bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Education for Liberation
Authors: Fragaki M. , Lionarakis A.
Published: May 2011

This particular proposal presents a Transformative Polymorphic Model for training, researching and teaching, a learning community of educators, which involves the integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) into the educational practice. It refers to ideas of justice, applied to an entire online society, based on not only giving digital individuals and groups’ fair action, but also sharing the benefits of free online society. It promotes transformative learning by way of emancipator education that fosters the human rights and equity that manifest in the everyday digital lives of people, from every level of online society. It consists in a learning environment that facilitates development of higher order cognitive abilities and it promotes a critical community of learners, where both reflection and discourse facilitate the construction of personally meaningful and socially valid knowledge and guides decision and action.
Structuring of Knowledge and Cognitive Load
Authors: Kiliç Figen
Published: May 2011

The objective of this part is to explain the process of knowledge structure and how cognitive load to be influenced on this process by theoretical way in the process of education learn and in the rank of winning the student’s knowledge. Cognitive load is defined such that it is in the working memory border, it has got inner, outside and effective load element, it is taken to control by different education project and when a mission propose, a structure come into being. Cognitive load is affected from education environment and education materials on teaching learning process. When you want to use it in an effective way using education environment and education materials one of the fundamental challenges is cognitive load. The excessive cognitive load can be explained that the users can be drown and minds can be mixed because of the choices which have of a lot of component, road and the vehicle. Because of this reason, in this part it is discussed what can be done in order to take the extreme cognitive load over by understanding cognitive load concept. For this reason in different environments the discovery which obtains from scientific works, takes importance the efforts that can take the knowledge understandable and can reach the knowledge by easy way.
Knowledge Flow Audit
Authors: Laihonen Harri , Koivuaho Matti
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this chapter is twofold. Theoretically it hybridizes two management concepts: Intellectual capital (IC) and knowledge flows. By combining these two concepts, the authors seek to illustrate the dynamics of organizations’ intellectual capital. In addition to the theoretical and conceptual contribution, this chapter introduces an empirical setting for testing the framework. The purpose of the empirical illustration is not to provide exhaustive and hands-on guidelines for managing knowledge flows but to increase managers’ awareness of this highly relevant issue and to offer some suggestions for possible development measures. The knowledge flow audit helps to pinpoint the processes in which IC transforms into value or into some other form. It is based on a fundamental assumption; the dynamics of IC can be demonstrated by examining knowledge flows. Empirical results from the conducted case studies indicate that the knowledge flow audit as a whole and especially the related knowledge flow survey can be successfully used for recognizing and mapping out the dynamics of knowledge assets within a short time period. According to the feedback received from the case studies, the audit provides important information for management purposes by describing the status and accumulation of knowledge assets.
Towards a New Approach for Measuring Innovation
Authors: Sáenz Josune , Aramburu Nekane
Published: May 2011

The aim of this chapter is to provide the foundations of a new measurement system that will help companies to diagnose and manage their innovation performance from a holistic perspective. Adopting a resource-based view of the firm (and more precisely, a dynamic capability approach), the measurement system proposed is intended to show whether the company has the right combination of resources (both tangible and intangible) in order to foster effective and efficient innovation, as well as the degree of mastery achieved in the combination and orchestration of those resources (i.e. capability excellence), the outputs obtained and their influence on value creation and on competitive advantage.
Measuring Intangible Assets
Authors: Dalkir Kimiz , McIntyre Susan
Published: May 2011

At present, there are no standards for assessing the value of intangible assets or intellectual capital. Historically, a number of frameworks have evolved, each with a different focus and a different assessment methodology. In order to assess that knowledge management initiatives contributed to the fight against terrorism in Canada, a results-based framework was selected, customized and applied to CRTI (a networked science and technology program to counter terrorism threats). This chapter describes the step by step process of how the results-based framework was applied to measure the value contributed by knowledge-based assets. A combination of qualitative, quantitative and anecdotal assessment techniques was used and a map was employed to visualize the evaluation results. The strengths and weaknesses of this particular approach are discussed and specific examples from CRTI are presented to illustrate how other organizations can use this method to assess the value-added to innovation and research and development using a results-based framework.
A Knowledge Assets Mapping Methodology to View Organizational Knowledge-Based Value Creation Dynamics
Authors: Carlucci Daniela , Schiuma Giovanni
Published: May 2011

Nowadays knowledge assets are widely recognized as organizational resources that play a pivotal role in company’s value creation. However the mechanisms through which these assets take part in value creation are not yet well understood. This critical issue must be faced to enable managers to make better informed decisions with regard to knowledge assets allocation and management. This chapter describes a methodology aimed both to identify a company’s knowledge assets that significantly contribute to create value and analyze how these assets, through cause-and-effect mechanisms, activate value creation dynamics. The proposed methodology draws upon cognitive mapping principles and gathers insights from the strategic management literature. Moreover, it is based on the application of multicriteria decision support methods. The chapter presents three illustrative case examples that show how the proposed methodology can be applied in practice.
Intangible Assets
Authors: Gu Feng , Lev Baruch
Published: May 2011

This chapter develops an economic approach to estimating the value of intangible assets that are not recorded on the firm’s balance sheet. The authors demonstrate that their approach provides economically meaningful and useful estimates for the value of intangible assets. Their results indicate that investments in R&D, advertising, brands, and information technology are important drivers of intangible capital, and in turn corporate value. Their approach is shown to be useful to investors seeking information on future performance of intangible-intensive firms. They document evidence that the intangibles-based measures can effectively distinguish between overvalued and undervalued stocks. They believe the intangibles measures described here can add an essential, and hitherto missing, valuation tool for managers and investors concerned with intangible assets.
ORCI
Authors: Kianto Aino
Published: May 2011

As more and more organizations have to compete in turbulently changing environments, the ability for continuous renewal, learning and innovation has become a key driver of organizational success. However, the existing research on IC has failed to create scientifically validated methods for assessing organizations’ dynamic capabilities or “renewal capital”. This paper presents the ORCI (Organizational Renewal Capability Inventory) method for measuring dynamic capabilities and illustrates how the method can be used for developing organizational ability for continuous learning and innovation.
Measuring Knowledge Assets within Organizations
Authors: Longo Mariolina , Mura Matteo
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this chapter in two-fold in that it seeks: (1) to develop an intellectual capital measurement system that specifically focuses on the knowledge assets possessed by company’s employees, and (2) to explore the effect that intellectual capital dimensions have on two individual job attitudes such as job satisfaction and turnover propensity. The proposed model has been developed based on the data gathered on a two-year survey on all the employees of a leading company in the Italian food product market. The final sample comprises 1.117 usable observations. Results suggest that the knowledge assets of an organization can be measured, at the employee level, by focusing on two intellectual capital dimensions, namely human capital and structural capital. Also, human capital and structural capital have been found to positively affect individual job attitudes such as job satisfaction and low turnover propensity. Specifically, structural capital fully mediates the effect of the human capital dimension on individual job attitudes.
IC Management
Authors: Kujansivu Paula
Published: May 2011

The objective of this chapter is to understand why companies do not apply models that are commonly known in the IC literature i.e. to explain the gap between the theory and practice. The general research objective is divided into four research questions taking different perspectives on the same phenomenon: the importance of IC and its management, the applicability of IC management models, the suitability of typical general management approaches for IC management and factors affecting the application of IC management models. The research questions are studied adopting diverse research methods. The empirical material includes interviews, a large amount of quantitative data from the financial statements of companies, and case studies in which action research was used.
Managing Intellectual Assets in Small Knowledge-Intensive Organizations
Authors: Huggins Robert , Weir Maria
Published: May 2011

The chapter focuses on how small KIBS (Knowledge-Intensive Business Service) firms manage their knowledge-based processes, or what are termed “intellectual assets.” It finds that approaches to the strategic management of intellectual assets varies significantly according the size and type of KIBS firm. Differences in these approaches impact on the development of effective innovation processes, with resource deficiencies in smaller firms constraining their innovation capability. New technology-based KIBS firms are less likely than traditional professional service KIBS firms to have effective formalised learning systems in place, and generally operate within a more ‘fluid’ working environment. Measures of absorptive capacity indicate that firms perceive gaps in their ability to assimilate and apply knowledge which they recognise to be of strategic importance. The authors conclude that small KIBS firms face particular challenges in managing the innovation process and establishing sustainable knowledge management practices, and may benefit from targeted policy intervention.
Multiple Paths in Health Care
Authors: Ross Susan D.
Published: May 2011

The personal experience of Medicine by each physician is the product of a large number of dynamic and diverse factors: inborn talents and deficiencies, social and cultural environments, type of schooling, exposure to teachers and mentors, colleagues, family and friends, and of course, perhaps most important of all, encounters with patients. Many of these influences are beyond the direct control of the physician, and nearly all continue to change throughout a lifetime. Out of this seemingly random and chaotic mix of influences, each physician develops his or her own highly unique, and ever evolving understanding of what it means to practice Medicine today.
Medical Student Perspectives
Authors: Dhakal Binod , Ross Susan D.
Published: May 2011

This chapter traces the learning experiences of a medical student through his career journey in medical training from two different world settings of Nepal and US. The chapter sketches the author’s interactive learning with his patients through his case notes right from his medical student days in Nepal to residency in the US. The juxtaposed commentary from a senior physician provides a longer view lens through which these learning points may be considered. These case notes and narrative insights from the health professional’s perspective thus aim to demonstrate and stimulate experiential learning in medicine, a valuable means of obtaining expertise.
Stories of Illness and Healthcare from a Physician Perspective
Authors: Morgan J. Huw C
Published: May 2011

Doctors have unique and privileged opportunities to observe and participate in the illness narratives (stories) that patients present with. Hearing, understanding and respecting the patient narrative is as important as correctly practising the technical aspects of medical diagnosis and treatment, and yet traditionally has received much less emphasis during medical education. The stories below (which have all been altered to preserve patient confidentiality) illustrate how attention to the patient’s narrative enables a richer and deeper interaction with them that enhances the therapeutic aspects of the consultation.
Lived Experiences In Cardiothoracic Surgery
Authors: Das Anjan Kumar
Published: May 2011

This chapter narrates the story of patients with cardiac illnesses requiring surgery and reveals how the physician-surgeon tries to reconcile a low resource setting patient care narrative with resource demanding modern scientific medicine and the areas of disconnect that this generate. This chapter is written in three parts. The first part is a narrative of training that the author received and the development of his philosophy of medicine. The second part describes his experiences in the government health services in the State of West Bengal in India and the third describes how we worked in a remote location in Nepal, the author was able to set up a cardiothoracic unit. The chapter narrates the problems, solutions and outcomes of surgery in these circumstances and how it was possible to overcome difficulties to offer a service to the patients which, while having many flaws, did offer treatments that would have never been possible for them to access otherwise.
Learning Medicine
Authors: Hegde BM
Published: May 2011

This is a personal view on experiences in learning medicine from a physician academic and erstwhile vice chancellor of an Indian university. It summarizes his lessons learnt in a medical career that has made him explore medical traditions primarily to refute false dogmas that in his view continue to permeate the sciences to this day.
User Driven Learning in Mathematics
Authors: Kochar Monica
Published: May 2011

This chapter explores the author’s personal journey in teaching math and traces her path from teacher controlled work toward beginning to implement student user driven learning strategies in math. It begins by spelling out the need for different math learning strategies and progresses to illustrate student user output which she has savored over the years. Finally it emphasizes the importance of letting go. She culminates the chapter with an attempt to express the inspiration that directed her journey.
Developing Community Ontologies in User Driven Healthcare
Authors: Fitzpatrick Jane , Ako Willie
Published: May 2011

In developing equitable health systems, the World Health Organisation (2005) advocates strengthening the repository of social science research to inform policy decisions affecting health care. The players include the patient, family and community members and health care professionals. This requires a genuine engagement with community perspective on health issues. This chapter examines how health care professionals can engage in understanding user perspectives in order to develop effective health care policies and programs. This case study explores how involving an indigenous community enabled them to develop an effective health promotion and malaria prevention initiative in a remote rural community in PNG It draws on participant narratives to explore user perspectives and understandings of the health impact of a focused health promotion and malaria prevention initiative. It illustrates that poverty dominates their health experiences. The chapter illustrates how the development of a collaborative empowerment approach to research can have a significant impact on the strategies members of indigenous communities can develop in order to optimise their health experiences. It argues that in order to develop effective approaches to health care policy and design health needs to be appreciated in the context of lived experiences of those affected.
Patients with a Spinal Cord Injury Inform and Co-Construct Services at a Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Unit
Authors: Sliedrecht Susan , Kotzé Elmarie
Published: May 2011

This chapter reports on a qualitative research project which explored patients’ experiences of counselling and which provided the impetus for changes to be incorporated in the rehabilitation and health care provided at a spinal cord rehabilitation unit in Auckland, New Zealand. Navigating different landscapes of meaning, philosophies, ideas and practices from approaches such as the relationship-centred model and narrative medicine developed into a collaborative meaning-making partnership between the patient team and the multidisciplinary team that further shaped practices of doing reasonable hope together.
Course Management Systems in Transition
Authors: Szirony Gary M. , Boden Carrie J.
Published: May 2011

In the findings from the quantitative portion of the study, there were no significant differences between the three groups of interest. Most of the students in the sample preferred distance education to on-campus courses, asynchronous over synchronous learning, discussion boards over live chats, and video streamed content delivery over text-based delivery. For this sample, a change in course delivery systems did not have a negative effect upon students. In the findings from the qualitative portion of the study, five major themes emerged, those of Communication, Pedagogy/Androgogy, Time Management, Course Delivery Systems and Technology, and Access. Aspects of self-directedness appeared to be a theme throughout much of the qualitative analysis. Negative factors included inability to reach instructors in a timely fashion, lack of interpersonal contact with other learners or with instructors, and frustration over technological glitches and hardware, software or Internet complexities, or a mixture of the three. The role of emotion in online learning was significant in several areas, particularly to the theme of Communication, where a personalized learning environment with two-way communication between peers and the instructor can lessen the isolation of online learning. Further study in this area is recommended.
Leading an Online School
Authors: Garland Virginia E.
Published: May 2011

The case study of best practice in leading an online school looks at New Hampshire’s Virtual Learning Academy Charter School (VLACS), because it has an effective administrative team, which supports online learning in both accelerated and credit recovery programs.
Library Support to Distance Learners
Authors: Prakash Kshema
Published: May 2011

The chapter discusses library support services in a distance education system and their value and importance in the overall development of a learner in general and a distance learner in particular. The chapter also traces how emerging digital technologies allow libraries to offer efficient support services to distance learners. This case of Distance Library Services at a university in India describes the evolution, experiences and challenges of offering distance library services through the university. The chapter focuses on information literacy and use of social networking tools. Development of information literacy is critical for distance learners, and social networking tools based on Web 2.0 technologies may provide library services and impart information literacy to distance learners. The chapter concludes with some suggestions pertaining to opportunities and future propositions.
Charting Student Physical Locations in the Virtual World
Authors: Cavanaugh Terence , Scheirer Elinor A.
Published: May 2011

Distance-learning courses are primarily designed for Internet-based asynchronous delivery of instruction. This case describes the use of Web 2.0 GIS technologies to create a graphic representation of student locations on an interactive map. This class map then became a multi-purpose resource for online class members and the instructor: to locate and highlight students’ distances from the instructor and among themselves; to remind the instructor to be sensitive to possible effects of locations on students due to environmental factors such as weather conditions; to help the instructor tailor proximity-based resources or course requirements for students; to help the instructor connect distance-learning students with each other geographically for group projects based on their locations; and to facilitate the efforts of students and the instructor in identifying locally available resources relevant to their coursework.
Working In a Wiki Environment
Authors: Daher Wajeeh
Published: May 2011

The preservice teachers confronted four types of difficulties throughout their whole work in the geometry wiki environment, but they could overcome these difficulties using different means, especially discourse. Overall, the preservice teachers found that the wiki environment benefited them and appreciated the various functions which the wiki enabled.
Visions, Voices, and Virtual Journeys
Authors: Talbert Tony L. , Meira Adeline
Published: May 2011

The future of distance education is certainly promising but frenetic as well. With the aid of technologies easily accessible to students and teachers alike the geographic barriers that once allowed only the few to engage in educational opportunities are now geographic bridges that promote distance learning where students and teachers from diverse latitudes and attitudes are able to engage in real time teaching and learning interactions. This teaching and learning environment is called “Viral Education,” where the process of education can be symmetrical or asymmetrical in the teaching and learning process as well as multi-task oriented in both product and idea development. This chapter looks at the future of distance education and provides a brief survey of emerging technologies that are just moments or months away from reality. In addition, this chapter explores the notion of customized education which is a continuation of democratic movements within and outside the classroom.
Ethical Reasoning and Reflection as Supported by Single-Player Videogames
Authors: Zagal Jose P.
Published: May 2011

Ethically notable games are those that provide opportunities for encouraging ethical reasoning and reflection. This chapter examines how games can encourage rational and emotional responses. By examining ethically notable videogames, it illustrates a few of the different design choices that can be used to encourage these responses and the effects they have on players. It also identifies five challenges toward creating ethically notable games and examines each in the context of commercially released videogames. Each of these analyses serves as a framework not only for reflecting upon and understanding ethics and morality in games but also for outlining the design space for ethically notable games.
A Framework for Classification and Criticism of Ethical Games
Authors: Stevenson Jamey
Published: May 2011

For those seeking an entry point into the complex topic of ethical games, a framework for classification and criticism can be a helpful tool, if only to provide a more gentle and coherent introduction to the subject. This chapter provides one such framework, based on identifying the overarching trends in contemporary ethical game design. It provides descriptions and examples of three different categories of ethical games, each of which are then considered within the context of the most prevalent critical flashpoints currently being debated by ethical game designers and detractors alike. By understanding the distinctions between the primary types of ethical games, readers will gain the ability to more effectively delineate which design decisions are likely to make a particular game susceptible to each of the critical pitfalls outlined.
War and Play
Authors: Monnens Devin
Published: May 2011

This chapter argues for a game design ethic for war game production and the development of games that produce a more realistic and conscientious critique of warfare, defined as antiwar and conscientious war games. Given the medium’s preponderance toward narratives and simulations of military conflict, there are surprisingly few works that seriously examine its consequences. This chapter surveys and critiques several existing antiwar and conscientious war games and examines design problems associated with exploring antiwar narratives. It concludes with an exploration of areas in which both new antiwar games can be developed and existing war games can be modified to produce conscientious messages about war. Artists and designers should have a vested interest in producing antiwar games to both enrich the medium and improve society by inspiring audiences to seek alternatives to conflict.
The Ethics of Reverse Engineering for Game Technology
Authors: Schwartz David I. , Bayliss Jessica D.
Published: May 2011

This chapter demonstrates how legal concepts, accepted practices, and research in reverse engineering (a process of disassembling a system to understand how it works) can provide ethical and legal outlets for end-users. The game industry has influenced reverse engineering law and practice, challenging ethical practices in industry, academia, and with end-users. Although these communities supposedly rely on legal precedents, actual laws are often misunderstood, ignored, or just unknown. The communities continually struggle to balance the protection of intellectual property with consumer freedom, and reverse engineering demonstrates this conflict. We demonstrate how a variety of communities embrace reverse engineering through a series of case studies involving current commercial games and technology. The case studies include the modding community, massively-multiplayer online game community tools, digital preservation, and reverse engineering education. Although a clear ruling on legality eludes the field, we conclude with suggestions on dealing with ethical and legal aspects surrounding this issue.
Critical Gameplay
Authors: Grace Lindsay
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces critical gameplay design as a technique for creating digital games that offer alternative play. Critical gameplay provides the opportunity to explore game ethics through the way games are designed to be played. Since game designers outline the rules of play, game designs outline designer’s definitions of what is ethical and important. Taking the notion that design is a reflection of the designer’s values, this chapter outlines methodologies for exposing the intrinsic values in play and creating gameplay models from alternative ethics and values. The chapter concludes with examples of critical gameplay games that have been demonstrated to international audience.
Fostering Character Education with Games and Interactive Story Generation
Authors: Hodhod Rania , Cairns Paul , Kudenko Daniel
Published: May 2011

Promoting ethical, responsible, and caring behavior in young people is a perennial aim of education. Schools are invited to include moral teaching in every possible curriculum. Efforts have been made to find non-traditional ways of teaching such as games or role play or engaging students in moral dilemmas. However, classroom environments need to consider time constraints, curriculum standards, and differing children’s personalities. Computer systems can offer rich environments that detect and respond to student knowledge gaps, misconceptions, and variable affective states. This chapter presents AEINS, an adaptive narrative-based educational game that helps the teaching of basic ethical virtues to young children to promote character education. The central goal is to engage students in a dynamic narrative environment and to involve them in different moral dilemmas (teaching moments) that use the Socratic method as the predominant pedagogy. The authors argue that AEINS incorporates appropriate game design principles and successfully manages the interaction between the narrative level and the tutoring level to maximize student learning. Moreover, it is able to convey the moral skills to its users, as shown in the evaluation.
Uganda’s Road to Peace May Run through the River of Forgiveness
Authors: Barab Sasha A. , Dodge Tyler , Gentry Edward , Saleh Asmalina , Pettyjohn Patrick
Published: May 2011

While gaming technologies are typically leveraged for entertainment purposes, our experience and aspiration is to use them to encourage engagement with global, politically-sensitive issues. This chapter focuses on our game design concerning the struggle of Uganda, a design that allows players to experience the atrocities and inhumane conditions and, by illuminating such values as peace and justice, helps them more generally to appreciate the moral complexity of a humane intervention. Rather than theoretical constructs to be debated in the abstract, the ethical struggles involved in determining a humane intervention in the game setting are grounded in different Non-Player Characters’ perspectives and operationalized within the underlying game dynamics. Beyond reporting on the designed game, the chapter draws the reader into the struggles of designing such an ethically contentious game.
A Comparison of Cyber-Crime Definitions in India and the United States
Authors: Maheshwari Himanshu , Hyman H.S. , Agrawal Manish
Published: May 2011

Unlike traditional crimes, it is difficult to define legal jurisdiction and authority for prosecuting cyber crimes. This issue is further complicated by differences in definitions of cyber crime in different countries. This chapter motivates the issue with an example of the ILOVEYOU virus and compares the legal provisions to combat cyber-crime in the US and India. The authors find that there are significant differences between India and the US in definitions of cybercrimes. It appears that in the United States, it is a crime to access information that has been declared to be confidential. In India, criminality requires dissemination of the information obtained without authorization. Another notable difference between the prosecutions of cybercrimes in the two countries relates to obscenity and decency laws.
Extended Time Machine Design using Reconfigurable Computing for Efficient Recording and Retrieval of Gigabit Network Traffic
Authors: Kumar S. Sajan , Prasad M. Hari Krishna , Pilli Suresh Raju
Published: May 2011

Till date there are no systems which promise to efficiently store and retrieve high volume network traffic. Like Time Machine, this efficiently records and retrieves high volume network traffic. The bottleneck of such systems has been to capture packets at such a high speed without dropping and to write a large amount of data to a disk quicklt and sufficiently, without impact on the integrity of the captured data (Ref. Cooke.E., Myrick.A., Rusek.D., & Jahanian.F(2006)). Certain hardware and software parts of the operating system (like drivers, input/output interfaces) cannot cope with such a high volume of data from a network, which may cause loss of data. Based on such experiences the authors have come up with a redesigned implementation of the system which have specialized capture hardware with its own Application Programming Interface for overcoming loss of data and improving efficiency in recording mechanisms.
Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Paradox and Certain Aspects of Quantum Cryptology with Some Applications
Authors: Karuppath Narayanankutty , Achuthan P.
Published: May 2011

The developments in quantum computing or any breakthrough in factorization algorithm would have far-reaching consequences in cryptology. For instance, Shor algorithm of factorizing in quantum computing might render the RSA type classical cryptography almost obsolete since it mainly depends on the computational complexity of factorization. Therefore, quantum cryptography is of immense importance and value in the modern context of recent scientific revolution. In this chapter, the authors discuss in brief certain fascinating aspects of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) paradox in the context of quantum cryptology. The EPR protocol and its connections to the famous Bell’s inequality are also considered in here.
The Internet as a Complementary Resource for SMEs
Authors: Schlemmer Frank , Webb Brian
Published: May 2011

It has been suggested that the Internet can be used to leverage a firm’s strategic assets. However, empirical research on complementarity is still rare and frequently inconclusive, especially in the context of small and medium-sized enterprises. We propose a theoretical framework with the independent variables business resources, dynamic capabilities and IT assets. Survey data of 146 small firms suggest that the Internet is complementary with business resources and dynamic capabilities but not with IT assets. Therefore, the framework may enable small firm managers to create competitive advantage by identifying strategic assets that are complementary with the Internet. Furthermore, our research our research highlights the threat of an over-investment in IT assets.
Towards A Model-Driven Approach for Process-Aware Web Applications
Authors: Rossi Davide , Turrini Elisa
Published: May 2011

Model-driven methods are always welcome when developing complex applications. Their availability is usually related to the problem domain that has to be addressed and to the software architectures that have to be supported. Process-aware Web applications are arguably the prominent examples of applications in which multi-user, coordinated work takes place and are, as the web evolves towards a Business System, strongly emerging as one of the main types of Web-applications.In this chapter the authors propose a model-driven approach to process-aware Web applications based on a graphical process modeling and execution language that eases the development process (from the design to the implementation) by promoting an effective separation of concerns.Driven by an emerging class of applications, the Web is evolving into a Business System. Web-based business applications allow the participation of several actors to complex enterprise-wide (or even multi-enterprise) business processes and pose new challenges to the software designers and software architects. The design models have to address both navigational and process-based interactions; the software architecture has to provide the components to enact the process and has to define how these components interoperate with the other components of the Web applications. In this chapter the authors show how, promoting an effective separation of concerns, a process modeling language and its enactment engine can be used in the modeling and implementation of process-aware Web applications.
AGATHE-2
Authors: Espinasse Bernard , Fournier Sébastien , Freitas Fred , Albitar Shereen , Lima Rinaldo
Published: May 2011

Due to Web size and diversity of information, relevant information gathering on the Web turns out to be a highly complex task. The main problem with most information retrieval approaches is neglecting pages’ context, given their inner deficiency: search engines are based on keyword indexing, which cannot capture context. Considering restricted domains, taking into account contexts, with the use of domain ontology, may lead to more relevant and accurate information gathering. In the last years, we have conducted research with this hypothesis, and proposed an agent- and ontology-based restricted-domain cooperative information gathering approach accordingly, that can be instantiated in information gathering systems for specific domains, such as academia, tourism, etc. In this chapter, the authors present this approach, a generic software architecture, named AGATHE-2, which is a full-fledged scalable multi-agent system. Besides offering an in-depth treatment for these domains due to the use of domain ontology, this new version uses machine learning techniques over linguistic information in order to accelerate the knowledge acquisition necessary for the task of information extraction over the Web pages. AGATHE-2 is an agent and ontology-based system that collects and classifies relevant Web pages about a restricted domain, using the BWI (Boosted Wrapper Induction), a machine-learning algorithm, to perform adaptive information extraction.
Product Choice and Channel Strategy for Multi-Channel Retailers
Authors: Yan Ruiliang , Wang John
Published: May 2011

With the explosive growth of online sales, multi-channel retailers are increasingly focused on finding ways of integrating the online channel with traditional retail stores. The need for the development of effective multi-channel strategies is strongly felt by the retailers. The present research normatively addresses this issue and using a game theoretic approach, derives optimal strategies that maximize profits under different competitive market structures. Managerial implications are discussed and probable paths of future research are identified.
Application of Dynamic Analysis in a Centralised Supply Chain
Authors: Niu Mu , Sice Petia , French Ian , Mosekilde Erik
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents dynamic analysis of a model of a centralised supply chain. The research was conducted within the manufacturing sector and involved the breathing equipment manufacturer Draeger Safety, UK A simplified model of the Draeger Safety, UK centralised supply chain is developed and validated. Simulation and analysis are performed using System Dynamics, control theory, nonlinear dynamic and chaos theory. The findings suggest that destructive oscillations of inventory could be generated by internal decision making practices. Bifurcation diagram is plotted to indicate the bifurcation status of the model with different internal decision policies. A management microworlds is developed for managers to experiment with different decision scenarios and learn how the supply chain performs.
Adoption of RFID in Supply Chains
Authors: Soon Chin Boo , Gutiérrez Jairo A.
Published: May 2011

Recognizing radio frequency identification (RFID) as a disruptive technology unearths interesting facts that could help managers decide how to approach their RFID projects. RFID for the supply chain (RFID/SC) has attracted global attention and many firms are already using RFID in their business processes. It was found that the uptake of RFID in New Zealand supply chains has been slow. Following on our previous work that used the motivation/ability framework to describe RFID/SC, this paper looks at the motivation and ability of New Zealand supply chains to explain the slow adoption rate. Case studies are used to illustrate the principles of the motivation/ability framework. The objectives of this paper are: (1) to equip managers with the knowledge of disruptive technology in the context of RFID/SC, (2) to highlight the need to assess an organization’s motivation and ability for adopting RFID/SC, and (3) to propose actions industry can take in the adoption of RFID/SC.
On the Analysis of Supplier-Manufacturer Information Sharing Strategies for Production Scheduling
Authors: Montoya-Torres Jairo R. , Rodríguez-Verjan Gloria L.
Published: May 2011

Nowadays, implementing collaboration strategies between the members of the supply chain has been an important research topic to obtain a more reactive and flexible supply chain in the highly competitive markets. However, few studies have been done on the impact of such collaboration strategies at one of the lower short-term decision levels: production scheduling. This paper is devoted to the study of information sharing between the members of a supply chain in a dynamic context. We consider a typical make-to-order direct sell supply chain without finished products inventory, similar to the one implemented by Internet PC sellers. We compare various scheduling algorithms implemented to study different scenarios of information sharing among the members of the chain. We have considered scenarios where no information is shared and scenarios where some or all information is shared. A simulation study is developed in order to get some insights about the impact of information sharing on the performance of the chain. Our results suggest improvement in the performance that shows the importance of collaboration and information sharing between the members of the chain.
Coordination Policies for Multi-Echelon Multi-Product Inventory Systems
Authors: Torres Fidel , Mejía Gonzalo
Published: May 2011

The effective coordination is a key element in the success of many cooperative supply chains. All production, distribution and supply must be adequately synchronized in order to satisfy the customer needs and at the same time optimizing the operational costs. This paper presents a multi-product, multi-echelon inventory system which comprises one manufacturer, a number of distribution centers and a number of retailers which are dependent of such distribution centers. The coordination and collaboration is achieved through a carefully designed replenishment policy. The near-optimal order quantities for each of the supply chain agents are calculated with a mathematical model in which the integrality constraints are relaxed. A number of instances were generated and tested. The results show the validity of the proposed approach.
A Stochastic Perturbation Algorithm for Inventory Optimization in Supply Chains
Authors: Wang Liya , Prabhu Vittal
Published: May 2011

In recent years, simulation optimization has attracted a great deal of attention because simulation can model the real systems in fidelity and capture complex dynamics. Among numerous simulation optimization algorithms, Simultaneous Perturbation Stochastic Approximation (SPSA) algorithm is an attractive approach because of its simplicity and efficiency. Although SPSA has been applied in several problems, it does not converge for some. This research proposes Augmented Simultaneous Perturbation Stochastic Approximation (ASPSA) algorithm in which SPSA is augmented to include presearch, ordinal optimization, non-uniform gain, and line search. Performances of ASPSA are tested on complex discrete supply chain inventory optimization problems. The tests results show that ASPSA not only achieves speed up, but also improves solution quality and converges faster than SPSA. Experiments also show that ASPSA is comparable to Genetic Algorithms in solution quality (6% to 15% worse) but is much more efficient computationally (over 12x faster).
A Stochastic Model for Improving Information Security in Supply Chain Systems
Authors: Al Kattan Ibrahim , Al Nunu Ahmed , Saleh Kassem
Published: May 2011

This article presents a probabilistic security model for supply chain management systems (SCM) in which the basic goals of security (including confidentiality, integrity, availability and accountability, CIAA) are modeled and analyzed. Consequently, the weak points in system security are identified. A stochastic model using measurable values to describe the information system security of a SCM is introduced. Information security is a crucial and integral part of the network of supply chains. Each chain or driver requires a different security level according to the services it contributes to the overall SCM system. Different probabilistic weights are assigned to the four goals CIAA of security depending on the SCM driver’s mission. A Semi-Markov chain model is used to describe the probabilistic nature of different security levels for each driver in the system. A comparison of the steady-state security for a multi-driver model with different levels of attack is performed, and the results analyzed. Enhanced supply chain security could be achieved by identifying the effects of attacks on the security goals of an organization. The use of this model helps to identify weak points in supply chain system security, and offers hints on how to strengthen them. The model is tested by considering intrusion scenarios representing different levels of attack on the SCM system. An analysis of the results is performed using an interactive application. Keywords: Attack; Information Security; Quantitative Security; Stochastic Model; Supply Chain Management
Enhancing Cooperation in Enterprises using Agent and Web Services Paradigms
Authors: Brahimi Mahmoud , Seinturier Lionel , Boufaida Mahmoud
Published: May 2011

At the present time and with the economic orientation towards maturity, enterprises unlike the traditional competitive business strategies are wanted out of necessity to cooperate with other enterprises and to add new activities to their existing profiles. The rapid growth of technologies motivates enterprises to invest more and more in this domain with the adoption of the cooperative e-business applications. Consequently, we propose in this paper an approach that permits enterprises to enhance their cooperative activities. This approach is based on the agent and Web services paradigms. It is organized in the form of cooperative application groups representing the different parts of a company. Agent coordinators orchestrate the cooperative work of these groups. The most requested functionalities inside the enterprise and those offered to the external world can be exported as Web Services. We describe the Web Services with DAML-based Web Service ontology (OWL-S). The search, invocation and exploration of these Web services can be offered by an intermediate agent called Web Service Finder Agent. The proposed approach provides a new vision of the cooperation context where the companies and their partners share knowledge and offer functionalities as agents and Web Services.
Comparative Analysis of International Education Systems
Authors: Wang John , Xia Jun , Hollister Kimberly , Wang Yawei
Published: May 2011

International comparisons of educational systems are commonly practiced using subjective methods available in literature. The use of subjective methods can lead to non-standard ranking; each individual investigator inputs his or her own subjective judgment when assigning weights to measurements in each class. The complied results differ with large variations. A mathematical evaluation method based on concept of Pareto-optimal organization is proposed for this study. This method is easy to apply and uses linear programming model. The weights for various measurements are determined through an objective method. We illustrate our methodology in a comparison of the educational systems of twenty-one industrialized countries.