bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tranquilizing the Werewolf that Attack Information Systems Quality
Authors: Duggan Evan W.
Published: May 2011

After years of research and experimentation with information systems building, delivering high-quality systems remains a largely elusive objective. Since the prophetic assertion of Fred Brooks that the essential difficulties of “software engineering” would frustrate the search for a “silver bullet” to slay the legendary werewolf that beset its quality, IS delivery has become more difficult, and organizations have magnified the struggle to overcome what has been called “the software crisis.” There is unlikely to be a silver bullet. Only the disciplined, effective management and selection of appropriate approaches by knowledgeable and committed participants in the delivery process are likely to increase the odds of producing high-quality software products. This article discusses a variety of available user-centered and process-oriented systems delivery methods, philosophies, and techniques, which may be used in innovative permutations to tranquilize the dragon beyond its capacity to generate terror. The application context for these approaches, their strengths and weaknesses as indicated by the research literature, and reported practitioner experiences are also discussed.
Testing and Extending Theory in Strategic Information Systems Planning Through Literature Analysis
Authors: Brown Irwin T.J.
Published: May 2011

Strategic information systems planning (SISP) has been and continues to be a key concern to information systems managers, and much research effort has been devoted to studying it. SISP has been theorized in terms of an input-process-output model, with well-defined categories and a set of hypotheses to be tested. Based on this theoretical framework, a comprehensive analysis of academic literature published since 1991 is undertaken. The analysis reveals the extent to which the various categories and hypotheses within this framework have been researched, as well as identifying additional hypotheses that are suggested from the literature.
Conceptualizing Failed B2C Dotcoms as Innovation Failures
Authors: Pandya Anil M. , Dholakia Nikhilesh
Published: May 2011

During the 1998-2003 dot-com bust, many Internet-based business-to-consumer (B2C) companies failed to fulfill their initial and alluring promises. Concepts derived from the investigation of product and services innovation failures can provide a valuable strategic market framework to understand why so many dot-com B2C ventures crashed so fast. Early B2C ventures represented an entirely new class of technology-driven services. These B2C dot-coms sought to inform, promote, sell, and deliver consumer items in radically unfamiliar ways. In doing so, many B2C firms did not follow time-tested business precepts. In particular, the failed B2C firms did not realize they were marketing innovative services. Our framework uses the continuum of need-solution context in conjunction with the notion that seller/buyer perceptions about the scope of innovations are not necessarily concordant. Matched or “concordant” perceptions lead to success, and mismatched or “discordant” perceptions often breed failures. Using short cases and historical data, this chapter illustrates the explanatory power of the framework.
Standardization and Competing Consortia
Authors: Wegberg Marc V.
Published: May 2011

The consortia movement in the standardization world has led to a fragmentation of standardization processes. This fragmentation is partly of a competitive nature, where rival coalitions support competing technologies. A critique on this movement is that it fragments technologies and multiplies the number of standards. The aim of supporting competing technologies may reflect experimentation with different technological paths. It may also, however, reflect differences in intellectual property rights of firms. From a user’s perspective, the competing technologies may represent spurious differences that increase uncertainty, and create transaction costs. The consortia do have a function for end users: Established industry-wide standard development organizations (SDOs) may be slow to act, bureaucratic, and inflexible to changes in users’ needs and new opportunities; consortia speed up the process of standardization. This chapter argues that consortia do indeed tend to correct these coordination failures of the official SDOs. They do so at a cost, however, and because of this, industry-wide SDOs still have a role to play.
Intellectual Property Protection and Standardization
Authors: Blind Knut , Thumm Nikolaus
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents the first attempt at analyzing the relationship between strategies to protect intellectual property rights and their impact on the likelihood of joining formal standardization processes, based on a small sample of European companies. On the one hand, theory suggests that the stronger the protection of one’s own technological know-how, the higher the likelihood to join formal standardization processes in order to leverage the value of the technological portfolio. On the other hand, companies at the leading edge are often in such a strong position that they do not need the support of standards to market their products successfully. The results of the statistical analysis show that the higher the patent intensities of companies, the lower their tendency to join standardization processes, supporting the latter theoretical hypothesis.
Standardization and Network Externalities
Authors: Park Sangin
Published: May 2011

The standardization issue in the ICT industry is mainly compatibility in the presence of network externalities. The compatibility in Economics usually means interoperability between competing products. For instance, the VHS VCRs and the Betamax VCRs are incompatible in the sense that tapes recorded in one format (e.g., VHS) could not be played in the other format (e.g., Betamax). Hence, in the ICT industry, standardization mainly signifies achieving compatibility. Standards can be achieved by mandatory or voluntary measures as well as by de facto standardization. It is an important policy issue whether the government should mandate a standard (or impose compatibility), let the stakeholders (especially, firms) decide a standard, or enforce sponsoring firms to compete in the market, which has substantial impacts on consumer (or end user) well-being as well as business strategies in R&D, technology sponsorship, and competition in the product market. Ultimately, the impacts of standardization policies should be analyzed in terms of costs and benefits of firms (i.e., profit analysis) and the society (i.e., welfare analysis). In this chapter, we suggest an analytical framework to provide a consistent review of theoretical and empirical models of firms’ and consumers’ (or end users’) incentives and behavior under different standardization policies. The chapter is organized as follows. In section 2, we will discuss the Katz and Shapiro model which analyzes how compatibility (or standardization) affects firms’ optimization behavior in the product market and whether private incentives for compatibility are consistent with the social incentive. Section 3 will shift our focus onto the consumer’s adoption decision of new technology over old technology. We will discuss the pioneering Farrell and Saloner model which studies whether consumers’ adoption decision of incompatible new technology is socially optimal. Then we will proceed to introduce several important extensions of the model. The dynamics of standardization process will be explored in section 4. Based on the empirical study of Park (2004a), the de facto standardization of the VHS format in the U.S. home VCR market will be analyzed and further utilized to understand strategic aspects of standardization. Despite recent economists’ attentions to the issue of standardization and network externalities, the literature itself still lags behind reality. In section 5, we will examine ongoing and future research issues requiring further cost-benefit analyses based on economic models. Section 6 will conclude.
Wireless Interactive Teaching by Using Keypad-Based ARS
Authors: Hu Jiankun , Bertok Peter , Hamilton Margaret , White Graeme , Duff Anita. , Cutts Quintin
Published: May 2011

Lecturing large classes in tertiary education is always a challenge; one of the most difficult tasks being how to gauge students’ understanding. Introducing interactivity can alleviate this problem by providing instant feedback that enables the lecturer to clarify problematical points. This is even more crucial and challenging when lecturing to large classes with students from many different cultural backgrounds. This chapter reports the authors’ experience with a wireless keypad-based system in different classrooms. New deployment strategies used in this project, and educational foundationson which they were based, are explained. The environment and the experience of using the technology from the educator’s viewpoint are also described. Student feedback is also discussed, and improvements for future use are also proposed.
Reflections on the Use of ARS with Small Groups
Authors: Banks David A.
Published: May 2011

Audience response systems are typically used with large groups of students, often in lecture theatre settings. This chapter reflects on 10 years of the author’s use of these systems, and provides examples illustrating the way that a variety of ARS, including a wired system and two infrared systems, have been used with small groups. In the examples outlined here, the data from the ARS was used to trigger discussion, rather than being used for multiple-choice “right or wrong” purposes. In the context of this chapter, groups of between 5 and 50 students are considered as “small” to differentiate from “large” lectures with possibly hundreds of students. Given the likely convergence of numeric keypad technology and text entry systems such as PDAs and mobile phones, the use of a larger, text-entry system is also outlined, to show how such systems can be utilized to explore course evaluation issues.
Strategic Planning for E-Learning in a Polytechnic
Authors: Bates Tony
Published: May 2011

This chapter is a case study of how a polytechnic developed a strategic plan for e-learning. It describes the institution’s rationale for moving more strongly into e-learning, the processes followed by the institution to develop a plan and ensure its acceptance through the institutional community, and the factors that facilitated the process. It indicates that attention to objectives, core values and principles, and faculty development and training, are critical for the successful transition from mainly face-to-face teaching to e-learning. The development of key performance indicators will allow the success of the plan to be measured in 2010.
Teaching and Learning in a Laptop Nursing Program
Authors: Vogel Ellen , Muirhead Bill
Published: May 2011

Increasingly, nurses work in practice settings that employ the latest information and communication technology (ICT) to research, administer, and deliver healthcare to clients. Thus, it is critical that BNSc program graduates be competent with the technology that is embedded in their nursing environments. This chapter explicates the findings of a study designed to assess and prioritize the capacities of nursing faculty in the use of ICT for teaching and learning. Data was gathered over a two-year period through in-depth interviews, questionnaires, learning journals, and document review and synthesis. The authors hope that findings will contribute to the development of core competencies in the use of ICT for teaching and learning. Further, outcomes will inform decision-makers and funding agencies of the needs and gaps related to faculty ICT preparedness in Canadian schools of nursing. Recommendations address key success factors including faculty development and institutional support.
Toward Efective Instruction in E-Learning Environments
Authors: Gabriel Martha A.
Published: May 2011

This chapter explores the role of instructors and the perspectives they bring to teaching in e-learning environments. It suggests that when instructors are developing e-learning courses, instruction is more effective if individual perspectives on teaching, as well as the principles of good teaching, are taken into consideration. Congruence between principles, perspectives, and practice enhance e-learning pedagogy. The model—reflect on the teaching approach, apply the principles of good teaching throughout the course, choose appropriate learning outcomes and activities, and review choices—is proposed as a guideline for effective teaching in e-learning environments.
Using Problem-Based Learning in Online Courses
Authors: Kenny Richard F.
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, I argue that instructional designers must use research and theory to guide them to new and justified instructional practices when designing e-learning. I introduce a well-established pedagogy, problem-based learning (PBL), in which complex, ill-structured problems serve as the context and stimulus for learning, and students work collaboratively to understand the problem and learn about the broader related concepts. I describe the structure of PBL and discuss Barrow’s (1998) concept of “authentic” PBL. I then review the support for PBL in the research literature and describe its relationship to cognitive and constructivist learning theory. I conclude the chapter by demonstrating how authentic PBL can be applied to e-learning using supporting examples from an undergraduate online course in agriculture.
Cultural Agents
Authors: Colazzo Salvatore
Published: May 2011

Teaching function is a strategic factor in the improvement of teaching and learning. In online education teaching function involves cultural, pedagogical, and didactical mediation. Thus conceived, the business of teaching aims to improve the aptitudes, intelligence, and personal qualities of the students, by engaging with the competence already in their possession, raising to consciousness their implicit knowledge, and favoring group interaction. By dint of cooperation, the students acquire important opportunities to construct, understand, and share knowledge and information. The teaching function conceived as a mediating function leads us towards the assumption of the socio-constructivist paradigm, which may be considered the key development of post-modern pedagogy.
E-Mail
Authors: Dawley Lisa
Published: May 2011

The strengths and weaknesses of each tool are discussed in detail, and educators are taught to match the strengths of the specific tool to the learning objectives they seek to achieve in their courses. Multiple examples of objectives and online learning activities are provided to help instill a deep understanding of the power of each online tool. This leaves you with a long-term ability to adapt your own curriculum over time, because you have learned options for using a variety of online tools to achieve specific learning objectives. Finally, each chapter includes a sample lesson plan that demonstrates how to integrate the tool into the learning experience. These ideas and activities provide tried and true suggestions for creating an online environment that engages and empowers learners for success. And when your students are successful in learning, you are successful in teaching.
Improving E-Learning Support and Infrastructure
Authors: McNaught Carmel , Lam Paul , Keing Christina , Cheng Kin Fai
Published: May 2011

This chapter reports a study conducted in 2004 at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) aimed at obtaining a much clearer picture about the use of e-learning at the university so as to develop new strategic directions on a firm evidence base. Multiple sources of data were collected, including: site logs, experts’ review of selected active Web sites, and interviews with 26 teachers. The data illustrate that e-learning at CUHK is still largely in the “innovators” and “early adopters” stages (Rogers, 2003). There lies a “chasm” ahead inhibiting moving further into the “mainstream” area. The analysis of the data revealed that what the teachers want from the technology, what they actually do, and what they can have access to for support are not totally aligned. The focus of the chapter is on how to improve this alignment so as to bridge the chasm. The study has been successful in eliciting university support for changes to the e-learning support system.
The Role of the Online Instructor as a Guide on the Side
Authors: Mazzolini Margaret , Maddison Sarah
Published: May 2011

We present research results and advice on the role of the online instructor in relation to a particular example of technology-supported learning and teaching — the use of asynchronous discussion forums. Pedagogical issues and studies discussed here are based on six years of designing, coordinating, and teaching into Swinburne Astronomy Online (SAO), an online international program. We discuss some implementation issues associated with the use of asynchronous forums and the induction of instructors, plus the role of the online instructor as a “guide on the side.” As an example of issues involved in maintaining a constructive online learning environment, we discuss strategies used to accommodate students with varying degrees of prior learning. We also summarise results of our research on student-instructor interactions, plus feedback on students’ and instructors’ perceptions of the online experience. The results of this research are used to inform the induction and mentoring of instructors in SAO.
Learning through Chat
Authors: Rowsell David , Jackson Tim
Published: May 2011

Synchronous computer conferencing, or “chat,” is an effective and versatile tool of online learning, providing users with opportunities for real-time communication. Chat can be used for a variety of educational purposes, including academic seminars, student tutorials, recruitment interviews, and student presentations. In this chapter, we argue that through practice, in a socially open learning environment, chat is a focused learning activity, providing a forum where identities emerge and activity is at its greatest. We demonstrate the diverse and growing uses of chat through reference to examples from the chat archives of online distance courses at the University of the Arts London. We contextualise chat within a social learning framework and provide an analytical framework drawn from conversational analysis in order to examine the issues associated with chat in practice and how practice is improved through specific methodologies, new protocols, and inventive application.
Self and Peer Assessment in a Problem-Based Learning Environment
Authors: Kosel Bernarda
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this case study is to offer some suggestions on assessingstudent-centered groups, and show how self and peer assessment cancomplement a teacher’s assessment. The case study reports on whichassessment tools have been developed to measure students’ work in twoEuropean Leonardo da Vinci projects. The project used problem-basedlearning to teach English by combining this with a technical subject. A briefreport about the experiences on using an e-learning environment(Blackboard) in which the second project was carried out is also given.Assessment is divided into the process and product strands. The assessmenttools for each strand are proposed. These include rating scales forassessing the presentation and report, as well as self and peer assessmentquestionnaires for assessing the learning process.
Evaluating Designs for Web-Assisted Peer and Group Assessment
Authors: Lam Paul , McNaught Carmel
Published: May 2011

Activities, such as peer-group discussion and peer review, where studentsassist each other by commenting on and assessing each other’s coursework, are thought to be beneficial and effective in many aspects. Web-based technology has opened up new possibilities for peer- and group-assessment activities. Three main Web functions—e-resources, e-display,and e-communication—are discussed in this chapter in the context of sixcases of teachers using peer and group assessment in a Hong Konguniversity. These cases use different levels of Web enhancement. Evaluationof the six cases involved student surveys, focus-group interviews, teachersurveys, analysis of forum postings, and counter site logs. The chapterprovides an analysis of this evaluation data within the various designs ofthese courses. The data collected generally confirm that Web-enabled peer-and group-assessment activities can produce positive results. The need forcareful planning for these types of assessment activities is also clearlyillustrated.
How's My Writing? Using Online Peer Feedback to Improve Performance in the Composition Classroom
Authors: Dennen Vanessa Paz , Jones Gabriel
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents a case study of how online peer feedback was usedas a formative learning and assessment activity in a required, university-level composition course. The authors argue that such activities, if designedeffectively, contribute significantly toward a student’s sense of audience,authority, and empowerment as a productive member of a larger discoursecommunity. In the study, students were divided into small workgroups andshared their work by posting it on the class discussion board. They wereasked to provide feedback on specific parts of their classmates’ work.Issues such as preparing students to provide peer feedback, quality andusefulness of the peer assessment, and student attitudes toward the peerassessment process are addressed.
From Information Society to Global Village of Wisdom? The Role of ICT in Realizing Social Justice in the Developing World
Authors: Hellsten Sirkku Kristina
Published: May 2011

This chapter is about the role of ICT in global justice. It will analyze, firstly, the epistemological relationship between new information, knowledge and wisdom. Secondly, it examines the ethical relationship between information technology and the values and ideals that are attached to its use and applications. Thirdly, the chapter studies theoretical and practical obstacles that have prevented the developing countries, particularly in Africa, from fully benefiting from the enormous possibilities provided by the new ICT in relation to realizing human capabilities, well-being and better standards of living and social justice. The analysis applies Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum’s capability approach to the distribution and use of the ICT in global context. Finally the chapter examines how global and the local inequality is maintained by the international information and technology markets, and how the distorted international markets as well as misguided local policies tend to create further division between ‘information rich’ and ‘information poor’.
Justifying Intellectual Property Protection
Authors: Himma Kenneth Einar
Published: May 2011

I argue that the law should provide limited protection of intellectual property interests. To this end, I argue that whether the law ought to coercively restrict liberty depends on an assessment of all competing interests. Further, I argue that the interests of content creators in controlling the disposition of the content they create outweigh the interests of other persons in using that content in most, but not all, cases. I conclude that, in these cases, morality protects the interests of content creators, but not the interests of other persons and hence would justify limited legal protection of the content creators’ interests.
Social Justice and Market Metaphyics
Authors: Stahl Bernd Carsten
Published: May 2011

A book on the topic of information technology and social justice would seem to be based on several implicit assumptions. One of these is that there are unequal distributions of technology and access to technology, which can be called ‘digital divides’. Another one is that these digital divides are a problem for justice. A final one is that a philosophical debate of these issues can be beneficial. This chapter aims to question the validity of these assumptions. It asks what philosophy contributes to the debate about digital divides. In order to do so, it briefly reviews the debates concerning justice and digital divides. It then discusses the question whether markets or states are better suited to overcome the unequal distribution of technology. The purpose of these brief restatements of some of the opinions found in the literature is to show that philosophy alone cannot inform us of what we should do. The chapter concludes by suggesting that, in order to address problems of digital divides, we need to go beyond philosophical debate and enter the political space.
Computer Ethics
Authors: Raghuramaraju A.
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces two distinct models of morality, namely, constitutive which is available in traditional moral philosophy and consequential which surrounds the present day computer ethics discourse. It shows how constitutive morality thoroughly rehearses possible problems arising out of new developments or introduction of new products before accepting a moral rule, whereas consequential morality, propelled by liberalism, allows freedom for new products without deliberation and attends to problems only when they arise. The chapter, looking from the point of view of constitutive morality, highlights some of the structural problems associated with computer ethics. In conclusion it suggests how societies, like India, that are not fully modern, can learn from both of these two models, thereby instituting additional terms to a new discipline like computer ethics.
Situated Learning and Interacting With/Through Technologies
Authors: Raudaskoski Pirkko
Published: May 2011

There is a growing interest within social and humanistic sciences towards understanding practice both theoretically and analytically. Lave and Wenger’s (1991) concept, “situated learning,” describes the process of newcomers moving toward full participation in a community. Wenger later refined his approach in his book Communities of practice: Learning, meaning and identity. Situated learning is equalled with social order: instead of understanding learning as a separate practice from everyday life, learning is seen as a more mundane phenomenon. It is sometimes difficult to operationalize Lave and Wenger’s concepts in data analysis. Ethnomethodology and conversation analysis (CA) find that social order is created continuously by its members in their interactions. As ethnomethodology and CA base their findings on rigorous data analysis, they are extremely useful in analysing situated learning in everyday practices. The interdisciplinary interaction analysis (IA) is suggested as the best way to study the various aspects of situated learning in technology-intensive interactions.
Identifying an Appropriate, Pedagogical, Networked Architecture for Online Learning Communities
Authors: Sorensen Elsebeth Korsgaard , Murchu Daithí Ó
Published: May 2011

This chapter addresses the problem of enhancing quality of online learning processes through pedagogic design. Based on our earlier research findings from analysis of two comparable online master courses offered in two masters’ programmes, respectively from Denmark and Ireland (Ó Murchú & Sorensen, 2004), we present what we assert to be a fruitful, student-centred, pedagogic model for design of networked learning. The design model is composed of what we have identified as unique characteristics of online learning architectures that, in principle, promote and allow for global intercultural processes of meaningful learning through collaborative knowledge building in online communities of practice. Inspired by principles of best practice and Wengerian design criteria for networked learning (Wenger, 1998), the chapter intends to access, discuss, and provide evidence associated with the quality issues of the presented model, and its specific learning architectures.
E-Government in Latin American Cities
Authors: Holzer Marc , Carrizales Tony , Schwester Richard
Published: May 2011

This chapter examines e-government practices in Latin American cities. Emphasis is placed on five areas: privacy and security, usability, content, services, and citizen participation. In Digital Governance in Municipalities Worldwide, Holzer and Kim (2004) evaluated e-government in the largest municipality in each of 100 countries. Included in this study were the largest cities in 15 Latin American countries. This chapter focuses on these 15 cities, highlighting those that received the highest overall index score. In addition, five cities with above-average scores in the five e-government component areas are assessed. Although this chapter does not take into consideration all e-government practices in Latin America, it does provide benchmark cases for cities in the Latin American region.
Defining and Measuring E-Democracy
Authors: Navarro Marc
Published: May 2011

The aim of this chapter is to define and to measure electronic democracy. In order to achieve this purpose, first, different conceptual perspectives about the interconnection between new information and communication technologies and democratic institutions are described. Second, a definition of electronic democracy and its relationship with classical theories on representative democracy is provided. Third, with this description, an index to measure the stage of development of electronic democracy in a given political system is developed. Fourth, the index is tested in some Latin American municipalities. Finally, with the obtained results, some conclusions about the level and nature of electronic-democracy implementation in the region are described. The chapter adopts an institutional approach to understand the impact of ICTs on institutions that illustrates how difficult defining and measuring this reality can get.
Electronic Delivery of Public Services to Citizens
Authors: Hoepner Petra , Strick Linda , Mendes Manuel , Monte Romildo , Agune Roberto , Bolliger Sergio
Published: May 2011

The main goal of the EU @LIS demonstration project Electronic Government Innovation and Access (eGOIA) is the provisioning of demonstrators that show future-oriented public-administration services to a broad public in Latin America. The vision of the eGOIA project is the provision of a single virtual space supporting the interaction of citizens (independent of social status, gender, race, abilities, and age) and the public administration in a simple, future-oriented, and cost-effective way. A software infrastructure is developed in order to allow the access of citizens through the Internet to integrated public services at several levels: local government (municipalities), regional government (state), and federal government. The trial of the demonstrator will be performed in São Paulo state and in municipalities in Peru.
An Overview Of The Decision-Making Process In Organizations
Authors: Shimizu Tamio , Monteiro de Carvalho Marley , Barbin Fernando Jose
Published: May 2011

Organizations frequently find themselves faced with serious decision-making problems. An individual can analyze the problem and choose the better alternative in an entirely informal manner. In an organization, the problems are much broader and more complex, involving risk and uncertainty. They require the opinion and participation of many people at different levels of hierarchy. The decision-making process in a business or organization should be structured and resolved in a formal, detailed, consistent, and transparent manner. Political events such as the end of the Soviet Empire and the consequent fall of the Berlin Wall, the Petroleum War, the invasion of Iraq, conflicts in various countries, terrorism, etc., immediately affect the destiny and behavior of nations or organizations. As everyone knows, Japan, which had been demolished by the Second World War, became a world economic power in just a few decades, thanks to massive economic aid from the West in the postwar period, social reconstruction, and the joint efforts of its government and people. Nevertheless, beginning in 1989, the year called the “turning point” of the Japanese economy, there were abrupt changes in politics and the economy that resulted in the fall of the Japanese economic index (Dow Nikkey) from 39,000 yen to 14,000 yen. The Japanese economy underwent a contraction that included the phenomenon known as the bursting of the “bubble”, and the country’s economy still has not fully recovered from its devastating effects. Countries and organizations constantly have to face problems due to changes in governmental regimes (communist, socialist or capitalist) and economic stability. World financial crises provoked by financial speculators have made it clear that the practical and theoretical knowledge in economy or finance are only the starting background to confront the market of financial speculation. What has proved necessary has been the experience and level of expertise of someone familiar with the financial trading tables in order to make choices in dealing with the alternatives in day-to-day or moment-to-moment financial operations, and many other factors (see the Case Study - LTCM, presented at the end of this chapter). Other problems such as the globalization of the world economy, the need to manage the environment, combat poverty, etc., affect an organization’s choice of strategy.
The Role Of Simulation And Modern Business Games
Authors: Shimizu Tamio , Monteiro de Carvalho Marley , Barbin Fernando Jose
Published: May 2011

“Probability or stochastic process” is a name used to designate mathematical models that represent the behavior of phenomena described by probability theory, ranging from a simple game of coin tossing up to more complex phenomenon like “Brownian motion theory”, “investment analysis”, etc. Stochastic process uses mathematical models to represent phenomena ruled by the probabilistic variation of some variable over time. Simulation methods, also known as Monte Carlo methods, are stochastic processes that use mathematical models that have similar behavior of real problems, feeding these models with random values generated according to some probability distribution. The term Monte Carlo is used as a synonym for simulation since in some problems the generation of probabilistic values was historically linked to the use of the roulette wheel. In this chapter we show how simulation method can be used to evaluate complex decision problems involving uncertainty. This kind of problem involves knowledge of probability distribution (such as uniform, Poisson, or Normal distribution) used to represent the probabilistic process and the value of respective parameters (such as the average value and the standard deviation). Simulation is the most appropriate tool for visualizing, testing, and evaluating the parameters and the dynamic behavior of a probabilistic process. Simulation uses algorithms that generate a population of probabilistic events which makes possible the estimation of the values of parameters of the problem. The results of a simulation can be proven to be valid approximations of the values of the real phenomenon which they simulate.
Group Decision And Negotiation In Strategic-Decision-Making
Authors: Shimizu Tamio , Monteiro de Carvalho Marley , Barbin Fernando Jose
Published: May 2011

In the previous chapters, decisions models have been modeled based on the economic point of view of the problem expressed mainly through quantitative values and, in some cases by qualitative representation. The economic perspective draws unique coherence from economic assumptions of rational behavior and it draws predictive power from strongly valid rules of influence that employ mathematical or logical operators. Because the decision must be expressed in a way that is compatible with the rules of inference, great simplicity, and structure are required. In strategic decision making problems great effort has been directed toward relaxing the mathematical constraints, while retaining the economic — logic inference. Another important aspect to be considered is that in both theoretical and practical decision-making models, fixed numbers of decision alternatives or prefixed value of parameters have been considered. The major inputs to the analysis of an econometric model of decision-making process are subjective probabilities, utility values, and decision tree structures. Individuals may differ in their subjective value of probabilities, their utilities of outcomes or in their perceptions of the subsequent actions available. Strategic decision problems involve not only one person’s opinion but involve a group of individuals belonging to different classes and levels of interests inside and outside the organization. No longer is the problem concerned with the selection of the preferred alternative of one person. The analysis must be extended for a group of decision-makers, each one exhibiting a certain preference structure, perceiving different consequences, and corresponding to a diverse set of interest and responsibility. In some cases, depending on the number of persons involved as well as on the nature of the decision problem (for instance, promoting or hiring persons or, electing the president) it will be necessary to adopt a voting system. How can different groups of individual affect a decision-making process? In this chapter, we consider some behavioral aspects of individuals and group of individuals that may affect a decision-making process. Behavioral perspectives of competitive decision-making are neither as well articulated nor as complete as those of economic view. In behavioral views cognitive limitations and the use of mental effort are emphasized. In contrast to the rational approach of the economic frame, the behavioral views acknowledge that players may adopt different kind of rationality.
Production Planning Redesign
Authors: Portougal Victor
Published: May 2011

For manufacturing companies, competitive advantage is ultimately measured interms of financial results, and the key financial result is usually a margin of profitfrom sales, which then translates into a margin of return on investment.How then does production planning and control (PPC) have a significantinfluence on this outcome? It is our contention that efficient production planningis one of the three crucial and vital driving factors that enables the otherfunctional areas to be effective. Figure 11.1 displays the driving position of PPCin a causal relationship layout.Efficient PPC has a direct and beneficial influence on both customer satisfac-tion and capacity utilisation. The first leads to greater sales volume, and thesecond to lower costs, both of which have a major impact on profits.
Conclusion
Authors: Portougal Victor
Published: May 2011

The implementation of the Production Planning and Control (PP) module of theSAP system uncovered a need to provide an effective computer support torelated managerial decisions not covered by typical SAP applications. Ex-amples are given in subsequent paragraphs.The manufacturing process requires an updated short-term forecast eachweek. Sales managers must produce the forecast, and then it is automaticallyprocessed within the master production scheduling. Sales figures for individualproducts have to be provided on a weekly basis for the current month and thenext month. Actual sales made each week are captured and available forreporting on the following morning (after actual sales completion). Sales staffcompare actual sales with long-term forecasts and, using judgment, makenecessary adjustments. Currently forecasts are prepared manually and then putinto the database. The process needs computer support to relieve salespersonnel and to eliminate data entry.
Security in Health Information Systems
Authors: Ilioudi Christina , Lazakidou Athina
Published: May 2011

The development of Internet technology and Web-based applications made health information more accessible than ever before from many locations by multiple health providers and health plans. In this chapter, security in health information systems is put into perspective. The further penetration of information technology into healthcare is discussed, and it is concluded that information systems have already become a vital component, not only for the logistics of the healthcare institution but also for the rendering of care and cure.
Computerized Systems Validation in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Authors: Hussain Kashif , Mughal Shazia Yasin , Leleu-Merviel Sylvie
Published: May 2011

This chapter has reviewed the regulatory requirements definitions of FDA, AFSSAPS, EC and how computer systems can be validated with a relevant approach. By directing validation activities into a clear action plan, first, we need to analyze the specific organizational need according to the priorities and impacts to construct the required validation plan which can fulfill the requirements. The aim of the authors is to focus on a general approach to validation that can support several needs without addressing the technical aspects.
Basic Principles and Benefits of Various Classification Systems in Health
Authors: Petroudi Dimitra , Zekios Athanasios
Published: May 2011

The introduction of information systems in health progressively led tï coding systems. The purposes of these systems are: recording causes of death, coding diseases and procedures, etc. The most important medical coding system in our days is ICD (International Classification of Diseases). Other coding systems that health professionals use are: SNOMED, LOINC, MeSH, UMLS, DSM, DRG and HCPCS. There are also many Nursing Classification Systems, such as: NANDA, NIC, NOC, ICNP, Omaha and HHCC. This chapter describes these coding systems and their advantages.
Brain Mapping in Functional Neurosurgery
Authors: Zouridakis George , Diaz Javier , Baluch Farhan
Published: May 2011

Functional brain mapping is a procedure that can be used to identify cortical areas that mediate sensorimotor and higher cognitive brain functions, such as language, attention, memory, and cognition. Clinically, it is currently used for preoperative surgical planning in patients suffering from intractable epilepsy and brain tumors, and may soon have significant applications in brain injury, stroke, dementia, and developmental disorders. Functional brain mapping is also a very powerful research tool in the area of cognitive neuroscience and, lately, in psychiatry. Recent technological advances in neuroimaging techniques, the development of large sensor arrays, the use of sophisticated computer systems and superior graphics, gradually make more apparent the relevance of this technique in providing answers to complex questions about the structural and functional connectivity of the brain, and the way it represents and processes information.
Information Processing in Clinical Decision Making
Authors: Sintchenko Vitali
Published: May 2011

This chapter outlines an information-processing model of clinical decision-making which is described as a function of the task, the decision maker, and the context. Attributes of the task, the decision maker, and the decision environment are highly interrelated and often interdependent. They directly affect the use of clinical evidence. We argue that information processing is modified significantly by the decision-making context and decision task characteristics. Knowledge of clinical decision-making is therefore becoming increasingly important when designing an intervention that will produce sustained behavioural change. An exploration of the context and information seeking aspects of prescribing is emerging as a first step towards building the concept of task-specific decision support design.
Spline Fitting
Authors: Wodny Michael
Published: May 2011

Given are the m points (xi,yi), i=1,2,…,m. Spline functions are introduced, and it is noticed that the interpolation task in the case of natural splines has a unique solution. The interpolating natural cubic spline is constructed. For the construction of smoothing splines, different optimization problems are formulated. A selected problem is looked at in detail. The construction of the solution is carried out in two steps. In the first step the unknown Di=s(xi) are calculated via a linear system of equations. The second step is the construction of the interpolating natural cubic spline with respect to these (xi,Di), i=1,2,…,m. Every optimization problem contains a smoothing parameter. A method of estimation of the smoothing parameter from the given data is motivated briefly.
Electronic Submission of New Drugs in Europe
Authors: Eslinger A. Susanne , Marschall Daniela
Published: May 2011

All over the world, drugs and drug applications have to be submitted to and approved by an admission office before they may be sold on the market. All procedures are extensive, time-consuming, and costly. To simplify the process, it could be organised electronically. In an economic perspective, there are many benefits by using the electronic form for the pharmaceutical industry: managing knowledge, cost advantages, and time savings. All, pharmaceutical industry and institutions have undertaken lots of efforts to enforce the electronic solutions. They focus on international standards in order to harmonise structures and processes. It would be necessary to reduce paper and copies, especially if the electronic solution takes place. This method will simplify the way to deal with data and documents and reduce process time and costs.
Imaging Technologies and their Applications in Biomedicine and Bioengineering
Authors: Giannakakis Nikolaos , Poravas Efstratios
Published: May 2011

New developments are making the technology faster, more powerful, less invasive, and less expensive. While the technology evolves, new devices are developed, in purpose to be used in the hospitals. Many new imaging methods are used in biomedical applications today and can predict the growth of a tumor or detect a disease. The advantages are numerous, but the problems, during the acquisition and use by the staff, are also remarkable.
Evolutionary Multi-Objective Optimization in Finance
Authors: Coello C. A.C.
Published: May 2011

This chapter provides a brief introduction of the use of evolutionary algorithms in the solution of multi-objective optimization problems (an area now called “evolutionary multi-objective optimization”). Besides providing some basic concepts and a brief description of the approaches that are more commonly used nowadays, the chapter also provides some of the current and future research trends in the area. In the final part of the chapter, we provide a short description of the sort of applications that multi-objective evolutionary algorithms have found in finance, identifying some possible paths for future research.
Multi-Agent Systems Research and Social Science Theory Building
Authors: Verhagen H.
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes the possible relationship between multi-agent systems research and social science research, more particularly sociology. It gives examples of the consequences and possibilities of these relationships, and describes some of the important issues and concepts in each of these areas. It finally points out some future directions for a bi-directional relationship between the social sciences and multi-agent systems research which hopefully will help researchers in both research areas, as well as researchers in management and organization theory.