bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Activities in the Virtual Environment
Authors: Fong Michelle W.L.
Published: May 2011

The Internet has brought a new dimension to the way we communicate and exchange information and collaborate in work processes. Although this medium has positive outcome in economic growth such as e-commerce, it may bring about undesirable negative consequences if it is not managed properly. There is a need for government and policy makers to address the impact of Internet on society and to take into account the externalities generated in the cyberspace. This chapter identifies the positive potential and impact of the Internet and some of the negative externalities created by Internet users as a result of their actions. In addition, present and future measures undertaken to combat negative externalities in the cyberspace are briefly discussed.
Establishing the Human Dimension of the Digital Divide
Authors: Partridge Helen
Published: May 2011

This chapter will explore the human dimension of the digital divide. It argues that existing digital divide research takes primarily a socio-economic perspective and that few studies have considered the social, psychological or cultural barriers that may contribute to digital inequality within community. This chapter will discuss an ongoing research project that explores the psychological factors that contribute to the digital divide. Using the Social Cognitive Theory, the research examines the Internet self-efficacy of Internet users and non-users in Brisbane, Australia and San Jose, California, USA. Developing a psychological perspective of the digital divide will expand current understanding of a phenomenon that has far reaching social and economic implications. It will allow a more precise understanding of what is and who represents the digital divide in community. Organisations who are involved in bridging the digital divide will be better placed to develop strategies and programs that can more effectively narrow the gap between ICT “haves” and “have-nots”.
Mobile Communities and the "Generation that Beeps and Hums"
Authors: Quigley Marian
Published: May 2011

The rapid appropriation of mobile phone technology by young people is occurring at the same time as critics are debating the so-called demise of community, purportedly as a result of our increasingly technologised and globalised society. Opposing theorists, however, argue that the notion of community is itself nebulous and that it represents an imagined ideal rather than a vanishing reality. Thus, they argue, it follows that debates about the greater authenticity of “real,” face-to-face communities over “virtual communities”—those centered on technological rather than geographical links —are based on a false premise. This chapter argues that young people today are utilizing mobile phones—sometimes in combination with the Internet—to establish and maintain social networks combining both their geographically present and absent peers. These networks are mobile, heavily reliant on technology and are comprised of a mix of “real” and “virtual” communication. They are also characterized by a sense of belonging to a group—a concept integral to the notion of community.
The Critical Role of Digital Rights Management Process
Authors: Pagani Margherita
Published: May 2011

This chapter sets out to analyze the impact generated by the adoption of Digital Rights Management (DRM) processes on the typical Digital Media Management Value Chain activities and tries to analyze the processes in the context of the business model. Given the early stage of the theory development in the field of DRM, the study follows the logic of grounded theory (Glaser & Strauss, 1967) by building the research on a multiple-case study methodology (Eisenhardt, 1989). The companies selected are successful players that have adopted DRM processes. These companies are Adobe Systems, Digital Island, Endemol, Intertrust, Microsoft, and the Motion Picture Association. The chapter provides in-depth longitudinal data on these seven players to show how companies implement DRM processes. After giving a definition of Intellectual Property and Digital Rights Management (first section), the chapter provides a description of the typical Digital Media Management Value Chain Activities and players involved along the different phases examined (second section). An in-depth description of Digital Rights Management processes is discussed in the third section. Digital Rights Management processes are considered in the context of business model and they are distinguished into content processes, finance processes and Rights Management processes. It concludes with a discussion of the model and main benefits generated by the integration of digital rights management (fourth section).
Pen-Based Input for On-Line Handwritten Notation
Authors: George Susan E.
Published: May 2011

This chapter is concerned with a novel pen-based interface for (handwritten) music notation. The chapter makes a survey of the current scope of on-line (or dynamic) handwritten input of music notation, presenting the outstanding problems in recognition. A solution using the multi-layer perceptron artificial neural network is presented explaining experiments in music symbol recognition from a study involving notation writing from some 25 people using a pressure-sensitive digitiser for input. Results suggest that a voting system among networks trained to recognize individual symbols produces the best recognition rate in the order of 92% for correctly recognising a positive example of a symbol and 98% in correctly rejecting a negative example of the symbol. A discussion is made of how this approach can be used in an interface for a pen-based music editor. The motivation for this chapter includes (i) the practical need for a pen-based interface capable of recognizing unconstrained handwritten music notation, (ii) the theoretical challenges that such a task presents for pattern recognition and (iii) the outstanding neglect of this topic in both academic and commercial respects.
Knowledge Cycles and Sharing
Authors: Yolles Maurice
Published: May 2011

Healthcare organizations have the same problem as any other organization that is run by sentient but mentally isolated beings. It is a problem that comes out of constructivist thinking and relates to the ability of people, once they start to communicate, to share knowledge. The popular knowledge management paradigm argues the importance of knowledge to management processes and organizational health. It may be said that it is likely that this paradigm will in due course give way to the “intelligent organization” paradigm that addresses how knowledge can be used intelligently for the viability of the organization. Part of the knowledge management paradigm centers on the use of knowledge sharing. This takes the view that while knowledge is necessary for people to do their jobs competently, there is also a need to have the potential for easy access to the knowledge of others. This chapter centers on the capacity of organizations to know what knowledge they have and to coordinate this knowledge.
Clinical Knowledge Management
Authors: Price Sheila , Summers Ron
Published: May 2011

Issues and complexities that arise from the adoption of clinical knowledge management are explored within the context of delivering drugs to the lungs. The move towards electronic data capture and information retrieval is documented together with cross-organisational working and sharing of clinical records. Key drivers for change are identified and their effects on, for example, the patient-clinician relationship are investigated. Conclusions drawn indicate the crucial role that all stakeholders play to bring about effective and efficacious patient care.
Genetic Algorithm and Other Meta-Heuristics
Authors: Cheung Bernard K.S.
Published: May 2011

Genetic algorithms have been applied in solving various types of large-scale, NP-hard optimization problems. Many researchers have been investigating its global convergence properties using Schema Theory, Markov Chain, etc. A more realistic approach, however, is to estimate the probability of success in finding the global optimal solution within a prescribed number of generations under some function landscapes. Further investigation reveals that its inherent weaknesses that affect its performance can be remedied, while its efficiency can be significantly enhanced through the design of an adaptive scheme that integrates the crossover, mutation and selection operations. The advance of Information Technology and the extensive corporate globalization create great challenges for the solution of modern supply chain models that become more and more complex and size formidable. Meta-heuristic methods have to be employed to obtain near optimal solutions. Recently, a genetic algorithm has been reported to solve these problems satisfactorily and there are reasons for this.
Understanding and Managing the Intrinsic Dynamics of Supply Chains
Authors: Higuchi Toru , Troutt Marvin D.
Published: May 2011

Both academically and practically, one of the most interesting aspects of supply chains is their intrinsic dynamic behavior. Dynamic interactions can cause unexpected and undesirable results. There are both external and internal reasons for this. Externally, severely competitive environments, consumer behavior and technological innovations are major concerns for supply-chain management. These affect both the structure and behavior of the supply chain and force it to be more flexible and agile. Internally, the supply chain is a multi-echelon system composed of a scratched-together and shifting set of players whose preferences and intentions often differ. This may create and amplify the information distortions, lags, and tricks of business within the supply chain. The combined effects of these external and internal factors make Supply Chain Dynamics (SCD) active and complex. In this chapter, we discuss the influences, mechanisms, and effects of SCD.
Inquiring Organizations
Authors: Hall Dianne J. , Croasdell David
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes each of Churchman’s inquirers as a process and how each can be perceived as an organizational form. By combining the forms suited to each inquirer, we show how an integrated organizational form founded on the inquirers can support an entire inquiring organization and how this form may be used to facilitate organizational learning and the creation and management of knowledge. We have laid the foundation of organizational form perspective for researchers and believe this foundation will enable researchers to investigate organizational learning, knowledge management, and communication processes within the complexity of inquiring organizations.
Perspectives for Strong Artificial Life
Authors: Rennard Jean-Philippe
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces the twin deadlocks of strong artificial life. Conceptualization of life is a deadlock both because of the existence of a continuum between the inert and the living, and because we only know one instance of life. Computationalism is a second deadlock since it remains a matter of faith. Nevertheless, artificial life realizations quickly progress and recent constructions embed an always-growing set of the intuitive properties of life. This growing gap between theory and realizations should sooner or later crystallize in some kind of “paradigm shift” and then give clues to break the twin deadlocks.
Finland
Authors: Pelkonen Tommi
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes Finnish mobile telecommunications industry trends and prospects. In addition, it presents two theoretical frameworks based on the Finnish companies’ experiences in the turbulent m-commerce markets. First, the internationalization framework is targeted to facilitate m-commerce actors to position themselves in the global telecom business. Second, the mobile media framework is targeted to facilitate analyses related to the emerging mobile media markets. Furthermore, the chapter presents five mini-cases of Finnish m-commerce companies and concludes with theoretical and managerial implications to m-commerce actors.
A Typology of Inter-Organizational Information Systems
Authors: O’Donnell Joseph B. , Glassberg Bonnie C.
Published: May 2011

This chapter provides a typology of inter-organizational information systems (IOISs) in order to provide a better understanding of the purposes of IOISs and their organizational uses, and to fill in the gaps not yet investigated by researchers. It provides a comparison of IOISs in terms of network structures and type of information exchanged, covers the benefits and risks of these systems, suggests new areas for research, and describes expected trends for IOISs. This typology highlights the differences and similarities not only among the many configurations of IOISs available today, but also contrasts this with internal Web sites (intranets) and public (external) Internet Web sites. It is hoped that the typology and ideas presented here provide new insights for academics and practitioners that will be used to improve the evolving landscape of electronic commerce.
IOIS and Interfirm Networks - Interdependents and Managerial Challenges
Authors: Klein Stefan , Poulymenakou Angeliki , Riemer Kai , Papakiriakopoulos Dimitris , Gogolin Marcel , Nikas Athanasios
Published: May 2011

Inter-organizational information systems (IOIS) are information systems (ISs) embedded or deployed in inter-organizational relations. Predominantly, these inter-organizational relations can be qualified as interfirm networks. In order to understand the specific challenges of designing and running ISs in an inter-organizational setting, we will use and expand the notion of information management, which focuses on the information and systems dimensions of IOIS, and we will use a framework which structures and classifies network management issues. While network information management (NIM) primarily addresses managerial issues of IOISs, it does so in the broader context of network management.
Introduction to Fuzzy Logic
Authors: Galindo Jose , Urrutia Angelica , Piattini Mario
Published: May 2011

This book mixes concepts of different areas of knowledge or technologies, such as databases, system architecture design, SQL language, programming concepts and logic, mathematics, and so forth. These concepts are introduced where they correspond, although we have not intended this book to be an introduction to databases or information systems. An important part of this book utilizes the fuzzy logic. For that reason we will begin by introducing some basic concepts of the theory of fuzzy sets as well as the notation used in this book. In this summary we will focus on the semantic aspects and those of representation associated with this important theoretical tool. In written sources we can find a large number of papers dealing with this theory, which was first introduced by L.A. Zadeh1 in 1965 (Zadeh, 1965). A compilation of some of the most interesting articles published by Zadeh on the theme can be found in Yager et al. (1987). Dubois and Prade (1980, 1988) and Zimmerman (1991) bring together the most important aspects behind the theory of fuzzy sets and the theory of possibility.
Fuzzy Database Approaches
Authors: Galindo Jose , Urrutia Angelica , Piattini Mario
Published: May 2011

Both the problem of representation and the treatment of imprecise information have been widely discussed. Many references can be found in the corresponding bibliography. Nevertheless, all the known models aimed at solving this problem have their own advantages, disadvantages, and constraints. The term imprecision encompasses various meanings, which might be interesting to highlight. It alludes to the facts that the information available can be incomplete, that we don’t know whether the information is true (uncertainty), that we are totally unaware of the information (unknown), or that such information is not applicable to a given entity (undefined). Sometimes these meanings are not disjunctive and can be combined in certain types of information. This chapter deals with the main published models aimed at solving the problem of representation and treatment of imprecise information in relational databases. This problem is not trivial, because it requires relations structure modification, and thus, the operations on these relations also need to be modified. To allow the storage of imprecise information and the making of an inaccurate query of such information, a wide variety of case studies that do not occur in the classic model, without imprecision, is required.
State of the Art in Fuzzy Database Modeling
Authors: Galindo Jose , Urrutia Angelica , Piattini Mario
Published: May 2011

On occasion, the term imprecision embraces several meanings that we should differentiate. For example, as you saw in Chapter II, the information you have may be incomplete or fuzzy (diffuse or vague), you may not know whether it is certain (uncertainty), perhaps you are totally ignorant of the information (unknown), you may know that the information cannot be applied to a specific entity (undefined), or you may not even know whether the data can be applied to the entity in question (total ignorance or a value of null) (Umano & Fukami, 1994). Each of these terms depends on the context in which it is applied. The management of uncertainty in database systems is a very important problem (Motro, 1995), as the information is often vague. Motro states that fuzzy information is content-dependent, and he classifies it as follows: • Uncertainty: It is impossible to determine whether the information is true or false. For example, “John may be 38 years old.” • Imprecision: The information available is not specific enough. For example, “John may be between 37 and 43 years old,” “John is 34 or 43 years old” (disjunction), “John is not 37 years old” (negative), or even a simple unknown. • Vagueness: The model includes elements (predicates or quantifiers) that are inherently vague, for example, “John is in his early years” or “John is at the end of his youth.” However, after these concepts have been defined, this case would match the previous one (imprecision). • Inconsistency: It contains two or more pieces of information that cannot be true at the same time. For example, “John is 37 and 43 years old, or he is 35 years old”; this is a special case of disjunction. • Ambiguity: Some elements of the model lack complete semantics (or a complete meaning). For example, “It is unclear whether the salaries are annual or monthly.”
Representation of Fuzzy Knowledge in Relational Databases
Authors: Galindo Jose , Urrutia Angelica , Piattini Mario
Published: May 2011

The Relational Model was developed by E.F. Codd of IBM and published in 1970. It is currently the most used and has been a milestone in the history of databases, revolutionizing the market. In fact, relational databases have been the most widespread of all databases. On a theoretical level, many Fuzzy Relational Database models (Chapter II), which are based on the relational model, extend this so that vague and uncertain information can be stored and/or treated with or without fuzzy logic (see Chapter I). The FuzzyEER Model (see Chapter IV) is an extension of the EER Model for creating conceptual schemas with fuzzy semantics and notations. This extension is a good eclectic synthesis between different models (see Chapter III) and provides new and useful definitions: fuzzy attributes, fuzzy entities, fuzzy relationships, fuzzy specializations, and so forth.
Information Search on the Internet
Authors: Lee Byung-Kwan , Lee Wei-Na
Published: May 2011

Information search is an integral part of the consumer decision making process. There is no doubt that the Internet contributes to, and will continue to affect, this function. However, a comprehensive understanding of what causes, motivates, and mediates information search behavior on the Internet is relatively lacking. Based on an in-depth review and critical critique of past research on information search behavior and, in particular, online information search, this chapter offers a causal model of online information search with 16 specific research propositions outlined. It argues that information search on the Internet should be investigated by considering Internet specific factors (i.e., skills, prior online purchase experience, attitude toward the Internet) as well as various antecedents including situational, product-related, and individual factors. Contribution and implications of the model for further understanding of information search behavior in the context of the Internet are also discussed.
How Consumers Think About 'Interactive' Aspects of Web Advertising
Authors: Hwang Jang-Sun , McMillan Sally J.
Published: May 2011

Interactivity is a key feature of Web advertising that makes this new format of advertising attractive. In spite of increasing research work dealing with this topic, the body of literature rarely shows how consumers think about interactivity and interact with Web advertising. It is important to explore this phenomenon from the consumer’s perspective because consumers are more active on the Web than they are with other traditional media. This chapter presents an overview of previous research about Web advertising and then reports on an empirical study that sought consumer-based understanding of Web advertising. The study explores various meanings of the interactivity of Web advertising drawn from consumers’ everyday lives.
Membrane Computing
Authors: Paun Gheorghe
Published: May 2011

Membrane computing is a branch of natural computing whose initial goal was to abstract computing models from the structure and the functioning of living cells. The research was initiated about five years ago (at the end of 1998), and since that time the area has been developed significantly from a mathematical point of view. The basic types of results of this research concern the computability power (in comparison with the standard Turing machines and their restrictions) and the efficiency (the possibility to solve computationally hard problems, typically NP-complete problems, in a feasible time and typically polynomial). However, membrane computing has recently become attractive also as a framework for devising models of biological phenomena, with the tendency to provide tools for modelling the cell itself, not only the local processes. This chapter surveys the basic elements of membrane computing, somewhat in its “historical” evolution: from biology to computer science and mathematics and back to biology. The presentation is informal, without any technical detail, and an invitation to membrane computing intended to acquaint the nonmathematician reader with the main directions of research of the domain, the type of central results, and the possible lines of future development, including the possible interest of the biologist looking for discrete algorithmic tools for modelling cell phenomena.
State Transition Dynamics
Authors: Manca Vincenzo , Franco Giuditta , Scollo Giuseppe
Published: May 2011

Classical dynamics concepts are analysed in the basic mathematical setting of state transition systems where time and space are both completely discrete and no structure is assumed on the state’s space. Interesting relationships between attractors and recurrence are identified and some features of chaos are expressed in simple, set theoretic terms. String dynamics is proposed as a unifying concept for dynamical systems arising from discrete models of computation, together with illustrative examples. The relevance of state transition systems and string dynamics is discussed from the perspective of molecular computing.
DNA Computing and Errors
Authors: Kari Lila , Losseva Elena , Sosik Petr
Published: May 2011

This chapter looks at the question of managing errors that arise in DNA-based computation. Due to the inaccuracy of biochemical reactions, the experimental implementation of a DNA computation may lead to incorrectly calculated results. This chapter explores different methods that can assist in the reduction of such occurrences. The solutions to the problem of erroneous biocomputations are presented from the perspective of computer science techniques. Three main aspects of dealing with errors are covered: software simulations, algorithmic approaches, and theoretical methods. The objective of this survey is to explain how these tools can reduce errors associated with DNA computing.
Computing Bacterial Evolvability Using Individual-Based Models
Authors: Gergory Richard , Vlachos Richard , Paton Ray C. , Palmer John W. , Wu Q. H. , Saunders Jon R.
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes two approaches to individual-based modelling that are based on bacterial evolution and bacterial ecologies. Some history of the individual-based modelling approach is presented and contrasted to traditional methods. Two related models of bacterial evolution are then discussed in some detail. The first model consists of populations of bacterial cells, each bacterial cell containing a genome and many gene products derived from the genome. The genomes themselves are slowly mutated over time. As a result, this model contains multiple time scales and is very fine-grained. The second model employs a coarser-grained, agent-based architecture designed to explore the evolvability of adaptive behavioural strategies in artificial bacterial ecologies. The organisms in this approach are represented by mutating learning classifier systems. Finally, the subject of computability on parallel machines and clusters is applied to these models, with the aim of making them efficiently scalable to the point of being biologically realistic by containing sufficient numbers of complex individuals.
Resource-Based Strategy for Knowledge Management
Authors: Gottschalk Petter
Published: May 2011

Business strategy has traditionally focused on products and services to gain competitive advantage. Recent work in the area of strategic management and economic theory has begun to focus on the internal side of the equation — the firm’s resources and capabilities. This new perspective is referred to as the resource-based theory of the firm.
Evaluating Conceptual Modeling Practices
Authors: Shanks Graeme , Nuredini Jasmina , Weber Ron
Published: May 2011

This chapter examines how ontological theory can be used to predict how alternative conceptual modelling representations affect end-user understanding of these representations. Specifically, it examines how ontological theory can be used to show how part-whole relations (composites) and things and properties can be best represented to enhance understanding of these real-world phenomena. We report the outcomes of two experiments that provide evidence to support the ontologically sound representation of part-whole relations and things and properties. We also discuss the outcomes of a cognitive process tracing study that explains why the ontologically sound representation of things and properties is more easily understood. In essence, our empirical research provides evidence to support the use of ontology as a theoretical basis to guide conceptual modelling practices.
Ontological Analysis of Reference Models
Authors: Fettke Peter , Loos Peter
Published: May 2011

Within the information systems field, reference models have been known for many years. A reference model is a conceptual framework and may be used as a blueprint for information systems development. Despite the relevance of reference model quality, little research has been undertaken on their systematical analysis and evaluation. In this chapter, we describe how reference models can be analyzed from an ontological point of view. Such an analysis consists of four steps: 1) developing a transformation mapping, 2) identifying ontological modeling deficiencies, 3) transforming the reference model, and 4) assessing the results. The usefulness of our method will be demonstrated by analyzing Scheer’s reference model for production planning and control. Although our approach is based on sound theory, we argue that this approach is not inherently superior to other approaches of reference model analysis and evaluation.
Ontological Foundations of Information Systems Analysis and Design
Authors: Wyssusek Boris , Klaus Helmut
Published: May 2011

Ontology has attracted considerable attention in information systems analysis and design (ISAD) research. Ontology is philosophy and bears its own substance and history of debates, which quite often have not been accounted for in information systems research. A more comprehensive consideration of well-known philosophical issues of ontology may help to apprehend precisely the transfer of ontological concepts into ISAD, including insights regarding their limitations and to articulate directions towards further research. In particular, this requires expanding of the scope of current debates in information systems towards the socio-philosophical aspects of ontology. Only then, it will be possible to determine whether ontology can direct the project of theoretical foundation for ISAD. An outline of the critique of the prevailing rationalistic methodical understanding of information systems development in contemporary IS literature illustrates how the indiscriminating borrowing of philosophical presuppositions has encumbered current understandings. Critical reflection upon these presuppositions can get over persuasions and bring about theorisation.
Virtual Networking without a Backpack? Resource Consumption of Information Technologies
Authors: von Geibler Justus , Kuhndt Michael , Turk Volker
Published: May 2011

This chapter concentrates on the environmental impacts of the increasing use of the Internet. It highlights that the Internet and Internet applications are far from being purely virtual, but are clearly linked to the use of natural resources. With the growth of the Internet’s infrastructure there is a seemingly inevitable increase in the resource consumption for the production of electronic equipment and its electricity consumption. A number of conclusions can be made regarding the minimisation of environmental risks and maximisation of ebusiness’ potential to dematerialise. The presented findings are mainly based on findings derived from research within the Digital Europe project, which was conducted as the first pan-European study of the social and environmental impacts and opportunities of e-commerce and information communication technologies. Supported by the European Commission, the project has been led by the research organisations Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei in Italy, Forum for the Future in UK and the Wuppertal Institute in Germany.
Support of Integrated Management Systems by the Use of In-Plant Information, Management and Monitoring Systems
Authors: Braker Stefan
Published: May 2011

For many organisations the present status of integration of management systems raises the question where the development goes and whether there are not further new approaches to be pursued in the next years. Due to different perceptions of the term integration and in conflict for the right approach to the system, numerous parallel systems developed in the past. The following contribution describes the targets of different types of management systems and points out strategies and structural approaches of integration. In a second step the possibilities of ICT-supported solutions are resumed exemplarily. ICT-supported information, management and monitoring systems as components will take a central role in integration of management systems and have to be developed for further requirements.
Implementing and Assessing Transparency in Digital Government
Authors: Michael Bryane , Bates Michael
Published: May 2011

The IMF has been leading efforts to develop and implement codes of monetary and fiscal transparency. Such codes aim to increase disclosure of public sector information on the Internet-representing a type of “e-transparency”. Do such codes and increased Internet-based public sector information achieve their objectives? Much e-government theory sees electronic presence and e-transparency as a first step toward transformationary e-government. Yet, e-transparency itself represents a transformation in e-government. This chapter will first describe the results of a private-sector based assessment of fiscal and monetary transparency and report cross-country ratings. Second, it will describe a new method of assessment that emphasizes the role of knowledge management and the critical role played by assessment project design. Lastly, this chapter will discuss the extent to which such e-government efforts aimed at greater transparency achieve broader objectives - such as increased trust, predictability, credibility, oversight, and political accountability in the public sector. The lessons in this chapter are applicable to governments engaged in promoting and assessing transparency as well as corporations.
Access Control Model for Webservices E-Government Infrastructure
Authors: Wong Kam Fai , Tam Matthew Ka Wing
Published: May 2011

E-government is an exciting area for applying information and communication technologies (ICT). ICT can improve the efficiency and effectiveness in the provision and delivery of citizen services. A critical issue for the e-government implementation is the interoperation problem among heterogeneous legacy government systems. In this aspect, the universal system interoperability supported by the XML-based Web service technologies can be a useful component in a holistic e-government infrastructure. A key requirement of the e-government systems is the establishment and the implementation of the right access policy to the government resources. This in turn requires an appropriate mechanism to specify the access rules. Due to the nature of Web service and the specific requirements in the e-government context, we propose that a more powerful and flexible mechanism is required to express the access policy more effectively in a Web services e-government infrastructure.
Privacy and Trust in E-Government
Authors: Yee George , El-Khatib Khalil , Korba Larry , Patrick Andrew S. , Song Ronggong , Xu Yuefei
Published: May 2011

This chapter explores the challenges, issues, and solutions associated with satisfying requirements for privacy and trust in e-government. Accordingly, the first section presents the background, context, and challenges. The second section delves into the requirements for privacy and trust as seen in legislation and policy. The third section examines available technologies for satisfying these requirements. In particular, as examples, we describe and analyze two solutions being implemented in Canada: the Secure Channel and the Privacy Impact Assessment. We describe some new technologies for privacy policy negotiation and ensuring privacy policy compliance. The fourth section presents two case studies, e-census and e-voting, and shows how these e-government activities can be equipped to protect privacy and engender trust. Finally, the chapter ends with conclusions and suggestions for future research.
Implementing Digital Government in the Finnish Parliament
Authors: Salminen Airi , Lyytikainen Virpi , Tiitinen Pasi , Mustajarvi Olli
Published: May 2011

The Finnish Parliament has been active in utilizing information and communication technologies in the parliamentary work as well as in communicating with citizens and other organizations. As common in public sectors, work, knowledge management, and communication in the environment is document-centric. A strategic issue in implementing digital government has been SGML/XML standardization. The Finnish Parliament has been a pioneer in the adoption of SGML/XML technologies. The chapter reports experiences from the standardization efforts. The implications of the standardization will be examined from the viewpoints of documents, information technology, work with documents, the Finnish Parliament, and the whole society. From the point of view of a citizen, the major effect of the standardized document production is the improved accessibility to legislative information through the Internet. Plans for new knowledge management solutions and semantic Web services will be discussed at the end of the chapter.
Participants' Expectations and the Success of Knowledge Networking in the Public Sector
Authors: Zhang Jing , Cresswell Anthony M. , Thompson Fiona
Published: May 2011

This chapter reports a study of how participants’ expectations of interorganizational knowledge sharing are related to the success of information technology projects that require such sharing. Survey data were collected from 478 participants in six cases based on information technology innovation projects in New York State. Each project was initiated by a single New York State agency, with participants from other state agencies, local government, non-profit organizations, and private sector companies. The data analysis results identified four dimensions of participants’ expectations of knowledge sharing: benefits in providing more effective services, organizational barriers, technological incompatibility, and legal and policy constraints. Furthermore, building on Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), we found that the participants’ expectations regarding organizational barriers were negatively associated with the success of knowledge networking. The less positive participants’ expectations are about the inter-organizational structure and implementation processes, the less likely their efforts are to succeed. This chapter highlights the importance of the behind-the-scenes interorganizational collaboration necessary for public sector agencies to present a coherent public face in electronic government development. The benefits of and barriers to knowledge sharing as they are reflected in participants’ expectations provide an opportunity to elucidate the relevant factors that can facilitate or impede the implementation of interorganizational electronic government initiatives.
Towards an E-Government Solution
Authors: Singh Shawren , Naidoo Goonasagree
Published: May 2011

With the rapid technological development, electronic governance is a justifiable reality. In this chapter we look at the unique environment under which the South African electronic government is developing. The purpose of this chapter is to report on the first results towards the establishment of an e-government strategy for South African, considering its multicultural and multilingual society.
Semiotic Analysis of E-Policing Strategies in the United Kingdom
Authors: Liu Kecheng , Hu Michael
Published: May 2011

Technological infrastructure must satisfy business requirements, and more importantly, it must be able to evolve to meet the new requirements. This requires not only a good understanding of business strategies, visions and functions, but also the evolvability built into the architecture. This chapter first presents a semiotic approach to the business and information technology (hereafter IT) systems. This approach treats the IT system as an integral part of the business organisation. The chapter then discusses the applicability of a semiotic framework in the e-government in the UK, particularly in an evolvable architecture for e-policing. The semiotic framework is applied in the assessment of the e-government strategies and systems requirements, and in the analysis of these requirements to the e-architecture. A case study demonstrating the applicability of the framework is conducted to evaluate the implementation of the national Information Systems Strategy for the Police Service (ISS4PS) and the Crime Justice Information Technology community (CJIT) in the UK.
Exploring the Impacts of Knowledge (Re)Use and Organizational Memory on the Effectiveness of Strategic Decisions
Authors: Hatami Afsoun , Galliers Robert D.
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces the impacts of knowledge management (KM) and organizational memory (OM) on strategic decision making. Close consideration and treatment of OM as part of a KM strategy are suggested as a central issue to the effectiveness of strategic decision making. This chapter uses the modified version of McLean’s Information System (IS) Success Model by Jennex and Olfman (2002) as a lens to examine the impact of knowledge strategy and technological resources, along with the impact of individuals and members from wider organizational context on decision-making processes. These components are then analyzed within Galliers’ (2002) IS Strategy Framework of emergent and deliberate strategizing. Furthermore, this chapter highlights the intermingled approaches to organizational KM practices that are due to the contextual nature of knowledge and the human need for social interaction. Results from our exploratory and continuing longitudinal study have clearly shown the significance of culture and human-driven knowledge requirements along side the use of an ERP system as part of an OMS. The authors account for the intersubjectivity of the concept and claim that organizations relying on acquired knowledge from past experiences on average make higher-quality decisions on business strategies for better future performance.
Reserve Bank of New Zealand
Authors: Anand Yogesh , Pauleen David J. , Dexter Sally
Published: May 2011

This chapter outlines the adoption and implementation of knowledge management within the New Zealand Reserve Bank. In 1999, the Bank recognised that it had a very high exposure to loss of knowledge on departure of key staff. This was mainly due to two factors: recruitment of staff from a limited global pool of specifically skilled labour, and an average length of service of more than nine years during which time staff members accumulated an extensive knowledge of the Bank and its operations. In response to this and other challenges, the Bank embarked on an ongoing knowledge management program. The Bank invested significant resources into the program and from an initial corporate vision developed a knowledge management framework that led to the identification of potential areas of improvement within the organisation. The resulting knowledge strategy encompassed several key initiatives, the most significant of which was the goal of changing the organisational culture. Other initiatives included the consolidation of the Bank’s contact management into a single system, a review of the existing document management system, and information mapping. To date, while some initiatives have been achieved, others remain to be done. The challenge for the Bank now is to move from structured to unstructured processes for knowledge management and maintain the knowledge management focus while balancing available resources. The Bank must also consider how best to progress initiatives without necessarily attaching a specific knowledge management label, and identify ways to move ongoing development of knowledge management strategies to the next level.
E-Commerce Infrastructure and Economic Impacts in Developing Countries
Authors: Sridhar Varadharajan , Sridhar Kala S.
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents a conceptual model that explains how e-commerce adoption in developing countries is affected by various infrastructure enablers and socio-economic variables. It describes the status of infrastructure enabler variables such as computer and Internet penetration, quality and speed of Internet connectivity, security infrastructure, online payment mechanisms and dispute resolution mechanisms in India and their impact on e-commerce adoption. Furthermore the chapter highlights the relationship between e-commerce adoption and various socio-economic variables such as prices, market reach, disposable income level, and cultural orientation of consumers. The chapter discusses the taxation of e-commerce, taking into account the complexity of the tax structure in India. A couple of mini-cases exemplify the utility of e-commerce in some practical applications. With this review of e-commerce adoption, stakeholders such as the government, the policy makers and industries will be able identify ways to nurture the positive effects and mitigate the negative effects to sustain the growth of e-commerce in many developing countries such as India.
Venturing the Unexplored
Authors: Rizk Nagla
Published: May 2011

This chapter adopts a micro approach towards assessing the e-readiness of small and medium enterprises in the textile industry in Egypt. The analysis focuses on evaluating firms’ level of connectivity, awareness and usage of ICTs and identifies barriers to e-readiness. The chapter adds to the literature on e-readiness assessment, which is mostly macro in nature. The micro approach focuses on ICT awareness and usage patterns, and has the advantage of capturing variations at the firm level. Based on connectivity alone, neither small nor medium firms under study were found close to being e-ready. However, extending e-readiness to include the use and awareness of ICTs, one may conclude that e-readiness is in general directly proportional to size. Medium-sized firms, therefore, are potentially e-ready. The chapter argues that raising SME e-readiness would require heavy investment in human capital and raising awareness in addition to upgrading levels and types of connectivity.
Using MetaProi to Improve Business Processes
Authors: Kock Ned
Published: May 2011

In my earlier discussion in this book about business process improvement and organizational learning, I have shown that business process improvement has the potential to foster interfunctional knowledge communication and, consequently, organizational learning. In previous chapters of this book, I have analyzed business process improvement efforts that led to levels of knowledge communication not normally seen in routine organizational processes. Those business process improvement efforts have all been carried out through business process improvement groups.
The Intellectual Capital Report of Danya Cebus
Authors: Pasher Edna , Horsky Gil
Published: May 2011

This chapter is a “case study” portraying the use of a unique method to explore the hidden values and intangible assets of an Israeli construction company, Danya Cebus Ltd., as a basis for its future growth. The chapter describes in detail the process of producing the intellectual capital (IC) report of Danya Cebus, the first IC report produced by a construction company in the world. The report was the output of an in-depth strategic process which was guided professionally by the Israeli management consulting firm, Edna Pasher PhD & Associates. The authors hope that more companies will adapt the method of creating an IC report as described through the Danya Cebus case study. A periodical display of the organisation’s competences will increase the market value of the company and diminish stock fluctuation in the market routed in reasons that are irrelevant to the organisation’s capacity. Moreover, an IC report can serve as a central management tool, which enables a systematic examination of the organisation’s competences.
Empirical Investigation of Organisational Learning Ability as a Performance Driver in Construction
Authors: Dikmen Irem , Birgonul M. Talat , Ataoglu Tunca
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, the impact of organisational learning competency on the performance of construction companies is investigated. A conceptual model is proposed for the measurement of organisational learning competency. The main components of the model are learning sources, learning mechanisms, and the organisational setting. Organisational learning competency is assumed to be high only if an appropriate organisational setting exists, as well as the mechanisms used for management of knowledge acquired from various sources. A questionnaire is designed to collect data about organisational learning factors and performance. Findings of the questionnaire answered by 85 Turkish contractors demonstrate that there are statistically significant differences between the performances of contractors grouped according to their learning ability. It is empirically proved that as the organisational learning ability increases, firm performance also increases.