bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Issues in Implementing CRM: A Case Study
Authors: Da Silva Rui , Rahimi Ilan
Published: October 2017

In recent years several large organizations in Israel implemented CRM systems in order to increase efficiency. The difficulties managers and decision makers in all fields of business have to face are great as there is no one 'fixed formula' to guarantee the success of such a maneuver. However, there is a set of guidelines that can assure the road to success of such a change when one wishes to implement an ERP system. Holland and Light's (1999) CSF model that was designed to ensure successful ERP implementation is at the heart of the present paper. They present tactical and strategic processes to ease such a process. This paper shall focus on two of the following issues: First the paper will examine whether it is possible to extend the Holland and Light model and make it suitable to CRM implementation, and second, it will review the modifications that the model must undergo in order to achieve this objective. Twenty companies of various industrial fields that implemented CRM were reviewed. The paper presents the case study of three of these companies. The analysis of the interviews and survey that is currently being processed in Israel will be presented at the conference.
The Impact of Web-Based Middleware Systems on Training and Assessment through In-House Develop System
Authors: Dehinbo Johnson
Published: October 2017

This study is aimed at determining the impact that web-based middleware systems can imprint in enhancing learning and assessment. Representative samples of students attending introductory computer classes at the Technikon, were assessed to determine the level of their knowledge and use of the Internet. Very few of them demonstrate high Internet knowledge and awareness. Over 80% indicate willingness to surf the web more, if there is a compelling situation that forces or encourages them. One group of students, were given assignments and tests throughout the semester via the on-line system developed, and were subsequently reassessed at the end of the semester. The result showed dramatic improvement in the level of their knowledge and use of the Internet as well as increased speed of carrying out assigned tasks on the Internet. The study concludes there is a huge impact that web-based middleware can imprint in enhancing learning even in contact institutions.
Guiding Students Learning Project Team Management from Their Own Practice
Authors: Guo Wanwu
Published: October 2017

Project development is scheduled in the final year study of undergraduate students in computer science, software engineering, information technology, and other relevant programs. This final project provides students an opportunity to integrate all the skills and knowledge learnt from their previous studies into real practice. Experience in supervising student projects shows that student’s ability in working collaboratively in a teamwork environment is the most influential factor on the quality of a student project. However, managing a student project team is significantly different from managing a real project in a workplace. This paper reports the practice of guiding students handling internal collaboration in a team environment during IT project development. Firstly, a practical guideline in dealing with human incompatibility in a project team is introduced to students in the beginning of their project development. During the course, when an event occurs, except in some extreme circumstances, the supervisor only gives students advice on all the possible solutions and their corresponding consequences according to the nature of the event. It is the students in the project team who make the final decision on which action they should take on resolving the problem encountered. This gives students more responsibility in managing their own project team, from which students will learn much more in handling human-related issues effectively than from textbooks. The case studies presented in this paper show that this approach is useful.
Organisational Paradigms and Network Centric Organisations
Authors: Ali Irena , Warne Leoni , Bopping Derek , Hart Dennis , Pascoe Celina
Published: October 2017

Many organizations grapple with uncertainty and vagaries of economic and political climate. A number of companies attained dramatic competitive advantages in their fields by creating comprehensive, complex communication and information networks. These companies, facilitated by the increasing efficiencies and speed of information technology, remained flexible and adaptable to change by working in a network centric way. Much of the network centric (NC) related work done to date has been mainly in the technological domain. This paper focuses on the human and organizational factors that need to be considered to make the most of the future network centric warfare (NCW) and enable future warfighters to deal with war, peace, terrorism and overall uncertainty. Particular focus is placed on the issues that individuals and groups face in the NC environment. Such issues include: organizational culture, cognitive demands, and knowledge mobilization and learning.
A Beginning Specification of a Model for Evaluating Learning Outcomes Grounded in Java Programming Courses
Authors: Joseph Skovira Robert
Published: October 2017

The essay discusses the development of a way of doing learning outcomes assessment for Java programming courses. It presents a tentative model for doing learning evaluation utilizing a report mechanism. The essay presents the opinion that this report is framed by the explicit and implicit learning outcomes assessment models found in a course’s description and objectives and in the Object-Oriented paradigm. The paper discusses the report instrument as a way fulfilling the set of evaluative categories of the models presented by a course syllabus.
Degrading Grades - Do Graduate Grades Provide a Useful Guide to Potential ICT Employers?
Authors: Richardson Tony
Published: October 2017

Over the past decade, the New Zealand government has instituted radical changes to the tertiary sector financial infrastructure. As their traditional benchmarks of student ability and aptitude have been eroded, the consequences for employers and their recruiting practices have been largely ignored. This paper examines the reasons for this erosion and points to factors that have influenced the decline, particularly in the notion that grades are a real indicator of aptitude.
Integrating Sun Certification Objectives into an IS Programming Course
Authors: Al-Rawi Akram , Lansari Azzedine , Bouslama Faouzi
Published: October 2017

Information Systems Colleges are facing numerous challenges to develop and keep their curriculum current. Including certification objectives in IS courses give IS colleges the edge needed to remain competitive. Java, a modern object oriented programming language, has become a critical component of IS curricula because of its platform independence. This paper shows how to integrate objectives of the Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 certification into a programming course. Current Java textbooks emphasize problem-solving concepts and do not cover certification objectives. After careful review of numerous textbooks, a textbook is selected to maximize coverage of the course and certification objectives. A detailed master syllabus is developed to optimize coverage of the certification objectives while maintaining consistency of the course. Upon completion of the course, students have the knowledge to take the certification exam and can demonstrate to employers that they have mastered the necessary skills to be productive.
The Peer Reviews and the Programming Course
Authors: Gill Grandon
Published: October 2017

What would happen if a typical computer programming course were submitted for peer review by a research journal? Using a format inspired by typical peer reviews, issues relating to rigor, relevance and course design are raised. In these fictional reviews, weaknesses of the traditional “lecture and test” approach to teaching are identified in all three areas and it is argued that such weaknesses may be inherent to that design—particularly in teaching skill based courses. An alternative approach, whose inspiration is the techniques employed in U.S. submarine qualification, is the proposed and some initial results of teaching such a course are presented.
A Doctorate Degree Program in Information Systems of a Kind
Authors: Kohun Frederick , Ali Azad
Published: October 2017

This paper discusses the design characteristics of a doctoral program in information systems at a university located in Western Pennsylvania. The program design includes unique characteristics that are intended to minimize the attrition rate among the students enrolled. The paper begins by discussing baseline statistics and reasons for attrition rates in doctoral programs. The focus thereafter is an overview of computer related doctoral programs that offer doctoral degrees in information systems. It concludes with a detailed description of the specific design attributes of the Doctor of Science program in Information Systems and Communications at Robert Morris University (RMU).
Analysis of Information Systems Management (post)-Graduate Program: Case Study of Faculty of Economics, University of Liubliana, Slovenia
Authors: Baloh Peter
Published: October 2017

Only a strong interaction of people, information and technology can improve business performance. The Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the new age has to be a ‘hybrid’ business and information systems manager who can play a major role in strategy formulation for effective use of information technology, who does not neglect the human side of the information equation, and who does not forget that information has to be managed like any other resource and thus puts the ‘I’ back in the ‘IT’. This leads to new aspects of what kind of competencies and skills a CIO, a ‘hybrid’ business and information systems manager, must have. In the paper a recently developed Information Systems Management under- and post-graduate curriculum is verified whether it sustains sufficient degree of relevancy to the needs of present-day business community. This analysis can serve as a guideline when building, revising and endorsing contemporary and relevant curricula for similar educational programs.
Customizing Instruction
Authors: Kurzel Frank
Published: October 2017

In this paper, we examine techniques employed to customize features within an information technology related leaning environment. Fine grained concepts form the basis of the system; these are initially configured hierarchically into sessions by the instructor to constitute a week’s worth of work. Tools however, exist to provide other forms of access. This constitutes a separation of the course’s knowledge and skill base from the instructional methodology pursued. A session for example, is an instructor driven grouping that has instructional significance. Other instructional objects or artifacts that play particular roles in a methodology can be specified. We examine a problem based scenario and contrast it with an expository form of delivery. Adaptive hypermedia techniques driven by student profiling, are employed to provide students with feedback on their status with particular concepts. Students have access to all course metadata through a range of tools, along with web based tools to scrutinize and access information stored about them. This also includes the formal assessment maintained for the course and any individual settings used by the environment.
Web Triad: the Impact of Web Portals on Quality of Institutions of Higher Education - Case Study of Faculty of Economics, University of Liubliana, Slovenia
Authors: Popovic Ales , Lindic Jaka , Indihar Stemberger Mojca , Jaklic Jurij
Published: October 2017

Institutions of higher education are just like other organizations forced to adapt to the rapidly changing environment that brings many new challenges. There are several obstacles in the way of introducing e-learning in these institutions. We can divide them into technology-based and culturally-based. Many benefits of e-learning such as cost-effectiveness, enhanced responsiveness to change, timely content, flexible accessibility, and providing value to the customer are not based only on use of high technology. We cannot expect that the use of advanced technology is enough to change the way we work as human beings. Technologic solutions in the form of portals have been known for several years. A recurring problem has become the efficiency and usefulness of these solutions. Integration of dispersed sources is not sufficient. Individual users should obtain information in a variety of ways, including in a personalized way. The paper will address the topic of using the Internet as a medium to achieve one of the primary goals of institutions in higher education; that is quality improvement. We will show the influence of the e-learning environment on achieving this goal. The model has also been tested in practice, at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Ljubljana. This case has also proved that cultural changes never take place over night.
Time and the Design of Web-Based Learning Environments
Authors: Wahlstedt Ari
Published: October 2017

For novice designers dealing with a mass of information, the initiation phase of design of a web-based learning environment can last much longer than for professional designers. A professional designer can with the help of experience surmount technological, cultural and social barriers that might prevent the design of a good learning environment. However, the time aspects of information, what is needed in design and information, what is used in learning, can result re-design and re-learning. From the designers’ perspective, we observe what information they use. We focus especially on analyzing how they understand the time aspect of learning. From the users’ perspective we discuss what time means to them in learning. The change in information happens in a certain period of time. We think that there should be more attention to this aspect in the design and propose hypothetical tools that might help filling the gap between design and use.
What Can You Do To Virtually Teach Hands-on Skills?
Authors: Fenrich Peter
Published: October 2017

What can you do to virtually teach the hands-on skills traditionally taught in labs? If you include simulations, active experimentation, discovery-learning techniques, numerous questions with detailed feedback, video, animations, and photographs, you can effectively teach practical hands-on skills through multimedia technology. Through discussion and demonstration, this session will highlight practical tips for implementing the instructional development cycle as well as uncommon but effective instructional design strategies for teaching practical skills. Some of the highlighted programs (such as a virtual chemistry lab) have pushed the boundaries of what can be accomplished with multimedia technology. By the end of this interactive session, participants (who can range from novices to experts) should be able to identify computer-based training applications that effectively use multimedia technology, generate examples of where new media technology can be appropriately used to virtually teach hands-on skills, and decide where to incorporate the strategies shown into their computer-based training productions.
The Effects of Reading Goals on Learning in a Computer Mediated Environment
Authors: Schoeller Betsy
Published: October 2017

This study measured the effects of reading goals on learning in a computer mediated environment. Reading goals are defined as the purpose one has for reading. Learning is defined as adding to one’s prior knowledge. A computer mediated environment is defined as reading text from a computer monitor. 125 undergraduates (77 females) were given one of three reading goals: read to understand the text, read to take a test, or read to teach the material to another student. Then the participants read a long (3000+ words) passage of text from a computer screen. A computer program written in Microsoft QuickBasic 4.5 (copyright by Microsoft) presented the text on the screen four lines at a time, and measured how long students spent on each page initially, how many times students re-read pages, and how much time students spent re-reading pages. Half of the participants read passages with headings, while the other half read passages without headings. Learning was measured in three ways: recall of the main topics and supporting details of the passage, time spent reading each page of text and time spent re-reading pages, and number of times pages were re-read. Recall of supporting details was significantly greater for the teaching goal than the testing goal. Time spent re-reading was significantly greater for the teaching goal. Students with the knowing goal recalled significantly more supporting details than students with the testing goal. These findings suggest that reading goals do have an effect on learning in a computer mediated environment.
An Overview: Approaches for the Development of Basic IT Skills
Authors: Jafar Naqvi Syed
Published: October 2017

There is a growing importance of computerization, information flow and the tremendous use of Information Technology (IT) in all the fields including business, education, government and medicine. The significant improvements in IT continue to occur at an ever-increasing pace. The speed, size, cost, and capabilities associated with computers and telecommunications provide a wealth of highly attractive opportunities for using this technology to help solve business problems or enhance current ways of doing business. There is a general recognition that students in secondary, further and higher education need to acquire IT skills that match the IT needs of the contemporary businesses. The major focus of this investigation concerns the development of IT skills among new entrants to the institute of higher learning to meet the changing needs of IT, especially in the businesses environment. Traditionally, the introductions to IT courses offered in the past were through the programming languages. There seems to be a trend to acquire IT skills moving away from programming and getting skills through off-the- shelf software packages. There are many reasons for this, including the availability of powerful and user-friendly software, such as word processing, databases and spreadsheets, which have raised the level of expectations in the use of IT for business and removed the need to learn to write computer programs in a traditional block structure language. If the software packages are considered, then the obvious question, “What should be the order of their presentation in a basic IT course?” emerges. The popularity of the Internet and its use in the business environment has made it necessary be included in the introduction to computers course. This paper explores several possible approaches for the acquisition of basic IT skills among new IT enthusiasts and proposes an Information Systems Approach for the acquisition of basic IT skills used in business.
System Analysis Education Using Simulated Case Studies
Authors: Davey Bill , Kelly David
Published: October 2017

Transfer of learning can be demonstrated by assessment tasks mirroring real life situations. This can be attempted in real organisations, or by simulating the real, life experience in a structured case study. In this paper we discuss experiences with work situated learning and difficulties that commonly arise. The alternative of encapsulating real life experience in hypermedia based materials is then presented using a number of case studies. Finally a model is presented for producing these “real life” encapsulations which overcomes the problems of lack of structure in individual experience without losing the advantages of common lifelike experiences. Some testing of the model is presented. The model involves the steps of: • Determine real life skills commonly required • Imagine a context rich enough (and having the case study design team with enough knowledge of the context that they can draw from their experience to fill in the holes) • Structure (partition) the case so that team work is possible without too much overlap between tasks. Identify the overlapping points that will force the level of teamwork between students that is intended • Identify parts of the solution development where students can be synchronised using a published solution to part of the problem • Create answers for each skill point starting from the top • Tag each part of the answer with the essential component of information required for an answer • Determine the most likely format that the tagged information would be found in real life • Create the set of tagged information using unskilled labour to provide detailed data • Write the project brief so that an appropriate level of guidance is given for navigating the information sources
Automatically Generating Questions in Multiple Variables for Intelligent Tutoring
Authors: Li Tao , Sambasivam Samuel
Published: October 2017

In our previous research, we investigated the automatic generation of questions with single variable and the application to computer architecture teaching. In the current research, we extend the previous approach to generating questions with multiple variables on Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) knowledge structures. Questions generated with the new algorithm are more complex and require more mathematical skills to solve. The algorithms can be applied to any discipline for which the conceptual and analytical knowledge can be represented by a DAG.
Alternative Instructional Strategies in an IS Curriculum
Authors: Parker Kevin , LeRouge Cynthia , Trimmer Ken
Published: October 2017

Systems Analysis and Design is a core component of an education in information systems. To appeal to a wider range of constituents and facilitate the learning process, the content of a traditional Systems Analysis and Design course has been supplemented with an alternative modeling approach. This paper presents an instructional design that incorporates a model from accounting literature (REA) with traditional Systems Analysis and Design methods in introducing the topic of data modeling. Detailed instructions for deriving data elements and relationships are presented. Feedback from students indicates increased satisfaction with the learning process and retention of material.
Use of a Class Exercise to Maximize Student Interest in an Introductory MIS Course
Authors: Mukherjee Arup
Published: October 2017

Students majoring in the College of Business at this University are required to take a course in information systems fundamentals as part of their business core. While it is easy for a faculty member to cover the necessary topics, it has been this instructor’s experience that it is considerably difficult for students to see the importance and relevance of a study of information systems for success in a business career. A class exercise has been developed and used successfully to provide students with a better understanding of the importance and relevance of a study of information systems. Students get a good understanding of the need for study of applications of information technology in improving business operations and solving business problems. The class exercise appears to be quite effective in helping students gain a higher level of interest in the study of information systems. Student evaluations suggest that the instructor was successful in stimulating a higher level of interest in the course.
And What of Intellectual Landscapes in the Future?
Authors: P. McCarthy James
Published: October 2017

The world of librarianship has undergone a sea change in its understanding of itself and of its role as a contributor to scholarship, teaching and learning during the past twenty years. It now seems poised to facilitate the opening of new vistas on future knowledge access and interpretation. It has become a leading force in the evolution of new intellectual landscapes while at the same time becoming ever more conscious of its traditional custodial role in preserving the media of knowledge transmission. There are so many facets of change taking place, so much research, so many reports, so many scholars and so many commercial companies contributing to create the knowledge society; a knowledge economy. So much of the language and culture of the knowledge society is derived from the world of commerce. Its evolution seems to be more and more market driven. But what might happen if knowledge was no longer the focus of the marketplace? Would production cease? This paper speculates about such a future and the knowledge landscape which might emerge.
Design, Development and Deployment Considerations when Applying Native XML Database Technology to the Programme Management Function of an SME
Authors: Sambasivam Samuel , Storey Paul
Published: October 2017

This paper explores the design and development considerations inherent in the production and deployment of a web-based programme management coordination tool (PMCT) that has been built on a native XML database (NXD). In selecting a small to medium sized enterprise (SME) as a target, specific problems had to be addressed. These practical issues are highlighted along with assessments and analysis of the suitability of the NXD chosen for the function. The paper offers suggestions relating to the cause and effect of underlying trends currently affecting SME’s within the telecommunications sector, and it shows how the management tools and the technologies that they might employ to derive benefit, need careful alignment with the purpose to be effective.
Information Transfer in Supply Chain Management
Authors: Trkman Peter , Indihar Stemberger Mojca , Jaklic Jurij
Published: October 2017

The paper deals with integration of supply chains and specifically concentrates on the importance of distribution of information among various companies in the chain. It summarizes the most important concepts of supply chain management. Both technological changes and organizational improvements are essential for effective integration of supply chains. Therefore the paper shows how business process modelling can be used to analyze the existing processes and help in renovation and integration of those processes, with a special emphasis on an inter-organizational level. It is shown on a practical example, how sharing and strategic utilization of information in a supply chain can radically improve execution of vital business processes and help integrate processes in different companies. That leads to shorter cycle times, lower costs and inventory levels and better quality for the final customer.
Syntax and Semantics of Learning Object Meta-data
Authors: L. Mitchell Jennie , Farha Nicholas
Published: October 2017

Initially, many repositories developed their own tools to facilitate the indexing of learning objects, adopting the standard that best fit their users at the time. Although metadata should be the common language of learning objects, without a common standard compliance system, one repository may not interact well with another. With the increased emphasis on sharing learning objects, metadata schemas are being asked to do more than just index a learning object at a local level. This chapter reviews some of the leading object repository software, the push for RSS services, federated search capability, a clear interpretation of the fields, and the need to count usage as well as the impact on learning.
Learning Objects and Their Implications on Learning: A Case of Developing the Foundation for a New Knowledge Infrastructure
Authors: Bednar Peter , Welch Christine , Graziano Almerindo
Published: October 2017

In an era of lifelong learning, empowerment of the learner becomes fundamental. Therefore exploitation of the full potential of learning objects depends upon creation of an appropriate infrastructure to promote symmetrical control of inquiry. The learner needs to be empowered because learning is a discovery process and thus must be under his or her own control. In early stages of education it is often assumed that choice of material is to be decided by experts. At the more advanced stages, however, any subject problem space becomes more complex, and thus any decision related to relevance of inquiry properly rests with the learner. However without access to relevant contextual material (in addition to content) the learner will not be in a position to make responsible judgments. Two problems are to be adduced. First, current attempts to contextualise content, such as those based on the use of Metadata etc, have been shown to be insufficient. Secondly, current developments in infrastructure assume that access and control of inquiry rests with the provider and fail to accommodate support of symmetrical dialogue. Many strategies for the use of Learning Objects assume that a learner wishes to be led through the material and precludes the possibility of an educational experience which promotes critical thinking (such as that inspired by Socratic method). We would argue that an infrastructure is needed which is capable of supporting both types of learning practice.
The Architecture of Learning Object Repositories
Authors: Frango Silveira Ismar , Omar Nizam , Notargiacomo Mustaro Pollyana
Published: October 2017

The definition used for learning objects considers them as any digital entity which can be used, reused or referenced during a technology-mediated learning process. Nowadays, this concept has became essential to the development of pedagogical content to be used in large scale educational projects to which are engaged a wide number of educational agents - students, teachers and faculty staff. Guaranteeing reusability of pedagogical content allows its use on different contexts. Therefore, a repository of learning objects that has a well-defined metadata structure can be used to customize learning processes. Recent researches on Learning Object have been contributing on the search of patterns for instructional content development, in order to make them adaptive, generic, portable and scalable enough to improve their potential for reusability. Besides, a wide range of virtual learning environments has been proposed to support these learning objects, with their properties and characteristics. Nonetheless, the great challenge still remains on how adaptive can a learning object be. There are several levels of adaptation that can be reached, and these levels can be established regarding to a wide range of different aspects on teaching-learning processes, varying from the need of keeping track of students’ evolution on building a specified piece of desired knowledge, until their learning styles, a multi-dimensional measure that are not only individual-dependant, but are also influenced by a range of factors so diverse as environment, inter-relational issues and psychological aspects related to how a student deal with certain sort of knowledge to be constructed, or skill to be developed. An architecture for learning objects repositories that intends to be general enough to support different pedagogical approaches and adaptation levels is presented. Such architecture is based on five different but co-related tiers: Syllabus Tier, which encapsulates all organization of learning objects that persist on the Reusable Learning Objects Tier. To select and present these objects in a way that adaptation to students’ background, learning styles and temporal motivation is responsibility of Apprentice Model Tier and Learning Styles Tier, that together drive Presentation Tier to dynamically built the most adequate interface to each student. Therefore, multiple presentations for the same learning object can make learning process more significant to students.
Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Learning Objects
Authors: L. Martin Stephen
Published: October 2017

Briefly the objective of this presentation is to provide an overview of the origin of the concept and term of learning object in instructional design within the context of standardized, sharable, computer-based operations. Secondly, the philosophical foundations will be discussed mainly in terms of the framework of the crucial distinction between learning objects as mere external knowledge objects and the process of self-reflective learning that is needed to make the use of learning objects truly successful. Both the historical and philosophical foundations of learning objects will be treated in terms of the relationship between learning objects and learning subjects. The latter includes both instructional designers in the historical and practical development of learning objects, and the audience for which learning objects are intended to help educate. Particularly, historical and philosophical foundations should recognize the dual trajectory towards producing standardized small curricular units and at the same time affecting, educating and even transforming learners.
Matching: Discrimination, Misinformation, and Sudden Death
Authors: Thornburg Gail
Published: October 2017

This paper discusses the conceptual challenges faced in designing a new system of matching incoming records for a very large database from diverse sources. Problems of satisfying a “match” with sufficient flexibility and rigor in an environment of imperfect data are outlined.
Performance Analysis of Double Buffer Technique (DBT) Model for Mobility Support in Wireless IP Networks
Authors: A. Akintola A. , A. Aderounmu G. , O. Adigun M.
Published: October 2017

Existing mobility support models in cellular communications misinterpret mobility loss in cellular networks as congestion loss, thus it degrades the performance by invoking unnecessary congestion control action. In this paper, we investigated the performance of Double Buffer Technique (DBT) model for mobility support in wireless IP networks. The DBT model uses the END message and the TQRS timer to maintain the packet sequence and decrease the load on the new foreign agent when the timer expires, respectively. Also, the protocol showed improved performance degradation caused by the handover of the mobile terminal. In order to demonstrate the superiority of our scheme over the existing ones, we used the following performance metrics: packet out-of-sequence, cell loss ratio, bandwidth overhead, and suitability for real-time services. The numerical results obtained revealed that the buffer size, the waiting time, and the packet loss probabilities in the model were suitable to the wireless IP environment.
Measurement Data Logging via Bluetooth
Authors: J. Grahn Kaj , Dickert Christian , Schneider Frank , Pulkkis Göran
Published: October 2017

The implementation of measurement data logging with data communication based on Bluetooth technology is described. The design, implementation and testing of two applications are presented. The first application is an alarm system to monitor alarm sensors and warning systems on a mobile device. The second application is a temperature and voltage measurement system, which transfers temperature and voltage values. Both applications are built up around a Bluetooth developer kit. A Bluetooth enabled mobile notebook PC or a PDA acts as a server. The implementation methodology consisting of application architecture design, technological design, software design, recording of measurement data, Bluetooth data transfer, and visualization of measurement data is described in detail.
Software Quality Management supported by Software Agent Technology
Authors: C Nienaber R. , Barnard A.
Published: October 2017

Software technology and computing resources have evolved and developed considerably over the past years and may be considered as the backbone of many business ventures today. However, the software project management environment has also changed and is continuously evolving. Currently software projects are developed and deployed in distributed, pervasive and collaborative environments. This means that traditional software project management methods cannot, and do not, address the added complexities found in a pervasive, distributed global environment. Projects thus have a high rate of failure. More specifically, software projects often do not comply with the traditional standard measurements of success, namely time, cost and specifications. There is thus a need for new methods and measures to support software project management. In this paper, software agent technology is explored as a potential tool for enhancing software project management practices in general. We propose and discuss a software agent framework, specifically to support software quality management. Although still in its initial phases, research indicates some promise in enabling software developers to meet market expectations and produce projects timeously, within budget and to users’ satisfaction.
Information Exchange and Environmental Justice
Authors: G. Horning Gloria
Published: October 2017

The Environmental Justice Movement is an aggregate of community-based, grassroots efforts against proposed and existing hazardous waste facilities and the organizations that assist them. The movement has created a context in which low-income communities and people of color are able to act with power. Using interviews, participant observation, and various archival records, a case study of the organization HOPE located in Perry, Florida, was developed. The case compared key factors in community mobilization and campaign endurance. Special attention was paid to the process of issue construction, the formation of collective identity, and the role of framing in mobilizing specific constituencies. In the case of the P&G/Buckeye Pulp Mill where the community face hazardous surroundings. Environmental inequality formation occurs when different stakeholders struggle for scarce resources within the political economy and the benefits and costs of those resources become unevenly distributed. Scarce resources include components of the social and natural environment. Thus the environmental inequality formation model stresses (1) the importance of process and history; (2) the role of information process and the relationship of multiple stakeholders; and (3) the agency of those with the least access to resources. This study explores the information exchange and the movement's identity on both an individual and group level. When people become involved in the movement they experience a shift in personal paradigm that involves a progression from discovery of environmental problems, through disillusionment in previously accepted folk ideas, to personal empowerment.
The Impact of National Culture on Worldwide eGovernment Readiness
Authors: J Kovačić Zlatko
Published: October 2017

Diffusion of information and communication technologies is a global phenomenon. In spite of rapid globalization there are considerable differences between nations in terms of the adoption and usage of new technologies. Several studies exploring causal factors including national cultures of information and communication technology adoption have been carried out. The focus of this paper is slightly different from other studies in this area. Rather than concentrating on the individual information technology an overall eGovernment readiness is the focus. This research conducted an analysis of the impact national culture has on eGovernment readiness and its components for 95 countries. eGovernment readiness assessment used in this study is based on the UN Global eGovernment Survey 2003, while the national cultural dimensions were identified using Hofstede’s model of cultural differences. The research model and hypotheses were formed and tested using correlation and regression analysis. The findings indicate that worldwide eGov-ernment readiness and its components are related to culture. The result has theoretical and practical implications.
Redesign of Stand-Alone Applications into Thin-Client/Server Architecture
Authors: van der Vlugt Michel , Sambasivam Samuel
Published: October 2017

One of the characteristics in software development is that software systems require changes once they are deployed in an operational environment. When the software is being used by the intended audience it is almost inevitable that errors are found, requirements change or new requirements emerge because of changes in the business processes. Depending on the nature of these modifications and the life-time of the software, the impact on the existing software will vary from simple error solving to complete architectural transformation. In this paper the architectural transformation is presented of stand-alone applications, redesigned into thin-client/server architecture to improve the application’s flexibility, interoperability, performance, distribution and scalability. The strategy proposed in this paper is a decomposition of the original application in which functionality is categorized and distributed in N-tier client/server architecture. The client application only contains the user-interface while the remaining functionality is split across multiple server applications. The software that is subject for redesign in this paper is a recently developed Point-Of-Sale application, initially designed as a stand-alone application. The goal of redesigning the application is to reduce the front-end hardware requirements, improve the application’s flexibility and make the application applicable for a wider range of usage. The redesign approach is evaluated by implementation of a proto-type Point-Of-Sale application, which has proven that an N-tier client/server Point-Of-Sale application is a feasible solution and leads to a very flexible and highly scalable application.
Speeding Up Back-Propagation Neural Networks
Authors: A. Otair Mohammed , A. Salameh Walid
Published: October 2017

There are many successful applications of Backpropagation (BP) for training multilayer neural networks. However, it has many shortcomings. Learning often takes long time to converge, and it may fall into local minima. One of the possible remedies to escape from local minima is by using a very small learning rate, which slows down the learning process. The proposed algorithm presented in this study used for training depends on a multilayer neural network with a very small learning rate, especially when using a large training set size. It can be applied in a generic manner for any network size that uses a backpropgation algorithm through an optical time (seen time). The paper describes the proposed algorithm, and how it can improve the performance of back-propagation (BP). The feasibility of proposed algorithm is shown through out number of experiments on different network architectures.
Navigating the Virtual Forest: How Networked Digital Technologies Can Foster Transgeographic Learning
Authors: Buzzetto-More Nicole
Published: October 2017

During the past decade the globally networked digital technologies that operate within the realm of the internet have encouraged academicians and educators the world over to communicate, collaborate, and share knowledge. They have stimulated the creation of transgeographic educational initiatives which broaden the opportunities of learners and are an effective means of eradicating ethnocentrism, xenophobia, and cultural divides. The construction of transgeographic learning communities within the unmapped virtual forest of the internet requires an organized and systematic approach. Success is dependent on committed participants; a shared learning platform; a clear understanding of purpose; extensive student and instructor preparedness towards technology usage; exemplary curricula; a central focus for investigation; interaction with experts; extensive opportunities for intellectual discourse; and collaboration. The purpose of this paper is to offer an independent examination of a successful technology-dependent transgeographic learning project that serves as a model from which to base future projects. The Summer Ecosystems Experience for Undergraduates (SEE-U) is available to colleges and university students worldwide, operating at three geographically distinct locations concurrently. The program includes global networking, GPS and GIS usage, a shared investigative focus, real-time interactions, data collection, a globally networked geo-referenced digital database that was specifically created for this project, data manipulation, online lectures, bulletin board discussions, Web-based office hours, links to relevant resources, expert presenters, online demonstration videos, networked simulations, collaborative research, and a series of student presentations.
Integrating Industrial Practices in Software Development through Scenario-Based Design of PBL Activities: A Pedagogical Re-Organization
Authors: Hou VAT Kam
Published: October 2017

This paper investigates a pedagogic model appropriate to the integration of the industrial practices in software development into the learning activities of our undergraduate students, especially in the context of group-based project work. Specifically, we are interested in the potentialities of this model enhanced from the problem-based learning context, such that people collaborating in the peculiar scenario of project development, are empowered to be more sensitive and reflective of their learning experiences. Our discussion describes a practical framework of course enactment taking into account the suggestions of the latest curriculum guidelines stipulated in the final draft of the “Computing Curriculum - Software Engineering” created by the Joint Task Force on Computing Curricula of the IEEE Computer Society and the Association for Computing Machinery. Namely, software engineering education in the 21st century needs to move beyond the lecture format, and should consider the incorporation of a variety of teaching and learning approaches, one example of which includes the constructivist model of problem-based learning (PBL) considered as appropriate to supplement or even largely replace the lecture format in certain cases. In the paper, a pedagogical re-organization perspective is presented as a way to conduct teaching in the area of software engineering. In particular, the connotation of problem-based learning in the education of future software practitioners is explored from a teacher-researcher’s position, through the practice of action research. The paper concludes by emphasizing the contextualized learning scenarios involved in PBL, which have been observed to enable our students to experience the real-world practice of software development, and acquire valuable learning through teamwork that should remain with their future careers.
Middleware Components for E-commerce Infrastructure: An Analytical Review
Authors: Chen Qiyang , Yao James , Xing Rubin
Published: October 2017

Embracing inapt infrastructure technology is a major threat in developing extensive and efficient Web-based systems. The architectural strength of all business models demands an effective integration of various technological components. And middleware, the center of all applications, becomes the driver—everything works if middleware does. In the recent times, the client/server environment has experienced sweeping transformation and led to the notion of the “Object Web”. Web browser is viewed as a universal client that is capable of shifting flawlessly and effortlessly between various applications over the Net. This paper presents an overview of middleware and the facilitating technologies and point toward the latest developments, taking into account the functional potential of the on-market middleware solutions as well as their technical strengths and weaknesses. The paper classifies and describes various types of middleware technologies such as database middleware, Remote Procedure Call (RPC), application server middleware, message-oriented middleware (MOM), Object Request Broker (ORB), transaction-processing monitors, and Web middleware etc., with on-market technologies.