bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Online Approaches to Learning Vocabulary
Authors: Stockwell Glenn
Published: February 2011

Examples of learning vocabulary through the computer are appearing with increasing regularity in the recent CALL literature. Much of this learning, however, tends to be teacher-centred in that learners often rely on teachers to select the vocabulary items that they are to study. In the current study, pre-intermediate learners of English studying at a university in Japan were divided into two groups: a teacher-centred (TC) group where the learners were provided with online vocabulary learning activities composed of items selected by the teacher and a learner-centred (LC) group where the learners were required to compile their own vocabulary lists which were then entered by the learners themselves into a specially designed online system that would then create the vocabulary learning activities from these items. Data were collected in the form of pre- and post-testing of vocabulary items that appeared in the teaching materials and through questionnaires regarding their perceptions of the system.
Growing From Childhood into Adolescence
Authors: Yan Zheng , Zheng Robert Z.
Published: February 2011

In this theoretical review paper, the authors discuss five important issues about the science of cyber behavior as a field of scientific research. First, they argue that the science of cyber behavior as a field of research is entering its adolescence after growing from its childhood, but before spearheading into its adulthood. The paper reviews the current understanding of human behavior in general and state that behavior sciences have generated extensive knowledge about human behavior theoretically, empirically, and methodologically across multiple disciplines. Next, the authors focus on cyber communication as an example to illustrate current knowledge about various types of cyber behaviors. They showcase exemplary research programs on cyber behavior in four disciplines of behavioral sciences, social psychology, cognitive psychology, communication studies, and sociology. Finally, the paper outlines future research programs in five major directions for further development of the field. Taking the opportunity to commemorate the inaugural issue of the International Journal of Cyber Behavior, Psychology and Learning, the authors attempt to draw the first sketch of the science of cyber behavior from the perspective of history of science.
Application of Molecular Topology to the Prediction of Water Quality Indices of Alkylphenol Pollutants
Authors: Gálvez Jorge , Parreño Miriam , Pla Jordi , Sanchez Jaime , Gálvez-Llompart María , Navarro Sergio , García-Domenech Ramón
Published: February 2011

In this paper, topological-mathematical models based on multilineal regression analysis have been built as a model of the degradability of 26 alkylphenols through the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Biochemical Oxigen Demand (BOD5). Two models with three-variable were selected (r2= 0.8793 and q2=0.8075 for log(1/COD) and r2= 0.8928 and q2=0.8327 for log(1/BOD5). The models were validated by cross-validation, internal validation and randomization tests. The results, which stand in good accordance with the obtained results, confirm the robustness of the method.
Modeling of Fluid Interaction Produced by Water Hammer
Authors: Asli Kaveh Hariri , Naghiyev Faig Bakhman Ogli , Aliyev Soltan Ali Ogli , Asli Hoosein Hariri
Published: February 2011

This paper compares the computational performance of two numerical methods for two models of Transient Flow. One model was defined by method of the Eulerian based expressed in a method of characteristics “MOC”, finite difference form. The other model was defined by method of Regression. Each method was encoded into an existing hydraulic simulation model. Results indicated that the accuracy of the methods was comparable but that the “MOC” was more computationally efficient for analysis of large water transmission line. Practical investigations in this article have shown mainly this tendency.
Logistic vs. W-Lambert Information in Quantum Modeling of Enzyme Kinetics
Authors: Putz Mihai V. , Putz Ana-Maria
Published: February 2011

In this paper, the authors use the logistic temporal solution of the generalized Michaelis-Menten kinetics to provide a quantum basis for the tunnelling time and energy evaluations of Brownian enzymic reactions. The mono-substrate and mixed inhibition cases are treated and the associated quantum diagrams of the reaction mechanisms are depicted in terms of intermediate enzyme complexes. The methodology is suited for practically controlling the enzymic activity throughout absorption spectroscopy.
A Hybrid Approach Based on Self-Organizing Neural Networks and the K-Nearest Neighbors Method to Study Molecular Similarity
Authors: Amine Abdelmalek , Elberrichi Zakaria , Simonet Michel , Rahmouni Ali
Published: February 2011

The “Molecular Similarity Principle” states that structurally similar molecules tend to have similar properties—physicochemical and biological. The question then is how to define “structural similarity” algorithmically and confirm its usefulness. Within this framework, research by similarity is registered, which is a practical approach to identify molecule candidates (to become drugs or medicines) from databases or virtual chemical libraries by comparing the compounds two by two. Many statistical models and learning tools have been developed to correlate the molecules’ structure with their chemical, physical or biological properties. The role of data mining in chemistry is to evaluate “hidden” information in a set of chemical data. Each molecule is represented by a vector of great dimension (using molecular descriptors), the applying a learning algorithm on these vectors. In this paper, the authors study the molecular similarity using a hybrid approach based on Self-Organizing Neural Networks and Knn Method.
STRIDE
Authors: Deghaili Rima , Chehab Ali , Kayssi Ayman , Itani Wassim
Published: February 2011

This paper presents STRIDE: a Secure framework for modeling Trust-pRIvacy tradDEoffs in distributed computing environments. STRIDE aims at achieving the right privacy-trust tradeoff among distributed systems entities. This is done by establishing a set of secure mechanisms for quantifying the privacy loss and the corresponding trust gain required by a given network transaction. The privacy-trust quantification process allows the service requestor and provider to create the required trust levels necessary for executing the transaction while minimizing the privacy loss incurred. Moreover, STRIDE supports communication anonymity by associating each communicating entity with an administrative group. In this way, the identification information of the communicating entities is anonymously masked by the identification of their respective groups. The confidentiality, authenticity and integrity of data communication are ensured using appropriate cryptographic mechanisms. Moreover, data sent between groups is saved from dissemination by a self-destruction process. STRIDE provides a context-aware model supporting agents with various privacy-trust characteristics and behaviors. The system is implemented on the Java-based Aglets platform.
The Magic Bullet
Authors: Becker Katrin
Published: February 2011

This paper outlines a simple and effective model that can be used to evaluate and design educational digital games. It also facilitates the formulation of strategies for using existing games in learning contexts. The model categorizes game goals and learning objectives into one or more of four possible categories. An overview of the model is provided and the four categories are defined. The model is used to analyze several games. The implications that this model has for the design and use of games as instructional technologies are then described.
A Psycho-Pedagogical Framework for Multi-Adaptive Educational Games
Authors: Kickmeier-Rust Michael D. , Mattheiss Elke , Steiner Christina , Albert Dietrich
Published: February 2011

One of the trump cards of digital educational games is their enormous intrinsic motivational potential. Although learning game design is often understood on a one-fits-all level, the actual motivational strength of an educational game strongly depends on the individual learners, their very specific goals, preferences, abilities, strength and weakness, personality, and experiences with gaming. Considering motivation being a fragile and constantly changing state, it is important to continuously assess learning and gaming processes and the oscillations of motivation and immersion within a game. With this premise in mind, the authors developed a psycho-pedagogical approach to a non-invasive embedded assessment of motivational states and learning progress, feeding into a dynamic, ontology-driven learner (and gamer) model. To evaluate the approach, the demonstrator games were subject to intensive quantitative and qualitative experimental research. Results show that a meaningful personalization and an individual support are key factors of the success of learning games.
Video Game Genre Affordances for Physics Education
Authors: Anagnostou Kostas , Pappa Anastasia
Published: February 2011

In this work, the authors analyze the video game genres’ features and investigate potential mappings to specific didactic approaches in the context of Physics education. To guide the analysis, the authors briefly review the main didactic approaches for Physics and identify qualities that can be projected into game features. Based on the characteristics of the didactic approaches each video game genre’s potential for narration and simulation and affordances for reflection and assessment are evaluated, providing examples of specific games that adhere to those requirements and ways they can be utilized in educational contexts. The paper concludes by discussing the implications on serious game design and integration of games for Physics education in school environments and suggests topics for future research.
Material Selection Using a Novel Multiple Attribute Decision Making Method
Authors: Rao R. V. , Patel B. K.
Published: February 2011

Selection of a most appropriate material is a very important task in design process of every product. There is a need for simple, systematic, and logical methods or mathematical tools to guide decision makers in considering a number of selection attributes and their interrelations and in making right decisions. This paper proposes a novel multiple attribute decision making (MADM) method for solving the material selection problem. The method considers the objective weights of importance of the attributes as well as the subjective preferences of the decision maker to decide the integrated weights of importance of the attributes. Furthermore, the method uses fuzzy logic to convert the qualitative attributes into the quantitative attributes. Two examples are presented to illustrate the potential of the proposed method.
Top Technologies for Integrating Online Instruction
Authors: Tomei Lawrence A.
Published: February 2011

Online learning is the epitome of applied technology and should be integrated into as many levels of online curriculum as possible. To prepare students for the future, teachers must seize every opportunity to infuse the technologies their students will be using whenever possible. Most importantly, teachers must know what works best in an online classroom situation, i.e., podcasting, interactive whiteboards, blogs, wikis, social networking, virtual classrooms, and others. In this regard, this paper reviews specific technology-based tools that have demonstrated a rapid implementation in higher education in general and online learning specifically. In addition, it explores best practices that lead to the best use of these tools in the virtual classroom. Links to online videos demonstrating each technology are provided and an emphasis is placed on many real-world examples of how technology has already improved student learning. This paper calls for greater inclusion of specific technologies by teachers in the online classroom.
Reflecting on Portfolio Development
Authors: Lee Hea-Jin , Herner-Patnode Leah
Published: February 2011

This study adopted portfolio assessment as a means of deepening pre-service teachers’ understanding of teaching and learning. The ultimate goal of using the portfolio was to bring the program in line with the mission of the institute, the criteria of the NCATE and INTASC, and the standards of the Ohio State License. This study discusses the challenge of implementing a year-long portfolio assessment procedure, as well as investigating how the exit portfolio assessment plays a role in facilitating pre-service teachers’ professional growth in terms of knowledge, skills, and dispositions. Results indicate that preservice teachers considered the capstone portfolio as a tool for reflection, which helped them improve critical thinking skills, self-assessment, and advancement. Also, the portfolio process helped teacher candidates develop a professional identity and promote teaching. Overall, there was growth and improvement in knowledge, skills, and dispositions toward teaching, the role of a teacher and learner, and using the web-based portfolio process.
Higher and Engineering Education Quality Assurance
Authors: Gray Peter J.
Published: February 2011

Quality assurance has been defined as a means of “control over the standards, delivery, and validation of higher education” (Brock, 2007, p. 25). Over the past twenty-five years (one could say 2500 years) calls for quality assurance have caused tension inside and with regards to the outcomes of higher education. These tensions stem from differing purposes, perceptions, and processes for quality assurance on the part of the groups that compete to control these elements. In essence, it is a matter of language and power (Ewell, 1989), that is, whoever defines the language of quality assurance purposes, perceptions, and processes has the power to control higher education. Inside higher education those in different disciplines may have quite divergent views of quality assurance. Often these views are divided along the lines of the sciences and humanities, as characterized by Snow (1961). In addition, the more applied or profession-oriented disciplines, such as engineering, business, health professions, and teacher education, have their own expectations related to the standards, delivery, and validation of higher education. It is often the case that faculty and administrative cultures within an institution have differing views related to purposes, perceptions, and processes of quality assurance.
IS Faculty Research Productivity
Authors: Hu Qing , Gill T. Grandon
Published: February 2011

Why are some faculty members more productive than others in academic research? We constructed a number of hypotheses about faculty research productivity based on the life-cycle model of academic research and previous studies. Tests were conducted using data collected via a national survey of information systems (IS) faculty. The results show that while there are only two significant factors contributing positively to the research productivity-the time allocated to research activity and the existence of IS doctoral programs-many other factors appear to have significant adverse effect on research productivity, such as the number of years on faculty, the teaching load when exceeding 11 hours weekly, and non-IS, non-academic employment experience. The results also suggest that some of the commonly proposed influential factors, such as tenure status, academic rank, school type, as well as IS-related employment experience, have no significant effect at all. The implications of these findings and the limitations of the study are also discussed.
Impact of User Satisfaction and Trust on Virtual Team Members
Authors: Morris Steven A. , Marshall Thomas E. , Rainer Jr. R. Kelly
Published: February 2011

Pressured by the growing need for fast response times, mass customization, and globalization, many organizations are turning to flexible organizational forms, such as virtual teams. Virtual teams consist of cooperative relationships supported by information technology to overcome limitations of time and/or location. Virtual teams require their members to rely heavily on the use of information technology and trust in coworkers. This study investigates the impacts that the reliance on information technology (operationalized in our study via the user satisfaction construct) and trust have on the job satisfaction of virtual team members. The study findings reveal that both user satisfaction and trust are positively related to job satisfaction in virtual teams, while system use was not found to play a significant role. These findings emphasize that organizations seeking the benefits of flexible, IT-enabled virtual teams must consider both the level of trust among colleagues, and the users’ satisfaction with the information technology on which virtual teams rely.
Demonstrating Value-Added Utilization of Existing Databases for Organizational Decision-Support
Authors: Friedman Nurit L. , Pliskin Nava
Published: February 2011

Managers of healthcare organizations are increasingly aware that the potential of medical information systems exceeds mere support of routine administrative and clinical transaction processing. This article describes a case study about Maccabi Health Services, the second largest health maintenance organization in Israel and the first one to computerize clinical records resulting from routine transactions in doctors’ offices, laboratories, and pharmacies. In this case about decision-making support practices, recycling the content of existing databases made it possible to discover patterns of sub-optimal treatment without having to invest time and money in additional data-collection procedures. The case study thus demonstrates value-added utilization of patient data, beyond uses intended at the beginning, for effectively supporting the implementation and evaluation of disease-management programs. Lessons learned about organizational benefits reaped from the organization’s decision-support practices include implications for such initiatives as data warehousing, data mining, and online analytical processing.
The Impact of Expert Decision Support Systems on the Performance of New Employees
Authors: Cascante Lucila P. , Plaisent Michel , Maguiraga Lassana , Bernard Prosper
Published: February 2011

Decision support technology, expert systems, executives information systems, and artificial neural networks have been reported to be useful tools to enhance the performance of managers as they helped them to gain more knowledge, experiences, and expertise and consequently enhance the quality of the decision making. They can also be used as a training tool to transfer the knowledge of the expert to middle and top management and thus improve the performance of new employees. This communication reports the conclusions of a study conducted to verify the impact of the use of the EDSS technology (expert decision support systems) on the performance and satisfaction of new employees in the business world. A laboratory experiment using the control groups and the treatment groups was held to test the research model. The results indicate that EDSS technologies do have a positive impact on the performance of the users.
A Comparison of the Perceived Importance of Information Systems Development Strategies by Developers from the United States and Korea
Authors: Kim Chung S. , Peterson Dane K.
Published: February 2011

This study examined the perceptions of Information Systems (IS) developers from the U.S. and Korea with regards to the strategies that are considered crucial for IS success. The results of a principal component analysis revealed that the IS development strategies could be classified into four categories: (1) Organizational Integration, (2) Team Member Characteristics, (3) Project Leader Traits, and (4) Project Development Management. ANOVA results indicated that developers from both countries viewed Organizational Integration as the most important component and Project Development Management as the least important component. However, while IS developers in the U.S. viewed Team Member Characteristics as the second most important component, Korean IS developers rated the Project Leader Traits as the second most important component. Moreover, the IS developers from the U.S. rated Organizational Integration and Team Member Characteristics as significantly more important than did the IS developers from Korea. The results were discussed in terms of Hofstede’s model of national culture.
Matching Facilitator Style and Agenda Structure in Group Support Systems
Authors: Hostager Todd J. , Lester Scott W. , Bergmann Marilyn , Ready Kathryn J.
Published: February 2011

A 2x2 factorial controlled experiment was conducted to examine the effects of agenda structure and facilitator style on participant satisfaction and output quality in meetings employing group support systems (GSS.) Participants were assigned to one of four conditions: (1) relationship style/relationship agenda; (2) task style/task agenda; (3) task style/relationship agenda; and (4) relationship style/task agenda. As expected, satisfaction with the agenda, process, and outcomes was higher in the matched style/agenda conditions (1) and (2.) Surprisingly, satisfaction with facilitation and task was higher in the relationship style conditions (1) and (4.) Two expert raters were used to judge the quality of group outputs. As predicted, groups in the matched conditions produced higher quality outputs than groups in the mismatched conditions. Implications of the study for practice and future research are provided. This study is part of an ongoing program of research into the effectiveness of GSS as a tool for conducting meetings and other forms of group activity.
Inclusion of Social Subsystem Issues in IT Investment Decisions
Authors: Ryan Sherry D. , Gates Michael S.
Published: February 2011

Researchers have attempted to augment the traditional cost/benefit analysis model used in the IT decision process. However, frequently social subsystem issues are inadequately considered. Survey data, collected from a U.S. sample of 200 executives, provides an empirical assessment of how these issues compare with other IT decision criteria given differing decision types. The social subsystem issues considered most important by decision makers are also identified and the manner by which they consider these issues is investigated.
Global Service Provider Strategies and Networking Alternatives
Authors: Landi Ron , Raisinghani Mahesh
Published: February 2011

Deregulation and liberalization of the telecommunications markets has led to tough international competition. This paper presents well-established approaches used by large telecom service providers in assessing the technical and market forces impacting their network planning and strategies. This paper, in the form of a tutorial, takes the reader through the assessment and analysis processes dealing with the requirements, design and implementation issues facing global communications carriers today. Four generic telecommunication network models (varying based on the degree of capital intensity required) are presented to demonstrate that a strategy of employing these generic models to appropriate settings generates cost savings and network efficiencies. A specific case analysis conducted by the global communications carrier for a regional network in Italy is included that discusses strategic planning for the provision of new data and Internet services, and assesses alternative network designs and technologies to provide optimized solutions and service delivery.
Empirical Evaluation of an Integrated Supply Chain Model for Small and Medium Sized Firms
Authors: Sakaguchi Toru , Nicovich Stefan G. , Dibrell C. Clay
Published: February 2011

With increased global competitive pressures, companies operating in these competitive environments are not only looking to their distribution division to save money, but also to generate competitive advantages. One technique is the integrated supply chain. However, this process has not met with success for all companies, leading some managers to consider the appropriateness of an integrated supply chain. This dearth of success could be attributed to the lack of scholarship to guide managers in their efforts to formulate and then implement their integrated supply chain strategies. In an effort to fill this gap, our paper draws on resource dependency theory and the realities of ever-increasing information technology sophistication as enablers of successful supply chain integration, resulting in the creation of our model to guide managers throughout this process. Through a Web-based survey, 329 responses were collected and analyzed through a structural equation modeling technique using LISREL to confirm the relationships in the model.
A Simulation Study of Supply Chain Management to Measure the Impact of Information Sharing
Authors: Huang Zhensen , Gangopadhyay Aryya
Published: February 2011

It has been found that supply chain collaboration has a significant impact on the ability of an organization to meet customer needs and reduce costs. A key step in supply chain collaboration is sharing information among supply chain partners. In this paper a simulation study is presented to investigate the effectiveness of information sharing. The results show that from the perspectives of end inventory and back-order quantities, distributors and wholesalers gain significantly from information sharing, while not much gain can be realized for retailers.
An Investigation of Telecommunications as a Plan Location Decision Criterion
Authors: Johnson McManus Denise , Carr Houston H. , Snyder Charles A.
Published: February 2011

The concept of site selection has received extensive attention throughout history. Although plant location decision issues have always been important to US manufacturing firms, the impact of global competition has increased recognition of their importance. To successfully compete globally, manufacturers must have an effective global supply chain infrastructure, which requires effective communications. However, plant location strategies change over time, because of the dynamic nature of the variables that determine a location decision. This study was conducted to extend the location decision taxonomy by including telecommunications. The research included a specification of telecommunications attributes that impact site selection, the importance of telecommunications as a location decision criterion and the differences in location decision criteria between domestic (US) and foreign sites. The telecommunications-specific attributes determined in this study include: telecommunications infrastructure, cost, reliability, bandwidth, personnel, local and US government restrictions, and local and US government regulations on exporting and importing data. The conclusions of this study not only present evidence that telecommunications is influencing decision-makers in site selection, but also provides a list of criteria that are critical to site selection.
Explaining IT Implementation Through Group Learning
Authors: Bondarouk Tatyana , Sikkel Klaas
Published: February 2011

Implementation of an information technology (IT) system in an organization takes a certain amount of time. System usage becomes stable when users have appropriated the system and new work practices have been established. We propose a concept of group learning as a framework to highlight relevant aspects of such a process. A longitudinal case study with two opposite research results has provided a preliminary validation of the proposed model. A human resource information system (HRIS) was introduced in a hospital in two different settings. With one user group it was successfully implemented, and it failed in the other group. Analysis of the qualitative data shows a marked difference in the group learning processes between the two groups, which significantly contribute to the differences in success. These results confirm our assumption about the importance of learning processes in groupware implementation.
Compensatory Adaptation to Media Obstacles
Authors: Kock Ned
Published: February 2011

Past research on electronic communication media suggests that those media pose obstacles to communication in collaborative tasks when compared with the face-to-face medium. Yet, past research also points at mixed findings in connection with the quality of the outcomes of collaborative tasks, generally suggesting that the use of electronic communication media has no negative effect on those outcomes. A new theoretical framework building on human evolution theory, called compensatory adaptation theory, has been proposed to explain these contradictory findings. This study provides a review and test of compensatory adaptation theory. It investigates the impact of the use of an electronic communication medium on 20 business process redesign dyads involving managers and professionals at a large defense contractor, with a focus on cognitive effort, communication ambiguity, message preparation, fluency, and task outcome quality. The study suggests that even though the use of electronic communication media seemed to increase cognitive effort and communication ambiguity, it had a neutral impact on task outcome quality. These results appear to be an outcome of compensatory adaptation, whereby the members of the dyads interacting through the electronic communication medium modified their behavior in order to compensate for the obstacles posed by the medium, which is suggested by a decrease in fluency and an increase in message preparation. The results generally support predictions based on compensatory adaptation theory.
The Interaction and Effects of Perceived Cultural Diversity, Group Size, Leadership, and Collaborative Learning Systems
Authors: Lim John , Zhong Yingqin
Published: February 2011

To understand the circumstances under which the use of collaborative learning systems would enhance learning efficiency, a laboratory experiment with a 2×2×2 factorial design was conducted to investigate the interaction and effects of perceived cultural diversity, group size, and leadership on learners’ performances and satisfaction with process. Contrary to an expected negative relationship between perceived cultural diversity and performance, a positive relationship emerged as a result of leadership. Leadership lowered learners’ satisfaction with the process in perceived homogeneous groups (as compared to perceived heterogeneous groups) and smaller groups (as compared to larger groups).
Client-Vendor Relationships in Offshore Applications Development
Authors: Mirani Rajesh
Published: February 2011

This article presents an evolutionary framework for the establishment and progression of client-vendor relationships in the context of offshore applications development. It is argued that such a relationship typically begins as a cost-reduction exercise, with the client contracting out simple, structured applications to one or more offshore vendors. Over time, the client assigns increasingly complex applications to selected vendors and cultivates loose, trust-based, networklike relationships with them. As offshore applications continue to evolve and become business-critical, the client may seek to regain control by establishing a command-based hierarchy. This may be achieved through part or full ownership of a vendor organization or by starting a captive offshore subsidiary. Thus, the initial client objective of cost reduction ultimately is displaced by one pertaining to risk control. Pertinent prior research is used to justify the proposed framework. This is followed by a case study that describes how a specialty telecommunications company is pursuing just such an evolutionary path.
System-of-Systems Cost Estimation
Authors: Lane Jo Ann , Boehm Barry
Published: February 2011

As organizations strive to expand system capabilities through the development of system-of systems (SoS) architectures, they want to know “how much effort” and “how long” to implement the SoS. In order to answer these questions, it is important to first understand the types of activities performed in SoS architecture development and integration and how these vary across different SoS implementations. This article provides results of research conducted to determine types of SoS lead system integrator (LSI) activities and how these differ from the more traditional system engineering activities described in Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) 632 (“Processes for Engineering a System”). This research further analyzed effort and schedule issues on “very large” SoS programs to more clearly identify and profile the types of activities performed by the typical LSI and to determine organizational characteristics that significantly impact overall success and productivity of the LSI effort. The results of this effort have been captured in a reduced-parameter version of the constructive SoS integration cost model (COSOSIMO) that estimates LSI SoS engineering (SoSE) effort.
Could the Work System Method Embrace Systems Concepts More Fully?
Authors: Alter Steven
Published: February 2011

The work system method was developed iteratively with the overarching goal of helping business professionals understand IT-reliant systems in organizations. It uses general systems concepts selectively, and sometimes implicitly. For example, a work system has a boundary, but its inputs are treated implicitly rather than explicitly. This article asks whether the further development of the work system method might benefit from integrating general systems concepts more completely. After summarizing aspects of the work system method, it dissects some of the underlying ideas and questions how thoroughly even basic systems concepts are applied. It also asks whether and how additional systems concepts might be incorporated beneficially. The inquiry about how to use additional system ideas is of potential interest to people who study systems in general and information systems in particular because it deals with bridging the gap between highly abstract concepts and practical applications.
A Practical Method to Distribute a Management Control System in an Organization
Authors: Reyes Alfonso
Published: February 2011

This article is concerned with methodological issues. In particular, it addresses the question of how it is possible to align the design of management information systems with the structure of an organization. The method proposed is built upon the Cybersin method developed by Stafford Beer (1975) and Raul Espejo (1992). The article shows a way to intersect three complementary organizational fields: management information systems, management control systems, and organizational learning when studied from a systemic perspective, in this case from the point of view of management cybernetics (Beer, 1959, 1979, 1981, 1985).
Mining Text with the Prototype-Matching Method
Authors: Durfee A. , Visa A. , Vanharanta H. , Schneberger S. , Back B.
Published: February 2011

Text documents are the most common means for exchanging formal knowledge among people. Text is a rich medium that can contain a vast range of information, but text can be difficult to decipher automatically. Many organizations have vast repositories of textual data but with few means of automatically mining that text. Text mining methods seek to use an understanding of natural language text to extract information relevant to user needs. This article evaluates a new text mining methodology: prototype-matching for text clustering, developed by the authors’ research group. The methodology was applied to four applications: clustering documents based on their abstracts, analyzing financial data, distinguishing authorship, and evaluating multiple translation similarity. The results are discussed in terms of common business applications and possible future research.
IT Infrastructure Capabilities and Business Process Improvements
Authors: Law Chuck C.H. , Ngai Eric W.T.
Published: February 2011

It has been widely discussed in the management information systems (MIS) literature that the outcomes of information technologies (IT) and systems may be subject to the influence of the characteristics of the organization, including those of the IT and business leadership. This study was conducted to examine the relationships that may exist between IT infrastructure capabilities (ITC), business process improvements (BPI), and such IT governance-related constructs as the reporting relationship between the chief executive officer (CEO) and chief information officer (CIO), and senior management support of IT and BPI projects. Using a sample of 243 multinational and Hong Kong-listed firms operating in Greater China, this study yielded empirical support for the perceived achievement of capabilities in some dimensions of the IT infrastructure in the companies under study. It was found that the BPI construct was related to the reporting relationship between the CEO and CIO (CEO-CIO distance), and to the levels of senior management support. The dimensions of the ITC construct were also investigated and identified by an exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Associations were found between the selected organizational constructs and the ITC dimensions, except in two hypothesized relationships. Those between CEO-CIO distance and the ITC dimensions of data integration and training were not supported at the significance level of 0.05.
Examining the Merits of Usefulness Versus Use in an Information Service Quality and Information System Success Web-Based Model
Authors: Landrum Hollis T. , Prybutok Victor R. , Strutton David , Zhang Xiaoni
Published: February 2011

Managers are increasingly facing the question of how to convey electronic information to e-commerce users in a manner that enables those individuals to resolve information search related problems more easily. Information service quality and the associated performance is challenging to manage in Web-based interactions because such settings involve several features (i.e., less tangible contact, more uncertainty, differing feedback loops between business and consumer) not found in more traditional exchanges. In an attempt to capture a broader view of the quality of information service offerings in ecommerce settings, the model compares the DeLone and McLean’s framework (2003) that includes use as an outcome measure with a model suggested by Landrum and Prybutok (2004) that features usefulness as its outcome measure. A random survey of Army Corps of Engineers library customers was performed at two library sites within the Corps.
Testing for the Applicability of the TAM Model in the Arabic Context
Authors: Al-Gahtani Said S.
Published: February 2011

The present study attempts to investigate the applicability of the TAM model in the Arab context and to extend TAM with three moderating/interacting human factors. Using a survey sample collected from 722 knowledge workers using desktop computer applications on a voluntary basis in Saudi Arabia, this study sought empirical support for testing the basic structure of TAM. Toward that, the study was successful as the structure of TAM holds well in the Saudi settings. This study also empirically examined an extended TAM by incorporating gender, age and educational level as moderators of the model’s core relationships. Our findings emphasize that most of the key relationships in the model are moderated. Specifically, age moderates all the influences of computers usefulness and ease of use on attitudes and intention to use. However, gender and educational level only moderate the influence of ease of use on attitudes.Implications for management and practice of these findings are discussed.
Innovative Work and Citizenship Behaviors from Information Technology Professionals
Authors: Newton Sandra K. , Blanton J. Ellis , Will Richard
Published: February 2011

Little is known about the effects of the level of fulfillment of the IT professional’s psychological contract on their innovative work and organizational citizenship behaviors. Using psychological contract and social information processing theories, this article proposes to answer the research question: How does the level of fulfillment of the IT professionals’ psychological contract affect their organizational citizenship and innovative work behaviors? Survey data were collected from 209 IT professionals using groupadministered paper and online surveys. Results show positive relationships with the level of fulfillment of the IT professional’s psychological contract and their innovative work behavior, as well as four of their organizational citizenship behaviors, specifically loyalty, advocacy participation, obedience, and functional participation. Extending the body of knowledge, the dimensional approach of the psychological contract was used resulting in the scope, focus, and tangibility dimensions being the most significant predictors of the organizational behaviors.
Service Failure and Recovery in Electronic Retailing
Authors: Massad Nelson , Beachboard John C.
Published: February 2011

Appropriate vendor response to service failures (i.e., service recovery) may provide a means to strengthen their customer relationships. Service recovery is a well-investigated concept in the bricks-and-mortar environment, and there is a growing body of empirical research exploring service failure and recovery in the electronic environment. The present study addresses a gap in the literature by exploring how vendors recover from service failures with product-oriented transactions (e.g., online purchasing of books, apparel) and with service-oriented transactions (e.g., online banking). Failures and recoveries in product-oriented and service-oriented transactions were explored after the content analysis of 513 customer-reported incidents. The findings show that vendors are not effectively recovering from service failures, regardless of the type of transaction. Results and implications of these findings are also discussed.
The Mediating Role of Virtual Experience in Online Purchase Intentions
Authors: Wang Y. Ken , Datta Pratim
Published: February 2011

Research and practice underscore the importance of online (web-based) virtual reality applications that mimic product interactions in the physical world and its consequence of end-user decision making. This study examines a model that traces how certain characteristics of online virtual reality applications increase virtual experience, subsequently contributing to online purchase intentions. Virtual reality applications are demarcated by their ability to empower consumers with control and their ability to richly render content. Findings from the empirical study reveal the growing importance of demand-centric virtual reality application design where manipulation and control is more important than the richness of the content. It is seen that online virtual reality applications that offer a perceived level of manipulation and control elevate consumer experience more than just the rendering and delivery of rich condition, subsequently aiding consumer purchase intentions. The study offers new insights into how virtual reality applications should be designed and deployed to guide consumer decision making in an online environment.
Entry Strategies into the P.R.C. for Post Recession Wealth Management Service
Authors: Chan Andrew , Chan Carlson
Published: February 2011

Trillions of dollars were evaporated worldwide as a result of the financial tsunami that shocked the world in 2007 (Soros, 2008). This paper argues that in a time of global recession, banks seeking to expand wealth management service in the People’s Republic of China (P.R.C.) need to evaluate their entry strategies thoroughly to gain a competitive edge. Through applying the theory of planned behavior, a sequential mixed methods study was conducted post recession with the aim to identify wealth management service entry strategies into the P.R.C. A sample of 227 Taiwanese nationals based in the P.R.C. indicated three managerial implications consisting of the bank entry identity, deployment of expatriates, and brand-image position.
Study on Environmental Tax
Authors: Li Huifeng , Zhang Xuanwei
Published: February 2011

Since the industrial age, along with the promotion of economic development, problems of ecological destruction and environmental pollution are becoming more serious. To solve this problem, the implementation of environmental tax is an effective measure. Based on the analysis of the theoretical foundation of environmental taxes, international practice and experience in environmental tax system, in this paper, the authors describe the status quo of China’s environmental tax system, and frames the further step strategy in building China’s environmental tax system.
A Study of Customer Satisfaction of an Automotive Company in Malaysia
Authors: Fakiruddin Noor Azlina , Wagih Hebat Allah A. , Faris Waleed F.
Published: February 2011

This paper was conducted to present an analysis of the current level of customer satisfaction on the services offered by an automotive outlet in Malaysia. In an effort to make the company more effective, many have targeted various change programmes to meet customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction is one of the most important factors in the organizations success, and an important determinant of customer satisfaction is how well the product performs. The objective of this study is to help the organization to improve their customer level of satisfaction through providing continuous efforts to improve their level of service and product productivity.
Mutual Guarantee Systems of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in China
Authors: Yang Yi , Yan Hong-yan , Yang Ze-yun
Published: February 2011

Mutual guarantee systems (MGS) of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) ares complex system mainly serving the SMEs, including the mutual guarantee institutions formed by SMEs, financial institutions, industry associations and credit re-guarantee institutions. From the perspective of system theory, this paper illuminates the self-organization mechanisms and the self-organization characteristics of openness, far-from-equilibrium, nonlinearity and fluctuation of mutual guarantee systems of SMEs. The implication of self-organization theory is that under some conditions, mutual guarantee systems have the internal tendencies of autopoietic, self-evolution and evolution from disorder to order and from low level to high level to solve SMEs’ financing problems. Using self-organization theory, this paper proposes suggestions and measures to improve the operation efficiency of mutual guarantee systems in China.
Confucianism Values for Transformational Leadership Development in the Chinese Context
Authors: Muniapan Balakrishnan , Seng Ee Yaw
Published: February 2011

Transformational leadership has received a great significance in the leadership literature during the past two decades. However, this research is dominated by Western traditions and scant attention is paid to Asian traditions. Therefore, in this paper, the authors explore the relevance of Confucianism, an Asian tradition, and its significance in transformational leadership development. For this purpose, the authors have selected the Analects, which provide the essence of Confucianism to explore the relevant transformational leadership concepts. This paper is based on hermeneutics, a qualitative research methodology that involves study, understanding and interpretation of ancient text. Confucianism provides an inside-out approach to transformational leadership development, which is self leadership first, before leadership of others. This inside-out perspective is also similar to other Asian traditions, such as ancient Indian wisdom. The prospects of analysis of Confucianism in other areas of leadership and management can be considered for future research.