bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supporting CSCW and CSCL with Intelligent Social Grouping Services
Authors: Tsai Jeffrey J.P. , Zhang Jia , Huang Jeff J.S. , Yang Stephen J.H.
Published: May 2011

This article presents an intelligent social grouping service for identifying right participants to support CSCW and CSCL. We construct a three-layer hierarchical social network, in which we identify two important relationship ties – a knowledge relationship tie and a social relationship tie. We use these relationship ties as metric to measure the collaboration strength between pairs of participants in a social network. The stronger the knowledge relationship tie, the more knowledgeable the participants; the stronger the social relationship tie, the more likely the participants are willing to share their knowledge. By analyzing and calculating these relationship ties among peers using our computational models, we present a systematic way to discover collaboration peers according to configurable and customizable requirements. Experiences of social grouping services for identifying communities of practice through peer-to-peer search are also reported.
A Constructivist Approach to Online Learning
Authors: Swan Karen , Garrison D.R. , Richardson Jennifer C.
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents a theoretical model of online learning, the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework, which is grounded in John Dewey’s progressive understanding of education. The CoI framework is a process model of online learning which views the online educational experience as arising from the interaction of three presences – social presence, cognitive presence, and teaching presence. Each of these three elements in the CoI framework are described and related to Dewey’s work, and research findings and issues concerning them reviewed. The development of a common CoI survey measure that promises to address some of these issues is described and discussed. The chapter concludes with emerging findings from new studies which use the CoI survey, directions for future research, and practical uses of the CoI framework.
A Neglected Necessity in Liberal Arts Assessment
Authors: Chambliss Daniel F.
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes how the trend favoring assessment initiatives of a system-wide scope such as program review and collegiate learning assessment (CLA) tends to overlook the specific, highly concrete learning experiences of individual students in the liberal arts. These individual cases offer a rich source of data for assessment. The insights that can be derived from a rigorous analysis of such individual experience can tell educators much about learning outcomes, teaching quality, and curricular effectiveness. It is in this regard that this chapter argues for the student as the unit of analysis in assessment initiatives.
Reporting Race and Ethnicity in International Assessment
Authors: Poe Mya
Published: May 2011

The study of racial-ethnic group differences on educational tests has yielded a substantial body of research internationally in the last decade. In this chapter, I map current research about racial-ethnic minorities and educational testing in the English-language educational assessment literature. From an initial search yielding 420 articles, 78 were identified for further analysis. The results show that (1) although researchers often do not define terms like race or ethnicity, the socially constructed nature of race and ethnicity is assumed (2) racial-ethnic group categorizations shift depending upon national context and (3) comparative studies can result in focusing attention on racial-ethnic groups while drawing attention away from testing policies that are implicated in creating such results. Such results underscore how crossnational literature reviews can enrich studies of race-ethnicity and educational test performance.
Enterprise Systems Strategic Alignment and Business Value
Authors: Loukis Euripidis , Sapounas Ioakim , Aivalis Konstantinos
Published: May 2011

This chapter is dealing with the alignment of enterprise systems with business strategy and its impact on the business value that enterprise systems generate. Initially the research on the strategic potential of ICT, which constitutes the basic theoretical foundation of the need for strategic alignment of enterprise systems, is analyzed. Then the previous research that has been conducted concerning enterprise systems strategic alignment is critically reviewed. It is grouped into three basic streams. The first of them is dealing with the conceptualization and basic understanding of enterprise systems strategic alignment. The second research stream aims at the development of models and frameworks for directing and assessing enterprise systems strategic alignment. The third research stream examines the impact of enterprise systems strategic alignment on business performance. Finally, an empirical investigation that has been conducted by the authors concerning the impact of enterprise systems strategic alignment on business performance as a guidance for future research on this topic is described. We expect that this chapter will sufficiently inform on strategic alignment, both researchers and practitioners in the area of enterprise systems, so that they can incorporate this highly important concept in their research and practice respectively.
Developing and Analyzing Core Competencies for Alignment with Strategy
Authors: Sawyer Keith , Gammack John
Published: May 2011

Although it is widely accepted that alignment of knowledge with corporate strategy is necessary, to date there have been few clear statements on what a knowledge strategy looks like and how it may be practically implemented. We argue that current methods and techniques to accomplish this alignment are severely limited, showing no clear description on how the alignment can be achieved. Core competencies, embodying an organisation’s practical know-how, are also rarely linked explicitly to actionable knowledge strategy. Viewing knowledge embedded in core competencies as a strategic asset, the paper uses a case study to show how a company’s core competencies were articulated and verified for either inclusion or exclusion in the strategy. The study is representative of similar studies carried out across a range of organisations using a novel and practically proven method. This method, StratAchieve, was used here in a client situation to show how the core competencies were identified and tested for incorporation or not in the strategy. The paper concludes by considering the value of the approach for managing knowledge.
Decision Support Systems
Authors: Wang John , Radosevich David
Published: May 2011

Over the four decades of its history, decision support systems (DSSs) have moved from a radical movement that changed the way information systems were perceived in business, to a mainstream commercial information technology movement that all organizations engage. This interactive, flexible, and adaptable computer-based information system derives from two main areas of research: the theoretical studies of organizational decision making done at the Carnegie Institute in the 1950’s and early 1960’s as well as the technical work on interactive computer systems which was mainly performed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Keen & Morton, 1978).
Interactive, Flexible, and Adaptive Decision Support Systems
Authors: Wang John , Yao James , Hsu Jeffrey
Published: May 2011

Over the four decades of its history, decision support systems (DSSs) have moved from a radical movement that changed the way information systems were perceived in business, to a mainstream commercial information technology movement that all organizations engage. This interactive, flexible, and adaptable computer-based information system derives from two main areas of research: the theoretical studies of organizational decision making done at the Carnegie Institute in the 1950’s and early 1960’s as well as the technical work on interactive computer systems which was mainly performed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Keen & Morton, 1978).
Negotiation, Trust, and Experience Management in E-Supply Chains
Authors: Finnie Gavin , Sun Zhaohao
Published: May 2011

This chapter reviews fundamentals of e-supply chain management and examines the transformation from the traditional supply chains to the e-supply chains (e-SC). This chapter applies experience management (EM) and experience-based reasoning (EBR) to intellegent agents in the e-SC and explores how to use experience in extablishing trust in other agents. The role of trust and deception in supply chains for real-time enterprises is discussed, and a logical framework for fraud and deception is explained in this chapter. EBR is considered as a way to manage trust in the supply network. This chapter explores cooperation and negotiation, trust and deception in e-supply chains by providing methodologies and intelligent techniques for multiagent trust, negotiation, and deception in an e-SC. Finally, a unified model is developed for integrating cooperation and negotiation, trust and deception in e-supply chains. Although primarily theoretical, the chapter highlights new areas of research which will impact supply chain management.
Supply Chain Risk Management
Authors: Vanany Iwan , Zailani Suhaiza , Pujawan Nyoman
Published: May 2011

Supply chain risk management has increasingly becoming a more popular research area recently. Various papers, with different focus and approaches, have been published since a few years ago. This paper aims to survey supply chain risk management (SCRM) literature. Paper published in relevant journals from 2000 to 2007 are analysed and classified into five categories: conceptual, descriptive, empirical, exploratory cross-sectional, and exploratory longitudinal. We also looked at the papers in terms of the types of risks, the unit of analysis, the industry sectors, and the risk management process or strategies addressed. The literature review will provide the basis for outlining future research opportunities in this field.
Information Systems, Software Engineering, and Systems Thinking
Authors: Petkov Doncho , Edgar-Nevill Denis , Madachy Raymond , O’Connor Rory
Published: May 2011

This article traces past research on the application of the systems approach to information systems development within the disciplines of information systems and software engineering. Their origins historically are related to a number of areas, including general systems theory. While potential improvement of software development practices is linked by some leading experts to the application of more systemic methods, the current state of the practice in software engineering and information systems development shows this is some way from being achieved. The authors propose possible directions for future research and practical work on bringing together both fields with systems thinking.
A Model for IT Service Strategy
Authors: McBride Neil
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes a suggested model for developing a service strategy within IT services. It considers the context, the organization of IT services which might be appropriate for a service strategy. It discusses the content of an IT service strategy which it suggests should be presented as a portfolio of services. It reviews the process of developing the service strategy, suggesting a set of steps which may lead to the development of appropriate content within the right management structure. The example of hospital information systems is used to illustrate the strategic process. In order to set the scene for the strategic process, the state of information systems strategy research is discussed and set in the context of the developing service management research literature. The term service-centric is used and the difference between service-centric IT management and service-oriented architecture is clarified. A case is made for a migration from an IT strategy based primarily on the development of a portfolio of IT systems to a service-strategy based on the development of a portfolio of business services.
Perspectives of IT-Service Quality Management
Authors: Praeg Claus-Peter , Spath Dieter
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces an IT-Service management framework for the use of quality management concepts in the context of the life cycle phases of IT-Services. It argues that IT-Service management, combined with quality management and a life cycle approach for IT-Services provides a new perspective for organizations to provide high quality IT-Services. Based on the IT-industrialisation and an increased customer orientation in the IT-Service management the aspect of quality becomes increasingly important. Therefore, the authors give an overview about existing concepts of IT-Service management, life cycle management and quality management for IT-Services. The aim is to support organizations in the effective use of quality management concepts depending on IT-Service life cycles.
Supporting Executive Intelligence Activities with Agent-Based Executive Information Systems
Authors: Ong Vincent , Duan Yanquing , Mathews Brian
Published: May 2011

This chapter examines the theoretical underpinning for supporting executive intelligence activities and reviews conventional studies of executive information systems (EIS) over the last two decades in responding to the current executives’ information processing needs and the current Internet era. The reviews suggest the need for designing advanced EIS that are capable of responding and adapting to executive information. This chapter recognizes the necessity of revitalizing EIS with advances in intelligent technologies and Web-based technologies. Empirical studies were conducted to elucidate executives’ desires and perceptions of the prospect of agent-based technologies for supporting executive intelligence activities in the more integrated and distributed environment of the Internet. Based on the insights gained from empirical studies, this chapter concludes by presenting a three-level agent-based EIS design model that comprises a “usability-adaptability-intelligence” trichotomy for supporting executive intelligence activities.
Choosing Technologies for Handheld and Ubiquitous Decision Support
Authors: Woollatt Darren , Koop Paul , Jones Sara , Warren Jim
Published: May 2011

Wireless, handheld devices are becoming increasingly popular in health care settings, but the full potential of their role in patient-specific decision support remains to be achieved. This article presents a multicriteria framework for choosing technologies apropos to handheld and ubiquitous decision support architecture. This framework is illustrated through architectural middleware choices made in the context of a podiatry and diabetes care network. Performance issues are found to be very important in the handheld space, and minor aspects of connectivity and other constraints drive significant changes in choices of architectural approach. The resulting architecture employs layers, including serialized objects, XML payloads, event notification, Web services, and dynamic class loading, with the mix varying among the system interfaces. The overall recommendation is that organizations wishing to fully exploit mobile technology must use a flexible policy and pursue a process of technology choice that is scenario-based and iterative to take into account discoveries from prototyping and field-test experience.
I-Fit
Authors: Fairchild Alea , Smits Martin , Ribbers Piet , van Geel Erik , Snijder Geert
Published: May 2011

This document summarizes the initial findings of the I-Fit research project that started in August 2006 as a joint activity of a regional ICT consultancy and a university research center. The main goal of the project is to help the consultants to improve alignment between business and IT in the client organizations. The I-Fit project takes the perspective of the business manager: how a business manager can influence and increase the value of the IT services that he receives. Based on the literature on strategic alignment and Information quality, we develop the I-Fit model. The model assumes causal relationships between IT governance, Strategic Alignment, Information Quality, and Business Performance in an organization.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Authors: Muscatello Joseph R. , Parente Diane H.
Published: May 2011

In today’s intensely competitive marketplace, companies can benefit strategically and tactically from enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, if implemented correctly. However, with failure rates estimated to be as high as 50% of all ERP implementations, companies can be negatively impacted by a poorly performing ERP system. The research on ERP has focused on events leading to the selection, evaluation, and implementation of the ERP system. The intent of this research is to identify new or lightly researched theories regarding the difficulties of ERP implementations that can help practitioners successfully manage ERP implementations by performing a post-ERP implementation examination of eight corporations. We examine operations management (OM) literature rather than information systems (IS) literature in order to provide IS readers with an alternative yet valuable analysis. Further, we purposely avoid well-established findings by performing a large literature review. This article is based on a qualitative research design using case-study methodology. The propositions derived from the case studies form solid insight into the considerations that may influence the success of an ERP system.
Cooperative Decision Support Systems
Authors: Zaraté Pascale
Published: May 2011

The subject of our research aims to support in the most suitable way the collaborative decisionmaking process. Several scientific approaches deal with collaborative decision-making: decision analysis (Carlsson & Turban, 2002; Doyle & Thomason, 1999; Keeney & Raiffa, 1976) developing different analytical tools for optimal decision-making; in management sciences the observation of decision-making styles activity (Nuut, 2005; Fong, Wyer, & Robert 2003); decision-making as a group work (Esser, 1998; Matta & Corby, 1997); studies concerning different types of decisions focalised on number of actors: individual (Keeney & Raiffa, 1976), group (Shim, Warkentin, Courtney, Power, Sharda, & Carlsson, 2002), cooperative (Zaraté, 2005), and collaborative (Karacapilidis & Papadias, 2001). For the collaborative decision-making field, the situation is clear. In most of research studies, the concept of collaborative decision-making is used as a synonym for cooperative decision-making. Hence, the collaborative decision-making process is considered to be distributed and asynchronous (Chim, Anumba, & Carillo, 2004; Cil, Alpturk, & Yazgan, 2005). However, we can stand out several works, having different research approaches, considering collaborative decision-making process as multi-actor decision-making process, where actors have different goals. Considering (Panzarasa, Jennings, & Norman, 2002) the collaborative decision-making process is seen as “a group of logically decentralised agents that cooperate to achieve objectives that are typically beyond the capacities of an individual agent. In short, the collaborative decision-making has generally been viewed and modelled as a kind of distributed reasoning and search, whereby a collection of agents collaboratively go throughout the search space of the problem in order to find a solution.” The main interrogation of this article is to study the best way to support collaborative decisionmaking process.
Building the IT Workforce of the Future
Authors: Armstrong Deborah J. , Nelson H. James , Nelson Kay M. , Narayanan V.K.
Published: May 2011

The software development process has undergone a considerable amount of change from the early days of spaghetti code to the present state of the art of development using strategic patterns. This has caused not only changes in the toolkits that developers use, but also a change in their mindset—the way that they approach and think about software development. This study uses revealed causal mapping techniques to examine the change in mindset that occurs across the procedural to OO development transition, and lays the foundation for future studies of the OO/ pattern cognitive transition. The results indicate that there is not only increasing complexity in the cognitive maps of the OO developers, but also that there is a need for the developer to shift from routine, assembly line coding to more abstract thought processes.
Decision Support Systems and Representation Levels in the Decision Spine
Authors: Humphreys Patrick
Published: May 2011

Problem solving has been defined as the complex interplay of cognitive, affective, and behavioural processes with the aim to adapt to external or internal demands or challenges (Heppner & Krauskopf, 1987). In the realm of organizational decision-making, Herbert Simon (1977) describes the problem-solving process as moving through three stages: intelligence, design, and choice. In this context, design focuses on “inventing, developing and analysing possible courses of action,” where the design artefact being constructed for this purpose constitutes the “representation of the problem.” While a wide range of representation means and calculi have been proposed for decision problem solving purposes, practical implementations generally involve applying one or more of these means to develop the structure of the problem within one or more frames. Typically, these are future-scenario frames, multi-attributed preference frames, and rule base-frames (Chatjoulis & Humphreys, 2007). Simon (1977) characterized decision problems according to the degree of problem-structure that was pre-established (or taken for granted as “received wisdom,” or “the truth about the situation that calls for a decision”) at the time participants embark on the decision problem solving process. He placed such problems on a continuum ranging from routine (programmed, structured) problems with well-specified solutions to novel, complex (unprogrammed, unstructured) with ambiguous solutions.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Metrics
Authors: Shea Timothy , Brown Ahern , White D. Steven , Curran-Kelly Catherine , Griffin Michael
Published: May 2011

Adopting a focus on CRM has been an industry standard for nearly two decades. While evidence suggests that a majority of the attempts to implement CRM systems fail, no single reason for the failures has been identified. Assuming that CRM implementation is an extension of a customeroriented business strategy and assuming successful integration with Enterprise Information Systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, the authors contend that the lack of valid and reliable CRM metrics leads to the perception of failed CRM implementation. Only through the development, application, and use of CRM metrics can organizations hope to achieve their CRM goals.
Patterns for Organizational Modeling
Authors: Kolp Manuel , Faulkner Stéphane
Published: May 2011

Organizational modeling is concerned with analyzing and understanding the organizational context within which a software system will eventually function. This paper proposes organizational patterns motivated by organizational theories intended to facilitate the construction of organizational models. These patterns are defined from real world organizational settings, modeled in i* and formalized using the Formal Tropos language. Additionally, the paper evaluates the proposed patterns using desirable qualities such as coordinability and predictability. The research is conducted in the context of Tropos, a comprehensive software system development methodology.
Aligning Six Sigma and ITIL to Improve IT Service Management
Authors: Chan Peter C. , Durant Shauntell R. , Gall Verna Mae , Raisinghani Mahesh S.
Published: May 2011

Organizations are implementing IT Service Management (ITSM) and creating quality standards to design, deliver, and manage IT services to meet or exceed an agreed level of quality. ITSM uses the best practices of IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) that informs IT management what needs to be done and how it will get done from the process perspective. However when undertaking an ITSM a project to implement ITIL, ITIL does not provide a method for measuring quality or identifying and completing process improvement projects. By integrating the Six Sigma quality methodology, IT management will have the methodology and tools for measuring quality and improving processes. Adopting Six Sigma principles also helps IT managers focus on their business strategy and customers, manage proactively based on facts, and reinforce collaboration across the enterprise. The framework in our exploratory experience based research has been built upon a deductive study which has been developed through a literature review and synthesis and an exploratory inductive research which has been developed using a qualitative case study methodology in the e-services and mobile applications field. [Article copies are available for purchase from InfoSci-on-Demand.com]
The Role of Expertise in the Evaluation of Computing Architectures
Authors: Bajaj Akhilesh
Published: May 2011

Recently, there has been considerable interest in evaluating newer computer architectures such as the Web services architecture and the network computer architecture. In this work we investigate the decision models of expert and novice IS managers when evaluating computing architectures for use in an organization. This task is important because several consumer choice models in the literature indicate that the evaluation of alternative products is a critical phase that consumers undergo prior to forming an attitude toward the product. Previous work on evaluating the performance of experts vs. novices has focused either on the process differences between them, or on the performance outcome differences, with work in MIS focusing primarily on process differences. In this work, we utilize a methodology that examines both aspects, by constructing individual decision models for each expert and novice in the study. There is a growing consensus in the management literature that while experts may follow different processes, very often their performance does not differ significantly from novices in the business domain.
End User Types
Authors: Govindarajulu Chittibabu , Arinze Bay
Published: May 2011

Contemporary end users are more knowledgeable about computing technologies than the end users of the early ’80s. However, many researchers still use the end user classification scheme proposed by Rockart and Flannery (1983) more than two decades ago. This scheme is inadequate to classify contemporary end users since it is based mainly on their knowledge and ignores other crucial dimensions such as control. Cotterman and Kumar (1989) proposed a user cube to classify end users based on the development, operation, and control dimensions of end user computing (EUC). Using this cube, users can be classified into eight distinct groups. In this research, a 10-item instrument is proposed to operationalize the user cube. Such an instrument would help managers to identify the status of EUC in their firms and to take appropriate action. Based on the data collected from 292 end users, the instrument was tested for construct, convergent, and discriminant validities. Researchers can use this instrument to study the interaction between constructs such as development and control with end user computing satisfaction (EUCS).
Validating the End-User Computing Satisfaction Instrument for Online Shopping Systems
Authors: Liu Chung-Tzer , Guo Yi Maggie
Published: May 2011

End-user satisfaction has always been an important component of Information Systems (IS) success. This is also true for online applications, including online shopping systems, where in addition to being a customer, the shoppers play the role of end-users. Shoppers may not come back to or make a purchase on a Web site if they have an unsatisfactory experience. In this research, we focus on this aspect of online shopping by examining shoppers’ experiences as end-users.
Knowledge Democracy as the New Mantra in Product Innovation
Authors: Corallo Angelo , De Maggio Marco , Margherita Alessandro
Published: May 2011

In this chapter we carry out a critical analysis of “knowledge democracy” as a new mantra or buzz-word in product innovation leadership. A new paradigm has revolutionized the traditional process of invention, which was previously associated with a hierarchical dissemination of new ideas and competitive hoarding of knowledge assets. This chapter contends that at this environment has been replaced by a collaboration economy (based on so-called “wikinomics”) in which democracy governs the process of knowledge creation and its strategic application. Leadership in product innovation does not rely on the innate internal qualities of organizations, but on the collaborative contribution of stakeholders in many of the activities that make up the NPD lifecycle. The authors suggest a new approach to mitigate factors that can otherwise reduce the value of the NPD process. The chapter then examines how to promote such open collaboration through the development of a new managerial mindset, the acquisition of new distinctive competences, the development of new organizational models, and the management of new collaborative technologies. The authors’ proposed framework of processes and competencies offers the potential for organizations to meet these needs.
Knowledge Management under Institutional Pressures
Authors: Magnier-Watanabe Rémy , Senoo Dai
Published: May 2011

This chapter explores how knowledge management, an enabler of change due to its knowledge creation capability, is subject to several forces that shape its processes and outcomes. A qualitative analysis based on data from a case study of the first major rollout of smartcard technology in France shows how institutional isomorphic pressures affect not only knowledge management processes but also resulting innovations. Government impetus, legal authorities, and cultural expectations in French society produced coercive isomorphic pressures on the credit card industry, while existing credit card solutions, systems, and standards played the role of mimetic pressures, and professional networks and network externalities acted as normative pressures. The study suggests that a systems perspective which acknowledges these institutional isomorphic pressures can lead to greater strategic alignment and can provide a basis for meaningful differentiation and competitive advantage.
Does Knowledge Management Really Work?
Authors: Baskaran V. , Naguib R.N.G , Guergachi A. , Bali R.K. , Arochen H.
Published: May 2011

Contemporary organizations, including those involved with healthcare, are constantly under pressure to produce and implement new strategies for delivering better products and/or services. Knowledge Management (KM) has been one of the paradigms successfully applied in such business environs. However, a lack of proper application of KM principles and its components have reduced the confidence of new adopters of this paradigm. KM-based healthcare projects are moving forward, and innovation is the driving force behind such initiatives. This chapter sets the scene by outlining the KM’s core elements, facets and how they can be appropriately applied within an innovative, real-time healthcare project. It further enumerates a case study which targets the screening attendance issue for the NHS’ breast screening program. The case study not only discusses the need of a balanced approach to address both the technological and humanistic aspects of KM, but also answers the question “Does knowledge management really work?” A questionnaire-based study was conducted with the General Physicians (GPs) on the KM’s aspects and its relationship to the interventions proposed in the study. The study provided ample proof that a balanced approach will definitely increase the efficacy of such initiatives. Such studies can increase the confidence of future KM adopters in healthcare domain. This chapter provides credibility for such balanced KM-based initiatives and highlights the importance of a focused approach on the various facets of KM to maximize benefits.
Knowledge Management
Authors: Wickramasinghe Nilmini
Published: May 2011

The proliferation of ICT (information communication technologies) throughout the business environment has lead to exponentially increasing amounts of data and information generation. Although these technologies were implemented to enhance and facilitate superior decision making, the result is information chaos and information overload; the productivity paradox (O’Brien, 2005; Laudon & Laudon, 2004; Jessup & Valacich, 2005; Haag et al. 2004). Knowledge management (KM) is a modern management technique designed to make sense of this information chaos by applying strategies, structures and techniques to apparently unrelated and seemingly irrelevant data elements and information in order to extract germane knowledge to aid superior decision making. Critical to knowledge management is the application of ICT. However it is the configuration of these technologies that is important to support the techniques of knowledge management. This chapter discusses how the process oriented knowledge generation framework of Boyd and the use of sophisticated ICT can enable the design of a networkcentric healthcare perspective that enables effective and efficient healthcare operations.
Conditions and Key Success Factors for the Management of Communities of Practice
Authors: Loyarte Edurne , Rivera Olga
Published: May 2011

Communities of practice (CoPs) have been taken into account by both practitioners and academics during the last ten years. From a strategic point of view, CoPs have shown their importance for the management of organizational knowledge by offering repositories of knowledge, improved capacity of making knowledge actionable and operational (Brown & Duguid, 1998) and by facilitating maintenance, reproduction, and extension of knowledge (Brown and Durguid, 2001). CoPs are also reported to achieve value creation and competitive advantages (Davenport and Prusak, 1998), learning at work (Swan et alt., 2002) that promotes organizational competitiveness (Furlong and Johnson, 2003), innovation, even a radical type (Swan et alt., 2002), responsiveness, improved staff skills and reduced duplication (du Plessis, 2008). This impressive list of achievements is not for free; some authors have pointed out the limits of CoP’s (Duguid, 2005; Roberts, 2006; Amin & Roberts, 2008) from diverse points of view, including diversity of working environments, size, spatial or relational proximity, but mainly emphasizing the specificity of CoPs as a social practice paradigm, as it was defined by Wenger (1999, 2000) credited as the “inventor” of the term “CoP” (Lave and Wenger, 1991). This chapter focuses on the consideration of CoPs as an organizational reality than can be managed (Thompson, 2005), the contradictions that the idea of managing them generates, and how these controversial points can be overcome in a sound and honest way. To do so, we review different cases of CoP’s within organizations intended for the managerial team to achieve important organizational goals. Our analysis provides: (a) a reflection regarding the Key Success Factors in the process of integrating communities of practice, (b) insight to the structure of a model of cultivation, intended as a guideline for new experiences in this area, and (c) an informative account of this model’s adaptation to the studied organizations.
Cooperation Strategies for P2P Content Distribution in Cellular Mobile Networks
Authors: Hoßfeld Tobias , Schlosser Daniel , Tutschku Kurt , Tran-Gia Phuoc
Published: May 2011

The performance of P2P content distribution in cellular networks depends highly on the cooperation and coordination of heterogeneous and often selfish mobile users. The major challenges are the identification of problems specifically arising in cellular mobile networks and the development of new cooperation strategies to overcome these problems. In this chapter, the authors review common cooperation strategies using multi-source downloads. They demonstrate the fundamental “last chunk” problem of typical strategies as used by eDonkey or BitTorrent. This is caused by the selfishness of users; however, an ordered chunk delivery evades this problem. In the coherent subsequent chapter “Cooperation Strategies for P2P Content Distribution in Cellular Mobile Networks: Considering Mobility and Heterogeneity”, the impact of mobility and vertical handover between heterogeneous wireless access technologies is investigated.
Incentives for Resource Sharing in Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Antoniadis Panayotis
Published: May 2011

The goal of this chapter is to analyze the incentive issues that arise in multi-hop ad hoc networks when their nodes are potentially mobile devices controlled by independent self-interested end-users. The author decomposes the problem into its economic and technological dimensions according to which he categorizes the numerous proposed solutions. He then analyzes certain drawbacks of the economics oriented approach and argues for the need to go beyond the rationality assumption. This is to exploit a variety of powerful more intrinsic, social, human motivations for encouraging participation and resource sharing in ad hoc networks. Existing successful online communities provide a good starting point for designing social software that can provide cross-layer social incentives for resource sharing. In this chapter, the author motivates this novel but challenging approach and provides some insights toward coming closer to its ambitious objective.
Integration and Interworking of Fixed and Mobile P2P Systems
Authors: Tompros Spyridon L.
Published: May 2011

Enabled by the emergence of high-speed Internet access in last mile communications, P2P systems have witnessed significant growth in the recent years, mainly due to their intrinsic characteristic of being independent of the underlying network and the different services that operators offer in various subscription models. The advent of the Next Generation Networks (NGN) technology is expected to further strengthen the growth of P2P services as it will allow their deployment in any network and with any terminal type. In this chapter, the author first gives an overview of the NGN technology, and then presents its first real implementation called the IP Multimedia Sub-system (IMS), with a discussion of the issues on integrating and interworking P2P applications in converged communications networks.
Automated Integration of Heterogeneous Data Warehouse Schemas
Authors: Marko Banek , Boris Vrdoljak , A Min Tjoa , Zoran Skocir
Published: May 2011

A federated data warehouse is a logical integration of data warehouses applicable when physical integration is impossible due to privacy policy or legal restrictions. In healthcare systems federated data warehouses are a most feasible source of data for deducing guidelines for evidence-based medicine based on data material from different participating institutions. In order to enable the translation of queries in a federated approach, schemas of the federated warehouse and the local warehouses must be matched. In this paper we present a procedure that enables the matching process for schema structures specific to the multidimensional model of data warehouses: facts, measures, dimensions, aggregation levels and dimensional attributes. Similarities between warehouse-specific structures are computed by using linguistic and structural comparison. The calculated values are used to create necessary mappings.
Introducing the Elasticity of Spatial Data
Authors: David A. Gadish
Published: May 2011

The data quality of a vector spatial data can be assessed using the data contained within one or more data warehouses. Spatial consistency includes topological consistency, or the conformance to topological rules (Hadzilacos & Tryfona, 1992, Rodríguez, 2005). Detection of inconsistencies in vector spatial data is an important step for improvement of spatial data quality (Redman, 1992; Veregin, 1991). An approach for detecting topo-semantic inconsistencies in vector spatial data is presented. Inconsistencies between pairs of neighboring vector spatial objects are detected by comparing relations between spatial objects to rules (Klein, 2007). A property of spatial objects, called elasticity, has been defined to measure the contribution of each of the objects to inconsistent behavior. Grouping of multiple objects, which are inconsistent with one another, based on their elasticity is proposed. The ability to detect groups of neighboring objects that are inconsistent with one another can later serve as the basis of an effort to increase the quality of spatial data sets stored in data warehouses, as well as increase the quality of results of data-mining processes.
Classification of Imbalanced Data with Random Sets and Mean-Variance Filtering
Authors: Vladimir Nikulin
Published: May 2011

Imbalanced data represent a significant problem because the corresponding classifier has a tendency to ignore patterns which have smaller representation in the training set. We propose to consider a large number of balanced training subsets where representatives from the larger pattern are selected randomly. As an outcome, the system will produce a matrix of linear regression coefficients where rows represent random subsets and columns represent features. Based on the above matrix we make an assessment of the stability of the influence of the particular features. It is proposed to keep in the model only features with stable influence. The final model represents an average of the single models, which are not necessarily a linear regression. The above model had proven to be efficient and competitive during the PAKDD-2007 Data Mining Competition.
A Procedure Model for a SOA-Based Integration of Enterprise Systems
Authors: Lammer Anne , Eggert Sandy , Gronau Norbert
Published: May 2011

Enterprise systems are being transferred into a service-oriented architecture. In this article we present a procedure for the integration of enterprise systems. The procedure model starts with decomposition into Web services. This is followed by mapping redundant functions and assigning of the original source code to the Web services, which are orchestrated in the final step. Finally an example is given how to integrate an Enterprise Resource Planning System and an Enterprise Content Management System using the proposed procedure model.
How do Collaborative Technologies Affect Innovation in SMEs?
Authors: Meroño-Cerdán Angel Luis , Soto-Acosta Pedro , López-Nicolás Carolina
Published: May 2011

This study seeks to assess the impact of collaborative technologies on innovation at the firm level. Collaborative technologies’ influence on innovation is considered here as a multistage process that starts at adoption and extends to use. Thus, the effect of collaborative technologies on innovation is examined not only directly, the simple presence of collaborative technologies, but also based on actual collaborative technologies’ use. Given the fact that firms can use this technology for different purposes, collaborative technologies’ use is measured according to three orientations: e-information, e-communication, and e-workflow. To achieve these objectives, a research model is developed for assessing, on the one hand, the impact of the adoption and use of collaborative technologies on innovation and, on the other hand, the relationship between adoption and use of collaborative technologies. The research model is tested using a dataset of 310 Spanish SMEs.
Designing Automated Learning for Effective Training and Skills Development
Authors: Hai-Jew Shalin
Published: May 2011

This chapter explores automated e-learning for training in career and technical education (CTE). This addresses the foundational pedagogical theories, various applied technologies, the selection of learning contents to automate, various sequencing strategies, pedagogical agentry and intelligent tutoring agents, and human-centered mitigations to enhance this learning. Games and simulations are a special kind of popular automated training. Also, this chapter will cover various personalization strategies in automated learning to individualize and enhance the learning experience.
Integration of Human Resource Management Knowledge into Career and Technical Education
Authors: Bartlett II James E. , Bartlett Michelle E.
Published: May 2011

Career and technical education (CTE) occupations require highly skilled workers. This workforce must possess very specific technical skills. In addition to the technical skills, these professionals need to posses knowledge, skills, and abilities for the workplace that are non-technical in nature. To ensure students have this non-technical preparation, core interpersonal skills and business components are needed in the CTE curriculum. The integration of human resource development and management (HRD & M) concepts in CTE can develop these skills. Understanding the human resource (HR) component provides those entering CTE professions a better systems view of the organization and how the organization functions outside of their own technical area. Additionally, the understanding and knowledge of core HR components, that are not technical skills, are needed when human resource functions are integrated into technical job roles. When entering the workforce new professionals will need to perform HR functions. Often times CTE students are not highly prepared for non-technical skills in their CTE education. Therefore CTE should have HR concepts integrated into the curriculum so graduates are prepared to successfully implement the education they received into a workplace setting. With this in mind, this chapter seeks to provide an overview of HRD & M concepts, discuss how HRD & M are integrated into the work roles of those entering CTE professions, and show how these concepts can be integrated into CTE courses.
Building a Holistic Foundation for Leadership and Management through Online Learning
Authors: Juozapavicius Sharon G.
Published: May 2011

Leadership and management, in their truest state, represent a compilation of knowledge gained through the entire spectrum of experiential learning. While these terms are familiar as unique and individual entities, in today’s global economy they are inexorably linked and increasingly essential. The paradigms of a Novice Leader/Manager and Leader/Manager are discussed along with the communication and acquisition of essential knowledge areas and skill sets via e-learning. Explored are three key areas: the importance of building a holistic foundation for the individual’s role as a Leader/Manager, the essential journey the student, as a Novice Leader/Manager, must take to ferret out and enhance his/her own ability to recognize and close gaps in personal Leader/Manager development, and pathways to guide and support the student’s discovery and transition from difficulties and pitfalls to operating at a point of top level skills and interaction via long distance online learning.
Key Aspects of Teaching and Learning in the Online Environment
Authors: Daffron Sandra R. , Barse AJ , Webster Edward
Published: May 2011

Delivery of Postsecondary Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes by distance learning has increased dramatically in the last decade as students and workers strive to juggle busy work schedules, school, and family obligations. The trend to offer CTE classes by distance education, especially by e-learning (delivered through electronic means) is rapidly increasing requiring instructors in the faceto- face classroom to make a quick transition to e-learning. Instruction by e-learning requires different practices, theories of teaching, design models, and methods of delivery. The key aspects of teaching and learning in the e-learning environment are discussed with scenarios for application.