bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Handoff Management in Next Generation Wireless Networks
Authors: Nasser Nidal , Bejaoui Tarek
Published: May 2010

Major research challenges in the next generation of wireless networks include the provisioning of worldwide seamless mobility across heterogeneous wireless networks, the improvement of end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS), supporting multmedia services over wide area and enabling users to specify their personal preferences. The integration and interoperability of this multitude of available networks will lead to the emergence of the fourth generation (4G) of wireless technologies. 4G wireless technologies have the potential to provide these features and many more, which at the end will change the way we use mobile devices and provide a wide variety of new applications. However, such technology does not come without its challenges. One of these challenges is the user’s ability to control and manage handoffs across heterogeneous wireless networks. This chapter proposes a solution to this problem using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). The proposed method is capable of distinguishing the best existing wireless network that matches predefined user preferences set on a mobile device when performing a vertical handoff. The overall performance of the proposed method shows 87.0 % success rate in finding the best available wireless network.
Enhancing the Multimedia Tour Guide Experience
Authors: Serif Tacha , Ghinea Gheorghita
Published: May 2010

This chapter describes an investigation exploring user experiences of accessing streamed multimedia content, when that content is tailored according to perceptual, device and location characteristics. It builds upon the findings of our user perception evaluations by harnessing the results together to create pre-defined profiles based on QoP requirements, device type, and location for context-aware multimedia content streaming, and, in so doing, enhance the concept of context to include perceptual requirements. In the light of the findings, we propose that multimedia transmission to mobile and wireless devices should be made based on pre-defined profiles, which contains a combination of static (perceptual, device type, CPU speed, and display specifications) and dynamic information (streamed content type location of the device/user, context of the device/user). Furthermore, we believe that using profiling technology mobile service providers can effectively manage local network traffic and cut down their bandwidth costs considerably.
PQoS Assessment Methods for Multimedia Services
Authors: Koumaras Harilaos , Liberal Fidel , Sun Lingfen
Published: May 2010

The concept of PQoS, although in general it deals with the user satisfaction with a specific delivered/ requested service, is in practice significantly differentiated by the nature of each delivered service. This chapter reviews various existing PQoS assessment methods for video, VoIP, online games, and Web services that have been published in the literature. It then moves beyond the current PQoS assessment methods and presents novel techniques for predicting the PQoS of a multimedia service.
Broadband Satellite Multimedia Networks
Authors: Chini Paolo , Giambene Giovanni , Hadzic Snezana
Published: May 2010

Nowadays there is an increasing need of broadband communication anytime, anywhere for users that expect to receive multimedia services with support of quality of service. In such a scenario, the aim of this chapter is to present the possibility of the satellite option that is particular attracting to bridge the digital divide in those areas where terrestrial solutions are unfeasible or too expensive. This chapter provides first a survey of the ETSI standardization framework for satellite networks. Then, resource management schemes for both forward and return link are described. Finally a suitable case study is provided for the integration of a DVB-S/DVB-RCS satellite system interconnected with a WiFi segment for local coverage; examples and results permit to understand different resource management implications.
Transport Protocols and QoS for Wireless Multimedia
Authors: Gür Gürkan , Bayhan Suzan , Alagöz Fatih
Published: May 2010

This chapter introduces the QoS issues and support in transport protocols for wireless multimedia transmission. After an overview of the transport layer functionalities in a transmission and the multimedia characteristics, conventional transport layer protocols: transmission control protocol (TCP), and user datagram protocol (UDP) are described. In this chapter, some of the proposed modifications to these protocols in order to improve multimedia transmission quality in wireless networks are also summarized. Particulary, UDP Lite, TCP friendly rate control protocol (TFRC), and real-time transport protocol (RTP)--real-time transport control protocol (RTCP) are mentioned. Finally, the chapter is concluded with some discussions on the current trends in transport protocols for wireless multimedia transmission and on some of the ongoing research issues.
Development and Design Methodologies in DWM
Authors: Yao James , Wang John , Chen Qiyang , Lu June
Published: May 2010

Information systems were developed in early 1960s to process orders, billings, inventory controls, payrolls, and accounts payables. Soon information systems research began. Harry Stern started the “Information Systems in Management Science” column in Management Science journal to provide a forum for discussion beyond just research papers (Banker & Kauffman, 2004). Ackoff (1967) led the earliest research on management information systems for decision-making purposes and published it in Management Science. Gorry and Scott Morton (1971) first used the term decision support systems (DSS) in a paper and constructed a framework for improving management information systems. The topics on information systems and DSS research diversifies. One of the major topics has been on how to get systems design right.
Integrating Software Engineering and Costing Aspects within Project Management Tools
Authors: Gelbard Roy , Kantor Jeffrey , Edelist Liran
Published: May 2010

This study proposes and prototypes a model that integrates these three aspects of software projects by automatically mapping SE objects and accounting–costing objects into PM objects. To validate the feasibility of the model and without loss of generality, it is demonstrated using former research platform focused on conversion of data flow diagrams (DFD), which are actually full enterprise set of use cases diagrams reflecting entire system-software project into Gantt charts.
Leveraging Supply Chain Management in the Digital Economy
Authors: Raisinghani Mahesh S.
Published: May 2010

A supply chain is a network of facilities and distribution options that performs the functions of procurement of materials, transformation of these materials into intermediate and finished products, and the distribution of these finished products to customers. In other words, supply chain encompasses all of the activities associated with moving goods from raw-materials stage through to the end user. The information systems needed to monitor all of these activities are a critical part of the mix. Successful supply chain management (SCM), then, coordinates and integrates all of these activities into a seamless process. It embraces and links all of the partners in the chain. In addition to the key functional areas within the organization, these partners include vendors, carriers, third-party logistics companies, and information systems providers.
A General View of Quality Models for Web Portals and a Particularization to E-Banking Domain
Authors: Moraga Mª Ángeles , Córdoba Julio , Calero Coral , Cachero Cristina
Published: May 2010

The success of Web portals has increased over time, in such a way that a portal user can choose among a wide variety of portals. Therefore, the presence of a Web portal in Internet will depend on its quality. In this chapter, several portal quality models are presented and compared. Moreover, one of the best portal quality model previously proposed has been adapted to the e-banking context. Finally, the new e-banking portal quality model has been compared with the original portal quality model, as well as with the main portal quality characteristics.
A Data Quality Model for Web Portals
Authors: Caro Angélica , Calero Coral , Piattini Mario
Published: May 2010

Web portals are Internet-based applications that provide a big amount of data. The data consumer who uses the data given by these applications needs to assess data quality. Due to the relevance of data quality on the Web together with the fact that DQ needs to be assessed within the context in which data are generated, data quality models specific to this context are necessary. In this chapter, we will introduce a model for data quality in Web portals (PDQM). PDQM has been built upon the foundation of three key aspects: (1) a set of Web data quality attributes identified in the literature in this area, (2) data quality expectations of data consumers on the Internet, and (3) the functionalities that a Web portal may offer its users.
Impact of Broadband VoIP on Telecoms
Authors: Fraunholz Bardo , Unnithan Chandana
Published: May 2010

VoIP is a technology that has received much attention over the past few years. Speculations are rampant that it will be “the technology” for telecommunications of the future, as broadband gains mass market penetration in every nation. It holds the promise of ubiquity and eliminates the need for a separate infrastructure for telecommunications. In this chapter, we have undertaken a cross country analysis of two economies, Germany and India, at varied levels of broadband voice over internet protocol (VoIP) diffusion, to examine the future potential of this technology in the respective nations and their telecommunications industries. Our brief analysis revealed some valuable insights regarding the impact of VoIP in both economies which may prove to be useful for other economies and telecommunication industries.
Virtual Tour
Authors: Holler Melissa B.
Published: May 2010

Perhaps for the first time since the computer made its debut, the teacher is in the position to command the technology-based instructional resources used in the classroom. Gone are the days when teachers must rely solely on the expertise of computer professionals to create computer-assisted instruction. With the advent of the World Wide Web, creating student-centered, ageappropriate material rests in the hands of the classroom teacher. The Virtual Tour is the newest link to literally millions of content specific sites that supply images, sounds, and video media.
Achieving High Performance Outcomes through Trust in Virtual Teams
Authors: O’Neill Bonnie S. , Nilson Todd
Published: May 2010

Developing trust among team members is critical for achieving high performance outcomes. Recently, global business operations necessitated working in a team environment with colleagues outside traditional organizational boundaries, across distances, and across time zones. In this article, we discuss how human resource practices can support organizational initiatives when business operations mandate increased virtual teamwork. We examine the role of HR in enhancing relationship building and the development of trust among workers who may rarely, if ever, meet face-toface. Using research from teamwork, social exchange theory, and knowledge sharing, we discuss how four areas of human resources management—recruitment, training, performance appraisal, and compensation/reward— might combine with technology to facilitate the development of trust among virtual team members.
The Benefits of Using Technology in Human Resource Management
Authors: Parry Emma
Published: May 2010

The use of technology within human resource management has grown considerably over the last decade with the majority of organizations now using some form of HR information system (HRIS). For instance, in Europe, Watson-Wyatt (2002) found that 70% of the organizations surveyed used the Internet or Intranet to deliver HR services to employees with most respondents planning to enhance substantially their e-HR capabilities over the two years after the survey. In the UK alone, survey research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development in 2005 showed that 77% of organizations used an HRIS. Research from Cranfield School of Management in 2003 found an even higher proportion of companies using HRIS at 82%. An HRIS can perform a number of functions from the simple storage and communication of information, to more complex transactions. As technology advances, the range of functions that an HRIS can undertake increases. The use of HRIS can provide a number of benefits to the HR function, line managers, and the wider organization. On one level, the use of technology has been shown to lead to faster, more accurate and more efficient processes, and reduced HR costs. Technology can also be used to provide HR information and to enable managers and employees to perform simple HR tasks themselves. On another level, the use of HRIS to reduce the administrative and transactional burden on the HR function can lead to a change in the structure of HR and allow the function to play a more strategic role in the organization. The reasons behind an organization’s introduction of an HRIS may vary considerably from the need to facilitate efficient processes or cut costs, to improve communication and customer service, or the desire to create a shift in the role of the HR function from one that is mainly administrative to one that is more strategic. This chapter will discuss the potential impacts of technology on HRM in terms of the possible rationale behind the introduction of an HRIS. The chapter will draw on the past literature on HRIS as well as on case study research conducted by the author in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (Parry, Tyson, Selbie, & Leighton, 2006) to examine the possible components of a business case for HRIS and the benefits that such systems can potentially offer to an organization.
Consequences and Strategic Implications of Networked Enterprise and Human Resources
Authors: Jiménez-Zarco Ana Isabel , Martínez-Ruiz María Pilar , González-Benito Óscar
Published: May 2010

In the current environment, knowledge constitutes the starting point for the development of all economic and social agents’ activities and behaviors (Castells, 2000). Knowledge, as an internal resource, can be used intensively, which makes it possible to consider it as a productive factor as well as an important strategic element for obtaining a key source of competitive advantages (Vilaseca, Torrent-Sellens, & Jiménez Zarco, 2007). Certain works, such as the ones developed by Vilaseca et al. (2007) and others, consider the process of economic globalization, the demand changes, and the intensive use of ICT responsible for the emergence of an economy based on knowledge. Nevertheless, from a business point of view, the intensive use of ICT can be regarded as the most important factor. Thus, the globalization of markets together with the changes in demand are challenges, although the intensive use of ICT provides strength for responding to the new environmental changes and even transforming them into opportunities. Depending on the ability of firms to transform challenges into opportunities—which can be sometimes achieved through a systematic use of ICT—good results can be achieved. In order to face the growing complexity and competitiveness of the environment as well as give quick and suitable responses, the firm must consider ICT as an internal strategic factor (Bond & Houston. 2003). Hence, by favoring the accumulation and use of knowledge in all organizational activities and encouraging the organization’s flexibility, the use of ICT permits a quick adaptation of the organization to this new context as well as the development of customized competitive strategies. In contrast, the intensive use of ICT in organizations will not only influence the marketing, post-sales, and human resources departments (Vilaseca & Torrent, 2003), but also induce the development of new organizational, productive, strategic and managerial models. Thus, the intensive use of ICT facilitates both in the mmedium-and-long run the generation of more flexible schemes, more efficient and economical productive processes as well as strategic models based on the generation, processing, and use of information and knowledge (Johnson, Sohi, & Grewal, 2004).
Design and the Virtual Organization
Authors: Rodrigues Paula
Published: May 2010

The word design is of English origin and it is linked to the concept of plan or project, to ideas such as draw, intention, or configuration. The term implies the conjugation of two levels in permanent dynamic tension, the abstract level of conceiving/projecting and a more concrete, of giving form, materializing the idea. Furthermore the term does not refer only to manufactured objects; it can be used to refer to the design of a molecule, a structural arrangement, or the construction of curricula (Denis, 2000). It is also considered that a universal definition of design, valid independently of historical and socio cultural contexts, does not exist (Barnard, 1998). But, even if designing, as any other activity, is constrained by the social and cultural role assigned to the designer in a given society (Dormer, 1990; Downton, 2003; Manzini, 1993), that does not mean that we cannot present a general definition of design. So, although there are different areas of intervention for the designer, from common objects, to visual and verbal communications, services, systems, and environments, we can consider design as the conception and planning of the artificial (Margolin, 1995), having in mind the direct consequences for the consumer/user of this way of given material form to an idea (Bonsiepe,1999).
Developing B2B Virtual Enterprises
Authors: Alkhatib Ghazi , Maamar Zakaria
Published: May 2010

Nowadays, Web services are emerging as a major technology for achieving automated interactions between distributed and heterogeneous applications (Benatallah, Sheng, & Dumas, 2003). Various technologies are behind this achievement including WSDL, UDDI, and SOAP1. (Curbera, Duftler, Khalaf et. al. 2002) These technologies aim at supporting the definition of services2, their advertisement, and their binding for triggering purposes. The advantages of Web services have already been demonstrated and highlight their capacity to be composed into high-level business process (Benatallah et al., 2003). Usually, composite services (CS) denote business processes and are meant to be offered to users who have needs to satisfy.
Dialectical Discourse Management through Online Collaboration
Authors: Passerini Katia
Published: May 2010

This chapter presents experiences of time-limited networked forums created for the purposes of sharing views and insights on specific development topics (through fixed-length, Internet-based conferences), gathering wider feedback and broadening participation. It illustrates the effectiveness, represented by global outreach and frequency of interactions, of the communication medium in stimulating an online dialectic dialogue involving multiple stakeholders. The experience described represents an example of time and scope-based online interactions in a distributed community. This distributed virtual network is organized and temporarily brought together for ad hoc and timebound knowledge exchange. The chapter summarizes experiences that can be replicated to solicit knowledge creation and sharing across multiple domains.
Enterprise Cost/Benefit Risk Analysis Using FMEA
Authors: Cunha Maria Manuela , Putnik Goran D.
Published: May 2010

A large body of knowledge covering enterprise integration architectures, modelling, and methodologies (EIAM&M) has been developed covering various types of enterprises. Most viewpoints have been either static or cycle based, with the major drivers being design and implementation of computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) plant and major engineering projects including virtual enterprises (Bernus & Nemes, 1996, p. 377- 450; Whitman & Huff, 1997; Williams, Rathwell, & Li, 2001).
An Exploratory Analysis of the Role of Emotions in E-Learning
Authors: Rentroia-Bonito M. A. , Jorge J. , Ghaoui C.
Published: May 2010

Technology-rich environments are assuming a key role in the individual learning processes. Still, one of the major IT challenges identified in the education field is to establish e-learning as a credible and viable complement to face-to-face education. This represents a paradigm shift in the way of learning, which is driving changes at individual, process, institutional, and societal levels. However, despite last-decade advances in the application of usability principles in system design, there is still a need to better understand the people-technology fit in learning contexts. Current results, gaps, and issues define the challenges that dictate new requirements. Among these new requirements, minimizing the impact of the distance factor on communication and learning effectiveness calls for alternatives approaches. Due to the importance of communication among instructor and students in learning, the scope of this work focuses on exploring the role of emotions within the user and learning-support technology fit.
ExtraPlanT as a Multi-Agent System for Extra-Enterprise Collaboration
Authors: Vokrínek Jiri , Hodík Jiri , Pechoucek Michal , Becvár Petr , Pospíšil Jiri
Published: May 2010

The ExtraPlanT system addresses the concept of the extra-enterprise production planning in order to manage efficient resource allocation not only within the enterprise, but also at the company external environments (e.g., suppliers, co-operators involved in the supply chain, or virtual organization environments).
Fair Distribution of Collaboration Benefits
Authors: Abreu António , Camarinha-Mato Luis M.
Published: May 2010

The participation in a collaborative network of enterprises is commonly assumed to bring valuable benefits to the involved entities (Afsarmanesh, Marik, & Camarinha- Matos, 2004; Axelroad, 1984; Dussauge & Garrette, 1999; Nemes & Mo, 2004; Penã & Arroyabe, 2002; Pfeffer & Salancik, 1978; Tuomi, 2003). These benefits include an increase of the “survival capability” in a context of market turbulence but also the possibility of better achieving common goals (Camarinha-Matos & Abreu, 2004; Richter, 2000; Saveri, Rheingold, & Pang, 2004). On the basis of these expectations are, among others, the following factors: acquisition of a (virtual) higher dimension, access to new/wider markets and new knowledge, sharing of risks and resources, joining of complementary skills and capacities, and so forth. But it is also easily recognizable that collaboration introduces high overheads due to the transaction costs (Williamson, 1975, 1985, 1998) which induce higher coordination costs and also due to the diversity of working methods and corporate culture.
Human Factors for Networked and Virtual Organizations
Authors: Lasnik Vincent E.
Published: May 2010

One of the central problems and corresponding challenges facing the multi-disciplinary field of networked and virtual organizations has been in the construction of theory-grounded, research-based taxonomies for prescribing what particular strategies and approaches should be employed when, how, and in what combination to be most effective and efficient for specific business domains, organizational structures, and enterprise- wide performance objectives.
Improving Customer Relations through E-Commerce
Authors: Rodriguez Alexander O. , Dologite Dorothy G. , Mockler Robert J. , Gartenfeld Marc E.
Published: May 2010

Technological advances have been encountered by managers continually over the years. electronic data interchange system (EDI), extensible markup language (XML), e-mail, the Internet, and e-commerce are just a few that have contributed to the proliferation of new business applications in companies. This article focuses on customer relationship management (CRM) e-commerce applications. Customer relations are an important aspect of the success of any business. By strengthening relationships with customers, a company ultimately can gain a more loyal customer base, further strengthen its brand recognition, and help customers distinguish a company’s product from those of the competition.
Improving User Satisfaction in VO through Systems Usability
Authors: de Sá Dulce Magalhaes
Published: May 2010

The Web-based information systems regarded as a specific type of information system (IS) bring significant advantages to organizations and users because they are tools to manage, disseminate, and obtain knowledge. The advantages or benefits include creation of added value to goods and services, greater safety, better service, competitive advantage, error reduction, improved product quality, improved communication, efficiency, and productivity, greater administrative efficiency, more opportunities, cost reduction, reduction in labor requirements, stronger support to decision-making, stricter control over operations, and better decision choices (Stair, 1996).
Industrial Web Portal for Remote Supervisory Control
Authors: Landryová Lenka , Zolotová Iveta
Published: May 2010

The Web-based environment provides a platform for creating inquiry science projects for students to work out tasks using evidence and resources from the Web. Such projects are typically developed with the help of a user-friendly interface by teams of teachers, post graduate students and researchers. Projects in Webbased environments can also incorporate data collection, graphics, resource sharing, and other built-in components. They are entirely browser-based, meaning that students only need access to a computer with an Internet connection, with no required software other than the Web browser. Student accounts must be created and coordinated.
Information Disasters in Networked Organizations
Authors: Morales Josep Cobarsí
Published: May 2010

Most disasters, such as wars, massacres or cultural meltdown, are generated or made worse by human acts. For thousands of years, man-made disasters have often been more destructive than those caused by nature, such as hurricanes, floods or earthquakes. Information mismanagement is a major cause of man-made disasters. Incidents and errors are common and inevitable in any system or environment involving humans, and constitute potential threats. Nonetheless, serious damage can be prevented by providing decision- makers with key data in time or by presenting key information in a usable and useful way. In many complex socio-technical contexts and situations, optimal practical prevention is not easy. The late industrial age saw a wide range of man-made disasters, where information mismanagement was the major cause of many catastrophic events, typically produced as the result a massive and unexpected surge of energy—a conceptual framework was established by Turner (1978). In the knowledge society’s information intensive organizations and environments, information disasters will be the most common and far-reaching, catalysed by a much greater degree of interconnection and a higher likelihood of situations of information overload. The results may not always be as tangible as energy, and may be as intangible as damage to an organization’s prestige, for instance. The need to update the framework for man-made disasters was stressed by a number of authors in the 1990s. A summary of the efforts to update this framework and some key ideas from recent studies and bibliography are set out in the following.
The ISSAAC Model of Virtual Organization
Authors: Travica Bob
Published: May 2010

Modeling of virtual organization (VO) can be a useful method of making sense of a plethora of organizations that are proclaimed to be “virtual,” “virtualized,” or to exhibit “virtualness.” Since the advent of these notions (Byrne, 1993; Davidow & Malone, 1992; Mowshowitz, 1994), an enormous proliferation of VOs has followed in theory and practice across academic disciplines and industries. Being “virtual” had almost become a fashion embraced by corporations and other businesses, groups of organizations engaged in cooperation/collaboration or trading, libraries, schools, government organizations, non-government organizations, churches, museums, and so on. The implication of these developments is that it has become difficult to reach an agreement on what VO is beyond the customary agreement at a lexical level. Lexically, the virtual character refers to a potentiality and effect that divert from the actual appearance of a virtual thing (Webster, 1988). Thus, a VO is an effect of interaction of what in fact are different organizations or constituents of organizations (groups and individuals). Introduced by inventors of VO, this axiom has remained undisputed to date.
Key Concepts and Protocols in E-Voting
Authors: Joaquim Rui F.L.
Published: May 2010

With today’s technology, it is possible to improve the decision support of our networked and virtual organizations. More specific we are talking about e-voting systems, namely Internet voting systems, which are a convenient way to express actors’ will and/or opinion with all properties of traditional voting, such as: accuracy, democracy, privacy, and verifiability. To look at e-voting systems only as a modern way to conduct political or private organizations’ elections is diminutive of its potential. Whenever people’s privacy is at stake e-voting expertise can come in hand. Examples of such scenarios are quality surveys to improve service quality, for instance banks and other private or public service entities; health related surveys, for instance sexual behavior survey to help in the creation of a plan to fight sexual transmitted diseases, and teaching quality surveys to help adapt classes’ content to students’ needs.
Knowledge Communities and Interorganizational Networks
Authors: Simões Dora , Soares António Lucas
Published: May 2010

Virtual communities and interorganizational networks are both overloaded concepts. Although it is assumed that they are related, there is some lack of clarity in their scientific and professional use. In this article, a contribution for the differentiation between the concepts of virtual knowledge community and interorganizational network is made, and we also shown how intertwined they are. Furthermore, we explain how communities can emerge from networks and discuss their main management issues. Finally, some definitions of related key terms are given.
Knowledge Transfer in G2G Endeavors
Authors: Joia Luiz Antonio
Published: May 2010

Since the beginning of the 1980s, a movement was fomented by academics and executives to use information and communication technology (ICT) not only as a tool for processing data more rapidly, but also as a powerful strategic weapon. The need to use ICT as an enabler for reformulating old processes, rather than simply automating existing practices, was perceived by these academics and executives (see, for instance, Davenport & Short, 1990; Venkatraman, 1994).
Learning Object Evaluation
Authors: Morales Erla M. , García Francisco J. , Barrón Ángela
Published: May 2010

One of the biggest challenges to knowledge management systems (KMS) is the great importance that many organizations have given to obtaining information rather than to its retrieval. As a result, users face the problem of having large quantities of information and many difficulties retrieving the information they really need. Through an e-learning repository we can find a myriad of content from academic research and contributions, but how to guarantee and manage their content’s quality?
Management of a Virtual Construction Management Services Company
Authors: Alsakini Wafa , Kiiras Juhani , Huovinen Pekka
Published: May 2010

Networking is the organizational form of the information age. Network organizations signify a form of collaboration designed to facilitate economic exchange and to provide an environment for interaction between people (social exchange). Economic actors are likely to sacrifice some of their own preferences in the pursuit of collective goals (Fleisch & Österle, 2000; Franke, 2001). Network organizations are characterized by (1) a purpose and shared goals unifying members, (2) independent members benefiting from being part of a whole, (3) voluntary links between members, (4) multiple leaders providing greater resilience, and (5) many levels integrating organizations, units, and people. From an intra-organizational perspective, networks are the collections of individuals and sub-units within one and the same organizational boundaries. From an interorganizational perspective, networks are the collections of more or less independent individual economic actors such as, companies, institutions, and research organizations (Franke, 2001). Three network types involve (1) internal networks as the loose associations of autonomous groups and teams, (2) stable networks where focal firms engage in long-term relationships with external suppliers or partners, and (3) dynamic networks as the temporary alliances of independent firms with key skills usually organized around a leading or brokering firm based on the exploitation of market opportunities.
Management of Distributed Project Teams in Networks
Authors: van Fenema Paul C. , Oshri Ilan , Kotlarsky Julia
Published: May 2010

Today’s global economy depends on intra- and interorganizational distributed teams consisting of diversely specialized professionals for creating value in networks (DeSanctis & Fulk, 1999; Gerwin & Ferris, 2004), relying on accessible information and communication technologies (ICT) and infrastructures (Sobol & Apte, 1995). Distributed project teams represent a common organizational form for developing, connecting, and deploying diverse sources of expertise (Kotlarsky & Oshri, 2005). Resources in newly developed economies such as China and India are connected with those in developed countries in industries like software development, car manufacturing, electronics, transportation, pharmaceutical research, and business services. Noncommercial examples of distributed projects include education (Cramton, 2001), disaster response, global disease control, and (regional) policy development.
A Managerial Perspective of Mobile VoIP
Authors: Raisinghani Mahesh S.
Published: May 2010

Voice over IP (VoIP) is the convergence of Internet technology and mobile telephones that offers low-cost voice communication services. It is still in its infancy but has a potential to be adopted by masses in the future, as the technology matures. VoIP is a technology that is used to make telephone calls using a broadband internet connection instead of a regular phone line. There are some services that allow the users to make calls to other people with the same service; other services allow the user to make calls to any number (FCC Web site). VoIP traffic can be deployed on any IP network. It also includes the ones not having connection with the rest of the Internet such as local area network (LAN) (Wikepedia.org).
Market of Resources
Authors: Cunha Maria Manuela , Putnik Goran D.
Published: May 2010

In the actual context of fast change, uncertainty, and competition, one of the most important factors of competitiveness is the organizations’ capability of fast adaptability to the market, which implies the ability of flexible access to the optimal resources (products, operations, services) for each of the functions that the organization undertakes in order to produce a product that meets the market requirements. This factor, together with the capability to manage all business and manufacturing functions, independently of distance, is achieved through the emerging agile/virtual enterprise (A/VE) organizational model, a particular case of the virtual enterprise organizational model. Partners (resources providers) search, negotiation, selection of optimal solutions, establishment of contracts and integration of the A/VE, enforcement of contracts, and so forth are complex and risky activities required by this model (see the articles “Market of Resources for Virtual Enterprise Integration” and “Market of Resources: Cost and Effort Model” in this publication).
Measures of Network Structure
Authors: Calinescu Ani , Efstathiou Janet
Published: May 2010

Networked systems, natural or designed, have always been part of life. Their sophistication degree and complexity have increased through either natural evolution or technological progress. However, recent theoretical results have shown that a previously unexpected number of different classes of networks share similar network architectures and universal laws. Examples of such networks include metabolic pathways and ecosystems, the Internet and the World Wide Web, and organizational, social, and neural networks. Complex systems-related research questions investigated by researchers nowadays include: how consciousness arises out of the interactions of the neurons in the brain and between the brain and the environment (Amaral & Ottino, 2004; Barabási, 2005; Barabási & Oltvai, 2004; Neuman, 2003b) and how this understanding could be used for designing networked organizations or production networks whose behavior satisfies a given specification.
Mobile Virtual Communities of Commuters
Authors: Kawash Jalal , Morr Christo El , Taha Hamza , Charaf Wissam
Published: May 2010

Commuting forms an integral part of our lives, whether we are commuting for leisure or business. The use of location-based services and mobile computing has potentials to improve commuting experience and awareness. For instance, printed bus schedules have been only recently complemented with online systems to provide bus timing information for the community of public transport commuters. Commuters can nowadays inquire about bus timings by the use of telephony systems and the Internet. However, the information provided to users is statically produced, just like the still in-use old fashion bus route tables, and does not take into consideration delays and cancellations. The next step in the evolution of these schedules must produce live information, track bus movements, and alert commuters of bus arrivals and timings. The experience of commuting using taxis can also be improved beyond the use of telephony, while the most common way of asking for a taxi continues to be by hand waiving. Such improvements are more crucial for commuters that are not completely aware of their surrounding environment, such as tourists and business visitors. This article envisions the formation of networked organizations of commuters, through the use of mobile and location-based services. We discuss scenarios and use cases of such organizations and propose an example software implementation for the supporting services.
Morphology and Entropy in Networks
Authors: van Asseldonk Ton , den Hartigh Erik , Berger Leon
Published: May 2010

This article concerns the relation between the morphology (concentration and connectivity) and the entropy of networked structures. We will introduce the network morphology concept, we will address two approaches to network characterization--traditional network measures and the concept of entropy--and we will link the entropy concept to the network characteristics. It will be shown that entropy will grow steeply if a certain balance between connectivity and concentration is disturbed. It is known from theory that the morphology of a business network, be within an organization or between organizations, greatly affects the behavior of agents in the network (Ahuja, 2000; Burt, 1992; Coleman, 1988; Gulati, 1999; Powell, Koput, & Smith-Doerr, 1996; Walker, Kogut & Shan 1997). Also it is known that the morphology of networks is an important determinant of the extent of innovation diffusion (Abrahamson & Rosenkopf, 1997; Den Hartigh, 2005). It is therefore important to explore further some basic notions of network morphology.
Nature-Inspired Cooperative Strategies for Optimization
Authors: González Juan R. , Sancho-Royo Alejandro , Pelta David A. , Cruz Carlos
Published: May 2010

Biological entities (ranging from bacteria to humans) can engage in many and varied types of social interaction, from altruistic cooperation to open conflict. A paradigmatic case of social interaction is cooperative problem solving (CPS), where a group of autonomous entities work together to achieve a common goal. For example, we might find a group of people working together to move a heavy object, play a symphony, choose a business strategy, or write a joint paper. CPS has been studied by researchers from a variety of areas such as distributed A. I., soft computing, economics, philosophy, organization science, and the social and natural sciences among others.
Navigation at the Internet Front Line
Authors: Medeni Tunç D. , Nahar Nurun , Medeni Tolga , Zrelli Saber
Published: May 2010

“Internet” is an instance of a virtual and networked organization. We understand the meanings of virtual and network, however, in a broader sense than the specific meaning of information and computer technology (ICT). This chapter, in fact, is based on the interplay between such specific and general meaning associations. As a result of this interplay with the concepts of virtual and networked organizations and technologies, some emerging issues about Internet, as well as “NVOs” will be brought up. Our comments on these issues will hopefully draw attention to certain aspects of the Internet as one important example of the networked and virtual organizations. Some of these aspects would normally be considered as less related to scientific studies or knowledge than to other studies, or bodies of knowledge. For instance, some resources that we incorporate into our discussion are considered (social) science fiction.
Negotiation Support Systems and Teams in VO
Authors: Guo Xiaojia , Lim John
Published: May 2010

Virtual organizations (VO) have become a reality in response to the rapidly changing demands of today’s business environment characterized by globalization and market competitiveness. VO have often been considered a subset of the much older research area of networked organizations. There are almost as many definitions of VO as there are researchers. However, we find Bultje and van Vijk’s (1998) definition to be encompassing, which highlights the business orientation of VO. According to them, a virtual organization is primarily a network of independent, geographically dispersed organizations with a partial mission overlap, within which all partners provide their own core competencies to deliver innovative and strongly customer-based products and services.
Network Effects
Authors: den Hartigh Erik
Published: May 2010

From the 1980s, network effects attracted a lot of interest in economics and management sciences. This was mainly due to the work of Arthur (e.g., 1988, 1989, 1990). While the subject of increasing returns to scale in companies had a long tradition in economics, network effects (i.e., increasing returns in markets) had hardly been addressed.
Networked Memex Based on Personal Digital Library
Authors: Guan S. , Zhang X.
Published: May 2010

Memex (Bush, 1945) became an influential ideal and was hailed as the inspiration for hypertext and other new ways for information retrieval and organization. To deal with the explosion of scientific information, Bush’s proposal for Memex focused on the problems of “locating relevant information in the published record and recording how that information was intellectually connected” (Bush, 1945). The expansion of information will be more and more serious as the Internet grows and most future computers are network-based. Thus, researchers have to consider the problems of “locating relevant published records in the published machines and recording how those records are intellectually connected.”
The New Process of Work
Authors: do Rosario de Almeida Maria
Published: May 2010

Toward the end of the twentieth century, more specifically in the 1990s, many organizations initiated changes in the way they used space and time. New methods of working emerged that gave some organizations the possibility of integrating the physical work environment into their business processes, increasing the occupation density of any given space while simultaneously creating more effective working spaces that promoted interactivity and communication (Comisión Europea, 2002).
The NGO Forum
Authors: Nahar Nurun , Medeni Tunç D. , Medeni Tolga
Published: May 2010

This article examines the unique characteristics of the NGO forum as a networked organization, that is, an organization structure that relies on multiparty cooperative relationships between people across structural, temporal and geographic boundaries. It studies the working methodology of the forum to discover the knowledge creation process and how such an organization utilizes its experience and knowledge work to be a successful development partner with all concerned stakeholders. Moreover, communication among forum stakeholders is not the result of random, but deliberate interactions done in the manner of a community of practice (CoP), which in turn is a part of the epistemic community that is influencing the national, global policies on water and sanitation. The study also brings out that an “environmental information system” is very important for it to function as a networked organization.
Ontologies for Collaborative Networked Organizations
Authors: Plisson Joël , Ljubic Peter , Mozetic Igor , Lavrac Nada
Published: May 2010

It is commonly agreed that networking, as a new way of collaboration, brings benefit to its members (Camarinha- Matos & Afsarmanesh, 2005). Collaboration implies communication and sharing of knowledge between network participants. However, as the participants may be from different fields or may follow a different problem solving philosophy, it is necessary to introduce a mechanism to share common understanding of the information and to agree on a controlled vocabulary used for communication. An ontology provides a representation of knowledge, which can be used and re-used, in order to facilitate the comprehension of concepts and relationships in a given domain, and the communication between different domain actors, by making the domain assumptions explicit. These actors can be either software agents or people that need to access or share a piece of information (Gruber, 1993).
Outsourcing and Strategic Outsourcing
Authors: Dahab Sonia , Amaral Filipe
Published: May 2010

The production of a good or service frequently requires that the supplier performs a wide range of activities. The coordination between those activities implies that the firm must determine its boundaries, which means that it must define the supply chain activities that will be performed internally, and those that will be trusted to external suppliers. The process of obtaining goods and services from outside suppliers, instead of developing them within the organization, is called outsourcing (Anderson & Naurus, 1991).
Pair Modeling
Authors: Kamthan Pankaj
Published: May 2010

We model software for a variety of reasons: to assess the viability of or plan software systems to be built, to optimize use of (minimize, or ideally, avoid waste of) resources in response to inevitable changes in business, social, or technological environments, or simply to understand existing software systems. Indeed, as indicated by the model-driven approach to software development (Beydeda, Book, & Gruhn, 2005), models are becoming first-class members of organizations and software process environments that embrace them. The examples of collaboration in implementation of software are well-known (Nosek, 1998; Williams & Kessler, 2003). As models get large and complex, the need for creating them collaboratively in a systematic manner arises, and we propose pair modeling as an approach.
Perception of VO Reliability
Authors: Kisielnicki Jerzy , Ochinowski Tomasz
Published: May 2010

This article puts forward a thesis on the effectiveness of virtual organizations for profit, along with a preliminary test and discussion. In all likelihood, effectiveness is strongly influenced by ethical features stemming from universal values (see Damon, 2004; Küng, 2002; Seligman 2004). It is widely believed that the main problem in virtual organizations concerning ethics is reliability and its psychological equivalent—trust, both within the organization and among its electorate.