bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Purchasing as an organizational design problem: the case of non‐product‐related items and services
Authors: de Boer Luitzen , Holmen Elsebeth , Pop‐Sitar Corina
Published: December 2003

This paper discusses the problems and challenges that arise if a firm tries to concentrate purchasing activities in a separate organisational unit. For a variety of reasons, only a – small – part of all purchasing activities in an organisation is actually carried out by a purchasing department or a specialist. In particular, the purchasing of so‐called non‐product‐related (NPR) items and services often takes place without the involvement of a purchasing department. In addition, despite the sometimes huge savings that reportedly are possible by involving a purchasing department, many managers and boards pay only modest attention to such opportunities. In this paper, a conceptual model is proposed that serves, in particular, to explain the Purchasing department’s limited and problematic involvement in a firm’s tactical NPR‐purchasing activities. Based on these explanations and results from a small empirical study, we draw conclusions and formulate implications for managers and purchasing specialists. Research implications are formulated as well.
Group support systems: technologies and products selection
Authors: Bose Ranjit
Published: December 2003

Group support systems (GSS) are becoming increasingly popular in corporations that are looking to reduce travel expenses, increase the effectiveness of group decision‐making and foster an environment that brings out ideas or creativity that may be stifled in standard settings. Companies are looking for solutions and technologies to provide GSS that are affordable, flexible, and integrate with their existing information technology (IT) environment. Deciding what solutions to implement can be difficult, however, the decision process should first involve a self‐analysis of the organization’s current IT environment and architecture, as well as its culture. An analysis of currently available solutions can then follow. This article is intended to aid the IT managers in their selection process of GSS technologies and products for their organizations. In particular, the article focuses on Microsoft’s collaboration technologies and products since its current product line offers the IT managers a wide array of choices for implementing a unified GSS environment.
Achieving information integration in supply chain management through B2B e‐hubs: concepts and analyses
Authors: Zeng Amy Z. , Pathak Bhavik K.
Published: December 2003

While supply chain integration is measured at three levels: information, resources and organization, the emphasis of the paper is placed on how information integration can be achieved through B2B e‐hubs. After reviewing the concept of supply chain integration and the evolution of e‐hubs, we examine two groups of e‐hubs classified by supply chain processes, namely procurement and transportation, along with two case studies of each. A value‐gap analysis is performed from the perspectives of facilitating supply chain activities and connecting chain partners, revealing that gaps and limitations do exist in existing e‐hubs. Finally, we present a framework for integrating existing e‐hubs into other advanced information technologies, such as ERP and CRM, to bridge the gaps and to expand their functionality to provide better solutions to supply chain integration.
An ISO 9001:2000 quality information system in e‐commerce environment
Authors: Tan Bertram , Lin Chinho , Hung Hsiang‐chin
Published: December 2003

The 1994 versions of the ISO 9000 family were revised by ISO’s technical committee TC 176 in the end of year 2000. This new ISO 9001:2000 repositions the 20 elements of the old ISO 9001:1994 into four main chapters. Meanwhile, electronic commerce (e‐commerce) has been recognized as a source of fundamental change to the conduct of business. Innovative applications of information and communication technologies are constantly reshaping the organizational landscape. Examines the quality information needed under the requirements of ISO 9001:2000, proposes a quality information system structure within WWW‐based intranet infrastructure and discusses the role of quality information system (QIS) in the e‐commerce integrated environment. Four main functions are constructed via six basic modules. Each function is described with IDEF0 diagrams. Under this QIS, organizations will be better able to manage their quality related knowledge.
The usefulness of ERP systems for effective management
Authors: Spathis Charalambos , Constantinides Sylvia
Published: December 2003

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems offer distinct advantages in this new business environment as they lower operating costs, reduce cycle times and (arguably) increase customer satisfaction. This paper examines, via a questionnaire, the underlying reasons why companies choose to adopt ERP systems, their impact on management process including implementation problems encountered. The empirical evidence confirms a number of benefits derived from ERP systems particularly for management process but also, problems encountered. Results provide the basis for future research on the potential of ERP systems, for more effective business integration.
Understanding Web content management systems: evolution, lifecycle and market
Authors: McKeever Susan
Published: December 2003

The volume of digital content available on the World Wide Web has increased dramatically over the past six years. Some form of Web content management (WCM) system is becoming essential for organisations with a significant Web presence as the volume of content continues to proliferate. WCM systems have evolved rapidly from the basic HTML editors of six years ago, to the sophisticated content production and publishing tools available today. This paper presents a WCM hierarchy, examines the underlying Web content management lifecycle, and identifies the key market trends for WCM systems.
Measuring e‐commerce efficiency: a data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach
Authors: Wen H. Joseph , Lim Billy , Lisa Huang H.
Published: December 2003

As a result of the dot‐com collapse and the slowdown in the economy, the flood of venture capital dollars for e‐commerce has evaporated. E‐commerce companies have been enforced to review their business performance. E‐commerce efficiency has been touted to be a critical component that can assist a company in its strategies to become successful. This study proposes a model for evaluating e‐commerce efficiency using data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach. The model includes not only financial and operational measures, but also e‐commerce specific measures. An illustrative example demonstrates that the DEA model can not only effectively reflect the relative efficiency of e‐commerce firms but also identify their potential efficiency problems. Management can, therefore, take the right remedial actions.
Theta intelligent forecasting information system
Authors: Nikolopoulos K. , Assimakopoulos V.
Published: December 2003

The need effectively to integrate decision making tasks together with knowledge representation and inference procedures has caused recent research efforts towards the integration of decision support systems with knowledge‐based techniques. Explores the potential benefits of such integration in the area of business forecasting. Describes the forecasting process and identifies its main functional elements. Some of these elements provide the requirements for an intelligent forecasting support system. Describes the architecture and the implementation of such a system, the theta intelligent forecasting information system (TIFIS) that that first‐named author had developed during his dissertation. In TIFIS, besides the traditional components of a decision‐support onformation system, four constituents are included that try to model the expertise required. The information system adopts an object‐oriented approach to forecasting and exploits the forecasting engine of the theta model integrated with automated rule based adjustments and judgmental adjustments. Tests the forecasting accuracy of the information system on the M3‐competition monthly data.
Internet grocery business in Japan: current business models and future trends
Authors: Ogawara Sachiko , Chen Jason C.H. , Zhang Quan
Published: December 2003

The launch of a wave of Internet grocery retailers over the last six years presents a serious challenge to the traditional supermarket business model. The Internet grocery landscape changed radically in July 2001 when the top Internet grocer, Webvan, filed for bankruptcy. With the bankruptcy of Webvan, almost all the major stand‐alone online grocers in the USA have disappeared. Indeed, traditional supermarkets such as Albertsons and Safeway have recently been expanding into the online arena. In Japan, major traditional supermarkets have been seriously working on establishing online services in the metropolitan area with a “brick‐and‐click” model. Examines strategic reasons for today’s Japanese supermarkets to try establishing online grocery businesses. Also addresses critical success factors and current limitations based on socioeconomic conditions, Japanese culture, and expected future trends.
The large rotations theory of elasto‐viscoplastic shells subjected to the dynamic and thermal loads
Authors: Bouhafs B. , Woznica K. , Klosowski P.
Published: December 2003

In this paper, the problem of the elasto‐viscoplastic dynamic and thermal behaviour of geometrically non‐linear plates and shells is studied under the assumption of small strains and large rotations. The first‐order shear deformation shell theory and the Chaboche constitutive viscoplastic model taking the temperature fields into account are used for computations. An effective procedure using the central difference method of solving the equations of motion is applied. The trapezoidal method is used to integrate the constitutive viscoplastic law. A nine node isoparametric shell element has been utilised for the finite element algorithm. Finally, some examples are presented and compared with the results obtained by moderate rotation theory.
A hybrid crossover operator for structural optimisation based on commonality in genetic search
Authors: Conceição António C.A. , Lhate I.A.
Published: December 2003

A new design framework for crossover operator is proposed based on the commonality concept. In the reproduction process the resulting hybrid crossover operator includes a local search scheme aiming to improve the genetic characteristics of the offspring. Commonality suggests that search should be driven in the neighbourhood of parents, and local optimisers can drive this search. The ranking of the offspring candidates is based on a local fitness function using approximations and appropriated heuristics linked to the structural optimisation problem. The goal of this approach is to identify and preserve the common schema of the two parents responsible for their high‐observed fitness. The proposed hybrid crossover operator is embedded into a genetic algorithm supported by an elitist strategy and its performance is compared with the parametrised uniform crossover.
Indirect formulations for symmetric Galerkin BEM and space derivative problems
Authors: Yu G.Y.
Published: December 2003

An indirect symmetric Galerkin BEM (SGBEM) is applied to 2D potential problems in this paper. Based on the assumption that solutions from different methods should be the same, the hypersingular matrix appeared in SGBEM is approximately expressed by those matrices appeared in asymmetric Galerkin BEM (AGBEM). As only strong and weak singularities need to be solved, the problem becomes much simpler. The space derivatives of potential are expressed with a set of new meaning distributed flux, which will produce the same potential on the boundary position for Ω in the unbounded domain Ω+Ω′, so that hypersingularity will not appear for boundary points. Therefore, there is no need of C1,α for the spatial interpolation function (no Galerkin integration can be used for this purpose). Formulations for both the steady‐state and time‐domain potential problems are given. Three numerical examples are analyzed to demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed indirect method.
FEM and BEM parallel processing: theory and applications – a bibliography (1996‐2002)
Authors: Mackerle Jaroslav
Published: December 2003

This paper gives a bibliographical review of the finite element and boundary element parallel processing techniques from the theoretical and application points of view. Topics include: theory – domain decomposition/partitioning, load balancing, parallel solvers/algorithms, parallel mesh generation, adaptive methods, and visualization/graphics; applications – structural mechanics problems, dynamic problems, material/geometrical non‐linear problems, contact problems, fracture mechanics, field problems, coupled problems, sensitivity and optimization, and other problems; hardware and software environments – hardware environments, programming techniques, and software development and presentations. The bibliography at the end of this paper contains 850 references to papers, conference proceedings and theses/dissertations dealing with presented subjects that were published between 1996 and 2002.
Multi‐criteria supplier selection using fuzzy AHP
Authors: Kahraman Cengiz , Cebeci Ufuk , Ulukan Ziya
Published: December 2003

A supplier selection decision inherently is a multi‐criterion problem. It is a decision of strategic importance to companies. The nature of this decision usually is complex and unstructured. Management science techniques might be helpful tools for these kinds of decision‐making problems. The aim of this paper is to use fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to select the best supplier firm providing the most satisfaction for the criteria determined. The purchasing managers of a white good manufacturer established in Turkey were interviewed and the most important criteria taken into account by the managers while they were selecting their supplier firms were determined by a questionnaire. The fuzzy AHP was used to compare these supplier firms.
An integrated approach for supplier selection
Authors: Çebi Ferhan , Bayraktar Demet
Published: December 2003

Competitive international business environment has forced many firms to focus on supply chain management to cope with highly increasing competition. Hence, supplier selection process has gained importance recently, since most of the firms have been spending considerable amount of their revenues on purchasing. The supplier selection problem involves conflicting multiple criteria that are tangible and intangible. Hence, the purpose of this study is to propose an integrated model for supplier selection. In order to achieve this purpose, supplier selection problem has been structured as an integrated lexicographic goal programming (LGP) and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model including both quantitative and qualitative conflicting factors. The application process has been accomplished in a food company established in Istanbul, Turkey. In this study, the model building, solution and application processes of the proposed integrated model for supplier selection have been presented.
Linguistic assessment approach for managing nuclear safeguards indicator information
Authors: Ruan Da , Liu Jun , Carchon Roland
Published: December 2003

A flexible and realistic linguistic assessment approach is developed to provide a mathematical tool for synthesis and evaluation analysis of nuclear safeguards indicator information. This symbolic approach, which acts by the direct computation on linguistic terms, is established based on fuzzy set theory. More specifically, a lattice‐valued linguistic algebra model, which is based on a logical algebraic structure of the lattice implication algebra, is applied to represent imprecise information and to deal with both comparable and incomparable linguistic terms (i.e. non‐ordered linguistic values). Within this framework, some weighted aggregation functions introduced by Yager are analyzed and extended to treat these kinds of lattice‐value linguistic information. The application of these linguistic aggregation operators for managing nuclear safeguards indicator information is successfully demonstrated.
Supplier selection using activity‐based costing and fuzzy present‐worth techniques
Authors: Dogan Ibrahim , Sahin Ugur
Published: December 2003

The relationship between a supplier and a purchaser is one of the most essential issues for viability of both sides. The well‐built relationship is especially related to the healthy selection of suppliers. The changing customer preferences also make this selection process important. Many different selection approaches have been published in the purchasing literature. In these studies, the working conditions of suppliers and purchasers and selection criteria are considered constant and precise at the beginning of the selection process by the purchaser during the relationship period. However, this selection process should be considered dynamically because of the changing working conditions of supplier‐purchaser and lifecycle of the product or a project. Therefore, the relationship between suppliers and purchasers is multi‐period and the factors that affect the selection process are considered as fuzzy parameters in this study. The activity‐based costing (ABC) approach is used for selection method.
Viability of e‐commerce as an alternative distribution channel
Authors: Jantan Muhamad , Oly Ndubisi Nelson , Boon Yean Ong
Published: December 2003

This paper proposes a framework for evaluating the impact of e‐commerce on the roles of distributors in the semiconductor industry for four different types of products, namely differentiated products, architectural products, technological products, and complex products. Questionnaire and the purposive sampling method were used to collect data from respondents in the distribution industry. The results of the study show that the salience of the roles is increasing. In addition, there is strong likelihood of e‐commerce replacing the traditional distributors, more so for less standardized products such as complex, technological, and architectural products.
Evaluating IS usage in Malaysian small and medium‐sized firms using the technology acceptance model
Authors: Oly Ndubisi Nelson , Jantan Muhamad
Published: December 2003

The current research investigates the impact of persona‐system characteristics, technical backing, and computing skill on information systems (IS) usage by Malaysian small and medium firms (SMF) using the TAM. The study hypothesizes that persona‐system characteristics (such as perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use) and usage of systems will be greater when there is greater computing skill and strong technical backing. A total of 177 firms responded to the survey and the results show that there is a positive relationship between computing skill and technical backing on one hand and IS usage directly, and indirectly via perceived usefulness and ease of use on the other. Usage is influenced directly by usefulness and indirectly (via usefulness) by ease of use. These findings are particularly crucial to system designers and vendors targeting SMF, as well as, to information systems management in SMF. Important theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
A case study of supplier selection for lean supply by using a mathematical model
Authors: Birgün Barla Semra
Published: December 2003

The role of purchasing departments has changed significantly in today's competitive environment. In order to keep the promises to customers; an effective material procurement system becomes necessary beside the improved manufacturing methods and technology. It becomes a necessity to work with the suppliers to provide quality and just in time delivery by supplying raw materials, parts and products. A purchasing department can take on both the active and effective role by applying the lean supply principles as much as possible. Single sourcing provides to easy control of procurement for achieving the lean supply objectives. In this paper, the supplier selection and evaluation for a manufacturing company is studied under lean philosophy. In order to reduce the supplier base, the supplier selection and evaluation study is conducted by multi‐attribute selection model (MSM) in five basic steps. Consequently, the selected two suppliers are proposed to top management.
The role of manufacturing strategy in adapting to technological change
Authors: Sonntag Viki
Published: December 2003

In an increasingly volatile and complex market environment, adaptability becomes essential to success. Basic to every manufacturing strategy is the identification of the technological means of meeting the firm’s competitive priorities. But what should guide the decision‐making process regarding which capabilities to develop, given rapid change and uncertain outcomes? Current manufacturing strategy models fall short of explaining how firms adapt to technological change and what is the source of that change. To meet this need, we can turn to evolutionary economics. The model presented in this paper holds that technologically embodied trade‐offs change the practices of technology users, creating momentum along existent trajectories. The paper reports evidence to support the model, gathered through a series of interviews with technology users, suppliers, and service providers. The findings indicate that manufacturing strategy forms a critical link not only in firms’ ability to adapt to change in their environments, but also in their ability to knowingly shape their futures.
The vision of next generation manufacturing – how a company can start
Authors: Conradsen Niels , Lystlund Marie
Published: December 2003

Next generation manufacturing is a strategic tool, which identifies the paths that manufacturing companies may follow in order to stay competitive in today’s changing world. This paper describes the background and the development of a tool to be used in companies with the aim of identifying areas on which the company can and should concentrate its development efforts. The tool has proven workable in practice and approximately 200 Danish manufacturing companies have tested it. Some general trends regarding the future development of these companies can be concluded within the fields of flexible organisations, innovation, utilisation of IT, and collaboration between companies.
Manufacturing strategy and e‐business: an exploratory study
Authors: Olhager Jan , Rudberg Martin
Published: December 2003

Whilst much of the e‐business evolution has been referred to as an additional and complementary marketing channel, there has been little concern about the impact on manufacturing. However, since a manufacturing strategy should be closely linked to the marketing strategy, developments in marketing are likely to impact manufacturing. In this paper, we explore the ways in which e‐business is impacting the manufacturing strategy in manufacturing firms. We study seven Swedish manufacturing firms and investigate the relationship between e‐business and manufacturing strategy. The findings indicate that e‐business mainly affects two decision categories – vertical integration, and manufacturing planning and control systems – through new ways to communicate and exchange information between buyers and sellers at both business ends. Improvements in these decision categories lead to potential gains in delivery speed and reliability, but only for make‐to‐order companies, whereas the impact on quality, price and flexibility is more or less negligible. Make‐to‐stock firms report only limited impact on manufacturing.
Managing industrial buyer‐supplier relations – the case for attractiveness
Authors: Ellegaard Chris , Johansen John , Drejer Anders
Published: December 2003

This article is about managing industrial buyer‐supplier relations as seen from the customer perspective. Two successful examples of supplier network management are described, and the limits to broader applicability of these supply management principles discussed. Next the focus is on managing the dyadic relation. Contributions from four of the most influential groups of researchers on the subject are overviewed. Empirical findings from a case study from industry are presented, leading to a short conceptual presentation of an alternative supply management approach. The empirical contribution comes from two case studies carried out at the Danish industrial company Danfoss Drives, which produces frequency converters and is a division of the Danfoss industrial corporation. One case study is about the characteristics of a supplier network supplying aluminum components to Danfoss Drives. The other is about the evolution of one of the industrial buyer‐supplier relations in the aluminum network – between Danfoss Drives and a supplier of extruded aluminum components.
Internationalisation and evolution of manufacturing systems: classic process models, new industrial issues, and academic challenges
Authors: Shi Yongjiang
Published: December 2003

Based on both the observations of case studies during the last few years and on action research work on the global manufacturing strategy development, this paper introduces another type of evolutionary process that looks at the internationalisation of manufacturing systems. The paper seeks to explore the new driving forces and responses of manufacturing systems in terms of their static architectures, dynamic mechanisms, and strategic capabilities in the evolutionary process. Reviews those internationalization models developed during the last 25 years, as well as reviewing manufacturing globalisation over the last 15 years, to gain a comprehensive picture about the international manufacturing system (IMS). Based on the empirical observations of industrial issues and the difficulties faced, a new research framework is proposed that will tackle the wider issues in international manufacturing, covering the manufacturing value creation process, internationalisation process, and inter‐firm collaboration formation process. Argues that it is important for future research to develop the strategy process to synthesise the three dimensions of the IMS.
Managing buyer‐supplier relationships and inter‐organisational competence development
Authors: Møller Morten M. , Johansen John , Boer Harry
Published: December 2003

The work presented in this article is part of an action research project carried out in collaboration between Bang & Olufsen (B&O) and the Center for Industrial Production (CIP) of Aalborg University. The aim of the project is to investigate how end‐manufacturers can source new technology via innovative NPD‐related supplier relationships. Whereas prior work on buyer‐supplier relationships is dominated by a product‐oriented view, the present research has adopted a resource‐based (competence) view to develop a framework to guide companies in developing and handling competence‐based relationships with technology suppliers. The framework suggests four different types of inter‐organisational competence development, two of which will be illustrated using empirical data obtained through two in‐depth case studies of innovative partnership projects between B&O and some of its sub‐suppliers.
Quality in higher education: from monitoring to management
Authors: Cullen John , Joyce John , Hassall Trevor , Broadbent Mick
Published: December 2003

Concepts of accountable management in the public sector have ensured that issues relating to performance measurement have been high on the agenda of higher education institutions. Several quality initiatives are happening at the same time as universities are faced with diminishing financial support from public sources of finance. It has been suggested that higher education should look to private sector models of performance measurement in order to address important quality issues. In taking such models, the paper argues the importance of recognising that key performance indicators on their own can be dysfunctional unless they are grounded within the culture of a strategy‐focussed organisation. The paper then proposes the use of a balanced scorecard approach in order to reinforce the importance of managing rather than just monitoring performance. A balanced scorecard for a faculty of business and management is developed in order to illustrate the points being made.
Students’ perceptions of quality in higher education
Authors: Hill Yvonne , Lomas Laurie , MacGregor Janet
Published: December 2003

This study aims to ascertain student perceptions of a quality experience in higher education. The empirical research made use of focus groups involving a range of higher education students. The main findings are that the quality of the lecturer and the student support systems are the most influential factors in the provision of quality education.
Pilot tutorial project as a quality action
Authors: Ubé Mariano , Plaza Inmaculada , Medrano Carlos , Blesa Alfonso
Published: December 2003

Aims to show that quality concepts can be used in a real university world case by teachers who are voluntarily charged with the task of developing a program designed for helping new students. The first step toward considering the analysis of a previous experience has been taken – the First Action – that took place during the scholar year 1999/2000 at the University of Zaragoza. The results have shed some light on the difficult nature of the relationship between teachers and new students, and have persuaded the teachers of the centre to design an innovative plan considering the perspective of the philosophy of quality coming from the university‐society relationship: the Pilot Tutorial Project. Concludes that it is quite likely that significant improvements in our university work can be achieved by adopting the philosophy of quality.
Critical friends: a tool for quality improvement in universities
Authors: Andreu Rosario , Canós Lourdes , de Juana Susana , Manresa Encarnación , Rienda Laura , José Tarí Juan
Published: December 2003

Quality programmes in higher education in Spain consist of a review to be conducted by a panel composed of external and internal members. These activities may contribute towards an improvement in teaching. However, we can use a number of complementary methods in order to evaluate teachers. The aim of this paper is to discuss the aspects that must be considered in order to succeed in the implementation of the critical friends technique to improve teaching, based on the experience of a group of six lecturers in a Spanish university.
Return to academic standards: a critique of student evaluations of teaching effectiveness
Authors: Emery Charles R. , Kramer Tracy R. , Tian Robert G.
Published: December 2003

A student evaluation of teaching effectiveness (SETE) is often the most influential information in promotion and tenure decision at colleges and universities focused on teaching. Unfortunately, this instrument often fails to capture the lecturer’s ability to foster the creation of learning and to serve as a tool for improving instruction. In fact, it often serves as a disincentive to introducing rigour. This paper performs a qualitative (e.g. case studies) and quantitative (e.g. empirical research) literature review of student evaluations as a measure of teaching effectiveness. Problems are highlighted and suggestions offered to improve SETEs and to refocus teaching effectiveness on outcome‐based academic standards.
The one‐room schoolhouse (Internet portal) for K‐12 schools
Authors: Collins John W.
Published: December 2003

This article briefly covers the need, feasibility and a potential solution to the three‐decade dialogue for a K‐12 school knowledge base. The major components are recommended to cover research, theory and sound practice within a multitude of K‐12 school environments: public, private, urban, suburban, and rural. The connection to social, economic and political implications for each is equally critical. The author proposes the establishment of a one‐room schoolhouse (Internet portal) for K‐12 schools under the auspices of a non‐profit organization. One existing knowledge base portal was discussed to help skeptics see that this endeavor is very feasible. Additionally, there are many connections for all members of a given learning community as well. This author is convinced that if the portal is built, many will come … so that our voices from within the schools can be heard and, more importantly, shared.
College student Internet use
Authors: Aiken Milam , Vanjani Mahesh , Ray Baishali , Martin Jeanette
Published: December 2003

Many surveys of World Wide Web and Internet use have been conducted, but few have focused on students at colleges and universities. Here, a case study of 214 undergraduate and graduate students at two universities in the USA, provides a glimpse of how students use a campus information system for e‐mail, downloading movies and music, and other purposes.
Gender differences in beginning programming: an empirical study on improving performance parity
Authors: Crews Thad , Butterfield Jeff
Published: December 2003

This report presents an approach to teaching and learning programming that emphasizes logic and design while minimizing the distraction from hardware‐specific issues in an effort to reduce some of the traditional impediments that have hindered female students in beginning computer‐ programming classes. This paper also introduces Visual‐One, a learning tool which utilizes flowcharts to emphasize patterns of logic and design, abstracts out the details of different hardware, and supports a broad range of programming and problem‐solving activities. Visual‐One is able to execute the graphical representation of a logical solution, providing students with the immediate feedback that is typically only available with traditional high‐level programming languages. The paper reports the results of an empirical study that demonstrates an increase in performance for both female and male students, while also reducing the differences in achievement between males and females. This paper concludes with a discussion of implications and future directions of this research effort.
Are people asking questions of general Web search engines?
Authors: Ozmutlu Seda , Ozmutlu Huseyin C. , Spink Amanda
Published: December 2003

Recent studies show that many Web users only submit short queries and conduct short search sessions. This paper examines aspects of users’ attempting longer more complex queries. Web search services such as Ask Jeeves – publicly accessible question and answer (Q&A) search engines – encourage queries in question or request format. In light of this trend, this study examines whether general Web queries are shifting towards a more question/request format. Previous studies show that some users were submitting question or request format queries to general non‐Q&A Web search engines. This paper re‐examines this issue by analysing large‐scale Web query data from two different (US and European) Web query data sets, including 1.2 million Excite queries (www.excite.com) and 1.2 million AlltheWeb.com (http://AlltheWeb.com) queries from 2001.
Stacked generalisation: a novel solution to bridge the semantic gap for content‐based image retrieval
Authors: Tsai Chih‐Fong
Published: December 2003

A two‐stage mapping model (TSMM), which can be thought of as a two‐levels stacked generalisation scheme for image classification, is presented. The model is proposed to bridge the semantic gap between low‐level image features and high‐level concepts in a divide‐and‐conquer manner, and aimed at minimising the gap by reducing classification errors. The idea is to design two level‐0 generalisers to classify colour and texture features into colour and texture concepts respectively. Then, a level‐1 generaliser is designed to classify the colour and texture concepts as middle‐(words)‐level concepts into high‐level conceptual classes.
‘DESCRIPTION’ META tags in locally linked web pages
Authors: Craven Timothy C.
Published: December 2003

Advice given in printed and web‐based sources on HTML META tags with NAME=‘DESCRIPTION ’is surveyed.To determin patterns of relationships among descriptions on the same site,links were followed automatically from 460 pages registered withYahoo! and previously found to contain descriptions.Sites where the registered page pointed to many other pages were significantly less likely to reuse the same description on those other pages; where different descriptions were used words from the registered page’s description tended to appear toward the beginnings of other descriptions.
Management of information technology in academic information services
Authors: Swanepoel Marinus , Du Toit Adeline , Van Brakel Pieter A.
Published: December 2003

The dependency of academic information services on information technology is growing, particularly as information technology is the primary infrastructure of a digital library. This is compound by the fast changing/developing nature of information technology and the trend towards digitisation. The changing nature of information technology contributes to the need to manage it. The focus of this article is on the management of information technology with specific reference to the changing nature of this resource. To find a suitable model with which to manage information technology the management of change as well the management of technology was studied. In doing so 11 variables (which should be included in a management model) were distilled for literature. Directors of academic information services in the South African territory sector were approached to rank the variables. Of these 11 variables, the first six were identified as key criteria. When existing information technology models were evaluated, these key criteria were used as the most important measured of effectiveness. However, attempts to find suitable existing model that accommodates all six key criteria were unsuccessful. Ultimately, a new model was designed which could be implemented by academic information services (i.e. university libraries).
New mode of course delivery for Virtual Classroom
Authors: Chye Sen Lee , Al‐Hawamdeh Suliman
Published: December 2003

Internet technology has advanced very rapidly over the last few years and a new trend in educational development for learning and teaching has emerged. Virtual Classroom is an online learning and teaching environment that facilitates the collaboration and integration of discussion forums, chat rooms, quiz management, lecture notes and assignment repositories, subscription services, relevant web links, e‐mail distribution lists and desk top video‐conferencing into a conventional lecturer‐based system.This paper reviews two existing modes of course delivery in a typical virtual classroom environment, namely synchronous communication and asynchronous communication, and presents a hybrid mode of delivery named near synchronous that adds to the conventional asynchronous technology the expressiveness and rapid recall of context of a synchronous delivery.The paper discusses the Singapore ‐MITAllianc (SMA) distance learning project and the current implementation of a virtual classroom in Nanyang Technological University.
The strange online death and possible rebirth of brand theory and practice
Authors: Simon Paul
Published: December 2003

Like a thief in the night, the Web has progressively undermined the validity of traditional brand theory and practice.Yet few brand owners and marketers appear to be aware of this fundamental shift and continue to treat the medium as if it were just another distribution channel, when in fact the Web demands a complete reappraisal of the brand building, marketing and total business processes. This paper aims to review traditional brand and marketing theory, to consider its relevance in the global digital age and to suggest necessary changes that brand owners need to manage in order to take advantage of and avoid the dangers inherent within a fast changing environment.
Information warfare: new battle fields Terrorists, propaganda and the Internet
Authors: Crilley Kathy
Published: December 2003

Examines the use of the Internet by terrorists, extremists and activists. Analyses the methods employed by these various ideological groups and considers the advantages of using the Internet over traditional publishing and communication methods. Historically, extremists have used media of al kinds to as vehicles of propaganda, and have exploited new forms of communication over the years to put forward their views. Online extremists in the Internet age, perhaps was just a matter of course. Whatever the organisation, using the Internet has overcome the limitations of traditional publishing, offering a quick, inexpensive, and anonymous means of communication, and ideological information is reaching new audiences around the world. New threats of the twenty‐first century come from the extreme right wing environmentalists, neo‐nazis, animal rights groups and criminals who can exploit the technology and structure of the Internet. The term information warfare can mean the use of smart technology in a traditional war or the use of IT systems attacking a part of a country‘s infrastructure. The common fear appears to be the vulnerability of the latter. In some cases it appears the national laws cannot stem the tide of these emerging groups and governments are responding to this new threat with draconian measures by introducing electronic surveillance and interception to combat the increasing use of encryption favoured by terrorists and criminals alike. Governments have to strike a balance between freedom of speech on the other hand and the security of a country and its people on the other.
Fraud on Internet auctions
Authors: Bywell Charlotte E. , Oppenheim Charles
Published: December 2003

Research was undertaken to assess the level of fraud and precautions against fraud in Internet auctions. A trial run was also carried out of placing items for auction with eBay and then bidding for them. It is concluded that Internet auctions are severely disadvantaged in comparison to traditional auctions because of their inability to check the quality or provenance of items on offer. The attempts of Internet auction houses to prevent potential fraud have loopholes and can therefore be manipulated of the unscrupulous.The current checks Internet auction houses impose are therefore not enough to eradicate this growing problem. Recommendations are made to a number of di ¡erent stakeholders,such as the government and the auction industry.
Should advertising be allowed on JANET?
Authors: Oppenheim Charles , Wills Joanna
Published: December 2003

Considers one possible strategy for ensuring JANET’s continued growth and development, namely to introduce advertising on JANET web pages. Despite this strict policy of no commercial activity on JANET, a few passive advertisements are in fact permitted. Research into the feasibility of advertising was conducted by interviewing and by questionnaire. Key players involved in this topic and a number of JANET users were questioned. The best solution to the problem would be to allow Higher education institutions (HEIs) the choice of paying for an advert‐free JANET or receiving a free JANET with adverts.However, there would probably be more resistance on the part of HEIs to paying for JANET than keeping the service free of charge but containing advertisements.Therefore, it is recommended that advertising be placed on JANET for a trial period. During this period, reactions from users an the HEIs should be gathered.
Enhancing knowledge exchange through Communities of Practice at the Inter‐American Development Bank
Authors: Moreno Alfredo
Published: December 2003

A relatively new and spontaneous organisational form, simply referred to as Bank Networks or Communities of Practice (CoPs)(informal groups of professional workers who share similar interests and goals), have emerged in the past few years at the Inter‐American Development Bank (IDB). They are complementing the existing structures and enhancing knowledge exchange and organisational learning. These Bank Networks position the Institution in an optimal situation to explore to a greater extent the benefits of knowledge exchange and leveraging of institutional knowledge. The article examines, evaluates and gives the main findings of an empirical study of the nature, structure and activities carried out by the existing Bank’s Communities of Practice. Some ideas as to whether organisations should be supporting and encouraging the formation and development of Communities of Practice, and whether and how their proliferation should be fostered, are offered for consideration.
Familiarity with and use of metadata formats and metadata registries amongst those working in diverse professional communities within the information sector
Authors: Polydoratou Panayiota , Nicholas David
Published: December 2003

Metadata registries are considered to be a solution to the problem of ata sharing and standardising of information on the Internet. The International Organization for Information recognised the need for a standardised approach to this problem and produce ISO/IEC 11179 Information Technology ‐ Specification and standardisation of data elements. As part of an ongoing research project on the ISO/IEC 11179 metadata registries implementation a questionnaire survey was carried out on four discussion lists an the EU funded SCHEMAS 2nd workshop (23‐24th November 2000). Results from this survey, which was essentially aiming to identify how familiar people were with metadata and metadata registries, are presented along with a brief introduction to the ISO/IEC 11179 Information Technology ‐ Specification and standardisation of data elements standard.
PADLs: supporting digital scholarship in digital libraries
Authors: Goh Dion
Published: December 2003

This paper introduces digital scholarship:a process inwhich indivi uals performall scholarly work electronically, working entirely with digital media. A proposal is made for patron‐augmenteddigital libraries (PADLs): a class of digital libraries designed to support the digital scholarship of its patrons. PADLs not only provide facilities for search an retrieval of library artefacts, but also allow patrons to augment the library’s collection with new artefacts such as annotations,original compositions an organisational structures. Finally, a prototype PADL (calle Synchrony) providing access to digitise video segments and associate textual transcripts is described. Synchrony allows patrons to search its collection for artefacts, create annotations/original compositions, integrate these artefacts to form synchronize mixed text an video presentations and, after suitable review, publish these presentations into the digital library if desired.
US multinationals are regional not global
Authors: Moore Karl , Rugman Alan
Published: December 2003

Karl Moore and Alan Rugman argue that globalisation isn't what it seems.
Leading the democratic enterprise
Authors: Gratton Lynda
Published: December 2003

Over the last decade the forces of globalisation, competition and ever more demanding customers have made many companies flatter, less hierarchical, more fluid and more virtual. Lynda Gratton believes that the breakdown of hierarchies and the new approaches within such companies as BT, BP Amoco, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey and Sony provide us with fertile ground on which to create a more democratic way of working. This requires leaders to take on radically new roles.
Why trying to reorient a brand can burn your fingers
Authors: Walsh John W
Published: December 2003

John W Walsh argues that the emotional appeal of a brand (its main value) is built up over years of consistent marketing and advertising. Trying to change that appeal overnight will confuse and alienate consumers – as Coca‐Cola and Guinness found.
Windfall economics
Authors: Crainer Stuart , Dearlove Des
Published: December 2003

An unexpected commercial success – like Bloomsbury's Harry Potter hit series – might seem like manna from heaven. But, Stuart Crainer and Des Dearlove say, unless it is managed properly it can prove a disaster.