bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decision Models and Governance Mechanisms Considering Corporate Social Irresponsibility in Supply Chains
Authors: Liu Bin , Ying Pepei , Peng Lin
Published: November 2017

This chapter describes corporate social irresponsibility (CSI) with a global variable, and supposes it has a negative influence on market demand to set up a decision model in supply chain for the joint effect of price and CSI on demand. Analyzing manufacturers' decisions on CSI under two supply chain structure settings including single-channel supply chain and competitive supply chain, the authors hope to design governance mechanisms to restrain the CSI performance of the manufacturers so as to provide a theoretic reference to the better fulfillment of sustainable development and social responsibility. Moreover, this chapter makes a simple extension on the asymmetry initial base demand, and the result is quite different from the symmetry initial base demand. It is found that an asymmetric CSI strategy can achieve equilibrium. A suggestion in this chapter is to intensify the competition in supply chain by supporting smaller enterprises and preventing complete monopoly.
Opportunities and Challenges for Sustainable Business Strategic Planning in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Authors: Quintero-Angel Mauricio , Peña-Montoya Claudia C , Fajardo-Toro Carlos Hernán , Aguilera-Castillo Andres
Published: November 2017

Approximately 90% of companies are Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Their importance in the economy lies in the fact that they account for almost 60% of the jobs in the world, number which could be greater in developing countries. All these companies have an environmental impact that is almost imperceptible when observed individually, but if observed and analyzed as a whole, this impact is actually relevant. It is therefore important for these companies to include the concept of sustainability within their processes, which is difficult given the informal way they have managed their activities and processes. On the other hand, there are two paradigms that rule the concept of sustainability, weak sustainability and strong sustainability. As it will be presented in this chapter, both concepts are opposed and companies are normally oriented towards weak sustainability, because they are more interested in economic growth than in caring for the environment.
Cloud Computing Assessment for Students' Social Presence in Relation to Satisfaction and Perceived Learning
Authors: Mirabolghasemi Marva , Iahad Noorminshah A. , Choshaly Sahar Hosseinikhah
Published: November 2017

Many higher education institutions are hoping to enhance student engagement in learning environment for improving the educational experiences and outcomes. Therefore, providing expectations of learners and using new technology environments to facilitate their teaching and learning activities are prominent to make universities competitive. A solution can be cloud computing which is the newest alternative in current educational environments and has significant impact on teaching and learning. This study explores the cloud-based educational environment and discusses how universities may take advantage of cloud computing in terms of students' social presence in relation to satisfaction and perceived learning. This study conducted a survey consisting of 13 questions among students from a public university in the southern region of peninsular Malaysia. The total number of respondents is 103 students. Through this study, a basis for the investigation of cloud computing in higher education is successfully established.
Modern Online Learning Tools Over the Platform of Virtual/Augmented Reality
Authors: Ghazanfarian Jafar , Khavasi Ehsan , Yousefi Hamid , Amiraslanpour Mojtaba , Teymouri Saba , Bayat Reza
Published: November 2017

In this chapter, we are to develop the idea of using online virtual reality (OVR) or online augmented reality (OAR) concepts for redesigning academic laboratory equipment or any kind of virtual classes to enhance the efficiency of learning process. One of the main advantages of OVR is the interactions of students with each other from different locations. In the framework of the OVR lab, students are beyond the physical limitations. In virtual classroom environments similar to the real classrooms, one can walk in and see auxiliary objects made by the teacher to improve the learning efficiency. The VR setup provides the opportunity for surgeons to have a realistic picture of post-operation. In the subject of interior design, students can easily change and select various elements including the texture, color levels, the context, lights, shadows, and location of various apparatus. A questionnaire was set to get feedbacks from the students with very much positive result. The virtual world can get more and more similar to the reality.
MOOC for Student Learning and Active Engagement
Authors: Saravanan K.
Published: November 2017

Online education is currently led with MOOC education platform in a scalable way to satisfy the need of the specialized student community. With the adoption of MOOC, students not only study for course credits, but also to learn the newest technologies in the market. Several MOOC providers offer thousands of online courses using knowledge experts in the fields. Thus, MOOC fills the knowledge gap between the academics and industry by offering the on-demand courses, which may not be available in the course curriculum. These MOOC courses are offered either free or payment. At the successful completion of the course, most MOOC platforms give the certification to the participants. MOOC is already doing revolution in higher education and online education. This chapter deals with MOOC model and its evolution and need. The different types and categories of MOOCs are listed. The different MOOC providers and their course criteria are also discussed. This chapter identifies and narrates the implementation issues in the MOOC model. The future research challenges are also summarized.
Learning Styles and Online Tools
Authors: Khan Md. Shahadat Hossain , Shamim Md. Rashedul Huq , Nambobi Mutwalibi
Published: November 2017

Very few studies in the existing literature elaborated about the learners learning preference and their preferred ICT tools while they were engaging in an online course. In order to fill this gap, this chapter presents different learning styles, which are exhibited by the learners in an online environment. It identifies myriad ICT (information and communication technology) tools and shows association between learning styles and respective ICT tools. It has four main broad areas to discuss: provides general importance of incorporating ICT tools in an online environment; presents four types of learners in an online context, which are characterized by following previous theoretical framework; identifies different learning activities, which are preferred by the four learners; and provides ICT tools along with their web address that are linked with online activities. This chapter shows possible implication towards online education and practices.
The Always-On Business Model and Competitive Advantage
Authors: Romero Jorge A.
Published: November 2017

This chapter discusses the always-on business model of information technology (IT) and how firms can gain a competitive advantage and differentiate themselves from competitors that may be adopting a similar always-on model. The discussion of how firms can get and keep a competitive advantage has been a topic of interest for a long time. An always-on application is a type of IT application; therefore, this is part of a more general research question that has been of interest to researchers that researches have wondered if information system applications actually provide an advantage to firms when firms are getting the same type of IT application. Previous research has concluded that IT improves productivity but the exact mechanisms by which IT increases business value are still not fully understood. One of the mechanism by which IT improves the competitiveness of firms is through the identification of innovative opportunities (Bardhan et al., 2013).
Virtuous Business Intelligence
Authors: McBride Neil
Published: November 2017

This paper examines three approaches to ethics and focuses on the development of character and the practice of virtue in business intelligence (BI). The paper describes BI as a tool for mediating the relationships between pairs of stakeholders such as management and customer. Three aspects of the relationship which benefit ethically from the practice of virtues are discussed: the purpose of the BI, the prejudices behind the BI and the power of the stakeholders. The connection between the ethics of BI and the corporate ethics is discussed. Without the practice of virtues, BI may be recruited to support corporate vices of exploitation, exposure, exclusion, coercion, control and concealment. The paper seeks to highlight the importance of ethical issues in BI practice and suggests the development of an ethical balanced scorecard as a vehicle for developing ethical sensitivity.
Adopting the Concept of Business Models in Public Management
Authors: Kożuch Barbara , Jabłoński Adam
Published: November 2017

The aim of the chapter is to propose the principles of adopting the concept of business models in public management. The scope of the work includes the specific principles of business management and public management, examined in terms of integrating the attributes of public organizations that ensure they achieve appropriate functionality. The result of scientific reflections is an attempt to design the canvas of the public organization business model based on an analogy taken from business management for the conceptualization and operationalization of the specific key attributes of the public organization business model. The justifiability of adopting the concept of a business model in the theory and practice of public organization functioning will be illustrated by the solutions used in local units of public employment services in Poland.
Data, Information, and Knowledge
Authors: Erickson G. Scott , Rothberg Helen N.
Published: November 2017

This chapter examines the similarities and differences between big data and knowledge management. Big data has relatively little conceptual development, at least from a strategy and management perspective. Knowledge management has a lengthy literature and decades of practice but has always explicitly focused only on knowledge assets as opposed to precursors like data and information. Even so, there are considerable opportunities for cross-fertilization. Consequently, this chapter considers data from McKinsey Global Strategies on data holdings, by industry, and contrasts that with data on knowledge development, essentially the intangible assets found in the same industries. Using what we know about the variables influencing the application of intangible assets such as knowledge and intelligence, we can then better identify where successful employment of big data might take place. Further, we can identify specific variables with the potential to grant competitive advantage from the application of big data and business analytics.
Role of Corporate Governance in Shareholders Value Creation
Authors: Khan Muhammad Atif , Khan Muhammad Asif , Liaqat Idrees
Published: November 2017

The mechanism of governing corporate affairs in line with strategic goal of shareholders' value creation (SVC) has been pivotal debate among academic and institutional scholars over last few decades. Most of the studies in developing countries including Pakistan, have considered more conventional measures, like firm financial performance to examine the impact of corporate governance (CG). Theoretically, firm financial performance optimization has little role in maximizing SVC, that rarely streams to shareholders' exchequer. Therefore, the study is unique in its nature that identifies market capitalization, the most appropriate measure of value creation for shareholders over long run. The authors gathered panel and longitudinal data pertaining to PSX-100 listed firm over the period of 10 years ranging from 2006-15, which is analyzed using multivariate regression. Hausman and Likelihood tests guide the process of appropriate econometrics model selection. Empirical findings reveal that CG dimensions such as audit committee independence (ACI), managerial ownership (MO) and ownership concentration (OC) have positive impact on SVC, except board size (BS) and board independence (BI). The study offers valuable policy recommendations to make CG practices more effective, however, application of the model proposition at macro and micro level can be a substantial extension to literature incorporating some controlling dimensions.
Path Analysis Model for Supply Chain Risk Management
Authors: Sharma Satyendra Kumar , Bhat Anil , Kumar Vinod , Agarwal Aayushi
Published: November 2017

The purpose of this paper is to develop a model to understand the relationship of supply chain risk sources, risk drivers, and risk mitigation strategies to the overall risk exposure of the firm and to validate the model empirically. An attempt has been made to determine the major contributors of supply chain risk as viewed by automotive professionals in today's competitive market. This study empirically validates the effects of the three critical constructs on overall supply chain risk exposure. The limitations of this study can be seen in the use of perceptual data from single informants and the focus on automotive firms in a single country. The detailed operationalization of the constructs sheds further light on the major risk sources, drivers, and mitigation strategies in supply chain networks. Clear evidence of proactive strategies in mitigating risks provides managers with a business case to invest in such initiatives.
A Locational Decision Making Framework for Shipbreaking Under Multiple Criteria
Authors: John Joshin , Kumar Sushil
Published: November 2017

The decision making process for shipbreaking is complicated and is dependent on multiple factors. However, due to the vastly unorganized nature of shipbreaking industry in major shipbreaking locations, there is little work done to the best of the authors' knowledge, wherein these factors are mapped, weighed and integrated in the form of a comprehensive decision making framework. In recent years, although there have been significant efforts by researchers to capture the process of shipbreaking and recycling in literature, a comprehensive decision support system that encapsulates the multiple criteria for shipbreaking in a quantifiable form, is yet to be developed. This paper attempts to bridge this gap, by formulating a decision making framework, particularly for selecting the shipbreaking facility and the extent of recycling subsequent to ship disassembly, using AHP methodology. The framework considers the relevant factors, and is useful not only for shipping companies and cash brokers for decision making, but also provides insights vis-à-vis the migrating pattern of shipbreaking industry, particularly from Indian subcontinent to China, as observed in the contemporary business environment.
Effects of Data Envelopment Analysis on Performance Assessment
Authors: Ahn Heinz , Novoa Nadia Vazquez
Published: November 2017

This paper examines the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology from a cognitive perspective. Specifically, it analyzes (a) the role of DEA scores as an overall efficiency measure and (b) to what extent the presence of DEA scores for a non-financial performance appraisal influences a posterior financial performance assessment. The study confirms that the efficiency score acts as a strong performance marker when deciding on which decision making units (DMUs) should be awarded for their non-financial performance. Furthermore, it shows that the results of the non-financial performance evaluation may act as an anchor which significantly influences a posterior financial assessment. These insights have practical consequences for planning, reporting, and controlling processes that incorporate DEA efficiency scores.
Applying Lean Production and Six Sigma in Global Operations
Authors: Kasemsap Kijpokin
Published: November 2017

This chapter aims to apply the Lean Production and Six Sigma in global operations, thus describing the theoretical and practical overviews of Lean Production; Lean Production in sustainable operations; Lean Production in human resource management; Lean Production in health care; Lean Production and environmental management; Lean product development; Lean Management and sustainability; Six Sigma; Six Sigma, learning, and knowledge management; Six Sigma in health care; Six Sigma in service industry; Lean Six Sigma; and the significance of Lean Production and Six Sigma in global operations. The creation of Lean Production and Six Sigma is crucial for modern organizations that seek to serve suppliers and customers, increase business performance, strengthen competitiveness, and acquire regular progress in global operations. The chapter argues that applying Lean Production and Six Sigma has the potential to enhance organizational performance and achieve strategic goals in global operations.
The Evaluation of Business Performance in ERP Environments
Authors: Manthou Vicky , Stefanou Constantinos J. , Tigka Kalliopi
Published: November 2017

ERP systems, supporting and integrating all business processes across functions and offering real time information necessary for taking actions and making decisions, have prevailed in most enterprises worldwide. The costs involved in ERP implementations may be huge and must be justified by the outcomes. However, extant research has reported mixed and in some cases controversial results. In this chapter, certain important dimensions of ERP systems and of business performance are discussed. The chapter has an educational focus and aims at providing an exploration of ERP system's impact on certain business performance dimensions, informing thus scholars, practitioners and students of the issues involved and the areas they should pay attention when considering ERP implementations. Following an extensive literature review, a classification of diverse studies according to their research focus is provided, which reveals the range of business performance dimensions and can help researchers in their future projects.
An Expert System for Predicting ERP Post-Implementation Benefits Using Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Ravasan Ahad Zare , Rouhani Saeed
Published: November 2017

Implementing Enterprise Resource Planning systems (ERPs) is a complex and costly project which usually delivers only a few of expected benefits. Obtaining the expected benefits of ERPs is impressed by a variety of factors and variables which is related to an organization or project environment. In this paper, the idea of predicting ERP post-implementation benefits based on the organizational profiles and factors has been discussed. Regarding the need to form the expectations of organizations about ERP, an expert system is developed by using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) method to articulate the relationships between some organizational factors and ERP's achieved benefits. The expert system's role is in the preparation to capture the data from the new enterprises wishes to implement ERP and predict likely benefits might be achieved from the system. For this end, factors of organizational profiles (such as industry type, size, structure, and so on) are recognized and a feed-forward architecture and Levenberg-Marquardt (trainlm) neural network model is designed, trained and validated with 171 surveyed data of Middle-East located enterprises experienced ERP. The trained ANN embedded in developed expert system predicts with the average correlation coefficients of 0.745, which is respectively high and proves the idea of dependency of ERP post-implementation benefits on the organizational profiles. Besides, total correct classification rate of 0.701 shows good prediction power which can help firms in predicting ERP benefits before system implementation.
The Triple Bottom Line (TBL) Approach From the Accounting and Performance Measurement Perspective
Authors: Caraiani Chirața , Lungu Camelia I. , Dascălu Cornelia , Colceag Florian
Published: November 2017

For the sustainable development of an entity, the strategy and the value creation cannot be analyzed in purely financial terms. Corporations must apply the principle of balanced development through disclosing economic, environmental and social combined aspects. Sustainability reports are sometimes known as Triple Bottom Line (TBL) reports or Triple P (people, planet and profit). A well-known example is the concept of multidimensional performance evaluation focused on the TBL theory. This chapter per the authors presents the fundamental concepts used in TBL reporting practice, ensuring a uniform terminology, and identifies and promotes the best reporting practices used in social and environmental decision making. As conclusion, it was reiterated that the future of TBL reporting is the achievement and the acceptance of a conceptual framework and of normative-pragmatic standards to support a comprehensive and credible reporting of the three dimensions.
SIDE
Authors: Malhotra Rashmi
Published: November 2017

To make sound decisions, managers analyze data from multiple sources using different dimensions and eventually integrate the results of their analysis. This study proposes the design of a multi-attribute-decision-support-system that combines the analytical power of two different tools: data envelopment analysis (DEA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO), one of the major algorithms using swarm intelligence. DEA measures the relative efficiency of decision making units that use multiple inputs and outputs to provide non-objective measures without making any specific assumptions about data. On the other hand PSO's main strength lies in exploring the entire search space. This study proposes a modeling technique that jointly uses the two techniques to benefit from the two methodologies.
Encouraging Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Tourism Development in Global Tourism
Authors: Kasemsap Kijpokin
Published: November 2017

This chapter aims to encourage corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable tourism development in global tourism, thus describing the theoretical and practical concept of CSR; CSR and corporate financial performance (CFP); the overview of sustainable tourism development; the significance of CSR in global tourism; the significance of sustainable tourism development in global tourism; sustainable tourism development and stakeholders; and sustainable tourism development and environmental situations. The accomplishment of CSR and sustainable tourism development is vital for tourism businesses that seek to serve suppliers and customers, increase business performance, strengthen competitiveness, and attain regular success in global tourism. Thus, it is necessary for tourism businesses to encourage their CSR and sustainable tourism development toward satisfying customers' needs. The chapter argues that encouraging CSR and sustainable tourism development has the potential to enhance organizational performance and gain sustainable competitive advantage in global tourism.
Process Improvements in Supply Chain Operations
Authors: Smith Alan D.
Published: November 2017

The nature of SCM research is constantly evolving and must address a variety of concerns like poor service, large inventory levels, and friction among suppliers and manufacturers. Analytical databases and techniques in SCM are an important part of this research. Many researchers and practitioners have depended on secondary data, but given the dynamic nature of global competition, more recent and relevant data must be gathered. These efforts need to be geared to the development of properly managed supply chain relationships and corporate sustainability initiatives that ultimately promote broad-based sustainable development objectives for the good of people, plants, and profits (i.e., triple bottom-line).
Supply Chain Management Practices, Competitive Advantage and Organizational Performance
Authors: Singh Rajwinder , Sandhu H.S. , Metri B.A. , Kaur Rajinder
Published: November 2017

Supply chain is the process of continuous flow of products or services from source to the destination. Supply chain management has become an effective tool now a day to survive in this competitive world. Organizations do their best to harvest profits by adopting better supply chain management practices for competitive advantage and organizational performance. In this paper an attempt has been made to understand the relationship among supply chain practices, competitive advantage, and organizational performance using structural equation modelling. This research conceptualizes and develops five secondary dimensions of supply chain practices (Use of technology, SC speed, Customer satisfaction, SC integration, and Inventory management). The research also identifies four primary competitive advantage components (Inventory management, Customer satisfaction, Profitability, and Customer base identification) and six primary organizational performance components (Financial Performance, Market performance, SC competencies, Customer satisfaction, Stakeholder satisfaction, and Innovation and learning). The data for analysis was collected from top 10 non-livestock organized retail players operating in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, New Delhi and, Gurgaon in India. The relationships in the proposed framework were tested using structural equation modelling. The results indicate that Indian retailers know that competitive advantage has high impact on SCP but they have less understanding in matching SCP and competitive advantage with organizational performance.
Multifaceted Applications of Green Supply Chain Management
Authors: Kasemsap Kijpokin
Published: November 2017

This chapter aims to explain the overview of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM); the significant activities of GSCM; GSCM and collaboration; GSCM and environmental management; GSCM in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); and the multifaceted applications of GSCM. Green supply chain is capable of increasing corporate value while considering its impacts on all processes of physical distribution, production, and environment. Managing a green supply chain is about finding the balance between economic and environmental benefits in global supply chain. GSCM recognizes the disproportionate environmental impact of supply chain processes in an organization. GSCM practices can manifest themselves from the process of selecting raw material to final consumption based on the aspects of reduction, reuse, recycling, and recovery. The chapter argues that the multifaceted applications of GSCM have the potential to enhance organizational performance and gain sustainable competitive advantage in global supply chain.
Review of Supply Chain Integration on Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM)
Authors: Kamal Alia Nadhirah Ahmad , Fernando Yudi
Published: November 2017

The world economy operates on a capitalist market system where more and more natural resources are strained to produce maximum profits on the basis of achieving the efficiency of the economies of scale. As corporations' awareness increases on the jeopardizing impact they have caused to the deteriorating environment, more corporations have established a more eco-friendly operation. Greening the supply chain is one significant example of such moves. Realizing the green supply chain tendency in the industry, this proposed chapter focuses on highlighting the supply chain integration with business partners (suppliers, shippers, distributors, and customers) on Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) practices. The chapter shows the literature supporting the important integration of GSCM as it enables corporations to gather collective strength, skills, and capabilities in achieving its ecological as well as business objectives. Both practitioners in companies and corporations might find this review useful, as it outlines major lines of research in the field.
Critical Success Factors for Supplier Development and Buyer Supplier Relationship
Authors: Sarang Joshi P. , Bhasin H V , Verma Rakesh , Kharat Manoj Govind
Published: November 2017

Development of supplier base is becoming mandatory for buyers, as it is not possible to manufacture all components in house, or to search new supplier every time. It is recommended that supplier base of buyer should be self-efficient and developed one to achieve competitive advantages. This development of supplier can be achieved by applying different supplier development practices and buyer supplier relationship practices as per the requirement. In this article, Exploratory Factor analysis (EFA) is applied for grouping the critical success factors with their items by using SPSS software. 6 factors viz., Drivers for Supplier Development Practices, Supplier Development Practices, Buyer supplier Relationship Practices, Buyer supplier Relationship Improvement, Competitive Advantages and Profitability were formed with their respective items. The multi-item scale shows strong evidence of reliability as well as convergent, discriminant validity in a sample. EFA and Reliability Analysis were applied on data for validation of instrument. Data from 87 respondents working in manufacturing sector were used for analysis.
Advocating Information System, Information Integration, and Information Sharing in Global Supply Chain
Authors: Kasemsap Kijpokin
Published: November 2017

This chapter explains the overview of information system (IS) in global supply chain, the interorganizational information system (IOS) integration in global supply chain, the overview of information integration in global supply chain, and the overview of information sharing in global supply chain. Successful SCM can provide the high level of business planning and decision support concerning supply chain-related activities that involve the coordination of organization-wide distribution processes, the sharing of information, and the integration of information. Information sharing and information integration through effective IS can significantly improve the way supply chains and their supply chain partners do business, especially in the perspectives of globalization and outsourcing, toward continuing to have an accomplished effect on supply chain operations. The chapter argues that advocating IS, information integration, and information sharing has the potential to increase supply chain performance and gain sustainable competitive advantage in global supply chain.
Measuring the Effect of Team Characteristics, Team Effectiveness on Organizational Performance, Organizational Survival and Competitiveness
Authors: Shih Cheng Ping , Putri Dian Utami
Published: November 2017

Teamwork was already utilized since the beginning of human history. Pressure of global competition, needs to align business models, and urgency to have continuous improvement have made many organizations and the majority of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) think of teamwork as one of their core competency. One way to improve NGO's competitive advantage was to enhance teamwork performance. The purpose of this research was to explore the relations between team characteristics, team effectiveness, organizational performance, organizational survival and competitiveness in the NGO context. A TEPS Model was created and analyzed by using Partial Least Squares (PLS) method. The findings indicated that team characteristics had a positive significant effect towards team effectiveness; team effectiveness also had positive significant effect towards innovation, customer's satisfaction, financial performance, as well as organizational survival and competitiveness of YCAB. Practical implications and suggestions were also proposed in order to improve overall teamwork performance in YCAB.
Learning Software Industry Practices With Open Source and Free Software Tools
Authors: Nandigam Jagadeesh , Gudivada Venkat N.
Published: November 2017

This chapter describes a pragmatic approach to using open source and free software tools as valuable resources to affect learning of software industry practices using iterative and incremental development methods. The authors discuss how the above resources are used in teaching undergraduate Software Engineering (SE) courses. More specifically, they illustrate iterative and incremental development, documenting software requirements, version control and source code management, coding standards compliance, design visualization, software testing, software metrics, release deliverables, software engineering ethics, and professional practices. The authors also present how they positioned the activities of this course to qualify it for writing intensive designation. End of semester course evaluations and anecdotal evidence indicate that the proposed approach is effective in educating students in software industry practices.
Some Key Topics to be Considered in Software Process Improvement
Authors: Cuevas Gonzalo , Calvo-Manzano Jose A. , García Iván
Published: November 2017

This chapter summarizes a set of relevant aspects that may have a strong influence on the effectiveness of software process improvement and, as a consequence, on the competitiveness of software companies. Also included are the results obtained from a survey carried out in large companies on their processing needs in order to be more competitive. The organizational structures seen in different projects highlight the relevance of suitable processes as well as a culture of individual and organizational commitment. With this focus in mind, this chapter provides detailed information about teams, their construction and performance so that they can be effective in developing and implementing the processes. Finally, the chapter provides information about successful change management as well as advice on qualification of the workforce and technological tendencies, which is of key importance to achieve the objectives of competitiveness and process improvement.
Knowware-Based Software Engineering
Authors: Lu RuQian , Jin Zhi
Published: November 2017

The first part of this chapter reviews the origin of knowware-based software engineering. It originates from the authors' experiences in finding new techniques for knowledge-based software engineering while performing PROMIS, a continuing project series from the 1990s. The key point of PROMIS is to generate applications automatically by separating the development of domain knowledge from that of software architecture, with an important innovation of acquiring and summarizing domain knowledge automatically based on the pseudo-natural language understanding techniques. However, during PROMIS development, the authors did not find an appropriate form for the separated domain knowledge. The second part of the chapter briefly describes how the authors came to the concept of knowware. They stated that the essence of knowware is its capacity as a commercialized form of domain knowledge. It is also the third major component of IT after hardware and software. The third part of the chapter introduces the basic concepts of knowware and knowware engineering. Three life cycle models of knowware engineering and the design of corresponding knowware implementations are given. The fourth part of the chapter introduces object-oriented mixware engineering. In the fifth part of the chapter, two recent applications of knowware technique regarding smart room and Web search are reported. As a further development of PROMIS, the sixth part of the chapter discusses knowware-based redesign of its framework. In the seventh part of the chapter, the authors discuss automatic application generation and domain knowledge modeling on the J2EE platform, which combines techniques of PROMIS, knowware, and J2EE, and the development and deployment framework (i.e. PROMIS/KW**).
Supporting Model-Driven Development
Authors: Maciel Rita Suzana Pitangueira , Mascarenhas Ana Patrícia F. Magalhães , Gomes Ramon Araújo , de Queiroz João Pedro D. B.
Published: November 2017

The adoption of Model-Driven Development (MDD) is increasing and it is widely recognized as an important approach for building software systems. In addition to traditional development process models, an MDD process requires the selection of metamodels and mapping rules for the generation of the transformation chain which produces models and application code. However, existing support tools and transformation engines for MDD do not address different kinds of software process activities, such as application modeling and testing, to guide the developers. Furthermore, they do not enable process modeling nor the (semi) automated execution of activities during process enactment. MoDErNE (Model Driven Process-Centered Software Engineering Environment) uses process-centered software engineering environment concepts to improve MDD process specification and enactment by using a metamodeling foundation. This chapter presents model driven development concept issues and the MoDErNE approach and environment. MoDErNE aims to facilitate MDD process specification and enactment.
Understanding the Role of Knowledge Management in Software Development
Authors: O'Connor Rory V. , Basri Shuib
Published: November 2017

Software and systems engineering is distinct from other forms of engineering as it deals with an intangible product, where the progress in construction is not explicitly visible and team members often rely on the documentation of others to follow and review progress. Furthermore unlike traditional engineering disciplines, there is no single standardized unified process. The role of knowledge management in the software engineering literature is becoming more evident, as the software development activity is essentially a human knowledge intensive activity and is seen by many as a key factor. This paper discusses the role of software development knowledge management within software development process and specifically how software development knowledge is managed in software development in order to support software process improvement and the role of knowledge management in this. The authors present the results of a study of knowledge management process practices in very small software companies and discusses these under the major identified issues of: Communication; Learning and sharing; Documentation and Knowledge management process and commitment. The findings in this study give an insight towards knowledge management practices as they relate to software development process practices in very small companies and the important factors that must be considered to preserve knowledge and quality software.
Wiki for Agility
Authors: Kamthan Pankaj
Published: November 2017

The movement towards agility is one of the most significant human-centered and socially oriented changes in industrial software engineering. In the practice of agile methodologies, there are different types of content (data, information, or knowledge) that are created, communicated, and consumed. It is imperative for an organization to manage such content, both during development and beyond deployment. This chapter proposes a conceptual model for understanding and exploring the use of Wiki as a vehicle for managing content in agile software development. In doing so, the parity between agile software development and Wiki is shown, human and social aspects of each are emphasized, the Social Web-Context of Wiki is demonstrated, illustrative examples are given, and the implications of committing to a Wiki are considered.
Underpinning EISB With Enterprise Interoperability Neighboring Scientific Domains
Authors: Agostinho Carlos , Jardim-Goncalves Ricardo , Steiger-Garcao Adolfo
Published: November 2017

Over the last decade, interoperability appeared as a key enabler towards unlocking the full potential of enterprises, products, processes, and systems. With methods to support their lifecycle, contributing towards removing communication barriers, and fostering a new-networked business culture in industrial domains, Enterprise Interoperability (EI) requires tangible scientific foundations. This chapter recognizes that, in terms of content, any scientific field exists in an ecosystem of neighboring domains and presents a methodology to identify EI's relationship with its neighbors, thus supporting the foundations of EI Science Base (EISB). It can be agreed that formalisms like logic and mathematics are an integrant part of every science, but others also share relationships such as application fields' boundaries, methodologies, techniques, or even tools. With the support of the European Commission, through the Future Internet and Enterprise Systems (FInES) cluster of research projects, the authors have initiated an analysis of comprehensive domains (e.g. complexity and software).
Lessons From Practices and Standards in Safety-Critical and Regulated Sectors
Authors: Tuohey William G.
Published: November 2017

Many years of effort have been expended by experienced practitioners and academic experts in developing software engineering standards. Organizations should see it as a positive advantage—rather than as a costly negative necessity—when they are required to develop software to a recognized standard. A genuine, constructive program of measures to ensure compliance with an objective standard will achieve development process improvements that would otherwise be difficult to motivate and bring to fruition. This chapter provides an overview and comparison of a number of software engineering standards specific to safety-critical and regulated sectors. It goes on to describe implications and benefits that flow from these standards. Informed by current software engineering research, suggestions are made for effective practical application of the standards, both at individual project and at organizational level.
Learning Software Engineering With Global Teams
Authors: Ende Markus , Lämmermann Ralf , Brockmann Patricia , Olivares-Ceja Jesús-Manuel
Published: November 2017

Global software engineering requires the coordination of team participants around the world, mainly in large software projects. How can computer science students learn the organizational and intercultural skills required to guide and participate in global distributed projects? To answer this question, this paper analyzes international virtual team teaching with the use of software engineering. Experiences and lessons learned are presented based on the results of a joint Mongolian-German team project. The obtained results with the Mongolian team encourage the project to include students and researchers from the National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico.
Software Engineering and New Emerging Technologies
Authors: Mazini Sergio Ricardo
Published: November 2017

This chapter presents an approach to the role of software engineering in developing solutions for new mobile technologies, like tablets. It discusses the importance of the new standards brought by emerging technologies such as engineering and how software must adapt to this new reality in order to identify the needs of data, information, integration, shares, and other issues that will contribute to the life cycle of these solutions. The chapter also discusses the contribution of users in the development process and improve these solutions. The research method is the case study conducted in industrial companies that use a digital catalog solution and sales force automation for tablets. This chapter presents a new approach based on commercial tablets which is supported by a platform of software and services called commercially Nimiam (www.nimiam.com.br).
The Impact of Software Testing Governance Choices
Authors: Zhang Xihui , Onita Colin G. , Dhaliwal Jasbir S.
Published: November 2017

Software testing is becoming a critical component of software development, especially because of the proliferation of complex, interconnected, and real-time business applications. As a result, information technology (IT) managers are struggling with pragmatic governance mechanisms for integrating testing with development. Governance issues pertaining to how software testing is organized at strategic, tactical, and operational levels, however, have not received adequate attention in the literature. This study explores the impact of three specific governance mechanisms, including the existence of a distinct corporate testing unit, developers and testers reporting to different executives, and the existence of one-to-one matching between developers and testers, on the organizational integration of testing with development. A national survey of 196 software development and testing professionals was undertaken to investigate the impact of these governance variables on a set of dependent variables comprising organizational, group, and individual outcomes. The results indicate that these governance mechanisms have significant impacts and need to be considered for successful integration of development and testing.
Developing Communities of Practice to Prepare Software Engineers With Effective Team Skills
Authors: Gates Ann Q. , Villa Elsa Y. , Salamah Salamah
Published: November 2017

A major challenge to teaching software engineering is achieving functioning teams that enforce individual accountability while integrating software engineering principles, approaches, and techniques. The two-semester software engineering course at the University of Texas at El Paso, referred to as the Team-Oriented Software Engineering (TOSE) course, establishes communities of practice that are cultivated through cooperative group practices and an improvement process model that enables learning from past experiences. The experience of working with incomplete, ambiguous, and changing software requirements motivates the need for applying disciplined software engineering practices and approaches throughout project development. Over the course of the two-semester sequence, the nature of students' participation in project teams changes: they begin to influence others in software engineering practice, and their identities as software engineers begins to develop. The purpose of the chapter is to describe how to structure a software engineering course that results in establishing communities of practice in which learners become increasingly more knowledgeable team members who embody the skills needed to work effectively in a team- and project-based environment.
Teaching Software Architecture in Industrial and Academic Contexts
Authors: Ciancarini Paolo , Russo Stefano
Published: November 2017

In this chapter, the authors describe their experiences in designing, developing, and teaching a course on Software Architecture that tested both in an academic context with their graduate Computer Science students and in an advanced context of professional updating and training with scores of system engineers in a number of different companies. The course has been taught in several editions in the last five years. The authors describe its rationale, the way in which they teach it differently in academia and in industry, and how they evaluate the students' learning in the different contexts. Finally, the authors discuss the lessons learnt and describe how this experience is inspiring for the future of this course.
Change Management and Leadership
Authors: Basu Kallol
Published: November 2017

The increasing convergence of technology and health care is ushering in a new era of digital transformation in the way patients interact with healthcare professionals. The surging market is forcing healthcare organizations to continuously leverage technology to modernize medical care, reduce manual handoffs, and reduce costs. However, the success rates have not been very encouraging. This is significantly due to lack of proper attention to organization change management by leadership. By performing an in-depth analysis of affected leading hospital chains in India, this chapter deduces how leadership can help foster better change adoption throughout the lifecycle of technology implementation in healthcare organizations.