bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Childhood obesity prevention and physical activity in schools
Authors: Davidson Fiona
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The aim of this literature review is to summarise and synthesise the research base concerning childhood obesity and physical activity, particularly in relation to teachers and schools and within a policy context of the UK. The review investigates childhood obesity, physical activity, physical education, the role of teachers, the role of schools and physical activity in the classroom.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review was undertaken involving selection of primary research and other systematic reviews. A computer search was performed using a combination of keywords including: obesity, prevention, intervention, preventive, teachers, schools, healthy schools, role models, physical activity, physical education, active school, active classroom. The review also includes samples of media coverage of the issue.

Findings

This review highlights the complex and ambiguous nature of the evidence in relation to this important contemporary issue.

Originality/value

A limited understanding of childhood obesity is evident from the review and this precludes definitive conclusions in relation to almost all aspects of the agenda. More quality research is needed in almost all areas of the topic, including areas such as the engagement of schools and teachers.
Analyzing bloggers data on software design patterns and applications integration; methodology and implementation
Authors: Fathelrahamn Adil , Shafaghi Mathew
Published: June 2007

Purpose

Blogs (a term that is short for weblogs) are one mean of getting public opinions about important topics. Several techniques could be used to reveal important views and directions from the analysis of blogs posted on the internet. The paper investigates issues concerning blogs.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper applies a methodology to investigate blogs on domains of software design patterns and integration solutions within information technology community.

Findings

The methodology developed and implemented is an end‐to‐end approach to the collection, cleansing and analysis of bloggers posts.

Originality/value

While the paper addresses a specific sector of bloggers, the methodology and templates used could be implemented and further improved for use with any other bloggers segment.
Analysis of security‐relevant semantics of BPEL in cross‐domain defined business processes
Authors: Fischer K.P. , Bleimann U. , Fuhrmann W. , Furnell S.M.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

Aims to identify security‐relevant semantics of business processes being defined by WS‐BPEL (Web Services Business Process Execution Language, BPEL for short) scripts, in particular, when such scripts defining collaborative business processes on top of web services are deployed across security domain boundaries.

Design/methodology/approach

Analysing potential of BPEL to define behaviour of business processes violating restrictions implied by security policies.

Findings

Semantic patterns being combinations of particular BPEL features and web services with specific access restrictions implied by security policies are defined and their implications for analysis of BPEL scripts during compliance assessment of cross‐domain defined business processes are identified.

Research limitations/implications

The results of the research part of which is reported here have been applied in a research prototype to BPEL scripts of limited size and comparatively simple business logic. Real‐world examples of BPEL scripts with respect to size and complexity should be examined for further approving suitability of the algorithms used.

Originality/value

The results can be used to specify security policies in terms of security‐critical semantics of BPEL scripts in order to facilitate compliance assessment. In conjunction with other results of this research, this will help to overcome security issues arising from cross‐domain definition of business processes by enabling automatic compliance assessment prior to execution.
A risk‐control framework for e‐marketplace participation: the findings of seven cases
Authors: Ratnasingam Pauline
Published: June 2007

Purpose

E‐marketplaces have recently become a popular internet‐based e‐commerce application. Despite extensive research on this topic, there has been limited work in the realm of e‐marketplace security. This paper aims to discuss the role of e‐marketplace risks and controls in seven e‐marketplace firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have identified four types of risks and controls of e‐marketplaces namely; technological, economical, implementation, and relational. Seven e‐marketplace firms from a cross‐section of industries were chosen.

Findings

The research suggests that the type and extent of risks, as well as the type of industry and the products the firm sells, have a direct correlation with the method of e‐commerce application implemented for e‐marketplace.

Originality/value

The findings contribute to a risk control framework in e‐marketplace participation which will increase the awareness of security in e‐marketplace participation.
Investigating corporate intranet effectiveness: a conceptual framework
Authors: Noorman Masrek Mohamad , Shahriza Abdul Karim Nor , Hussein Ramlah
Published: June 2007

Purpose

This paper attempts to discuss at a conceptual level on the concept of intranet effectiveness and further analyze the effectiveness model with several contributing factors grouped as organizational, technological and individual factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper's approach is a discussion of the issues.

Findings

First, the relationship between antecedent factors, i.e. organizational, technological and individual factors and intranet effective usage and intranet service quality as well as the consequences of these two factors on user performance warrants for more exploration. Second, through an understanding of antecedent factors with intranet effective usage and intranet service quality as well as the impact of these two factors on employee effectiveness, organizations may gain an understanding that could improve their intranet usage and service quality leading towards better employee performance. Lastly, since the effectiveness of intranet is directly or indirectly impact organizational effectiveness, a better understanding of intranet success would definitely promote towards clearer understanding of organizational success.

Originality/value

The proposed model adapts IS success model by Delone and Mclean and defines intranet effectiveness as a composite of intranet effective usage, intranet service quality and individual impact.
Precisiated information retrieval for RSS feeds
Authors: Tseng Chris , Ng Patrick
Published: June 2007

Purpose

Aims to report a novel method of filtering RSS feeds for obtaining more precise and related information without having to browse through all the incoming feeds.

Design/methodology/approach

Improve relevance ratio of incoming RSS feeds with configurable filtering phrases on feed title and feed page content. More relevant RSS feeds are obtained when additional semantically related synonym filtering phrases are used.

Findings

Finds that filtering leads to more precise RSS feeds and extending the filtering phrase with synonym semantic can increase the number of relevant feeds by 3‐5 times.

Originality/value

The system documented here has been found to be able to help RSS feeds subscribers to browse fewer items with higher matching rate.
The application of signature recognition to transparent handwriting verification for mobile devices
Authors: Clarke N.L. , Mekala A.R.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The popularity of mobile devices and the evolving nature of the services and information they can delivery make them increasingly desirable targets for misuse. The ability to provide effective authentication of the user becomes imperative if protection against misuse of personally and financially sensitive information is to be provided. This paper discusses the application of biometrics to a mobile device in a transparent and continuous fashion and the subsequent advantages and disadvantages that are in contention with various biometric techniques.

Design/methodology/approach

An investigation was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of utilising signature recognition, to verify users based upon written words and not signatures, thereby enabling transparent handwriting verification. Participants were required to write a number of common words, such as “hello” “sorry” and “thank you”. The ability to correctly verify against their own template and to reject impostors was then established.

Findings

Totally, 20 users participated in the study and an average FAR and FRR of 0 and 1.2 per cent, respectively, were experienced across eight common words.

Research limitations/implications

The initial study has proven very successful, however, further investigations need to be established with a larger population of users and a wider vocabulary of words.

Originality/value

This study has verified the feasibility of applying an existing signature recognition technique to transparent handwriting verification.
Incident response requirements for distributed security information management systems
Authors: Mitropoulos Sarandis , Patsos Dimitrios , Douligeris Christos
Published: June 2007

Purpose

Security information management systems (SIMs) have been providing a unified distributed platform for the efficient management of security information produced by corresponding mechanisms within an organization. However, these systems currently lack the capability of producing and enforcing response policies, mainly due to their limited incident response (IR) functionality. This paper explores the nature of SIMs while proposing a set of requirements that could be satisfied by SIMs for the efficient and effective handling of security incidents.

Design/methodology/approach

These requirements are presented in a high‐level architectural concept and include policy visualization, system intelligence to enable automated policy management, as well as, data mining elements for inspection, evaluation and enhancements of IR policies.

Findings

A primitive mechanism that could guarantee the freshness and accuracy of state information that SIMs provide in order to launch solid response alarms and actions for a specific incident or a series of incidents is proposed, along with a role based access control administrative model (ARBAC) based on a corporate model for IR. Basic forensic and trace‐back concepts that should be integrated into SIMs in order to provide the rich picture of the IR puzzle are also examined.

Practical implications

The support of policy compliance and validation tools to SIMs is also addressed.

Originality/value

The aforementioned properties could greatly assist in automating the IR capability within an organization.
To Serve and Protect:
Authors: Weiss Kenneth P.
Published: June 2007

There is a hierarchically related set of fundamental security
technologies that have been used (sometimes without need for the
hierarchy) in the late 1970s and 80s to protect information. The
critical assumptions which provided the rationale for protection of
information in those times are now challenged by the networked
information resource environment of the 1990s. The weakest link in most
information security systems is the reliance upon inappropriate methods
of identifying and authenticating authorized users to the exclusion of
all others. Proposes token based, two‐factor identity authenticator as a
solution which reconciles the security hierarchy with the typical 1990s
distributed information environment.
Information privacy
Authors: Collier Graham
Published: June 2007

Distinguishes between confidentiality and privacy of information
held on individuals, the latter by companies, but doubts that privacy,
where applicable, is respected by many companies in view of the
cumulative value of such information as a power asset. Details recent
legislation covering the safeguarding of individuals′ data and concludes
by listing best practice procedures which companies should implement in
order to put limits on accessing the private particulars of the
individual.
Crisis communication: managing the mass media
Authors: Zerman David
Published: June 2007

Argues for the need to develop a crisis communication programme,
well in advance of any catastrophe. An organization must have a definite
policy and procedures to be followed during a disaster. Shows the need
for organizations to wake up to the immediacy of mass media coverage and
learn how to handle public relations in a crisis situation.
Managing benefits from information technology
Authors: Norton David P.
Published: June 2007

Despite mounting evidence that information technology plays an
increasingly fundamental role in formulating strategy, there is growing
unease in management circles that IT investments are falling short of
their promise.
Providing security for Unix networks
Authors: Stymiest Bev
Published: June 2007

Describes the TurnStyle family of security products developed by Atlantic Systems Group, of Fredericton, New Brunswick, to meet the security needs of Unix‐based networks. Claims that the TurnStyle Security Systems product addresses internal security and offers powerful resistance to password‐cracking programs run by hackers, while external access via the Internet can be securely controlled by the TurnStyle Firewall System and the TurnStyle Internet Module.
An integrated approach for system evaluation: study results
Authors: Abdallah Mohamed H.
Published: June 2007

Introduces an integrated approach for information system evaluation. The approach utilizes a model which consists of four parts: system environment; methodologies; documentation; and performance indices. The model was implemented in a selected sample of organizations in Kuwait. Presents an in‐depth, data‐based profile of the organizations studied. A classification of the organizations according to the evaluation results indicated that 48.6 per cent are above average rating. The model used could be modified to cater for any information system environment.
Leveraging which knowledge in the globalization era? Indian facet
Authors: Pillania Rajesh K.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

In this era of globalization, knowledge has emerged as a critical resource. India has high expectations from her knowledge industries. Though it is difficult to classify knowledge into watertight compartments, this paper is an attempt to study whether Indian firms have identified the most crucial knowledge and what is the importance they give to various types of knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is comprehensive as it takes into account both macro and micro aspects as well as covers both private (software and pharmaceutical) and public (petroleum marketing) sectors of Indian economy.

Findings

The results reveal that knowledge about customers is given the most importance and firms need to put serious effort into identifying the most crucial knowledge and then leveraging that knowledge for sustainable competitive advantage.

Originality/value

This paper represents the first of its kind in an Indian context.
A model for resource allocation using operational knowledge assets
Authors: Andreou Andreas N. , Bontis Nick
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The paper seeks to develop a business model that shows the impact of operational knowledge assets on intellectual capital (IC) components and business performance and use the model to show how knowledge assets can be prioritized in driving resource allocation decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative data were collected from 84 high‐tech federal contractors in the Washington DC metro area. Respondents in the target population were middle‐level and operations managers of business sectors holding positions as presidents, vice‐presidents, directors, engineering managers, operations managers, and analysts. Partial least squares (PLS) analysis was performed to develop a structural model between operational knowledge assets and IC components that maximizes explained variance for business performance. Operational assets were specified as formative constructs and IC and business performance were specified as reflective constructs.

Findings

A parsimonious conceptually sound model with significant measured variables and path coefficients was developed that explains almost 40 percent of the variance in business performance. The model shows both the interrelationships between the IC components that drive performance and the operational assets as levers for each IC component, respectively.

Research limitations/implications

The scope of the study was focused on the high‐tech federal contractors in the USA. However, the model can be applied and tested in different industry sectors. This would provide evidence of the different operational knowledge assets used as levers in different industry sectors.

Practical implications

Senior executives and chief financial officers in particular are constantly challenged with making the optimum investment decisions given their budget constraints. The model offers a tool for developing and evaluating different resource allocation decisions based on an organization's strategic intent. In addition, the model can be useful in evaluating merger and acquisition decisions. In evaluating target companies the model can be used to identify the core capabilities or competency areas that the target company is leveraging and assess the impact or integration potential for the acquiring company.

Originality/value

This is the first study in the field of IC that has adopted the use of formative indicators in specifying operational knowledge asset constructs. Previous research has focused on developing models with the use of proxy measures as reflective indicators. Therefore the emphasis so far has been on scale development. The use of formative items in this study fills both the business need and theory gap to understand better the causal relationships that exist between work and knowledge assets.
Communities of practice or communities of coping?
Authors: Raz Aviad E.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyse the formation of CoPs (communities of practice) in three call centres of cellular communication operating companies in Israel.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on a qualitative methodology including observations, interviews and textual analysis.

Findings

In all three call centres, customer service representatives (CSRs) turned to each other in order to produce situated knowledge that combined compliance with organisational procedures alongside subversion so as to increase individual availability while compromising professional goals. These CoPs were formed during training, on‐the‐job learning, and off‐the‐job informal social activities. The resentment expressed in these CoPs was found to be related to standard HRM policies (low pay, stringent control, lack of career prospects) as well as to cultural contradictions involving efficiency and service quality, which CSRs had to handle and absorb.

Research limitations/implications

The research provides ethnographic evidence regarding the formation of subversive CoPs in call centres but, as with all case study research, the findings cannot be reliably generalised to other companies. Similarly, the case generates grounded theory that needs to be tested in other organisational contexts.

Practical implications

The study raises the issue of how CoPs can become both enablers and barriers to knowledge flow in the organisation. To increase the potential of such CoPs to improve rather than inhibit service performance in call centres, practical implications are suggested in terms of HRM practices (e.g. strategic segmentation, the modification of monitoring), and in openly confronting cultural contradictions.

Originality/value

The article offers an ethnographic analysis of CoPs in call centres, focusing on their formation in the context of HRM practices and cultural contradictions, and highlighting their potential to constitute subversive workgroup cultures, rather than their conventionally perceived functional role in the organisation. As an inductive research using covert methods the article offers fresh insights in relation to CoPs and counter cultures.
Learning contexts and roles for the learning organization leader
Authors: Richardson Bill
Published: June 2007

Describes a range of contexts associated with the learning organization literature and the job of learning organization leader. Offers prescriptions about how classically administered productivity improvement might be implemented in organizations, on the one hand, and how self‐organizing, learning networks might be facilitated, on the other. Also examines the problems and leadership challenges associated with organizationally destructive learning communities.
How to administrate the networked organization: tips from the
theory and practice of management
Authors: Richardson Bill
Published: June 2007

Examines the challenges of leading and managing in a networked,
learning organization context. Provides theoretical prescription as to
how middle managers might be motivated and assisted to operate
effectively in such contexts. Includes real‐world illustrations of
network‐type organizations.
Measuring achievement of learning organizations in construction
Authors: Chinowsky P.S. , Molenaar K. , Bastias A.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to provide an introduction to the LEONARDO diagnostic tool which assists organizations in determining their current level of achievement towards a learning culture.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a combination of the analytical hierarchy process and the Delphi technique, the research obtained the critical questions for evaluating an organization's investment and progress towards achieving a learning culture. The questions are categorized based on five areas of a learning culture and three levels of learning within an organization. These questions are translated into a web‐based diagnostic that is validated and released for use by engineering and construction organizations.

Findings

The paper provides an overview of the LEONARDO diagnostic tool including the mathematical weighting system employed for scoring organization progress and investment, the web‐based availability, and the evaluation report card provided to users. The paper also provides a summary of the validation process including how organizations used the tool to determine internal learning progress.

Research limitations/implications

The study obtained input primarily from large organizations and may not fully represent the entire engineering and construction industry perspective.

Practical implications

The study provides a tool that assists any organization in advancing towards a learning culture that is a requirement for remaining competitive in a changing engineering marketplace.

Originality/value

The paper provides an introduction to how to achieve a learning organization as an advance over collecting and managing knowledge. This is the beginning of a movement toward the next stage in achieving success within the knowledge era.
Perceptions of workplace vibration hazards among a small sample of UK construction professionals
Authors: Edwards David J. , Holt Gary D.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations (CVWR) became law in 2005. They are of particular relevance to construction – which by nature of its activities – presents abundant whole‐body, and hand‐arm, vibration hazards. The principal aim of this research was to assess perceptions among a sample of UK construction professionals; regarding workplace vibration hazards generally and the CVWR specifically.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured questionnaire survey was carried out among a small but carefully targeted sample of professionals drawn from construction. These included health and safety managers, production managers and designers. A total of 88 useable responses were received. Data were analysed principally using the mean index technique.

Findings

Generally, a realistic view of hazards was observed; although some significant misperceptions were noted. Self‐confessed levels of knowledge regarding the subject were typically “low”. This appeared something of a paradox, in that “training workers” was cited as the most commonly used risk control method for both whole‐body, and hand‐arm vibration risks, respectively.

Practical implications

Disparity was observed between what respondents knew about the subject and the purported (extensive) use of training as a risk control method. This indicates that a degree of introspection may be beneficial on the part of employers, regarding their training design and delivery mechanisms. Differences in perceived degrees of vibration risk, exist between health and safety professionals and construction managers; implying that there is a need for improved communication between those responsible for planning vibration management controls, and those charged with implementing them at the workplace.

Originality/value

The paper presents research that assess perceptions among a sample of UK construction professionals; regarding workplace vibration hazards generally and the CVWR specifically.
Nonlinear optimisation and rational cash flow
Authors: Beran Václav , Dlask Petr
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The problem of diverse cash flows associated with a construction “project” appear in four progressive cycles. These are the initiating construction cycle and closing deconstruction cycle (devaluation cycle). The effectiveness of any project is given by capitalisation cycle. The optimisation of payback (credit return) cycle is critical for any project.

Design/methodology/approach

For calculate of activity durations, cash flows and even we may use the spreadsheet table as a tool for expression of calculation formulas. This approach may offer a mechanism for answers regarding the sensitivity of manageable parameters (say changes in costs, construction speeds, duration of activity). The problem of optimal capacity expansion of construction work as a time dependent problem is studied in many different applied contexts. Traditional capacity planning usually begins with a forecast of demand on the basis of organisational or technological needs.

Findings

The implementation of a technical project carried out in conditions of high production speeds and low time reserves requires changes in technologies, organisation and preparation of construction. In each specific case, a civil engineer needs to know the economic impacts (the capability of applicable calculations).

Originality/value

It is obvious from the given example, which has the same features as the execution of a series of construction projects in recent years, that the myth of the importance of executing works in large volumes ahead of the deadlines has significant financial consequences.
Family as a source of consumer‐based brand equity
Authors: Bravo Gil R. , Fraj Andrés E. , Martínez Salinas E.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The main purpose of the current work is to analyse the role played by the family on consumer‐based brand equity. In the proposed model, information of a brand provided by both the family and the firm (via price, promotion and advertising spending) is analysed as a source of consumer‐based brand equity and its dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical study was conducted in young adults (18‐35) via structural equations model. Brand equity is analysed in six different brands of milk, toothpaste and olive oil.

Findings

Results prove that positive brand information provided by the family has effects on the formation of brand awareness‐associations and perceived quality, and this may lead in turn, to brand loyalty and overall brand equity. The effects of the information provided by the family are higher than those of the marketing variables studied. Results also show that brand loyalty is much closer to the concept of overall brand equity than brand awareness‐associations and perceived quality.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size does not allow to analyse differences in the effects between types of products and consumers.

Practical implications

Due to the importance of the family on the formation of the consumer‐based brand equity, firms should analyse how to take advantage of this factor to approach new generations of consumers. Actions to foster family associations and brand recall may ease the transfer of brand equity from one generation to another.

Originality/value

Family has been usually considered as an external influence factor of consumer behaviour, however, its importance as information provider had not been analysed in the process of brand equity formation.
Price endings and consumer segmentation
Authors: Harris Christine , Bray Jeffery
Published: June 2007

Purpose

To investigate the area of price endings to determine which groups of consumers are more likely to use odd‐endings as opposed to round‐endings.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was developed that tested respondents' use of odd‐endings as opposed to round‐endings dependent on classification by gender and age. Respondents were required to estimate the price they would be expected to pay in stores for six products. This methodology enabled the researchers to generate a large sample size and to encourage accuracy of response.

Findings

The main finding was that there was a difference between gender groups; women were more likely to respond with odd‐endings than men and hence segmenting the market is the way forward when investigating price endings.

Research limitations/implications

The research only considers segmentation by gender and age. Further research needs to be undertaken to fully understand the consumer responses.

Practical implications

Although the difference between 99 cents and a $1.00 is small, for high volume items this can have a significant impact on gross profit and margins, particularly for low value items. If retailers understand which groups of consumers were more likely to be attracted to the round‐endings they could use this knowledge to determine the most effective prices.

Originality/value

This research follows on from a price trial conducted into price endings and is the second phase of an investigation into whether odd‐endings are effective. It proposes a theory that has been empirically tested and points the way forward for future research in this area.
SHERPA‐LEAP
Authors: Moyle Martin , Stockley Rebecca , Tonkin Suzanne
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to introduce SHERPA‐LEAP, a model for the consortial development, population and support of e‐prints repositories.

Design/methodology/approach

The organisational and technical structures of the consortium are described, including a brief summary of central and local resource responsibilities. Some positive and negative aspects of a consortial approach to institutional repository development, and of the SHERPA‐LEAP model in particular, are identified. Outstanding issues and future plans for the consortium are outlined.

Findings

SHERPA‐LEAP is shown to be succeeding in its aims of developing and supporting e‐prints repositories within the federal University of London. Some lessons learned from the SHERPA‐LEAP approach are identified, but the SHERPA‐LEAP consortial model is found to have been mostly beneficial to the participating institutions. In particular, the networking and experience‐sharing opportunities which any consortial solution will facilitate are highly‐valued by the SHERPA‐LEAP partners.

Originality/value

The paper is intended to help to inform the decision making of institutions and consortia, which are considering consortial solutions to the establishment, and maintenance of institutional repositories.
ALADIN Research Commons: a consortial institutional repository
Authors: Hulse Bruce , Cheverie Joan F. , Dygert Claire T.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the benefits and challenges of creating a shared institutional repository and to, describe the process by which a consortium was able to establish such a service.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study is presented outlining the process through which the Washington Research Library Consortium selected and implemented the DSpace institutional repository software in a shared information technology environment. The issues confronted in dealing with a multi‐institutional implementation are examined through both a detailed description of the implementation and a generalized description of the challenges the consortium faced.

Findings

The paper finds that while a shared implementation of an institutional repository does present significant challenges that would not be present for a single institution, the collaborative approach also presents significant benefits in drawing on the breadth of expertise available among the Consortium and utilizing a shared information technology infrastructure.

Originality/value

Institutional repositories have generally been implemented within the context of a single institution. An alternative model is described that draws on the experience and expertise of multiple institutions to achieve a common goal.
PEPIA: a Norwegian collaborative effort for institutional repositories
Authors: Magnus Elvenes Joki Sverre
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on Project for Electronic Publications and Institutional Archives (PEPIA), which is a government‐sponsored Norwegian effort, to provide institutional repositories to multiple Norwegian universities, university colleges and other research institutions through a consortium managed by BIBSYS.

Design/methodology/approach

Some aspects of the project are headlined to give a brief introduction to the PEPIA project and the problems associated with creating a consortium with multiple institutions on one software platform.

Findings

The ongoing project PEPIA has shown that it is possible for multiple organizations to join forces and create a consortium to develop an institutional repository on one software platform. After an initial requirements specification phase it was found that most institutions have the same basic requirements, even though they may seem different. The requirements, besides basic registration and searching, are mostly centered on integration with library systems, research documentation systems, national OAI harvesters and preferably learning management systems. The experience with the freely available DSpace software is mostly good, but the work of integrating the software into an already existing software development platform and production environment was more complex than estimated. The user management mechanisms in DSpace is too simplistic but the development of a more advanced rule‐based access mechanisms for collections has resulted in a lot easier management by users, and can further lower the operating costs for the members of the consortium.

Originality/value

The paper provides an overview of the PEPIA project, which enables more and more institutions to see the benefits of working together towards better solutions.
Expanding roles for the institutional repository
Authors: Wise Marie , Spiro Lisa , Henry Geneva , Byrd Sidney
Published: June 2007

Purpose

Rice University has adopted the DSpace platform for its institutional repository, but has pushed the traditional limits of how that is defined. To accommodate a wider range of scholarship that includes digitized multimedia source materials integrated with educational modules and geospatial resources, the technical infrastructure of DSpace has been enriched. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the developments and decisions required to support this range of scholarship beyond born‐digital scholarly pre‐prints and reports.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents the Travelers in the Middle East Archive (TIMEA), a digital archive that makes use of DSpace to preserve and present images and texts, as a case study in using DSpace as both a repository and archive framework. TIMEA integrates two additional systems for presenting digital content, Connexions, which focuses on educational modules, and ArcIMS, which makes available dynamic GIS (Geographic Information Systems) maps.

Findings

Although DSpace was originally intended to be an “institutional repository” for born‐digital materials such as scholarly reports, it can also serve as an archive for digitized items such as XML‐encoded texts and digital images. However, making DSpace work as a digital archive for TIMEA has required customization, including building‐in XML support, working with DSpace's flat metadata structure, implementing a customized, XML‐driven user interface using Manakin, and performing additional programming to integrate functionality for GIS and educational modules.

Practical implications

The practical implications of using DSpace as both institutional repository and digital archive have required a number of modifications, including additional functional software development, reworking the metadata structure, redefining repository policies, format access modifications, and customizing the look and feel of the repository.

Originality/value

The discussion in this paper, of the challenges and decisions inherent in using an institutional repository with a digital archive will assist other institutions working to integrate resources as will the portal structure to facilitate harvesting from multiple relevant repositories and direct users to digital resources independent of their native repositories. Likewise, enhancements to DSpace, such as support for XML document presentation, are contributions to the institutional repository community.
Modeling user′s preferences for document delivery
Authors: Kinnucan Mark T.
Published: June 2007

A consumer survey of document delivery in academic settings was
conducted using a conjoint analysis approach. During interviews with 79
randomly chosen faculty members and graduate students at three Ohio
universities, respondents were each asked to answer hypothetical
questions about ordering a desired article. Questions focused on
ordering articles from a commercial document delivery service or through
interlibrary loan. Factors such as the price of the document, the speed
of delivery, and the method of ordering were varied from question to
question. Survey results found the price of the document to be the most
important consideration. Respondents also expressed more willingness to
use interlibrary loan than a commercial service.
Bound‐phrase searching in OCLC FirstSearch
Authors: Zlendich Janice
Published: June 2007

A useful way to pinpoint information in OCLC FirstSearch is through a
wordlist bound‐phrase search. A bound‐phrase search looks for the full
title, author, and so forth. exactly as you type it. A wordlist search
will tell you how many hits to expect before you are charged for a
search. You can also browse through the wordlist for additional related
terms that may be of interest.
ILL conceived ideas
Authors: Raschke Susan
Published: June 2007

This month′s column concerning interlibrary services in the OCLC
universe begins by offending some and continues through to ARIEL trends
and what may be some very hasty offers for those new to ILL.
The CORE project: Technical shakedown phase and preliminary user studies
Authors: Weibel Stuart
Published: June 2007

The CORE project is an electronic library prototype that provides
networked access to the full text and graphics content of American
Chemical Society journals and associated Chemical Abstracts Service
indexing since 1980 (some 250 journal years of data). The database is
coded in Standard Generalized Markup Language (translated from original
typography codes) which captures the structural richness of the original
document and provides flexibility for indexing, searching, and display.
The prototype provides a full‐scale laboratory environment in which to
explore issues of database structure, user interface capabilities, and
information retrieval questions on a large, real‐world scholarly
electronic journal database. The complete database, representing more
than 600,000 pages of full text and graphics, will be the largest
electronic corpus of its kind. Scheduled for availability at Cornell in
late 1993, this database will be available for use by the Cornell
Chemistry Department faculty and students on a local area network
(although the architecture of the CORE system is extensible to wide area
networks as well)
CD‐ROM 1993: A Guide to the Literature
Authors: Adkins Susan L.
Published: June 2007

As CD‐ROM becomes more and more a standard reference and technical
support tool in all types of libraries, the annual review of this
technology published in Computers in Libraries magazine increases in
size and scope. This year, author Susan L. Adkins has prepared this
exceptionally useful bibliography which she has cross‐referenced with a
subject index.
The Internet Vocabulary Test for Children: preliminary development
Authors: Johnson Genevieve Marie
Published: June 2007

Purpose

Currently, the only mechanisms to determine children's use of the Internet are interviews and questionnaires. To increase the validity of theory and research and ensure that practitioners and policy‐makers are guided by accurate information, an improved method of determining children's patterns of Internet use is required. The purpose of this study is to present the Internet Vocabulary Test for Children (IVTC) as a measure of Internet use in children.

Design/methodology/approach

The IVTC requires oral definition of ten terms (Internet, gamer, e‐mail, search engine, chat, online games, instant messaging, cheats, web site, browser). An elementary school in rural western Canada agreed to participate in trial administration of the IVTC. All children in first through sixth grade were invited to participate (n=149). Parents completed a consent form and a questionnaire. A total of 128 children (62 males and 66 females) were administered the IVTC.

Findings

Trial administration of the IVTC established the viability of determining children's use of the Internet with a test of expressive vocabulary.

Originality/value

Given the rate of population penetration coupled with rapidly changing technology, measuring children's Internet use presents challenges. Simple solutions such as the development of software and firmware to monitor children's online behavior may provide misinformation. That is, surveillance influences behavior and children's Internet activities often involve multiple users. The IVTC is not vulnerable to biased responding, is inexpensive, and easily administered.
Political parties, the Internet and the 2005 General Election: third time lucky?
Authors: Jackson Nigel
Published: June 2007

Purpose

Existing literature has agreed that during elections party web sites are primarily an information tool. This study seeks to identify to what extent political parties have developed a distinctive role for the Internet as a communications channel.

Design/methodology/approach

Research data were based on content analysis of the web sites and e‐newsletters of parties contesting the 2005 UK General Election, and interviews with party e‐campaigners.

Findings

Party size determined whether they had an integrated online communication strategy or not. The Internet did provide a discrete role, that of recruiting new members, encouraging donations and mobilising volunteers. Whereas previous research has focused on the web as an election campaign tool, this study found that it was e‐mail, especially pass‐protected e‐newsletters to party members.

Originality/value

The traditional view was that parties used their web sites primarily to promote information. This study suggests that they only do so partially. Parties do not use their web sites as part of an integrated communication strategy supporting the messages carried by other channels. In 2005 UK parties began to develop a positive reason for having an online presence, namely as a resource generating tool, particularly in mobilising volunteers. Previous literature had considered whether parties had entered into dialogue; this study further defined this into asymmetrical and symmetrical two‐way communication. The results suggest that it is smaller parties who are more likely to use two‐way symmetrical communication.
A survey of web site success metrics used by Internet‐dependent organizations in Korea
Authors: Hong Ilyoo B.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The key purpose of the present research is to learn whether businesses use web site metrics to support business strategies and how web site metrics used differ by web site categories.

Design/methodology/approach

A combination of a preliminary telephone survey and an e‐mail questionnaire survey was used to gather data. Potential respondents were contacted by phone to find firms measuring web site success. An e‐mail survey was conducted to learn how metrics were used to measure the success of a corporate web site. Responses were examined to study not only purposes and net benefits of measurement but also metrics measured.

Findings

Findings of the study indicated that a majority of businesses which took part in this survey were using the metrics more for operational than for strategic purposes. This observation is to some extent consistent with the normative view highlighted by the literature that organizations should measure how successfully their web sites support business objectives and, therefore, the web metrics to measure web site success should differ by web site categories.

Research limitations/implications

This explorative research is not based on a large sample, thereby limiting its academic contribution. Since the data analysis is over eight web site categories, future research will need to employ a sample large enough to eliminate any potential bias.

Practical implications

A key managerial implication is that businesses need to measure the success of their web site using web metrics tied to their business objectives, if they want their web site to effectively support business strategies.

Originality/value

This paper is the first attempt to explore the way that Internet‐dependent businesses measure the success of their web site via web metrics, for the purpose not only of observing some patterns between web metrics measured and site categories, but also of examining whether metrics were used for strategic or merely for operational purposes.
Community economic development networks: A grassroots leadership challenge
Authors: Odasz Frank
Published: June 2007

Communities of all sizes now have the ability to gain access to the
Internet for minimal costs. Access to the Internet has created a kind of
global “infomarketplacerdquo; by making business information and expert
advice readily available. Communities can take advantage of this
low‐cost accessibility to spur local economic development and
entrepreneurship through collaboration with experts. Communities need
to consider what level of Internet connectivity best meets their needs,
in view of the cost/benefit ratio of Internet access. Issues and
barriers to be dealt with include profit motives, teleliteracy, and
technofear.
Networked information in France, 1993: The internet’s future
Authors: Kessler Jack
Published: June 2007

The French are becoming world leaders in networked information. The key
to this development is the immediate access to the general public
provided by their national Minitel system. New networked libraries are
being built, existing libraries are going online, and the crisis‐ridden
French publishing industry is looking to networked information for its
salvation. The French approach to networking offers interesting lessons
for the Internet, not least because the French approach may ultimately
be considered more attractive than the Internet′s for developing
networked information in Asia and elsewhere