory, descriptive case study of the “SAP services ecosystem.” A broader, related objective of the parent study is to test the power of a “knowledge sourcing world-view” and the integrative potential and explanatory power of such a perspective, with particular emphasis on ERP marketplace dynamics.
A Study of the ERP Selection Process in New Zealand
Authors: Shakir Maha , Hossain Liaquat
Published: May 2011

This study provides an exploratory investigation of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software selection process in New Zealand. A brief background together with the main features of ERP is provided. It is conferred in this study that the selection and implementation of ERP deserves equal importance. Findings of exploratory case studies on the ERP selection process in New Zealand (NZ) suggest that the selection of ERP guides the implementation process. It is also evident from the study findings that most New Zealand organizations select their consultants and let them guide the ERP selection, implementation as well as the post-implementation process.
Beyond ERP Systems as a Hype
Authors: van Stijn Eveline
Published: May 2011

This conceptual chapter addresses the question why research on ERP systems makes sense. Its purpose is to show that ERP systems are not simply hype or buzz. This chapter adopts the view that ERP systems are technological, organizational, and cognitive in nature. Along those dimensions, ERP systems can be distinguished from other IS, while also identifying similarities. Future research may concern the proposed characteristics of those dimensions and may also relate to their interactions and interrelations. Questions for investigation are presented throughout the paper. Further research promises to extend academic understanding of ERP systems, as a specific domain of IS. As a result, business practice can be supported to actually realize benefits with their ERP systems.
Role of Organizational Controls in Knowledge Management
Authors: Malhotra Yogesh
Published: May 2011

The mainstream concept of information technology enabled knowledge management suffers from the limitations embedded in the traditional organizational control model. Although importance of organization control is acknowledged by many authors as critical to the success of knowledge management implementations, however the concept of ‘control’ is often misinterpreted and misapplied. It is the thesis of this chapter that most such assertions are based on incomplete, and often, fallacious understanding of ‘control’. Several authors have often suggested that knowledge management is an ‘oxymoron,’ however such observations are based upon inadequate and incomplete understanding of ‘control.’ Inadequate and incomplete understanding about organization controls may be often attributed for failure of knowledge management implementations in the new world of business. This chapter sets forth two important goals: first, to develop a richer understanding of organizational controls as they relate to knowledge management; and, second, to propose an organic model of organizational controls that facilitates creation of new knowledge, renewal of existing knowledge and knowledge sharing.
Beyond Customer Knowledge Management
Authors: Sawhney Mohanbir , Prandelli Emanuela
Published: May 2011

In the knowledge-based economy, the value of products and services largely depends on the knowledge intangibles they embed (Drucker, 1993). The success of firms is increasingly becoming linked to the intellectual capital they are able to accumulate and re-invest in their markets (Davenport & Prusak, 1998; Nahapiet & Ghoshal, 1998; Sullivan, 1998). In this age of knowledge-based business, it is incumbent upon firms to pay increasing attention to the development of customer knowledge (Balasubramanian et al., 1998; Sawhney & Kotler, 1999). However, researchers in marketing have generally assumed that knowledge creation happens only within the firm’s boundaries or, at the most, within the strategic alliances among firms. We argue that in the knowledge economy we need to move beyond this perspective of the firm as the knowledge creator that learns about customers and creates value for them, to a perspective of the firm as a co-creator of knowledge that learns and creates value with its customers. As already argued only in service marketing literature, customers are a vital source of knowledge and hence competitive advantage. The cooperation with them gives firms the opportunity to renew the source of their competitive advantage constantly. This is significant in a business landscape where unique and lasting competitive advantages are increasingly rare. Through co-operation with their customers, firms can better anticipate market changes (Anderson & Narus, 1991; Nonaka & Takeuchi, 1995), catalyze their innovation processes (von Hippel, 1982, 1986, 1994), and better respond to latent customer needs (Leonard & Rayport, 1997).
The Economic Implications of Digital Technologies
Authors: Pagani Margherita
Published: May 2011

Having described the technical characteristics of the different digital signal transmission methods, it seems appropriate to investigate the specific characteristics for each medium, underlining both the advantages and limits of each and their notable economic implications. Transition from analog to digital has not only technological effects, but also effects on an economical and cultural level for the television world.
The Critical Role of Content Media Management
Authors: Pagani Margherita
Published: May 2011

The advent of digitalisation is providing big opportunities which are changing the shape of the broadcasting industry. New business models and revenue opportunities based on digital capabilities are emerging. Digital technology provides digital media companies with the opportunity to: • provide new products and cross-media experiences aimed at individual consumers and like-minded groups; • provide premium services that give viewers access to greater and more personalized content; • change the television advertising model from mass media to targeted advertising (market and advertise on one-to-one basis direct to consumer); • expand from a traditional push model to a pull-model for product distribution.
Quality Assurance Issues for a Web-Based Degree in Motor Disability Assessment
Authors: Valenti Salvatore , Panti Maurizio , Leo Tommaso
Published: May 2011

The growth of credit-bearing distance learning offerings and enrollments at accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities has been astonishing in the last few years. This growth raises the demand for reliable information about quality. According to Kess et al. (2002), quality in education should not be forced into one single definition, but rather a collection of smaller elements, processes, which contribute to education quality in different dimensions. These elements, when chained together, constitute the overall quality in training, and the improvement of quality is achieved through simultaneous action on all these levels. Furthermore, accreditation and quality assessment in education should not be considered as separate systems. They are an integral part of the continuous quality improvement context on the road to total quality. In this chapter we will discuss the approach adopted for ensuring the quality of the MODASPECTRA (MOtor Disability Assessment SPEcialists’ TRAining) Web-based degree: a research and technology development project funded by the European Union. More in detail, the procedures enacted for ensuring the quality of contents and the quality of the software tools developed, and of their documentation, will be discussed.
A Virtual Advisor Utilizing Multi-Agent Software Teams and Contingency Theoretic Coordination Models
Authors: Durrett John R. , Burnell Lisa J. , Priest John W.
Published: May 2011

Few tools are available for managing distributed educational support processes, from answering “quick” student questions, to degree planning and course scheduling. The dual purpose of our work is to analyze the viability of synthesizing two well-established paradigms (agent-based systems and Information Processing Theory) to create a distributed Web-based support system for a virtual university. Currently, we are developing a smart agent-based resource for advising (SARA) that will serve different departments at multiple universities. This effort allows the investigation of distributed advising systems in a virtual university, along with providing a platform for investigating utilization of brick-and-mortar research on coordination and control of human employees in a completely virtual world. In this chapter, we present SARA to argue for the benefits derived from integrating agent-based systems development and information-processing theory for creating rapidly customizable Web-based support systems.
Performance Assessment
Authors: Born Apiwan D. , Jessup Carol M.
Published: May 2011

This chapter examines a performance assessment tool (i.e., rubric) that is increasingly being utilized in online courses. The concept of performance assessment in the virtual classroom environment is discussed, including the proposition that using traditional assessment tools alone is not sufficient. Issues related to rubrics are identified, and guidelines are presented for online instructors and course developers. Emerging trends and future research opportunities are also provided.
Optimal Purchase Decision Criteria for Information Technology
Authors: Chong P. Pete , Chaung Ta-Tao , Chang Ming , Chen Jason C.H.
Published: May 2011

With the amount of resources dedicated to information technology (IT) expenditure today, we need to have a systematic way for assessing the elusive benefit of all IT purchases. This chapter proposes a modified Factor Rating approach that separates the subjective benefit assessment from objective cost-benefit analysis. Using this method, we often discover that for most users, due to the advancement of computer technology, the cheapest computer may be the optimal computer in the market today.
Electronic Government in Japan
Authors: Shimada Tatsumi , Ushida Kiyoshi
Published: May 2011

This paper reveals the actual status of local governments’ digital readiness in Japan, and describes the stage of achievement in digitalization and related issues. Items requiring analysis are plans for digitalization of governmental administration, organizations, services for residents, information disclosure, and a driving body, as well as impediments to the realization of electronic local governments. The present IT infrastructure in local governments is not yet sufficient, in that the major uses are limited to local area networks (LANs) and e-mail. Prefectures and large cities have relatively advanced governments; however, they are facing financial difficulties. Therefore, it is essential to reduce legacy systems and redirect funds for new IT systems. Security, privacy protection, and organizational conservatism are more important problems to address than equipment shortages.
Concerns and Solutions on Electronic Voting Systems Adoption
Authors: Yao Yurong , Watson Edward
Published: May 2011

Electronic voting has become a viable form of e-government due to the rapid advances in technologies and communication networks. The United States and most European and Asian Countries, like Japan, have taken the first step towards electronic elections. The unique features of electronic voting systems bring advantages to the public as well as resulting in concerns about electronic voting system (EVS) implementation. In this chapter, we examine those advantages of EVS and the principal obstacles in its implementation: privacy, security and accessibility. By investigating the current technology and government efforts to overcome these problems, some recommendations are proposed to gain voters’ trust on EVS and further increase their participation by using EVS.
An Intelligent Agent-Based Cooperative Information Processing Model
Authors: Yao Li , Zhang Weiming
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents a Basic Organization Structure (BOS) model for building the large and complex distributed cooperative information system in large mutual networks. It argues that a large and complex cooperative information system and its subsystems in a LAN can be modeled by multi-agent organization and basic organization respectively. With the BOS model, such a cooperative information system can be developed easily and it is more manageable, effectively supporting the complicated cooperative methods under uncertain conditions. BOS is mainly used to support the cooperative problem solving among the coarse-grained, loosely coupled, and groups of semiautonomous agents. The essential characteristics, knowledge representations, and computational models of the BOS model are illuminated in this chapter. As an application example, we use the BOS model to realize the distributed Assumption-based Cooperative Problem Solving (ACPS) in the Distributed Traveling Information Management System prototype.
The Effect of Training Set Distributions for Supervised Learning Artificial Neural Networks on Classification Accuracy
Authors: Walczak Steven , Yegorova Irena , Andrews Bruce H.
Published: May 2011

Neural networks have been repeatedly shown to outperform traditional statistical modeling techniques for both discriminant analysis and forecasting. While questions regarding the effects of architecture, input variable selection, learning algorithm, and size of training sets on the neural network model’s performance have been addressed, very little attention has been focused on distribution effects of training and out-of-sample populations on neural network performance. This article examines the effect of changing the population distribution within training sets for estimated distribution density functions, in particular for a credit risk assessment problem.
A Framework for an Organization's Transition to Globalization - Investigation of IT Issues
Authors: Lan Yi-chen
Published: May 2011

This chapter explores information technology (IT) issues in regard to an organization’s transition towards globalization. The challenges of IT dealing with transforming enterprises to globalized organizations require the identification, consolidation, and resolution of issues to support the organizations towards globalization. The chapter begins with identifying and classifying four major IT transition issues: global IT infrastructure, global business applications, global telecommunication network, and data/information systems improvement. It is then followed by detailed discussion of each issue with regards to its importance and relevance in global transformation. The chapter concludes by indicating a future research direction to incorporate organizational scopes (inter-organizational and intra-organizational) in the global IT transition framework.
Harmonizing IT and Business Strategies
Authors: Johnston Kevin
Published: May 2011

This chapter proposes that all business strategies should be harmonized into a single strategy, rather than attempt to align IT strategy with business strategy. It focuses on two hypotheses: firstly, that IT strategy is not widely aligned with business strategy; and secondly, that IT is still thought of as “something different” in businesses. The chapter proposes that rather than attempt to align IT strategy with business strategy, the strategies should be harmonized into a single strategy. The chapter attempts to use lessons from geese to outline the process of strategic development.
Job Satisfaction in the Information and Communication Sector
Authors: El-Ayouti Marwa , Kamel Sherif
Published: May 2011

The information and communication technology industry is growing worldwide, penetrating all sectors and services. Therefore, organizations are formulating different formulas and mechanisms to provide a competitive and challenging working environment to attract the best human resources around the globe to join their infrastructure build-up in terms of humanware. Egypt, as a developing country, has been investing heavily in building its information and communication technology infrastructure with a focus on human resources. However, many organizations are continually faced with various challenges to keep their key human resources due to the emerging offerings and opportunities at various levels locally, regionally and internationally. This chapter presents the findings of a research that was conducted in Egypt in 2001 with a primary objective to understand the overall level of job satisfaction among employees in the ICT sector in Egypt. The research aimed at identifying the major factors that affect their satisfaction and highlighting the driving forces leading to the “brain drain” of skilled ICT professionals to jobs overseas. The research assesses the major aspects affecting job satisfaction and ranks them by importance. Moreover, the empirical evidence illustrates the willingness of ICT professionals to seek job opportunities abroad, and the major forces leading to brain drain. Within the scope of the research, job satisfaction is studied as a function of four groups of job aspects, namely, economic, social, training and development, and psychological aspects. Economic aspects cover variables such as pay, rewards and benefits. Social aspects include relationships with colleagues, teamwork and working conditions. Training and development covers the amount of training received by employees and their access to technologies. Psychological aspects include factors such as interest and scope of work, challenges and disciplinary procedures. The survey was conducted among ICT professionals employed in key ICT companies operating in Egypt, as well as companies in other sectors including financial institutions including organizations from the private sector, governmental organizations and multinational firms. The research is important to assess the problems faced by many organizations in Egypt due to the brain drain of its skilled ICT professionals to jobs overseas due to clearer career paths and advancement opportunities, better access to new technologies and higher pay. Respectively, the findings of the research represent important guidelines for various organizations to be able to retain its ICT skilled professionals in Egypt and similar environments.
User Types and Filter Effectiveness
Authors: Sandy Geoffrey , Darbyshire Paul
Published: May 2011

As the amount of content on the Web grows almost exponentially, one of the new growth industries is that of filtering products. The effectiveness of Web-filtering software depends on a number of factors including the architecture of the software itself, and the sophistication of the users operating within its application domain. The main use of filtering software is to “block” access to controversial content such as pornography. This paper reports an investigation of the effectiveness of a filter called squidGuard in the real-world environment of an Australian University. The product is used to “block” pornographic material. This investigation simulates three classes of web users in trying to access pornography. While squidGuard did have limited success in blocking such material from novice users, the blocking rate dropped dramatically for the more experienced users using access lists. In all cases, however, access to supposedly filtered material was gained in seconds. Under such testing, the effectiveness of squidGuard as a specific-content filter for “pornographic” material can only be seen as superficial approach at best. The use of anonymous proxy servers was found to be an easy means to by-pass the filter.
Information Systems Ethics in the USA and in the Arab World
Authors: Al-Lawatia Husain , Hilton Thomas
Published: May 2011

This chapter explores similarities and differences between two cultures, the USA and the Arab World, in BIS ethics, through a survey of American and Arab students on personal use of organizational computers, use of organizational IS resources for non-organization gain, and monitoring of organizational IS resource use. While interesting statistical differences were found in the average strength of several responses, there was no disagreement as to the ethicality or non-ethicality of any survey item. The authors view this consistency as encouraging evidence of a common foundation for IS-related commerce between the two cultures. The findings of this study can be a basis for future cooperation, as legislators, educators, and employers in the Arab World and the USA develop acceptable BIS practices.
On the Application of UML to Designing On-line Business Model
Authors: Park Yongtae , Kim Seonwoo
Published: May 2011

The applicability of UML is not restricted to software development, but can be extended to other process modeling tasks. This chapter introduces a framework for designing an inter-firm, on-line business model using UML. The framework comprises such principal elements as value, business players, and relationship among players, with each specified in terms of representative attributes and related notations. The business model is then visualized by value diagram and structure diagram. An illustrative case is employed to show how the proposed framework is applied. By nature, the current research is exploratory; therefore, for the purpose of illustration, it deals with a rather simple business form. As a result, extension and elaboration of the framework may be required to accommodate the complexity and diversity of a real world business.
Enhancing RUP Business Model with Client-Oriented Requirements Models
Authors: Leonardi Maria C.
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents a strategy for the construction of RUP business models using client-oriented requirements models that are written in natural language. The RUP business model, whose objective is to understand the context of the system, is represented with business use cases and a business objects model. As there is no concrete strategy for its development, an integration of client-oriented requirements models and strategies that enhance the construction process of the business model, while keeping the RUP philosophy of using the language of the customer for the first stages of development, are proposed in this chapter. These models describe the context of the system from a different perspective through the use of a lexical model to describe the vocabulary, a model of scenarios to describe the behavior, and a business rules model to describe the policies of the organization. These models are manipulated through a set of heuristics in order to define the UP business model and to enhance traceability between the models. We use a case study to exemplify the strategy throughout the entire chapter.
Formalizing UML Class Diagrams
Authors: Funes Ana M. , George Chris
Published: May 2011

Graphical notations have demonstrated usefulness when interacting with end users, making system validation easier. However, while they can be easily communicated, they lack precision, which consequently can be ambiguous and lead to misunderstanding. It is here where formal specifications can play an important role in overcoming this drawback. In this chapter, we use the RAISE Specification Language (RSL), which is the language of the formal method RAISE (i.e., Rigorous Approach to Industrial Software), as a syntactic and semantic reference for UML. We present the semantics for UML class diagrams by using RSL as a formal basis. An automated tool that implements the translation and the abstract syntax in RSL for the RSL-translatable class diagrams are also presented.
Forward Engineering and UML
Authors: Favre Liliana , Martinez Liliana , Pereira Claudia
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes a reuse-based rigorous process to transform UML static models to object-oriented code. The bases of this approach are the GSBLoo algebraic language to cope with concepts of UML static models and the SpReIm model for defining structured collections of reusable components. We have defined a mapping between UML static models and GSBLoo. The emphasis in this chapter is given to the last steps in the road from UML to code. Eiffel™ is the language of choice in which we chose to demonstrate the feasibility of our approach. We analyze how to transform GSBLoo specifications into code. In particular, we show how to translate different kinds of UML associations to Eiffel. Also, we describe how to construct assertions from GSBLoo specifications. All of the proposed transformations can be automated; they allow traceability and can be integrated into the iterative and incremental software development processes supported by the existing UML CASE tools.
Model-Supported Alignment of Information Systems Architecture
Authors: Opdahl Andreas L.
Published: May 2011

The chapter presents an alignment framework and an associated representation framework for information systems (IS) architecture management. The alignment framework supports identification of high-level longer-term principles for evolution of IS architectures. The fundamental idea of the alignment framework is to generate alternative future IS architectures by grouping IS-architecture phenomena into IS-architecture areas in different ways. The representation framework supports the creation of IS-architecture models that can support IS-architecture alignment and other IS-architecture management tasks. In addition, the representation framework is a conceptual model for thinking about IS-architectures. Together, the alignment and representation frameworks constitute an early theory of IS architectures and IS-architecture work. They are part of a comprehensive methodology that results from several years of case and theory studies, tool developments, industrial projects and consulting.
The Resource-Based Theory of the Firm
Authors: Kangas Kalle
Published: May 2011

This chapter explores the theoretical foundations of the digital economy. In doing that, it first discusses micro-economics – actually the eight main theories of the 20th century firm. A reasoning, through a literary review, is presented, which shows that no other theory of firm explored provides a suitable background for the digital economy, except the resource-based view of the firm. Starting from this finding, the paper further explores the strategic formulations based on the resource-based view of the firm, as well as its implications to organizational learning and competitive advantage created by information resources management. The conclusions suggest that the resource-based view of the firm, and its implications to strategic management and information resources management, form a solid base for further studies on the foundations of the digital economy. Therefore, the paper suggests that studies of the digital economy could be more fruitful, when studied under the premises of the resource-based theory, than any other modern theory of the firm.
The South African Online Consumer
Authors: Johnston Kevin
Published: May 2011

This chapter attempts to develop a profile of online consumers in South Africa. Firstly, a profile of the South African online consumer is developed based on various research sources. The chapter then focuses on what the web consumers in South Africa want, and the challenges facing web developers and organizations developing web sites in South Africa.
National Culture and the Meaning of Information Systems Success
Authors: Agourram Hafid , Ingham John
Published: May 2011

Information system (IS) success is still one of the most researched topics in the IS discipline, but most research on defining and measuring IS success was conducted in North America. As the world globalizes, multinational organizations consider information technology and IS as crucial and necessary tools to glue together all of their units. Moreover, IS standardization (i.e., the same IS implemented in all the units), particularly through enterprise systems (ERPs), has attracted these organizations because of the economic benefits standard applications can eventually yield to. However, researchers in the international management discipline have assessed that culture may be a major factor that influences organizational structure and management practices. Some researchers in the field of IS have also confirmed that national cultures do, indeed, have an impact on IS design and acceptance. As culture is defined as “a shared system of meaning,” the success of IS should hold different meanings in different cultures. We found only sparse research work on how people from different national cultures perceive, define and operationalize IS success. The objective of this chapter is twofold: first, discuss why organizations that intend to standardize IS in different cultures should consider culture as an important factor in the achievement of success and second, propose a comprehensive framework for future cross-national research on IS success in multinational organizations. After the introductory section, the four main components of the proposed framework and their interrelations are presented: IS success, culture, IS standardization, and IS built-in success assumptions. The chapter concludes with the presentation of the new framework.
An Evaluation of Dynamic Electronic Catalog Models in Relational Database Systems
Authors: Kim Kiryoong , Kim Dongkyu , Kim Jeuk , Park Sang-uk , Lee Ighoon , Lee Sang-goo , Chun Jong-hoon
Published: May 2011

Electronic catalogs are electronic representations about products and services in the electronic commerce environment and require diverse and flexible schemas. Although relational database systems seem to be an obvious choice for their storage, traditional designs of relational schemas do not support electronic catalogs in the most effective ways. Therefore, new models for managing diverse and flexible schemas in relational databases are required for such systems. Proposed in this paper are several models for electronic catalogs using relational tables, and an experimental evaluation of their efficiency. The results of this study can be put to practical use and are, in fact, being applied in the design of a commercial software product.
Extending Client-Server Infrastructure Using Middleware Components
Authors: Chen Qiyang , Wang John
Published: May 2011

Embracing inapt infrastructure technology is a major threat in developing extensive and efficient Web-based systems. The architectural strength of all business models demands an effective integration of various technological components. Middleware, the center of all applications, becomes the driver—everything works if middleware does. In the recent times, the client/server environment has experienced sweeping transformation and led to the notion of the “Object Web.” Web browser is viewed as a universal client that is capable of shifting flawlessly and effortlessly between various applications on the Internet. This paper attempts to investigate middleware and the facilitating technologies, and point toward the latest developments, taking into account the functional potential of the on-market middleware solutions, as well as their technical strengths and weaknesses. The paper would describe various types of middleware, including database middleware, Remote Procedure Call (RPC), application server middleware, message-oriented middleware (MOM), Object Request Broker (ORB), transaction-processing monitors and Web middleware, etc., with on-market technologies.