bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Internet Privacy
Authors: Dhillon Gurpreet S. , Moores Trevor T.
Published: May 2011

The Internet has transformed the way in which goods are bought and sold. Forrester Research predicts retail sales on the Internet to grow from less than 1% in 1999 to 6% by 2003. According to Gartner Group, convenience and time saved are two of the main incentives for users to buy online. At the same time, however, research conducted by Price Waterhouse Coopers suggests that during the 1999 Christmas season, 18% of all customers who purchased online were “dissatisfied” with their experience. A Business Week/Harris Poll (see Business Week, March 20, 2000) survey reported that 41% of online shoppers were very concerned over the use of personal information. Among the people who go online but have not shopped, 63% were very concerned. Clearly, as Keeney (1999) suggests, maximizing privacy is a fundamental objective related to Internet commerce. The purpose of this paper is to identify issues related to maximizing Internet privacy. The paper is organized into five sections. Following a brief introduction, Section 2 explores the notion of Internet privacy and how various researchers have attempted to understand the concept. Section 3 presents the study design. Section 4 is a discussion of research findings. Section 5 presents the conclusions.
Strategies for Bricks to Beat Clicks - How Established Business Can Incorporate the New Technologies
Authors: Barnett Martin , Burn Janice M.
Published: May 2011

This chapter looks at models for organizational development using the potential of virtual organization for established firms. For established businesses, particularly those in the consumer product area, much cash and knowledge is invested in the management of multiple physical outlets–bricks. The potential for the inexpensive and pervasive Internet technologies to reinvent the mail order shopping with a real-time interaction attraction has been widely touted and is under test. For books, music and perhaps even groceries, it is possible that the old measurement of value–“location, location, location” may be replaced with clicks of the mouse.
The Design and Performance of a CORBA Audio/Video Streaming Service
Authors: Surendran Naga , Krishamurthy Yamuna , Schmidt Douglas C.
Published: May 2011

Advances in network bandwidth and CPU processing power have enabled the emergence of multimedia applications, such as teleconferencing or streaming video, that exhibit significantly more diverse and stringent quality-of-service (QoS) requirements than traditional data-oriented applications, such as file transfer or email. For instance, popular Internet-based streaming mechanisms, such as Realvideo (RealNetworks, 1998) and Vxtreme (Vxtreme, 1998), allow suppliers to transmit continuous streams of audio and video packets to consumers. Likewise, non-continuous media applications, such as medical imaging servers (Hu et al., 1998) and network management agents (Schmidt and Suda, 1994), employ streaming to transfer bulk data efficiently from suppliers to consumers.
IP Switching and MPLS
Authors: Manikantan S.
Published: May 2011

The growth of the Internet and its widespread usage has lead to greater demands being made on the industry to provide faster and better solutions. This chapter focuses on the current developments in the areas of IP Switching and MPLS. It also explains the circumstances that led to the development of the MPLS concept and the solutions that MPLS offers.
Factors Influence Web Access Behavior in the Workplace
Authors: Anandarajan Murugan , Simmers Claire A.
Published: May 2011

As more and more organizations provide employees access to the Web, the level of abuse is on the rise. Structured equation modeling was used to examine the antecedent and perceptual factors impacting accessing work-related Web sites and personal-related Web sites in the work environment. The results indicate that management support, experience and perceived ethical beliefs have a significant negative influence, while self-training and perceived enjoyment had a positive influence on personal-related Web access. Internet experience, formal training, and all the perceptual factors influenced work-related Web site access. The findings of the study contribute to an expanding understanding of the factors promoting Web usage and have important implications for the management of information systems.
Electronic Government in Switzerland
Authors: Poupa Christine
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents some reference points about institutions of direct democracy in Switzerland and electronic democracy in Switzerland. It will then focus on two projects: electronic voting and federal portal (virtual office).
Fables of the Reconstruction
Authors: Bimler David , Kirkland John
Published: May 2011

The ’60s and ’70s of the last century were effervescent with visions of a radical break between the past and the future. In their manifestos, Marshall McLuhan and the Situationist International (among others) foresaw a Global Village, a Society of Spectacle, post-literacy and nonlinear modes of consciousness evolving from mass media (e.g., Debord, 1977; McLuhan, 1964). More recently much of this rhetoric has been recycled, with similar claims made that contemporary communications and broadcast media (e-mail and the WWW) will lead to new paradigms, new business models, new economies. It remains to be seen whether current information technology will live up to these promises, or stay in a niche role, like shortwave radio or the Parisian pneumatic post. Examples of truly dead media are hard to find (Sterling, n.d.); even CB radio may retain a few adherents somewhere.
Value Webs
Authors: Selz Dorian , Klein Stefan
Published: May 2011

The new information infrastructure redefines the roles and relationships between buyer, seller, and middleman, allowing new ways of accessing and tapping information and price arrangements. Most importantly information about a product or service may be separated from the product or service itself. The chapter scrutinizes how companies are using these opportunities to establish networked retail businesses and generate customer value in innovative ways. We have tried to reconstruct a widespread interorganizational arrangement for product and service retailing on the Web, its antecedents, its challenges and its economic logic.
Neural Networks - Their Use and Abuse for Small Data Sets
Authors: Meyer Denny , Balemi Andrew , Wearing Chris
Published: May 2011

Neural networks are commonly used for prediction and classification when data sets are large. They have a big advantage over conventional statistical tools in that it is not necessary to assume any mathematical form for the functional relationship between the variables. However, they also have a few associated problems, chief of which are probably the risk of over-parametrization in the absence of P-values, the lack of appropriate diagnostic tools and the difficulties associated with model interpretation. These problems are particularly pertinent in the case of small data sets. This chapter investigates these problems from a statistical perspective in the context of typical market research data.
E-Learning Business Models
Authors: Seufert Sabine
Published: May 2011

According to several forecasts given by Gartner Group or International Data Corporation, for example, e-learning as a new buzzword for Web-based education and its commercialization seems to be a growing market in the digital economy. This case study will analyze this new and dynamic e-learning market and the corresponding changes on the education market. A framework of the different education models that have already developed on the e-learning market will be introduced and their benefits and risks discussed. Several cases demonstrate the new e-learning models in action. Therefore, this contribution consists of several smaller cases that can be used for getting an overview of the e-learning market and for a discussion about e-learning as a promising e-commerce application on the Internet.
Teacher-Designers
Authors: Rogers Patricia L.
Published: May 2011

If you are a practicing teacher at any level—primary, secondary, or higher education—you already know quite a lot about designing instruction. Your work, prior to teaching a course, includes finding out what your students already know when they walk into the first day of class and determining what knowledge you hope they will gain by the end of the course. You design activities that enhance their new knowledge and allow them to practice with it. You plan tests that help the students demonstrate their newfound understanding. Every time you teach the course, and even at some points during the course, you make changes based on “how things are going” and later on you think about “what happened” throughout the course. The next time you teach the course, it is (hopefully!) much improved. That is, in essence, exactly what instructional design is all about. But instructional design practices proceed from a more formal and systematic way of thinking about the teaching and learning process. Such systematic thinking helps designers focus on each component of the design process that ensures a successful design for learning.
A Neural Network Application to Identify High-Value Customers for a Large Retail Store in Japan
Authors: Ip Edward , Johnson Joseph , Yada Katsutoshi , Hamuro Yukinobu , Katoh Naoki , Cheung Stephane
Published: May 2011

The data mining activities studied in this chapter concern the early identification of potential high-value customers. Member stores can use this information to establish a close relationship with this select group of customers, thus reducing the chances of losing them. Traditionally, Japanese drugstore chains, unlike their American counterparts, have enjoyed close ties with their customers. For example, cash register clerks at Pharma stores may have substantial interactions with customers using online market research questionnaire forms. By closely monitoring the purchasing behavior of relatively new visitors to the store and applying data mining tools to pertinent data, the company can provide decision support to clerks and to the marketing department to aid in relationship building. For instance, sales campaign information, customized coupons, and free samples can be directly mailed to members of the targeted group or given to them at the checkout counter.
Theoretical Foundations for Enterprise Systems Technology Collaborations
Authors: LeRouge Cindy , Webb Harold W.
Published: May 2011

Industry/academic collaboration, involving the utilization of advanced information technologies (AITs), is an expanding phenomenon involving a substantial commitment of resources. This chapter presents a comprehensive framework for studying this phenomenon by extending adaptive structurization theory at the inter-institutional level. We suggest propositions, derived from the framework, to advance further research and to inform decision-making by stakeholders in industry/academic collaborations.
Electronic Commerce Opportunities, Challenges and Organizational Issues for Australian SMEs
Authors: Singh Mohini
Published: May 2011

Australian small businesses are increasingly adopting the Internet and the World Wide Web as a medium of doing business to reach new customers and suppliers, cut costs and expand business. They also use it to enhance communication between buyers and suppliers. This chapter discusses the findings of an exploratory study in Australia that identified the objectives, opportunities and challenges of e-commerce experienced by small businesses that were mostly early adopters of the Internet as a medium of trade. E-commerce issues presented in this chapter include research findings, supported by theory from literature. Electronic commerce opportunities, challenges and organizational learning by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Australia indicate that small businesses have created value with e-commerce, although benefits are long term and dependent on a plethora of technological, business and management issues that need to be addressed. Due to the fast-evolving nature of e-business and technological developments that are new to many small businesses, challenges such as managing the expanded flow of information, cross-border taxation, authentication, trust and security, as well as the high costs of acquiring the required technologies and skills, are prevalent. Other challenges of e-commerce range from Web site maintenance to business process re-engineering for an integrated environment. Research findings also highlight the fact that small businesses need formal methods of evaluating the performance of e-commerce to realize the benefits of investment and to further expand their e-commerce venture.
Database Integrity
Authors: Rivero Laura C. , Doorn Jorge H. , Ferraggine Viviana E.
Published: May 2011

In Part I, this chapter surveys the state of the art of the semantic integrity constraints in some relational and object relational available database systems. In Part II, it also provides an overview of the SQL standard integrity issues and describes semantic integrity support in the following DBMSs: Oracle, IBM DB2, Informix, Sybase and PostgreSQL. The major differences and similarities among these systems are analyzed in relation to the definition, semantics and fidelity to the SQL standard prescriptions.
Integrity Maintenance In Extensible Databases
Authors: Schiel Ulrich
Published: May 2011

The use of databases for advanced applications is a rapidly growing and changing field, due to the continuous incorporation of new technologies and media in current systems. Whereas in the near past Database Management Systems (DBMS) mainly use to store and manage tabular data, now they need to model complex structured objects, multimedia data, semi-structured and unstructured documents. Each of these improvements has its own semantics and complexity. In order to allow an adequate description of database applications, data models are used to describe the conceptual schema of the database. If new categories of applications need to be incorporated or created, and the data model does not fit well with these applications, the model itself must be expanded. The semantics of the new constructs must be defined and the integrity of objects in the new constructs must be guaranteed.
Knowledge Management–the Second Generation
Authors: Ahonen Heli , Engeström Yrjö , Virkkunen Jaakko
Published: May 2011

Knowledge management is in transition. The first theories of knowledge management used the knowledge-carrying individual as the unit of analysis and defined knowledge in terms of discrete skills that can be codified and measured. The key idea of the second-generation theories is that knowledge is embedded in and becomes constructed in collective practices. The challenge is to support the generation of new knowledge and competencies. In this chapter, we will develop further the second-generation competencemanagement ideas by applying cultural historical activity theory. We will present a new method, the Competence Laboratory, and report the results of its pilot use in a telephone company. With this method, a team of technicians managed to create new forms of joint learning and expand its network of cooperation for learning.
Petri Nets with Clocks for the Analytical Validation of Business Process
Authors: Vilallonga Gabriel , Riesco Daniel , Montejano Germán , Uzal Roberto
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces a theoretical frame for the Process Definition (PD) validation in Workflow or in those processes with temporal restrictions. The Interface 1 of Workflow makes the PD of the Work Flow Reference Model. This interface combined with Petri Nets with Clocks (PNwC) allows the formalization and verification of systems, based on the Petri Net theory and the extension. This extension allows the specification of temporal requirements via clocks specification, using temporal invariants for the places and temporal conditions in the transitions.
Ontology Frames for IT Courseware Representation
Authors: Abramowicz Witold , Kowalkiewicz Marek , Zawadzki Piotr
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces topic maps and skill maps technologies as a framework for storing courseware and relevant user profiles. It is a result of research being conducted on creating a knowledge exchange platform for the corporate environment. It briefly describes topic maps and skill maps – a new concept developed by the authors. It then proposes applying ontology frames to latter technologies. The proposition is followed by specification of a proposed solution. This solution is used in the Knowledge e-Marketplace for a Courseware Distribution project that is being developed at The Poznan University of Economics, Poland. The project’s target is to integrate traditional e-Marketplace with topic map technology and to introduce a new technology – skill maps – for representing an individual employee’s knowledge. There is a need to create common ontology frames for topic maps and skill maps in order to coherently represent knowledge and knowledge profiles.
The Use of Action Research in the Improvement of Communication in a Community of Practice
Authors: Sarmento Anabela , Batista João , Cardoso Leonor , Lousa Mário , Babo Rosalina , Rebelo Teresa
Published: May 2011

Research projects conducted under the action research approach are expected to present a dual contribution: to solve real problems and to add some new knowledge. This chapter introduces a case in which the researcher and the research client are the same entity. The research question and the problem to be solved concern communication in communities of practice using information technology. A description of the community of practice under study is provided, as well as the action research approach and the research cycles concluded. Results concerning the research question, the problem under resolution and the ethical question (researcher and research client being the same entity) are discussed. The evaluation of the results leads to the main conclusion that the action research approach is helpful for both learning processes and problem solving, even when the researcher and the research client are the same entity.
Making the Case for Case-Based Learning in Computer Information Systems
Authors: Jennings Morgan M. , Mawhinney Charles H. , Fustos Janos
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, we report the results of a study comparing current student’s perceptions of computer information systems with student’s perceptions of 12 years past. We found that students continue to prefer more interaction than they perceive an IS career to provide. Given this we (1) report on some programs available in high schools to interest students in a CIS career and (2) discuss case or problem-based learning as a means to provide students with the interaction they desire and show them that it is an integral part of a CIS career.
Analysis of Learner Performance on a Tutoring System for Java
Authors: Emurian Henry H. , Wang Jingli , Durham Ashely G.
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents a teaching methodology, programmed instruction, that provides a series of interactive and cumulative learning experiences that teach a student how to understand and write a simple Java Applet. Fine-grain performance records of three students’ interactions with the tutoring system show the individual patterns of skill acquisition and retention over five successive observational occasions. The tutoring system is also used as the first technical exercise in a course entitled “Graphical User Interface Systems Using Java.” Performance and self-reported ratings of programming confidence by 17 graduate students show the benefit of programmed instruction to generate a history of competency and confidence in all students. The positive initial experience prepares and motivates information systems students for the presentation and mastery of advanced programming techniques.
The TCP/IP Game
Authors: Pendegraft Norman
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes a simulation game used to help students understand the operation of TCP/IP. In the game, students play various layers of TCP/IP on several machines and collaborate to transmit a message from one application to another. The game is used in a telecommunications management course taken primarily by MIS majors at the senior level. The game consumes about 1 hour, and anecdotal evidence suggests that it is helpful to the students.
The Internet Applications and Business
Authors: Targowski Andrew
Published: May 2011

The Internet Economy is an ecosystem of producing, distributing, and consuming wealth. This ecosystem is made up of companies directly generating all or some part of their revenues from Internet or Internet-related products and services. The economy includes not only “high-tech” companies but any company that generates revenue from the Internet.
A Model-Driven Approach for Synchronous Dynamic Collaborative E-Learning
Authors: Baudin Véronique , Drira Khalil , Villemur Thierry , Tazi Saïd
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes a recent experience in the development of a model-driven approach. We present architecture foundations, model features, implementation characteristics and assessment scenarios. A graph-based collaboration model has been proposed to represent the structure of synchronous groups, with their dynamic evolving. The model is used to define an advanced and distributed e-learning scenario involving three types of users: teachers, students and coordinators. Work of the synchronous group is supported by the PLATINE software platform composed of a multipoint videoconference, an application-sharing tool, a shared whiteboard and a session manager, developed in JAVA. The high-level scenario has been instantiated and tested in relation with two experiments: the first one related to a Cyberlicence training, the second to professional training.
Knowledge Spaces
Authors: Strauss Wolfgang , Fleischmann Monika , Denzinger Jochen , Wolf Michael , Li Yinlin
Published: May 2011

Research into the opportunities offered by electronic media, as regards finding and acquiring knowledge, together with the development of new teaching and learning methods for the field of art and culture is the focus of the work being carried out by the Media Arts Research Studies (MARS) research group at the Fraunhofer Institute for Media Communication. This chapter illustrates the requirements on electronic and digital media concepts in the context of e-learning, using the very latest developments and experience in this sector as examples. In the broadest sense, the aim is to visualise information and create networked “knowledge spaces” which are accessible to users as new forms of teaching and learning through play. Experimental methods, tools and interfaces that support communication between the digital and physical spaces and investigate new forms of knowledge retrieval are being developed and tested.
A Framework for the Selection of ERP Packages for Small to Medium and Large Organizations
Authors: Bernroider Edward W.N. , Koch Stefan
Published: May 2011

In this chapter we focus on the early stage of evaluating and selecting an ERP system prior to implementation. Only a part of decision making for ERP systems can be handled by a definite or accepted procedure such as standard investment calculations. There are many other intangible decision-making criteria needing to be judged and evaluated by the decision makers. There is no agreed-upon and formal procedure for this important task (Hecht 1997; Laudon & Laudon, 1998). Therefore it seems necessary to investigate decision-making practices to increase the understanding of this complex and important task. We also focus on the decision-making situation faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This is of particular importance because SMEs are more and more experiencing the need for integration, especially for interorganizational integration, and expecting ERP software to fulfill these needs. The availability of relatively inexpensive hardware is fostering this situation (Gable & Stewart, 1999). In general, decision making in SMEs features much greater constraints on the ability to gather information in order to reduce uncertainty about their investment (Cobham, 2000). Considering ERP software decisions with its complex and far-reaching implications, poor decision making by SMEs can result in disastrous situations.
Effective Use of External Expertise in Enterprise Systems
Authors: Burns O. Maxie
Published: May 2011

Enterprise systems (ES) are large, complex highly integrated information systems designed to meet the information needs of the organization. Limited research has been conducted on the use of external expertise in information systems and virtually none as it applies to enterprise systems. This paper addresses the issues associated with the use of external expertise in enterprise systems. It looks at the ES implementation life cycle and identifies where in the implementation process external experts are utilized and what roles they fulfill in the implementation project. The paper concludes with a New Zealand case experience illustrating the use of external experts in a major enterprise systems implementation.
Cognition Research Basis for Instructional Multimedia
Authors: Tuovinen Juhani E.
Published: May 2011

The work described in this chapter is a synthesis of recent instructional cognition research implications for fundamental educational multimedia theory. Most of the research described here has been conducted in the Cognitive Load Theory context. The leading research group in this area is located at the University of New South Wales, in Sydney, Australia, and a complementary cognition research program is based at the Open University of Netherlands. The work emanating from these groups and allied efforts elsewhere has significant implications for multimedia use in various educational contexts. In this chapter the structure of human cognitive architecture will be described from an information processing perspective. Then the cognitive load theory will be introduced. The implications of multimodal experiments for multimedia instruction will be derived in the cognitive load theory context. The interaction of multimodal instruction and material complexity or element interactivity plus prior knowledge will be considered. Then the research on the instructional effects of moving images and sound will be discussed from a cognitive perspective. Methods for alleviating the visual search on complex multimedia screens employing focusing or linking strategies will be described. Guidelines for the effective design and use of educational multimedia in a global context will be noted in each section. Finally general issues of future research interest will be discussed. The objectives of this chapter are to suggest a theoretical foundation for multimodal multimedia instruction, and to distil from the relevant cognition research a number of practical implications for educational multimedia planning, design and use.
Computer Mediated Communication in Universities and Further Education Establishments
Authors: Coakes Elayne , Willis Dianne
Published: May 2011

This paper investigates the use of computer mediated communication (CMC) in colleges of further and higher education in the UK. Analysis is carried out by institutional type as preliminary investigation shows there are considerable differences between universities and colleges in terms of email usage. A total of 30 institutions replied to the survey: 14 Universities and 16 Colleges, some by email, others by post. This percentage is approximately 6.5% of all universities in the UK and 7% of all colleges. Whilst not a large percentage in total the results were so consistent across the sectors’ replies that they can be considered sufficiently representative of their sector. The study focuses on the use of email in support of the communication process and offers insights into the range of practice involved.
Applying Erlang Distribution for Software Size Estimation
Authors: Cheung Derek F.W. , Tsoi Ho-Leung
Published: May 2011

The Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) model is one of the most popular methods for estimating software size and, sometimes, development effort. It mainly relies on expert judgment to estimate the ultimate size of a project. However, the basic assumption of this technique may be incorrect. The issue addressed in this paper concerns the weakness of the PERT model and proposes applying Erlang distribution to tackle this problem. An example has been included to show the effectiveness of this new model.
Trajectories and Strategies in Global Software Outsourcing Relationships
Authors: Heeks Richard , Krishna S. , Nicholson Brian , Sahay Sundeep
Published: May 2011

Global software outsourcing (GSO) is the outsourcing of software development to sub-contractors outside the client organisation’s home country. India remains the unquestioned leader, registering average annual growth of more than 40% over the last decade and developing some US$3.6bn-worth of software for foreign clients in 1999/2000 (Heeks, 2000). Advice for potential GSO clients counsels starting small, starting at home, and starting with programmers (McFarlan, 1996). Many client organisations have followed this advice, putting a toe into the GSO waters through small-scale body shopping: for example, having Indian sub-contractor staff come over to the client site to complete a minor, non-critical piece of coding/conversion work.
A Web-Based Data Warehouse Planning - A Large-Scale Project Management Information System in Taiwan
Authors: Seng Jia-Lang
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes a data warehouse planning project to develop a large-scale management information system for a Taiwan government agency in managing a nationwide multi-billion science and technology project management and control process. The planning and consulting period lasted through the time period of 1997 and 1998. The outsourcing and implementation tasks are expected to continue through 2000. In this chapter, we present the framework and model of the data warehouses developed by the committee during the planning and consulting stage. Our focus is on the data design and module design for a multi-dimensional database system. The data design aims to provide an integral model for the internal and external data sources. A core view of the multi-dimensional database is developed. The module design attempts to give an analytic model of the field, division, project, and agent performance along the dimension hierarchies. Actual versus budget and actual versus forecast analysis along with the time series analysis and ad hoc analysis are supported in the systems.
An Adaptive Probe-Based Technique to Optimize Join Queries in Distributed Internet Databases
Authors: Khan Latifur , McLeod Dennis , Shahabi Cyrus
Published: May 2011

An adaptive probe-based optimization technique is developed and demonstrated in the context of an Internet-based distributed database environment. More and more common are database systems, which are distributed across servers communicating via the Internet where a query at a given site might require data from remote sites. Optimizing the response time of such queries is a challenging task due to the unpredictability of server performance and network traffic at the time of data shipment; this may result in the selection of an expensive query plan using a static query optimizer. We constructed an experimental setup consisting of two servers running the same DBMS connected via the Internet. Concentrating on join queries, we demonstrate how a static query optimizer might choose an expensive plan by mistake. This is due to the lack of a priori knowledge of the run-time environment, inaccurate statistical assumptions in size estimation, and neglecting the cost of remote method invocation. These shortcomings are addressed collectively by proposing a probing mechanism. Furthermore, we extend our mechanism with an adaptive technique that detects sub-optimality of a plan during query execution and attempts to switch to the cheapest plan while avoiding redundant work and imposing little overhead. An implementation of our run-time optimization technique for join queries was constructed in the Java language and incorporated into an experimental setup. The results demonstrate the superiority of our probe-based optimization over a static optimization.
Some Internet and E-Commerce Legal Perspectives Impacting the End User
Authors: Mykytyn Jr. Peter P.
Published: May 2011

Not too many years ago, hardly anyone had heard the terms “Web browser,” “Web,” or “electronic commerce.” Today, the World Wide Web, often referred to as simply the Web and as the Internet, offers almost limitless opportunities for end users to do research, obtain comparative information on different products or services, and conduct business online. Many users today, for example, have experienced the opportunity to visit competing web travel sites, e.g., Travelocity.com and Expedia.com, to price airline fares, obtain car rental information, and make a hotel reservation. More often than not, it seems, end users are also intrigued by the fact that prices for the same flight or car are not necessarily the same at the sites searched; in a way, users have become much more savvy in their selection of products and services. In general, end users can become much more efficient and effective as they conduct business online, and both consumers and businesses can participate in unrestricted buying and selling. Consequently, the Web is changing the way businesses do business, and, of course, it is changing the way many end users conduct their business as well. Electronic commerce (e-commerce) mainly consists of business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) types of transactions. According to an e-commerce survey (Survey E-Commerce, 2000) B2B transactions accounted for 80% of all e-commerce and added up to $150 billion in 1999. Further, B2C transactions in the US amounted to about $20 billion that same year. Although there continues to be a “shaking out” period involving dot.com organizations, questions and decisions about whether to develop Web-based storefronts along with the traditional brick and mortar outlets, e-commerce will most likely continue to expand. But while e-commerce grows, maintaining control over on-line transactions and business risks creates challenges that may not be apparent to unsophisticated end users. One of these challenges pertains to the various and assorted legal issues that confront end users as well as the e-commerce businesses where end users shop. Whether buying or selling on the Web or even just establishing one’s home page, legal issues, in addition to providing protection, can also present pitfalls to the unwary. This paper discusses briefly two of the legal issues that can confront today’s end users as they do business over the Web. They are matters dealing with contract law and jurisdictional questions.
The Government "Downunder" Attempts to Censor the Net
Authors: Sandy Geoffrey A.
Published: May 2011

In western tradition information ethics has its origins in Athenian democracy. It was characterised by an oral culture and freedom of speech. Later, after a great struggle, freedom of written expression was added. In this age of electronic networks freedom of access to the Internet must be added. Currently, this freedom is under sustained attack worldwide. The Australian Government has joined this attack with the passage of the “Broadcasting Services Amendment (Online Services) Bill 1999. The legislative purpose is to regulate access to content that is offensive to a “reasonable adult” and unsuitable for children. This chapter reports the results of an analysis of the primary sources regarding the Bill. Specifically, it reports on the important issues that were addressed in the parliamentary hearings and debates. It also comments on the success of the legislation after 8 months of operation. Documentation of the Australian experience should inform other countries that are currently attempting to understand and resolve these complex issues, or for those who will attempt to do so in the future.
Faculty of Information Studies Knowledge Repository (FISKR)
Authors: Qayyum M. Asim , Oxford Gerry , Lee Sungin , Tyson Laryssa , Choo Chun Wei
Published: May 2011

Knowledge repositories are increasingly being viewed as a special form of knowledge management (KM) in organizational memory information systems (OMIS). Presented in this chapter is the prototype of a knowledge repository which is envisaged to be an electronic repository of online pedagogical resources and is designed and implemented as a web-based software system, built to help foster a learning organization that works together to gather and share knowledge. This heterogeneous repository stores resources or pointers to resources of many different kinds including, but not limited to, electronic or printed material, courses, slide presentations, videos, or any other resource that is relevant to the subject matter. These resources can then be retrieved in a number of different ways such as subject taxonomies, reading or bibliographic list and can be viewed in a Web browser as simple web pages.
Digitization as Adaptation
Authors: Wyman Steven K. , McFarland Verne
Published: May 2011

In 1994, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund Program began to develop a paper imaging system known as the Superfund Document Management System (SDMS). SDMS came into being as an attempt to improve management of and access to Agency records. An Agency workgroup composed primarily of Superfund records managers developed functional criteria for the application, and elected an Agency regional office for implementation pilot. At the time of this writing all EPA Superfund regional offices have implemented SDMS. For reasons described in this chapter, even as SDMS achieved institutional acceptance it faced pressures to adapt to internal and external pressures. The emergence of the World Wide Web, the inevitability of electronic records, the rising costs of maintaining large paper collections all combined to produce a niche different in key aspects from that which the system was originally designed to occupy. This chapter discusses how the interactions of two life cycles — records and systems development — affected the fitness of the system to its environment.
Knowledge Management and Virtual Communities
Authors: Jansen W. , Steenbakkers G. C.A. , Jagers H. P.M.
Published: May 2011

The objective of this article is to illuminate the relation between knowledge management and virtual communities. A model which comprises four types of knowledge management is presented. A central theme in this article is the suggestion that knowledge management is not an unequivocal concept. Generalized knowledge management strategies do not enable managers and consultants to form an opinion on the effectiveness of virtual communities for their organization or network. Depending on the environment of the organization, the knowledge management will differ in focus and content. In this collaboration there will (and should) be more attention for virtual communities and the most effective type of these communities in the given situation.
The IT Evaluation and Benefits Management Life Cycle
Authors: McKay Judy , Marshall Peter
Published: May 2011

It appears that somewhat of a dichotomy exists in many contemporary organisations with respect to the question of investment in information and particularly in information technology (IT). On the one hand, discussions of the new information-based economy and the promise of the new e-business domain leads inevitably to enormous faith being placed in IT, or perhaps more accurately, on the critical, appropriate utilisation of IT to deliver business benefits. Such faith is illustrated by quotes such as: “Across all industries, information and the technology that delivers it have become critical, strategic assets for business firms and their managers” (Laudon and Laudon, 2000). But such enthusiasm is tempered by another view or concern that IT is not delivering on its promises, that it is “oversold and undelivered” (Earl, 1994), and that demonstrating the business value of IT investment is difficult in many instances. This concern that managers do not perceive that they are deriving value for money when it comes to IT investments is troubling when information and IT are often presented as the very backbone of the new economy. Such cynicism is reflected in quotes such as: “There are many different ways to ruin a company. Speculation is the fastest, IT is the most reliable” (Kempis et al., 1999).
An Information System for Monitoring of Power Quality Disturbances
Authors: Huang J. S. , Negnevitsky M. , Nguyen N. T.
Published: May 2011

The paper presents a neural-fuzzy-technique-based classifier for pattern recognition problems with uncertain distributions. Neural networks in the architecture of Frequency Sensitive Competitive Learning and Learning Vector Quantization are first employed to evaluate the decision boundaries separating different patterns to be classified. To deal with the uncertainties of the involved recognition problems, however, the output of the neural networks is used to activate a fuzzy-associative-memory rule-base to accomplish the classification, instead of being taken directly as the final identification. With the Internet and the developed classifiers, an information system can be built up for power quality monitoring over whole power networks.
Advanced Ad Hoc Star Query Processing
Authors: Karayannidis Nikos , Tsois Aris , Sellis Timos
Published: May 2011

Star queries are the most prevalent kind of queries in data warehousing, OLAP and business intelligence applications. Thus, there is an imperative need for efficiently processing star queries. To this end, a new class of fact table organizations has emerged that exploits path-based surrogate keys in order to hierarchically cluster the fact table data of a star schema. In the context of these new organizations, star query processing changes radically. In this chapter, we present a complete abstract processing plan that captures all the necessary steps in evaluating such queries over hierarchically clustered fact tables. Furthermore, we realize the abstract operations in terms of physical operations over the CUBE File data structure. Finally we discuss star query optimization issues over the presented abstract plan.
Angola LNG Nearshore Pipeline Bundle Pull Construction and Installation
Authors: Warren Lee Michael , Pelloux Dominique , Semel Francois , Wallerand Regis
Published: May 2011

This paper describes the construction and installation of a 932m long bundled submarine pipeline system to make the connection between the onshore pipeline and the nearshore pipeline sections of the Angola LNG project. The bundle consisted of three separate heavy-walled, concrete coated pipes, 18??, 22??, and 24?? connected together which were pulled from on onshore stringing right-of-way, down an excavated slope and through a 12m wide excavated cofferdam and into the ocean. The pulling was done by a 300mT linear winch secured to a cargo barge located 1.2km offshore. All three pipelines are part of the Sonangol offshore pipeline network and will initially deliver feed gas to the Angola LNG plant located in Soyo, Angola. The pipeline network will be operated by Sociedade De Operações & Manutenção de Gasodutos S.A. (SOMG).

The construction of the bundle is discussed as well as the installation engineering challenges of pulling the bundle.

Introduction

There are numerous options when it comes to installing pipelines at a landfall site. These options were made available during the FEED study, but careful consideration had to be given to the engineering and financial feasibility of these options. One of the main considerations for the Angola LNG project is how the tie-in would be performed offshore in very shallow water with a pipelay vessel inside a dredged channel. As such, it was decided that the pipelines would be built onshore on a right-of-way allocated by the company, and the pipelines would be pulled into the water using a 300mT linear winch secured to a cargo barge moored offshore.

Once a bundled pipeline philosophy was decided upon many installation challenges arose to install the heavy concrete coated pipelines. There was a large amount of excavation and earth work to be completed for the landfall, a cofferdam had to be built and excavated, and a dredged channel had to be constructed for the pipelines to be laid in and later backfilled. An enormous challenge was to build the pipeline strings long enough on the allocated right-of-way to allow a pipelay vessel to safely come as close as possible within the dredged trench to recover each individual line and be laid to its respective block offshore. Environmental conditions had to be mitigated as there were extreme amounts of erosion and sedimentation in the area as well as large bottom currents which threatened the on-bottom stability of the bundle. Finally, as the three pipelines belonged to three separate operators, there was a client requirement to have 3m separation between the pipelines, centerline to centerline, which made the bundle nearly 7m wide. To maintain the 3m separation, clamped spacers were positioned every 300m along the bundle.