bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Business Process Models in Enterprise Web Services
Authors: Kung Mabel T. , Zhang Jenny Yi
Published: May 2011

This article reports a series of process-based models for the development of e-business using enterprise software applications. Merging management technology in workflow systems is a critical step to provide service-oriented architecture and on-demand business. We propose a value-oriented process technique as a strategic alignment to improve investment value. Our framework focuses on the guidelines for traditional users to identify the structural conflicts in integrating Web services. A comparative study of workflow models for intra-and inter-organizational process control is presented. This article identifies the current progress in the adaptability in the design of process models coupled with structural changes of workflow views. The study provides a resource list of successful implementations for practitioners in organizational management. The research highlights the motivation of market facilitation, expert sharing and collaboration that enable commercial applications to support complex heterogeneous, autonomous and distributed information systems.
E-Services Privacy
Authors: Shata Osama
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces several aspects related to e-privacy such as needs, approaches, challenges, and models. It argues that e-privacy protection, although being of interest to many parties such as industry, government, and individuals, is very difficult to achieve since these stakeholders often have conflicting needs and requirements and may even have conflicting understanding of e-privacy. So finding one model or one approach to e-privacy protection that may satisfy these stakeholders is a challenging task. Furthermore, the author hopes that this chapter will present an acceptable definition for e-privacy and use this definition to discuss various aspects of e-privacy protection such as principles of developing e-privacy policies, individuals and organizations needs of various privacy issues, challenges of adopting and coping with e-privacy policies, tools and models to support e-privacy protection in both public and private networks, related legislations that protect or constraint e-privacy, and spamming and Internet censorship in the context of e-privacy. The author hopes that understanding these aspects will assist researchers in developing policies and systems that will bring the conflict in e-privacy protection needs of individuals, industry, and government into better alignment.
A Literature Overview of Fuzzy Database Modeling
Authors: Ma Z.M.
Published: May 2011

Fuzzy set theory has been extensively applied to extend various data models and resulted in numerous contributions, mainly with respect to the popular relational model or to some related form of it. To satisfy the need of modeling complex objects with imprecision and uncertainty, recently many researches have been concentrated on fuzzy semantic (conceptual) and object-oriented data models. This chapter reviews fuzzy database modeling technologies, including fuzzy conceptual data models and database models. Concerning fuzzy database models, fuzzy relational databases, fuzzy nested relational databases, and fuzzy object-oriented databases are discussed, respectively.
Building an Environmental GIS Knowledge Infrastructure
Authors: Nlenanya Inya
Published: May 2011

Technologies such as geographic information systems (GIS) enable geospatial information to be captured, updated, integrated, and mapped easily and economically. These technologies create both opportunities and challenges for achieving wider and more effective use of geospatial information in stimulating and sustaining sustainable development through smart policy making. This chapter proposes a simple and accessible conceptual knowledge discovery interface that can be used as a tool to accomplish that. In addition, it addresses some issues that might make this knowledge infrastructure stimulate sustainable development with emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa.
Out of Control? The Real ID Act of 2005
Authors: Loendorf Todd
Published: May 2011

The tragic events of September 11, 2001, created an environment that was conducive to the expansion of surveillance operations. Furthermore, the Bush Administration’s belief that the power of the presidency allows for any action, in the name of national security, led to the gathering of information about both terrorists and ordinary citizens. The Real ID Act of 2005 is a piece of legislation that requires, among other things, that state licensing agencies verify, collect, store, and share an increased amount of personal information. Opponents of this legislation are concerned about the financial, technological, privacy, and security implications of a law that was enacted with little to no due diligence. Currently, the requirements of the Real ID Act have been forced into an immigration bill in the Senate. Fortunately for those opposed to the Real ID Act, the Democratic majority currently in Congress appear to be more concerned with protecting the freedoms and liberties of American citizens than the Republican majority was when they originally passed the Real ID Act legislation in 2005. Ultimately, this chapter seeks to provide the reader with a thorough discussion into the many concerns associated with the Real ID Act.
Adoption, Improvement, and Disruption
Authors: Brydon Michael , Vining Aidan R.
Published: May 2011

This article develops a model of open source disruption in enterprise software markets. It addresses the question: Is free and open source software (FOSS) likely to disrupt markets for commercial enterprise software? The conventional wisdom is that open source provision works best for low-level system-oriented technologies, while large, complex enterprise business applications are best served by commercial software vendors. The authors challenge the conventional wisdom by developing a two-stage model of open source disruption in enterprise software markets that emphasizes a virtuous cycle of adoption and leaduser improvement of the software. The two stages are an initial incubation stage (the I-Stage) and a subsequent snowball stage (the S-Stage). Case studies of several FOSS projects demonstrate the model’s ex post predictive value. The authors then apply the model to SugarCRM, an emerging open source CRM application, to make ex ante predictions regarding its potential to disrupt commercial CRM incumbents.
E-Democracy
Authors: Francq Pascal
Published: May 2011

The success of the Internet has launched McLuhan’s idea of the global village. Over the years, the Internet has become a real political medium which has inspired the emergence of the concept of e-democracy. Despite some successful applications, many limitations prevent its wide expansion. Some of these limitations can be solved with social software, in particular with the emerging Web 2.0 applications. This kind of applications may contribute to a better application of e-democracy processes for local political decisions.
A Survey of Development Methods for Semantic Web Service Systems
Authors: Wahl Terje , Sindre Guttorm
Published: May 2011

Semantic web services (SWS) hold the promise of enabling dynamic discovery of candidate web services fitting a particular specified need. One interesting question is what impact this will have on software and systems engineering methods – will mainstream methods like RUP still be suitable, or will new or adapted methods be needed? This article surveys the state-of-the-art in methods specifically tailored for the engineering of SWS systems, looking at development methods trying to cover the entire lifecycle as well as methods covering only one or two phases. Some of the surveyed methods are specifically meant to deal with semantics, others are for the engineering of service-oriented systems in general. The survey reveals that there are many proposals being made in this area, some extensions of mainstream methods like RUP, others more experimental.
Development of Machine Learning Software for High Frequency Trading in Financial Markets
Authors: Hryshko Andrei , Downs Tom
Published: May 2011

Foreign exchange trading has emerged in recent times as a significant activity in many countries. As with most forms of trading, the activity is influenced by many random parameters, so that the creation of a system that effectively emulates the trading process will be very helpful. This chapter presents a novel trading system using Machine Learning methods of Genetic Algorithms and Reinforcement Learning. The system emulates trader behavior on the Foreign Exchange market and finds the most profitable trading strategy.
A Requirement Elicitation Methodology for Global Software Development Teams
Authors: Aranda Gabriela N. , Vizcaíno Aurora , Cechich Alejandra , Piattini Mario
Published: May 2011

Failures during the elicitation process have been usually attributed to the difficulty of the development team in working on a cooperative basis (Togneri, Falbo, & de Menezes, 2002), but today there are other points that have to be considered. In order to save costs, modern software organizations tend to have their software development team geographically distributed, so distance between members becomes one of the most important issues added to the traditional problems of the requirement elicitation process (Brooks, 1987; Loucopoulos & Karakostas, 1995). So far, literature has widely analysed real life Global Software Development (GSD) projects and pointed out the main problems that affect such environments, especially related to communication. As a complementary view, we have focused our research on analysing how cognitive characteristics can affect people interaction in GSD projects, especially during the requirement elicitation process, where communication becomes crucial.
Model-Driven Software Refactoring
Authors: Mens Tom , Taentzer Gabriele , Müller Dirk
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, we explore the emerging research domain of model-driven software refactoring. Program refactoring is a proven technique that aims at improving the quality of source code. Applying refactoring in a model-driven software engineering context raises many new challenges such as how to define, detect and improve model quality, how to preserve model behavior, and so on. Based on a concrete case study with a state-ofthe- art model-driven software development tool, AndroMDA, we explore some of these challenges in more detail. We propose to resolve some of the encountered problems by relying on wellunderstood techniques of meta-modeling, model transformation and graph transformation.
Developing a Mobile Learning Platform for a Professional Environment
Authors: Dzartevska Ana
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes some conceptual and practical issues in the development of a professional mobile learning system. The main focus of the chapter is the implementation of a mobile learning solution for the requirements of a specific working environment. The study proposes a conceptual framework for mobile learning applications, based on multiple studies of mobile learning design requirements, and uses it as a design tool for the development of the new system based on situated learning in the workplace. This approach is illustrated through the development life cycle of a prototype mobile learning solution. Finally, the chapter reviews and evaluates the success of the prototype and the utility of the framework as a design tool, identifies potential issues and outlines ideas for further development and research.
The SEEMP Approach to Semantic Interoperability for E-Employment
Authors: Della Valle E. , Cerizza D. , Celino I. , Fugini M.G. , Estublier J. , Vega G.
Published: May 2011

SEEMP is a European Project that promotes increased partnership between labour market actors and the development of closer relations between private and public Employment Services, making optimal use of the various actors’ specific characteristics, thus providing job-seekers and employers with better services. The need for a flexible collaboration gives rise to the issue of interoperability in both data exchange and share of services. SEEMP proposes a solution that relies on the concepts of services and semantics in order to provide a meaningful service-based communication among labour market actors requiring a minimal shared commitment.
Bacterial ß-Barrel Outer Membrane Proteins
Authors: Bagos Pantelis G. , Hamodrakas Stavros J.
Published: May 2011

ß-barrel outer membrane proteins constitute the second and less well-studied class of transmembrane proteins. They are present exclusively in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and presumably in the outer membrane of mitochondria and chloroplasts. During the last few years, remarkable advances have been made towards an understanding of their functional and structural features. It is now wellknown that ß-barrels are performing a large variety of biologically important functions for the bacterial cell. Such functions include acting as specific or non-specific channels, receptors for various compounds, enzymes, translocation channels, structural proteins, and adhesion proteins. All these functional roles are of great importance for the survival of the bacterial cell under various environmental conditions or for the pathogenic properties expressed by these organisms. This chapter reviews the currently available literature regarding the structure and function of bacterial outer membrane proteins. We emphasize the functional diversity expressed by a common structural motif such as the ß-barrel, and we provide evidence from the current literature for dozens of newly discovered families of transmembrane ß-barrels.
The Sebaceous Gland
Authors: Makrantonaki Evgenia
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces an in vitro model as a means of studying human hormonal aging. For this purpose, human sebaceous gland cells were maintained under a hormone-substituted environment. This environment consisted of growth factors and sex steroids in concentrations corresponding to those circulating in young and postmenopausal women. The authors suggest that hormone decline, occurring with age, may play a significant role not only in the maintenance of skin homeostasis but also in the initiation of aging. Furthermore, skin, the largest organ of the body, offers an alternative approach to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlining the aging process.
Systems Biology and Infectious Diseases
Authors: Benkahla Alia , Guizani-Tabbane Lamia , Abdeljaoued-Tej Ines , Miled Slimane Ben , Dellagi Koussay
Published: May 2011

This chapter reports a variety of molecular biology informatics and mathematical methods that model the cell response to pathogens. The authors first outline the main steps of the immune response, then list the high throughput biotechnologies, generating a wealth of information on the infected cell and some of the immune-related databases; and finally explain how to extract meaningful information from these sources. The modelling aspect is divided into modelling molecular interaction and regulatory networks, through dynamic Boolean and Bayesian models, and modelling biochemical networks and regulatory networks, through Differential/Difference Equations. The interdisciplinary approach explains how to construct a model that mimics the cell’s dynamics and can predict the evolution and the outcome of infection.
Data Integration for Regulatory Gene Module Discovery
Authors: Mishra Alok
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces the techniques that have been used to identify the genetic regulatory modules by integrating data from various sources. Data relating to the functioning of individual genes can be drawn from many different and diverse experimental techniques. Each piece of data provides information on a specific aspect of the cell regulation process. The chapter argues that integration of these diverse types of data is essential in order to identify biologically relevant regulatory modules. A concise review of the different integration techniques is presented, together with a critical discussion of their pros and cons. A very large number of research papers have been published on this topic, and the authors hope that this chapter will present the reader with a high-level view of the area, elucidating the research issues and underlining the importance of data integration in modern bioinformatics.
Modelling Interactive Behaviour with a Rational Cognitive Architecture
Authors: Peebles David , Cox Anna L.
Published: May 2011

In this chapter we discuss a number of recent studies that demonstrate the use of rational analysis (Anderson, 1990) and cognitive modelling methods to understand complex interactive behaviour involved in three tasks: (1) icon search, (2) graph reading, and (3) information retrieval on the World Wide Web (WWW). We describe the underlying theoretical assumptions of rational analysis and the adaptive control of thought-rational (ACT-R) cognitive architecture (Anderson & Lebiere, 1998), a theory of cognition that incorporates rational analysis in its mechanisms for learning and decision making. In presenting these studies we aim to show how such methods can be combined with eye movement data to provide detailed, highly constrained accounts of user performance that are grounded in psychological theory. We argue that the theoretical and technological developments that underpin these methods are now at a stage that the approach can be more broadly applied to other areas of Web use.
Behavioral Factors and Information Technology Infrastructure Considerations in Strategic Alliance Development
Authors: Mandal Purnendu
Published: May 2011

Since behavioral and cultural factors play a major role in strategic alliances between partners, IT managers must understand the intricacies involved in the development of resultant IT infrastructure in satisfying both business requirements and cultural fit of the aligned partnering units. This paper first highlights the IT-related issues and cultural issues which are important in the process of developing a strategic alliance between partners. Then, a case study involving a major telecommunications organization and several retail electricity organizations is presented to illustrate the IT requirements and human-related considerations. The analysis focuses on the requirements of pre-strategic alliance phase of the negotiation process.
The Future of Supply Chain Management
Authors: Vanjara Ketan
Published: May 2011

This chapter initiates the concept of a customercentric model in supply chain systems. It discusses various constraints of present-day supply chain systems resulting from their roots being in logistics management and suggests an alternative next-level paradigm of a customer-centric matrix model. This chapter further demonstrates how this model would add value to the customer by taking the example of a healthcare information management system. The chapter also delves into the limitations of and anticipated issues and challenges in implementing the suggested model. Finally, the chapter hints at some broad directions for future research and action in the field. Emergent behavior is what happens when an interconnected system of relatively simple elements begins to self-organize to form a more intelligent and more adaptive higher-level system (Johnson, 2001).
Decision Factors for the Adoption of an Online Payment System by Customers
Authors: He Fang
Published: May 2011

Along with the exponential increase in online business transactions, the online payment system has gained in popularity because vendors and creditors realize its growing importance as a foundation to improve their information infrastructure and to achieve “paperless” operating efficiency. However, due to per se different characteristics among customers and Web-systems, both sides’ perspectives and technology factors could cause a significant level of variation in customers’ acceptance of online payment methods. Our research involving 148 subjects who participated in a field survey examined the impact of a series of possible decision factors including perceived risk, perceived benefits, vendor’s system features, and customers’ characteristics on the intention to use an online payment system by customers. Some significant associations are observed and their implications are discussed.
On the Need to Include National Culture as a Central Issue in E-Commerce Trust Beliefs
Authors: Gefen David , Heart Tsipi
Published: May 2011

Trust and trust beliefs (trustworthiness) are key to e-commerce success but depend, to a large extent, on culture. With e-commerce being an international phenomenon, understanding the cross-cultural aspects of trust creation is therefore arguably required although mostly ignored by current research which deals almost exclusively with the U.S. This exploratory study examines whether definitions of trust beliefs as conceptualized and verified in the U.S. apply in Israel which differs markedly in individualism, uncertainty avoidance, and power distance. The data, crossvalidating the scale of trust and its antecedents in both cultures, generally support the proposition that trust beliefs apply across cultures, and may be a relatively unvarying aspect of e-commerce. However, as expected, the effects of predictability and familiarity on trust beliefs may differ across national cultures. Implications about the need to include national culture in the research on trust, in general, and in e-commerce in particular, are discussed.
E-Commerce in Developing Economies
Authors: Boateng Richard , Molla Alemayehu , Heeks Richard
Published: May 2011

This chapter undertakes a meta-analysis of the published literature on e-commerce in developing economies (DEs). The aim is to take stock of the literature, identify enduring research themes, classify the existing work based on such themes and review the theoretical and conceptual approaches used. The analysis covers 245 articles published between 1993 and 2006 in 76 different journals on electronic commerce, information systems, global information technology, development and developing countries. The findings indicate that the research area is rapidly growing and relatively well-spread across the assessment of e-commerce potential and its adoption and implementation issues in DEs. We make a case for future research to focus on developing a broad development perspective of e-commerce benefits and a strategic understanding of how to achieve and sustain these benefits. The chapter thus serves both as a synthesis of current research, and as a road map providing future directions for both academics and practitioners.
Designing University Techscapes
Authors: DePoy Elizabeth
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents and analyzes the scholarly basis and empirical work that resulted in the development of Techscape, the application of collaborative technology use as one approach to achieving the larger aims of Civilscape. Civilscape, a loosely networked collaborative university-wide effort on a state-supported university campus in the United Sates, is designed to achieve two major goals: (a) to advance equivalent opportunity for full participation as a civil right for all qualified students; and (b) to expand the reach and benefits of the university for the advancement of healthy, safe, moral, equitable, and socially responsible societies in which universities exist. Technology, because of its omnipotence and potency, provides an important vehicle through which collaborative participation in education, research and technology transfer can occur. We first present the theoretical and empirical background for the project and then discuss and illustrate it. We conclude with a summary and important points for future consideration.
Ultimate Performance in a Highly Functioning Team
Authors: Jeddeloh Steven
Published: May 2011

This essay explores ultimate team performance as experienced by veteran airline pilots working together with a common purpose. The research ellicited the subjective experiences of five individual team members, employing a structured interview method to gather data for phenomenological analysis. Results offer a better understanding of what makes a high-performing team, the team experience itself, the context, and the meaning of ultimate team performance as lived experience. The research offers subjective descriptions of social interaction between self and other in a virtual/nonvirtual team context, offering a window into the collaborative experience; the self-other relationship; how individuals navigate their lifeworld within a team setting; and the applicability of the pilots’ experience processes across other organizational domains.
Electronic Collaboration Toward Social Health Outcomes
Authors: Biswas Rakesh , Maniam Jayanthy , Wen Huo Lee Edwin , Umakanth Shashikiran , Gopal Das Premalatha
Published: May 2011

This is an illustrative process description of a collaborative project utilizing a multidisciplinary approach. The requirement for collaboration originated in an attempt to optimally answer the needs of individual patients and health professionals for information to allow them to achieve better health outcomes. This chapter introduces the problem statement through the auto-ethnographic reflections of three project developers. These reflections illustrate individual experiential agendas that initiated electronic collaboration among diverse stakeholders in the health care network. Each reflection also illustrates the sequence of events in a collaborative process beginning at the individual level and growing through the interaction of multiple individuals including patients, their relatives, health professionals, and other actors in the care giving network. This chapter describes how collaboration was sustained and further developed into an operational model.
Online Collaborative Integration and Recommendations for Future Research
Authors: Wilson Lynn , Salmons Janet
Published: May 2011

The concluding chapter offers the editors’ insights into the book chapters’ combined contribution. Using the editors’ Collaborative Integration Paradigm, they examine types of collaborations described, the electronic technologies used, and the kinds of research and theories discussed by contributing authors. They consider commonalities in electronic collaboration across sectors and the significance of interorganizational or intra-organizational structure. The editors recommend future research as well as theory-building needed to advance the field.
Changing IT Skills
Authors: Bullen Christine V. , Abraham Thomas , Gallagher Kevin , Kaiser Kate M. , Simon Judith C.
Published: May 2011

The increasingly global sourcing of IT work and other socio-economic trends are prompting fundamental changes in the availability of IT skills needed in both client and vendor organizations. This article analyzes the results of a survey conducted in 2005, in which IT executives were asked to describe the skills they felt were critical to keep in house now and in 2008. The top ten current skills included three in project management, five in business domain and three in technical. In 2008, the top five emerging skills are almost all business domain while the top five exiting skills are all technical. Our findings indicate that the critical skills to keep in-house are primarily client-facing skills, even when they are technical. Respondents are moving away from traditional IT skills except when their business model continues to value them. However, traditional technical skills are still important for all new hires while project management skills are the most often cited for mid level hires. The projected number of full time employees is expected to remain approximately the same by 2008 but there will be an increase in sourcing to third party providers (3PP) and a shift from domestic to offshore 3PP staff. The patterns in the data indicate that technical skills that are not client facing and can be done anywhere are the most likely to be sourced. Findings indicate that IT professionals need to have a balance that demonstrates a foundation in the traditional “hard skills” and experience with “softer” business-oriented skills.
Business Process Outsourcing Modeling
Authors: Xu Lai
Published: May 2011

Organizations in the new millennium face relentless pressure to perform better, faster and cheaper, while maintaining high level of guaranteed results. To remain competitive, enterprises have to integrate their business processes with those of their customers, suppliers and business partners. Increasing collaboration is not only relevant within a global multi-national enterprise, but also considering the organization and its relationship to and business processes with its business partners. While standards and technologies make it possible for business partners to exchange information, collaborate and carry out business transaction in a pervasive Web environment, there is however very limited research activity on modeling business process outsourcing underlying semantics. In this chapter, we demonstrate that an in-house business process that has been gradually outsourced to third-parties and analyze how task delegations cause commitments between multiple business parties. Finally we provide process semantics for modeling multi-party business process outsourcing.
Information Technology Industry Dynamics
Authors: Georgantzas Nicholas C.
Published: May 2011

This chapter combines disruptive innovation strategy (DIS) theory with the system dynamics (SD) modeling method. It presents a simulation model of the hard-disk (HD) maker population overshoot and collapse dynamics, showing that DIS can crucially affect the dynamics of the IT industry. Data from the HD maker industry help calibrate the parameters of the SD model and replicate the HD makers’ overshoot and collapse dynamics, which DIS allegedly caused from 1973 through 1993. SD model analysis entails articulating exactly how the structure of feedback relations among variables in a system determines its performance through time. The HD maker population model analysis shows that, over five distinct time phases, four different feedback loops might have been most prominent in generating the HD maker population dynamics. The chapter shows the benefits of using SD modeling software, such as iThink®, and SD model analysis software, such as Digest®. The latter helps detect exactly how changes in loop polarity and prominence determine system performance through time. Strategic scenarios computed with the model also show the relevance of using SD for information system management and research in areas where dynamic complexity rules.
E-Commerce Security and Honesty-Credit
Authors: Lao Guoling
Published: May 2011

E-commerce mode aggravates information asymmetry so that honesty-credit problems become more serious. This chapter discusses the honesty-credit issue and honesty-credit system construction in e-commerce. It argues that the honesty-credit issue belongs to e-commerce security problems to some extent since it also destroys information integrity, confidentiality, and availability. The study of honesty-credit issue in e-commerce will help to promote social culture development as well as improve e-commerce security. Basing on analysis of three game models, the article suggests the construction of social honesty-credit system mainly include four aspects: cultivate citizens’ sense of honesty-credit, strengthen legislation, build mechanism of third-party authentication and regulate third-party service industry. At the end of the chapter, the case of Shanghai honesty-credit system construction of is introduced to describe China honesty-credit status.
Designing Multi-Agent Systems from Logic Specifications
Authors: Lin Hong
Published: May 2011

In this chapter a program construction method based on ?-Calculus is proposed. The problem to be solved is specified by first-order predicate logic and a semantic verification program is constructed directly from the specification. We exploit this method in synthesizing the architectural specifications of multi-agent systems (MAS) in ?-Calculus based on the logic specifications of the MAS. By enabling the transformation from the logic specifications to operational specifications of MAS, this method allows the design of the MAS to be focused on the architectural definition level. It benefits the development of MAS by enabling logic deduction on behaviors of the MAS, and a design methodology in an incremental fashion. We present this method by a case study of designing a course information management system.
Classification and Retrieval of Images from Databases Using Rough Set Theory
Authors: Hassanien Aboul Ella , Ali Jafar M.
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents an efficient algorithm to classify and retrieve images from large databases in the context of rough set theory. Color and texture are two well-known low-level perceptible features to describe an image contents used in this chapter. The features are extracted, normalized, and then the rough set dependency rules are generated directly from the real value attribute vector. Then the rough set reduction technique is applied to find all reducts of the data which contains the minimal subset of attributes that are associated with a class label for classification. We test three different popular distance measures in this work and find that quadratic distance measures provide the most accurate and perceptually relevant retrievals. The retrieval performance is measured using recall-precision measure, as is standard in all retrieval systems.
Comparative Analyses of Online and Traditional Undergraduate Business Law Classes
Authors: Shelley Daniel J.
Published: May 2011

E-learning and e-pedagogy continues to grow in importance in the delivery of higher education, due in part to the cost of higher education, a changing student profile, scarcity of traditional classroom space, and the recognition that distance learning has created a genuinely new paradigm of instruction. To respond to the changing student demographics, working adults, students in the military and residents of rural communities as well as of other countries, more and more universities are including online (internet-based) course offerings to their core offerings. As they do, the question arises whether online instruction is, or can be, as effective as classroom instruction. Investigating the question has been the focus of several studies. Our studies compared students enrolled in both online and traditional classroom versions of one business law course where all elements were the same except for the instruction format. The first study found no significant difference between the two formats with regard to student satisfaction and student learning, supporting earlier comparisons of online and traditional instruction modes. However, the second study did find statistically significant differences between the online and the traditional course formats with regard to student satisfaction with the instructor, and student satisfaction with the course structure.
Transitioning Business Processes to a Collaborative Business Environment with Mobility
Authors: Unhelkar Bhuvan , Tiwary Amit , Ghanbary Abbass
Published: May 2011

Web Services (WS) technologies create the potential for an organization to collaborate with partners and customers by enabling its software applications to transact over the Internet. This collaboration is achieved by carefully incorporating Web Services in the organization’s software applications, resulting in comprehensive Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) for the enterprise. This incorporation of WS-enabled applications and components in the organization’s overall enterprise architecture requires understanding of the service at three interrelated yet distinct layers: policies, activities, and standards. This chapter describes how the existing business processes of an organization are transitioned in to collaborative business processes that would result in a Collaborative Web- Based System (CWBS). The ideas presented in this chapter have been validated through an action-research carried out by the authors in a large energy supplier organization in Melbourne, Australia.
Strategic Approach to Globalization with Mobile Business
Authors: Askarzai Walied , Unhelkar Bhuvan
Published: May 2011

This chapter discusses the importance of strategic approach to the phenomenon of globalization with mobile business. Globalization is the exclusion of geographical boundaries when conducting business, considering that, in today’s business world the concept of the dynamic aspect of the globalization is inevitable. Advances in information and communications technologies have helped globalization to evolve rapidly, providing the opportunity for local businesses to operate internationally. A mobile business also can exploit the opportunity of globalization. This chapter also examines how a mobile business can approach globalization strategically. Further more this chapter explains that a semi-mobilized business can become fully mobilized in order to operate more efficiently and effectively. introduCtion
Composite Process-Personalization with Service-Oriented Architecture
Authors: Sadasivam Rajani Shankar
Published: May 2011

The integration of large systems remains problematic in spite of advances in composite services approaches, such as Web services and business process technologies. The next challenge in integration is composite process-personalization (CPP), which involves addressing the needs of the interaction worker. An interaction worker participates and drives business processes. As these workers increasingly perform their work from mobile devices, CPP becomes an important area of mobile research. In this chapter, an agent-based approach to composite services development is introduced, addressing the lack of CPP in integration. A case study is used to demonstrate the steps in the agent-based approach.
Cultural Impacts on the Spread of Mobile Commerce
Authors: Wagner Ralf , Klaus Martin
Published: May 2011

Culture predefines the framework of needs, beliefs, and norms in most decisions humans make in their lives. However, the impact of culture often tends to be neglected in the investigation into adaptation of mobile business technologies. This chapter aims to address that lacuna by highlighting cultural differences and their consequences for the diffusion of mobile technologies in business and society, as well as its acceptance in mobile direct marketing and mobile commerce. We achieve our objective in the following four steps: • Highlight the impact of culture on the adoption and acceptance of mobile technologies, • Introduce measures for the assessment of cultures by means of quantitative indices (e.g., Schwartz values, the Hofstede dimensions), • Correlat the assessment of culture with mobile activities in selected societies, and • Discuss implications for the introduction of innovative mobile commerce services.
The Mobile Network as a New Medium for Marketing Communications
Authors: Karjaluoto Heikki , Leppäniemi Matti , Sall Jari , Sinisalo Jaako , Li Feng
Published: May 2011

This chapter discusses the mobile network as a new medium for marketing communications. It illustrates that the mobile medium, defined as two-way communications via mobile handsets, can be utilized in a company’s promotion mix by initiating and maintaining relationships. First, by using the mobile medium companies can attract new customers by organizing SMS (short message service) -based competitions and lotteries. Second, the mobile medium can be used as a relationship building tool as companies can send information and discount coupons to existing customers’ mobile devices or collect marketing research data. The authors explore these scenarios by presenting and analyzing a mobile marketing case from Finland. The chapter concludes by pondering different future avenues for the mobile medium in promotion mix.
Spatial and Nonspatial Integration in Learning and Training with Multimedia Systems
Authors: Brunyé Tad T. , Ditman Tali , Augustyn Jason S.
Published: May 2011

Multiformat and modality interfaces have become popular and effective tools for presenting information in training and instructional systems. Technological innovation, however, has far surpassed researchers’ understanding of how and under what circumstances these technologies are useful towards information gathering. Some recent research has begun to characterize the cognitive mechanisms that may be responsible for the comprehension and memory advantages typically seen with multimedia learning, as well as the role of individual differences in this process. Other work has defined effective pedagogical practices, such as instructional content and organization, for producing engaging and effective learning experiences. This chapter attempts to bridge these two research areas and provides concrete design recommendations for current instructional practice and directions for future research.
Theoretical Foundations of Autonomic Computing
Authors: Wang Yingxu
Published: May 2011

Autonomic computing (AC) is an intelligent computing approach that autonomously carries out robotic and interactive applications based on goal- and inference-driven mechanisms. This chapter attempts to explore the theoretical foundations and technical paradigms of AC. It reviews the historical development that leads to the transition from imperative computing to AC. It surveys transdisciplinary theoretical foundations for AC such as those of behaviorism, cognitive informatics, denotational mathematics, and intelligent science. On the basis of this work, a coherent framework towards AC may be established for both interdisciplinary theories and application paradigms, which will result in the development of new generation computing architectures and novel information processing systems.
Knowledge Intensive Work in a Network of Counter-Terrorism Communities
Authors: MacGilivray Alice
Published: May 2011

Knowledge management is often associated with the need for change and related shifts in ontologies, ways of knowing and ways of working. Combine the centuries-old debates about what defines knowledge with proposed paradigm shifts to become knowledge-oriented, focused on inter-relationships, and cognisant of the complex and voluntary nature of knowledge work, and there is bound to be controversy and ambiguity. However, knowledge management research and practice becomes more focused and less ambiguous when set in the context of an urgent need. This chapter describes a study of a Canadian public sector science initiative. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 catalyzed ripples of reflection and innovation over great distances. In Canada, the federal government initiated the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Research and Technology Initiative (CRTI) to enable learning and progress, using what is essentially a communities of practice model. CRTI established a knowledge management office, to help this network of communities generate, share and use tacit and explicit knowledge. Some aspects of the initiative were working better than others and I was asked to conduct research to explore how CRTI members understand their work in a complex, knowledge-rich environment. I collected data through interviews and observation, and used phenomenography: a qualitative methodology from Scandinavia, which reveals qualitatively different ways of understanding phenomena. Phenomenography is usually driven by the desire to improve something, rather than simply to deepen understanding. As part of the analysis, I used a model for understanding communities of practice that was developed by [then] Major Pete Kilner in his work with the internationally respected CompanyCommand community.Participants who understood their work as complex and unpredictable tended to emphasize connections and relationships, focused on learning more than doing, spontaneously referenced all aspects of Kilner’s model, saw knowledge as more of a flow than a thing, and were more satisfied with their individual and community effectiveness. This research had added value in that CRTI is considered successful and is being considered as a potential model for other science and technology work in the Canadian public service. The research has implications for knowledge-intensive work in complex environments and suggests that there is fertile ground for more qualitative research that integrates thinking from knowledge management and complexity thinking.
Fault-Tolerant Protocols Using Single- and Multiple-Version Software Fault-Tolerance
Authors: De Florio Vincenzo
Published: May 2011

This chapter discusses two large classes of fault-tolerance protocols: • Single-version protocols, that is, methods that use a non-distributed, single task provision, running side-by-side with the functional software, often available in the form of a library and a run-time executive. • Multiple-version protocols, which are methods that use actively a form of redundancy, as explained in what follows. In particular recovery blocks and N-version programming will be discussed. The two families have been grouped together in this chapter because of the several similarities they share.
QoS in Grid Computing
Authors: Du Zhihui , Cheng Zhili , Wang Xiaoying , Lin Chuang
Published: May 2011

This chapter first summarizes popular terms of QoS related concepts and technologies in grid computing, including SLA, End-to-End QoS Provision and Virtualization. Then a three layered general grid QoS provision model based on MetaServices is proposed. Operating mechanisms are discussed in detail, and the model can maintain grid QoS by defining QoS requirements in different levels and solve the QoS problems hierarchically. A prototype named PMGrid is designed and implemented based on the QoS provision model. PMGrid is a grid system for astronomy data processing. The results show that the PMGrid can maintain the QoS requirements of astronomy data processing.
Trust and Privacy in Grid Resource Auctions
Authors: Bubendorfer Kris , Palmer Ben , Welch Ian
Published: May 2011

A Grid resource broker is the arbiter for access to a Grid’s computational resources and therefore its performance and functionality has a wide-ranging influence on the utilization and performance of the Grid. Ideally, we want to avoid relying on a single ‘trusted’ resource broker because it may not be trustworthy. For example, a broker holding a resource auction could examine and reveal bid information to others, or defraud participants by subverting the auction results. The use of privacy preserving and verifiable auction protocols offers guarantees beyond those possible in real world auctions, making the electronic auctions as secure, or more secure, than their physical counterparts. This chapter provides the background to understand privacy preserving and verifiable auction schemes and discuss the implications of adopting them on Grid architecture. It then evaluates a range of potential secure auction schemes and identifies those that are most suitable to be adopted within for use in the Grid.
Grid-Based Nuclear Physics Applications
Authors: Arickx Frans , Broeckhove Jan , Hellinckx Peter , Dewolfs David , Vanmechelen Kurt
Published: May 2011

Quantum structure or scattering calculations often belong to a class of computational problems involving the aggregation of a set of matrices representing a linear problem to be solved. The authors discuss a number of approaches based on cluster and grid computing, and discuss the implementations and the respective merits and shortcomings. The authors consider MPI-based cluster computing in a self-scheduling paradigm, CoBRA (a cpu-harvesting desktop grid) in a farmer-worker paradigm, and a batch-computing paradigm on BEGrid (the Belgian research grid facility). It is observed that for all paradigms an efficient implementation is possible, yielding results within a comparable time frame.