bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Scope of e-Learning: Expanded Horizons for Life-Long Learning
Authors: McKay Elspeth , Martin Bill
Published: October 2017

The purpose of this paper is to open a discourse on the broad scope of e-Learning. The authors provide an overview of a much larger debate—mindful that the consequential topics are far reaching. The discussion first deals with the need to utilize meta-knowledge within the context of Web-based learning providing the background for the process of scoping e-Learning. The e-Learning phenomenon we experience today provides courseware designers with an opportunity to revisit all the fundamentals of instructional science involving learning theories and human performance. In setting the scene for the reader, it is useful to drill into the background issues of the digital learning context. It will be shown that the scope of e-Learning is more comprehensive than the commonly accepted issue of electronic delivery of instructional/learning materials. Wise use of the technologies can provide the leverage human beings require at this point for expanding their horizons for life-long learning.
Network Monitoring Tool
Authors: Meshram B.B.Meshram , S.Bhiogade Mittal , Sontakke T.R.Sontakke
Published: October 2017

A Network Monitoring Tool “NETMON” is presented in this paper We have developed the tool that will Monitor the Network of any company say “XYZ” by performing certain Tests. NETMON will monitor the network by performing certain tests such as ping test, memory test, disk test, uptime test and URL test that would help to analyze where exactly the problem lies in the Network. The Results of the Tests are displayed in the forms of graphs that can be viewed on the browser. These Tests will produce the Results as the ouput, which will be stored in the database. Test Graphs will be generated from the Test Results stored in the database. These Test Graphs will help us to analyze where and at what time in the Network the congestion had occurred.
Modelling Online Security and Privacy to Increase Consumer Purchasing Intent
Authors: Milloy Michael , Fink Dieter , Morris Robyn
Published: October 2017

This paper investigates the concerns consumers have with respect to security and privacy when determining purchasing intent in the Web environment. The online retailing environment (e-retailing) is examined and various issues relating to security and privacy are identified as potential inhibitors for e-retailing. The paper then presents a model of the interaction between online security and online privacy taking into account the online experience levels of consumers and the role that symbols and statements have on security and privacy considerations. Based on the theoretical foundations of the paper, a number of research propositions are developed which can be tested by subsequent empirical research. The paper concludes that security and privacy are evolving issues both requiring continuing research. It can however be postulated that consumers will, albeit slowly, come to terms with online security and privacy, possibly due to different reasons. An improved understanding of how these issues impact on consumer purchasing intent will enhance e-retailers’ ability to formulate strategies to overcome inhibitors and incorporate promoters of trust with respect to security and privacy issues into their website designs. This may well speed up the process of consumers coming to terms online security and privacy and can only serve to foster the growth of e-retailing in the future.
The Skills Gap as Observed between IS Graduates and the Systems Development Industry: A South African Experience
Authors: Scott Elsje , Alger Robert , Pequeno Simon , Sessions Nicky
Published: October 2017

This paper discusses the results of an investigation into the skills gap between Information Systems (IS) graduates at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the South African Systems Development Industry. Three objectives were defined for this study. Firstly to measure the alignment between the level of skills possessed by students and the level of skills demanded by development companies. Secondly to identify and compare the most prominent specific skills that industry requires with the skills of students and thirdly to determine whether the students obtained the skills directly through UCT. The study revealed that there was alignment between the importance rating of companies and the skills of students in some areas, but not in others. Although correlation exists between the specific skills and technologies that industry requires and those which students possess, knowledge of certain technologies is lacking from the formal IS curriculum.
Creating Informative Data Warehouses: Exploring Data and Information Quality through Data Mining
Authors: L. Viktor Herna , Motha Wayne
Published: October 2017

Increasingly, large organizations are engaging in data warehousing projects in order to achieve a competitive advantage through the exploration of the information as contained therein. It is therefore paramount to ensure that the data warehouse includes high quality data. However, practitioners agree that the improvement of the quality of data in an organization is a daunting task. This is especially evident in data warehousing projects, which are often initiated “after the fact”. The slightest suspicion of poor quality data often hinders managers from reaching decisions, when they waste hours in discussions to determine what portion of the data should be trusted. Augmenting data warehousing with data mining methods offers a mechanism to explore these vast repositories, enabling decision makers to assess the quality of their data and to unlock a wealth of new knowledge. These methods can be effectively used with inconsistent, noisy and incomplete data that are commonplace in data warehouses.
RepCom: A Customisable Report Generator Component System using XML-driven Component-based Development Approach
Authors: Chee Hoong Leong , Sai Peck Lee
Published: October 2017

It is undeniable that report generation is one of the most important tasks in many companies regardless of the size of the company. A good report generation mechanism can increase a company’s productivity in terms of effort and time. This is more obvious in some startup companies, which normally use some in-house report generators. Application development could be complex and thus software developers might require substantial efforts in maintaining application program code. In addition, most of the report generators use a different kind of format to store the report model. An application is no longer considered an enterprise-level product if XML is not being used elsewhere. This paper introduces a XML-driven and Component-based development approach to report generation with the purpose of promoting portability, flexibility and genericity. In this approach, report layout is specified using user-defined XML elements together with queries that retrieve data from different databases. A report is output as an HTML document, which can be viewed using an Internet browser. This paper presents the approach using an example and discusses the usage of the XML-driven report schema and how the proposed reusable report engine of a customisable report generator component system works to output an HTML report format. The customisable report generator component system is implemented to support heterogeneous database models.
The Acceptance of Object-Oriented Development Methodologies in Australian Organizations and the Place of UML in Information Systems Programs
Authors: Alan Hodgett Richard
Published: October 2017

It is claimed that the Unified Modeling Language (UML) is emerging as the accepted standard graphical language for specifying, constructing, visualizing and documenting the object oriented information systems development process. As such it has gained a place in many information systems programs. An investigation of Australian organizations indicates that the use of object oriented development methodologies and UML is gradually increasing in Australia but is still to see general acceptance. This raises the question of the priority that should be accorded to the inclusion of UML in competition with other topics and issues in information systems education programs.
'Informees' as Informers? An Approach to Effective Informing
Authors: Miliszewska Iwona , Venables Anne
Published: October 2017

An Intelligent Systems subject is offered in the final year of the Computer Science degree. The subject includes a diverse selection of topics in artificial intelligence and intelligent agents. The paper reflects on an innovative approach to the implementation of this subject. The development of the approach drew on educational research and the Informing Science paradigm. The aims of the approach included enga g-ing students in active learning, integrating theory with practice, and presenting the subject matter in an effective way. An innovative aspect of the approach was participatory teaching, i.e. students acting as guest lecturers and workshop presenters. The paper presents evaluation results indicating that the aims of the approach were achieved to a large extent.
Emergent Development of Web-based Education
Authors: Jones David , Lynch Teresa , Jamieson Kieren
Published: October 2017

There are problems with the adoption and use of many organizational implementations of Web-Based Education (WBE). This paper puts forward the view that the problems stem from a misfit between the development methodologies commonly used to implement these systems and the context in which they are being applied. This misfit contributes to a number of the problems and shortcomings faced with implementing WBE. The paper describes the application and use of emergent development methodologies of WBE and suggests that such methodologies are a better fit for many organizational level developments in WBE. The focus of this paper is WBE within the University sector.
Integrating Computer Ethics into the Computing Curriculum: A Framework for Implementation
Authors: Barnard Andries , de Ridder Corne , Pretorius Laurette , Cohen Eli
Published: October 2017

The advent of the Information Age and global connectivity has placed ethics center stage in the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). As the drive towards the establishment of a so-called IT profession gains momentum, ethical conduct and codes of ethics have recently been formulated and introduced formally. Initiatives in this regard can be attributed to, among others, the ACM and the IEEE. Of particular significance is the ImpactCS Project commissioned by the joint taskforce of the ACM and IEEE, and funded by the USA’s National Science Foundation. The increased globalization and inherent nature of ICT transcend physical and cultural borders, making it increasingly difficult to enforce accepted laws, regulations, and codes of conduct. It is thus the responsibility of Computer Science and Information Systems instructors to teach and instill professional values and ethical analysis skills in each and every student. Therefore, we investigate some issues pertaining to the teaching of computer ethics. We conclude this paper by presenting a possible framework to be used in the teaching of computer ethics, and apply this framework to our own institution.
Distance Education in Library and Information Science Discipline: The Valdosta State University Case
Authors: Koehler Wallace , Blair Vera
Published: October 2017

The library and information science discipline in the United States has thoroughly embraced distance education to deliver its courses and other curricular offerings. Courses have been or are offered through a variety of mechanisms, some with deep historical roots, others are dependent upon new and emerging Internet technologies. Different distance education methods offer different opportunities but also diffe rent problems. This paper discusses the approach taken at one university - asynchronous Web course delivery - and the lessons we have learned from those experiences. Given our circumstances and opportunities, we have at times adopted alternatives to technological solutions, including hybrid courses and cross-listing of courses at sister institutions to meet student needs.
Self-Study Interactive Lectures
Authors: David Brecht H. , M. Ogilby Suzanne , Sauls Eugene
Published: October 2017

This paper presents the groundwork development of a computer assisted learning program called SelfStudy Interactive Lectures (SSIL). SSIL is an enriched classroom presentation that uses transcript-quality lecture notes and OFFICE programming features to facilitate and empower students’ learning at a greater depth than otherwise obtainable. A major feature of SSIL is its response to variation in students’ abilities to understand complex material, such as accounting. The paper provides an overview of SSIL and discusses the implications for the scope and depth of lecture coverage. As a case study, students in classes using SSIL were surveyed and the results of the surveys are reported in the paper. This is seed research in nature, opening up opportunities for future research into the SSIL methodology’s connection to pedagogical theory and its testing for more general application in other classroom settings.
Warranty as a Factor for E-commerce Success
Authors: Christozov Dimitar , Mateev Plamen
Published: October 2017

Two groups of factors impact the success of e-commerce transaction: environmental factors and content of the messages exchanged between the seller and the buyer. The first group includes factors describing the environment in which the seller-buyer relationship operates, such as IT infrastructure, Logistic Infrastructure, Financial Infrastructure, and Government regulations. Second group -- content of the message -- covers these elements of the message, which improve the trust between the two parties (especially the buyer’s trust). Among them, the statement about warranty plays critical role as the risk reducing information send by the seller. The two aspects of warranty message are considered: malfunctioning (the product does not operate as it is expected by the seller) and misinforming (the product does not operate as it is expected by the buyer).
Socio Economic Factors Affecting Home Internet Usage Patterns in Central Queensland
Authors: J. Taylor W , X Zhu G. , Dekkers J. , Marshall S.
Published: October 2017

This paper aims to identify associations between demographic and socioeconomic factors and home Internet use patterns in the Central Queensland region, Australia. It found that people living outside of Rockhampton, male, those with higher education levels, married, those with higher income level, or fully employed tend to use Internet more for work at home; people living in Rockhampton, those within the youngest group (18-24), or with secondary education level or higher tend to use Internet more for education; people living in Rockhampton, those within the youngest group, never married, or unemployed tend to use Internet more for entertainment; males, people within the youngest group, those with lower family income, or either semi-employed or unemployed tend to use Internet more for information search; females, people with no children, or lower family income tend to use Internet more for communication through email; married people tend to use Internet for financial management; and people within 25-39 year old group, with higher education levels tend to use Internet more for on-line purchases. It is suggested that further research should be conducted to monitor the youngest age group in home Internet use for entertainment and information search.
Teaching Objectives of a Simulation Game for Computer Security
Authors: E. Irvine Cynthia , F Thompson Michael
Published: October 2017

This paper describes a computer simulation game being developed to teach computer security principles. The player of the game constructs computer networks and makes choices affecting the ability of these networks and the game’s virtual users to protect valuable assets from attack by both vandals and well-motivated professionals. The game introduces the player to the need for well formed information security policies, allowing the player to deploy a variety of means to enforce security policies, including authentication, audit and access controls. The game will depict a number of vulnerabilities ranging from trivial passwords to trap doors planted by highly skilled, well-funded adversaries.
Investigating Suggestions for Increasing the Throughput Rate of IS Students
Authors: Naude Elsa , Horne Tertia
Published: October 2017

During the past few years science faculties at tertiary education institutions in South Africa have had to face increasing pressure from national as well as provincial government bodies to improve the student throughput rate. Various suggestions have been made to achieve this goal. This paper investigates the viability of two of these suggestions for solving the throughput problem. It is part of a larger reflexive research project investigating various aspects of the teaching and learning of Computing and IS through distance education. Information from the assignment records and the examination marks of students for a specific Computer Science second year module with a practical component was used for this study.
Using Sounds to Present and Manage Information in Computers
Authors: Kallinen Kari
Published: October 2017

The auditive modality, such as speech, signals and natural sounds, is one of the most important ways to present and communicate information. However, in computer interfaces the possibilities of auditive modality have been almost totally neglected. Usually the audio consists of simple signals (beeps and clicks) or background music. The present paper outlines some of the possibilities in presenting and managing information in computers by using audio from the perspective of the semiotic theory of signs. Auditive interfaces can be especially useful for people with visual or kinaesthetic disabilities, as well as in places and with devices when the visual-kinaesthetic using of the machine is difficult, for example while on the move or with small display devices.
Knowledgebases: A Management Context and Development Determinants
Authors: L. Owoc Mieczyslaw
Published: October 2017

Contemporary computers give huge possibilities for processing different structures of data e.g. multimedia data types and very unconstrained in construction - object types. Moreover these different structures are processed using methods called intelligent. Knowledgebases (a specific sort of intelligent systems), as a consequence of variety of solutions, belong ambiguous terms. Principally, applications with a stored knowledgebase and a reasoning mechanism - to stress its structural components - are termed knowledgebases. Directions of the research concerning knowledgebases and expressing their peculiar characteristics (coming from the main message of scientific formation in the past) are presented in this paper. The starting point of the paper is observed impact of management processes on intelligent systems and vice versa. Managerial context (including classical, behavioural, quantitative, integrating contemporary and future management approaches) of knowledgebases became the ground to draft development of applications of this sort framework. Taking into account research on knowledgebases, a set of knowledgebase development determinants is discussed.
Exploring the Role of Academia in Nurturing IT-Enabled Business Change
Authors: McDonagh Joe , Coghlan David
Published: October 2017

Throughout much of the last five decades the process of introducing, integrating, and exploiting information technology in work organizations has posed formidable challenges regularly resulting in reports of significant underperformance and failure. On closer inquiry it emerges that such underperformance and failure are firmly rooted in an inability to foster a highly integrated approach to the management of IT-enabled business change. This paper critiques in detail both the enduring and deep-rooted nature of this dilemma paying particular attention to the role of diverse occupational communities in its perpetuation through time. Furthermore, it explicates the polarized patterns of cognition and action embedded in these communities paying particular attention to the executive, information technology, and organization development communities. Finally, it presents a robust critique of the manner in which academic formation within these occupational communities firmly reinforces such polarized patterns of behaviour thereby sustaining the enduring dilemma with IT-enabled business change.
Discovering and Interpreting Meaning in Finnish and American Codes of Communication
Authors: Berry Michael , Carbaugh Donal , Nurmikari-Berry Marjatta
Published: October 2017

Information technologies bring into view not only ideas and their transmission via electronic devices, but also means of expression and the meanings they assume for readers / listeners / viewers. This transformation -- from information through technology to expressions and their meanings -- is an intrinsic part of any electronically mediated communication. This project explores one such electronically mediated text, Tango Finlandia, a segment of the popular American news program, 60 Minutes, as it has been broadcast and discussed prominently in the United States and Finland. Analyses of exchanges between Finnish and American students demonstrate how the "exact same" televisual information and the "exact same" English words convey information that is transformed into two different expressive systems with very different cultural meanings.
Misinforming Knowledge through Ontology
Authors: Davey Bill , Tatnall Arthur
Published: October 2017

A fundamental of the formation of virtual organizations, or capturing effective organizational memory is the creation of an ontology. Existing organizational memory software systems uniformly suffer from the problem of initializing the ontology. Another, less recognized, problem of ontologies is their poor record in capturing implicit and informal relationships within and between actors. This paper postulates that previous work on an ecological model of relationships can be applied to bootstrapping an ontology. This model seeks to capture the complexity of relationships using language arising from the areas of ecology which has a long history of dealing with complex relationships.
New State Models for Internetwork Technology
Authors: Paul Maj S. , Kohli Gurpreet
Published: October 2017

There are a wide range of equally valid approaches to teaching networking. One approach is to teach internetworking technologies (switches, routers). However, an extensive analysis of educational materials in this area has indicated that these devices are typically treated as 'black boxes'. This is contrary to educational theory that supports the need for a conceptual model. Two state models were designed and used as the pedagogical foundation of network curriculum. These models are valid for different levels of technical complexity and work to date strongly suggests they support student learning. Based on these results the models have been further developed.
Promoting Fusion in the Business-IT Relationship
Authors: Evans Nina
Published: October 2017

Failed Information Technology (IT) projects are common in organisations, as IT solutions often do not meet the expectations of business clients. Business experts often have a negative perception of the people working in the IT function. There seems to be a proverbial “chicken-and-egg situation”: the relationship between business and IT suffers because IT projects fail to solve the real business need and, on the other hand, many IT projects fail because of existing interpersonal relationship problems between business- and IT employees. Research was done to identify categories of issues in the business-IT interface and rank them in order of significance. The term “fusion” is used in this paper, to refer to the process by which the elements of the IT function and the rest of the business work together to achieve a common goal. This paper reports on the categories of issues and draws a conclusion of what would constitute fusion in the business-IT interface.
A Computer Hardware/Software/Services Planning and Selection Course for the CIS/IT Curriculum
Authors: Maniotes John , R. Winer Charles
Published: October 2017

A problem that has been neglected in CIS/IT curricula is, how will students and recent graduates go about planning and selecting computer hardware, software, and services in a cost effective manner. The authors will present a list of compelling arguments for the establishment of such a course and describe its contents and the details of its implementation.
The Need for an Analysis Body of Knowledge (ABOK) - Will the Real Analyst Please Stand Up?
Authors: Evans Nina
Published: October 2017

An in-depth study of the business-IT interface produced numerous reasons why Information Technology (IT) solutions often do not meet the expectations of the business client. Major contributors towards the expectation gap are: Insufficient analysis of the business problem, bad user requirement specifications and documentation, ineffective communication and interpersonal relationship problems. All of these are the responsibility of the business- and/or systems analyst, who acts as a bridge between the IT function and the rest of the business. There is confusion about the title, role and required knowledge and skills of analysts. A formal ‘Body of Knowledge’ (BOK) can address the confusion in the ICT industry and guide higher education institutions to effectively prepare such employees for the industry. This article discusses the results of the initial phase of a joint research project by the Tshwane University of Technology and the Special Interest Group for Analysis in South Africa towards creating such an Analysis Body of Knowledge (ABOK). In this phase the need for a BOK was determined and the world of analysis in South Africa investigated to draw up a preliminary analysis profile. The plans for follow-up research to develop a comprehensive ABOK are also discussed.
Students’ Pedagogical Preferences in the Delivery of IT Capstone Courses
Authors: Lynch Kathy , Goold Annegret , Blain Jenny
Published: October 2017

Capstone courses are used extensively in teaching information technology to expose students to realistic, work-like situations, though in a controlled environment. The value of the experiences the student engages in, and the skills and knowledge they develop are not questioned, as they are accepted as a beneficial precursor to professional work. The pedagogical methods used to deliver capstone courses vary across academic programme, institution, country and culture. The research explores information technology students’ preferences for the delivery of capstone projects from three different pedagogical delivery approaches and suggests that students want a certain level of anonymity, but at the same time they want direction and assistance when they determine they require it. Emerging from the findings are several recommendations that developers of capstone projects and courses may wish to address.
Making a CASE for Using the Students Choice of Software or Systems Development Tools
Authors: Howell Barbara
Published: October 2017

This positioning paper focuses on the selection of software for educational purposes and how the selection process may encourage usage. Computer Aided Software or Systems Engineering (CASE) tools provided an appropriate e software example for this study. The paper also seeks to examine if the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) such as CASE can aid the students’ understanding of systems analysis and design techniques. Entity relationship modelling has been used as the primary technique. Focus groups comprising postgraduate and undergraduate students were used as the main data collection instrument supported by a pre and post assessment test. The findings provided a clear indication of which CASE tool the participants found easiest to use and which tool they were interested in using. It was further found that some tools have unique properties that may assist the user in their understanding. This paper also provides a valuable platform for defining future research in this area.
Assessing the Impact of Instructional Methods and Information Technology on Student Learning Styles
Authors: Kumar Poonam , Kumar Anil , Smart Karl
Published: October 2017

In an era of increased accountability in assessing student learning outcomes, greater emphasis has been focused on factors that influence student learning. In this paper we examine the impact of instructional methods and information technology on student learning styles, all critical factors affecting student learning. A research framework that suggests the relationship of instructional processes and information technology to learning styles is proposed. Using the framework, pre-and post-tests based on the Grasha-Riechmann Student Learning Styles Scales were used to assess changes in student learning styles over the course of a semester in three college-level courses. Through specific instructional intervention coupled with collaborative projects and the use of course-management software, the results of the assessments showed a significant increase in students’ Collaborative, Participant, and Independent learning styles over the course of the semester. Implications for practice and additional research are suggested.
The Usage of E-Learning Material to Support Good Communication with Learners
Authors: Hussain Hanafizan
Published: October 2017

The focus of this research is to determine whether the exposure to e-learning materials enables students to improve their English. Test scores before and after being exposed to e-learning material have been compared to discover whether there is any appreciable improvement in students’ English Language proficiency levels. Students’ profiles on the computer-assisted learning are studied to determine the effectiveness with some recommendation for developing better elearning material especially in blended technology widely used in Malaysian institutions. The paper shows that students learn by doing, not only by sitting in the classroom or listening to a lecture. Furthermore, students learn from failure, because mistakes stimulate questions, and it is only when students have a question that they are receptive to advice. Students learn from stories if delivered on a ‘just-in-time’ basis, as the remediation of some failure or in answer to students’ question.
Informing with Workflow Technologies
Authors: Gackowska Nelly
Published: October 2017

Organizational process and information delivery automation with workflow technologies is an effective method used by information technology departments to help reach institutional objectives by better informing their end users, clients and stakeholders. This presentation mentions four useful models of implementing workflow technologies. The focus is on no-search or zero-click messages or reports, when information is finding the client instead the client searching for information. It also discusses technological and organizational constraints, as well as incorporation of components of Business Process Re-engineering, Customer Relationship Management, Change Management and Object Oriented organizational analysis to develop information systems able to meet today’s information demands and expectations. Effectiveness of these strategies is yet to be investigated; however, there are sufficient empirical data that promise high success rate. A case scenario developed by the Information Technology Department and initial research at our University will be presented to start a discussion of various approaches.
Behavioural Issues in Software Development: The Evolution of a New Course Dealing with the Psychology of Computer Programming
Authors: Lenarcic John
Published: October 2017

A historical account is presented of the evolution of a new postgraduate level university course dealing with the psychology of computer programming. An outline of the course is presented and its objectives are discussed, as well as possible reasons for its premature demise and initiatives that could be undertaken to resurrect the format in a new guise.
Music in Cyberspace
Authors: W. L. Fong Michelle
Published: October 2017

The music scene in cyberspace is an example of how a legal framework has been developed to curb online copyright infringement. The emergence, in the mid-1990’s, of online music websites and software programs such as MP3 technology to compress and download music, have delivered considerable copyright threat to the music industry. This threat has been further exacerbated by the remarkable development of technological innovations, such as high-speed broadband Internet connection and affordable CD burners, which are capable of delivering fast download and reasonably good audio and visual quality. This emerging information technology has made reproducing and sharing the work of others extremely easy, and has caused great concern for the music industry. This paper traces the evolution of the digital music scene in cyberspace and describes the attempts of the US and Australian music trade groups in putting an end to music piracy in cyberspace.
Extended Object Languages for The Extolware Persistent Framework
Authors: Ming Lim Tong , Sai Peck Lee
Published: October 2017

Users interact with a database system through a set of database languages and this makes designing database languages a very challenging task to a computer software engineer. A set of well-defined database languages must be easy to learn, easy to understand and powerful enough to capture semantic of a problem domain. This paper discusses design issues of a proposed database language, namely Extended Object Language or EOL for short, for an Extolware Persistent Object framework (Lim & Lee, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002a, 2002b, 2002c) that provide wrapping services for relational database systems and multidimensional database systems (DataPro, 1996; IBM Corp., 2001; Informix Software Inc., 2001a, 2001b). This research examines SQL3 (Fortier, 1999) and ODL/OQL (Cattell & Barry, 1999) with an overview of their language constructs and operators that support object-oriented requirements as stated in Object Data Management Group (ODMG) object model. Next, a discussion on the Extended Object Language (EOL) and its language constructs are examined. This is followed by a close examination of new database operators and constructs introduced into EOL. A design overview and evaluation of these database languages are examined. A summary on these languages is presented at the end of the paper with conclusion and further research plans.
Working in a Group before Meeting Face-to-Face - A Case of International Student Online Project
Authors: Wu Hong , Andersson Gunnar , Wilichowski Mathias
Published: October 2017

This paper describes a case of an international student online project. The project was a part of cooperation between two European educational institutions, 0stfold University College in Norway and University of Wismar in Germany. An international student group consisting of three German students and five Norwegian students joined this project. Technically, the project was testing of an open source based online platform, LearnLoop (http://www.learnloop.org/). Organizationally, the project was used as a preparing phase for German visiting students, as well as international openings for Norwegian students. The project topic was focused on international communication and environment issues. As a result, the German students were able to getting familiar with Norway and Norwegian education system, and working methods. The Norwegian students also acquired international experiences by working this project with their German costudents. This paper describes the process of this joint international student project, and presents the detailed analysis of online activities, as well as offline student activities throughout the project phases.
Online Securities Trading in China
Authors: W. L. Fong Michelle
Published: October 2017

This paper looks at the adoption of information technology in the Chinese stock exchanges and for online securities trading in China. Because these stock exchanges do not have any major preexisting technology to consider when they automate their operations, they are able to adopt advanced technology. However, the potential and advantages offer by this technology cannot be fully harvested without fundamental structures and proper corporate governance mechanisms in place.
Establishing the IT Student’s Perspective to e-Learning: Preliminary Findings from a Queensland University of Technology Case
Authors: Partridge Helen , Edwards Sylvia
Published: October 2017

The Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is committed to providing outstanding learning environments and programs that lead to excellent outcomes for students. This paper will discuss how the Faculty of Information Technology is helping to meet this commitment by using information and communication technology to transform teaching and learning in ways in which engage and challenge students. The paper will provide a case study explore how e-learning is being implemented within the Bachelor of Information Technology. The paper will discuss the practical implications of incorporating e-learning into the teaching curriculum and how it impacts on the teaching and learning process. Student attitudes and expectations towards e-learning will be explored. The paper concludes that e-learning should be a part of a ‘whole of learning’ approach in which technology is not just an add on to traditional teaching, nor is it the central focus of teaching, but rather, it is one of many tools that is integrated into the curriculum to foster learning. The current project suggests that students appreciate and prefer a mix of e-learning and face-to-face classes and that e-learning is most successful when a holistic approach to teaching and learning is taken.
Creating a Networking Lab for Business Students
Authors: A. Chilton Michael
Published: October 2017

When faced with a decision to acquire and install a networking lab for business students, the question looms as to the purpose and the learning objectives for such a lab. In addition, the technology is expensive and the effort required to set up the lab, define its pedagogical focus and prepare experiments that help achieve this focus can be a daunting task. However, modern business colleges must incorporate state of the art networking technologies into its curriculum and provide an opportunity for students to learn by doing. This paper presents the results of the creation of a networking lab including its physical setup, discusses the obstacles faced during its implementation and how they were overcome, and provides a roadmap for educators interested in adding a similar lab to their school. (Funding for the lab was generously provided by a group of alumni with a match from their employer for the specific purpose of creating a networking laboratory.) The lab is intended for business students majoring in Information Systems who must be prepared to make decisions concerning the acquisition and implementation of networking.
Information Politics and Information Culture: Case of a Festival Organization
Authors: Travica Bob
Published: October 2017

This article introduces the concepts of information politics and information culture and presents a case study that explores these concepts. The literature from the areas of IS theory and organization theory that provides a backdrop to these concepts is discussed. A case of an organization that has characteristics of both small business and voluntary organization is presented as initial validation of the concepts of information politics and information culture. The case draws on a longitudinal interpretivist study and tracks a trajectory of organizational design, information politics, information culture, management and organizational performance over 25 months. The primary finding is that the organization studied exhibited two distinct information politics and information cultures, each related to different development phases—the era of clan and the era of teams. The article also discusses particular aspects of information politics and information culture and how these relate to organizational performance. Derived are implications for further research on information politics and information culture as well as for a broader parent framework called Information View of Organization.
Modular Inference Trees for Expository Reports
Authors: Mende Jens
Published: October 2017

When people write a report that involves a complex argument towards a conclusion, they can use a design tool called the inference tree, which enables them to outline the argument, and quickly detect reasoning errors in the outline. Yet when the argument is very complex, the inference tree may spread over several pages, so that writers may often have to flip back and forth between those pages. To prevent unnecessary flipping, they can draw the tree as a hierarchy of modules, similar to a modular hierarchy of program flowcharts or structure charts, where a major module controls several minor modules. In drawing the tree, writers can adopt four principles of Computing: modularity, the criterion of minimal coupling between modules, and the methods of forward and backward chaining to draw all the modules.
Building and Managing Enterprise-Wide Web Portals - Tutorial
Authors: Polgar Jana , Bram Robert , Polgar Tony
Published: October 2017

This tutorial aims at taking the participants through the concept and architecture of Web services, their components such as servlets, and JSPs; concept and usage of WSDL, and JAX-RPC-based web services. Furthermore, we introduce the concept of portals, portal page and portlets. A small part of the tutorial is devoted to the deployment practices of both - Web services and portlets. Relevant deployment descriptors - portlet.xml, web.xml - and the structure of the deployment directories are discussed. The closing remarks concentrate on the development issues from the perspective of the development manager and developer (programmer). The tutorial is based on the book “Building and Managing Enterprise wide Web services and portals” published by Idea Group. The additional material is available from http://neptune .netcomp .monash.edu.au/cpe4004/index.html .
The Performance of Web-based 2-tier Middleware Systems
Authors: Dehinbo Johnson
Published: October 2017

The overall aim of this study is to determine the performance of selected web-based dynamic middleware systems that are used for designing and implementing dynamic web application systems. This is necessary in a world where more applications are moving to the web, and slow performance of such applications can discourage users, thereby reducing profit, and reduce programmers’ productivity and quality of applications due to slow testing and execution. Java Servlets, Java Server Pages (JSP), Microsoft Active Server Pages (ASP), and Personal Home Page (PHP) were used to perform some operations on the server, like retrieving all records from a database stored on the server. The time taken since the query is initiated from the browser, to the time the query result is displayed on the client browser were measured for each of the four middleware systems as an estimate for their performance. Records were increased in multiples of thousands to estimate scalability along with the performance. PHP proved to be more efficient and more scalable.
Journey to the Center of the Core: Computers and the Internet in the Core Curriculum
Authors: Pérez Jorge , Murray Meg
Published: October 2017

Computers, digitalization and the Internet have transformed modem society. Commerce, education, communication and socialization will never be the same. Surprisingly, many universities do not require a computing course in the core curriculum. Critical information technology (IT) competencies are often taken for granted, to the detriment of students who lack computing and Internet skills. This paper describes an initiative undertaken by a computer science and information systems department to assess and remediate IT skills needed by all university students, regardless of major. The project is evolving along several dimensions: identification of discipline-independent IT competencies, assessment of IT skills among current and incoming students, and curriculum development.
The Emotional State of Technology Acceptance
Authors: Saade Raafat , Kira Dennis
Published: October 2017

Computer-phobic university students are easy to find today especially when it come to taking online courses. Affect has been shown to influence users’ perceptions of computers. Although self-reported computer anxiety has declined in the past decade, it continues to be a significant issue in higher education and online courses. More importantly, anxiety seems to be a critical variable in relation to student perceptions of online courses. A substantial amount of work has been done on computer anxiety and affect. In fact, the technology acceptance model (TAM) has been extensively used for such studies where affect and anxiety were considered as antecedents to perceived ease of use. However, few, if any, have investigated the interplay between the two constructs as they influence perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness towards using online systems for learning. In this study, the effects of affect and anxiety (together and alone) on perceptions of an online learning system are investigated. Results demonstrate the interplay that exists between affect and anxiety and their moderating roles on perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. Interestingly, the results seem to suggest that affect and anxiety may exist simultaneously as two weights on each side of the TAM scale.
Measurement of Supply Chain Integration Benefits
Authors: Trkman Peter , Groznik Aleš
Published: October 2017

The paper deals with business renovation, effective utilization of information technology and the role of business process modeling in supply chain integration projects. The main idea is to show how the performance of the supply chain can be improved with the integration of various tiers in the chain. Integration is prerequisite for effective sharing and utilization of information between different companies in the chain. Simulation-based methodology for measuring the benefits combines the simulation of business processes with the simulation of supply and demand. The theoretical findings are illustrated with the case study of procurement process in a petrol company. Old and renewed business process models are shown. The changes in lead-times, process execution costs, quality of the process and inventory costs are estimated.
A Second Opinion on the Current State of Affairs in Computer Science Education: An Australian Perspective
Authors: Narasimhan Lakshmi
Published: October 2017

This paper presents a critical look at the likely demise of Computer Science (CS) as a discipline, in the light of various mishaps that academics in Universities have met with due to trial and error. We trace the issues of the past and present and, identify the reasons why computer science as a discipline in many Universities has not moved with time - in particular why it is not kept up with the pace required by the field. The loss of computer science is also well-reflected in the huge downturn in CS student enrolment across the Anglo-Saxon world. The paper also details some steps on how to change the ways and means of CS academics. We record that some of the arguments and recommendations presented in this paper can be controversial and may not necessarily relate to scenarios that exist in other countries. Further, some of the assertions made are without comprehensive statistical data, as we could not gather them, besides gathering anecdotal evidences.