bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DNA Libraries for the Construction of Phage Libraries: Statistical and Structural Requirements and Synthetic Methods
Authors: Lindner Thomas , Kolmar Harald , Haberkorn Uwe , Mier Walter
Published: February 2011

Peptide-based molecular probes identified by bacteriophage (phage) display technology expand the peptide repertoire for in vivo diagnosis and therapy of cancer. Numerous peptides that bind cancer-associated antigens have been discovered by panning phage libraries. However, until now only few of the peptides selected by phage display have entered clinical applications. The success of phage derived peptides essentially depends on the quality of the library screened. This review summarizes the methods to achieve highly homogenous libraries that cover a maximal sequence space. Biochemical and chemical strategies for the synthesis of DNA libraries and the techniques for their integration into the viral genome are discussed in detail. A focus is set on the methods that enable the exclusion of disturbing sequences. In addition, the parameters that define the variability, the minimal numbers of copies per library and the use of alternating panning cycles to avoid the loss of selected hits are evaluated.
Ultrasonic and LIDAR Sensors for Electronic Canopy Characterization in Vineyards: Advances to Improve Pesticide Application Methods
Authors: Llorens Jordi , Gil Emilio , Llop Jordi , Escolà Alexandre
Published: February 2011

Canopy characterization is a key factor to improve pesticide application methods in tree crops and vineyards. Development of quick, easy and efficient methods to determine the fundamental parameters used to characterize canopy structure is thus an important need. In this research the use of ultrasonic and LIDAR sensors have been compared with the traditional manual and destructive canopy measurement procedure. For both methods the values of key parameters such as crop height, crop width, crop volume or leaf area have been compared. Obtained results indicate that an ultrasonic sensor is an appropriate tool to determine the average canopy characteristics, while a LIDAR sensor provides more accuracy and detailed information about the canopy. Good correlations have been obtained between crop volume (CVU) values measured with ultrasonic sensors and leaf area index, LAI (R2 = 0.51). A good correlation has also been obtained between the canopy volume measured with ultrasonic and LIDAR sensors (R2 = 0.52). Laser measurements of crop height (CHL) allow one to accurately predict the canopy volume. The proposed new technologies seems very appropriate as complementary tools to improve the efficiency of pesticide applications, although further improvements are still needed.
La responsabilité sociale de l'entreprise (RSE) comme discours ambigu
Authors: Pesqueux Yvon
Published: February 2011

Résumé La responsabilité sociale de l’entreprise (RSE) peut être considérée comme un discours au sens plein du terme, c’est-à-dire venant créer les « éléments de réalité » allant dans le sens du discours, mais aussi comme « prison » des directions des grandes entreprises, prisonnières de ce discours dans une forme de circularité « contenu du discours – éléments de réalité produits par le discours ». Et pourtant, une importante littérature aussi bien professionnelle qu’académique s’est développée autour de la RSE, littérature principalement zélatrice du discours au nom des « éléments de réalité » produits. Ce texte est construit sur l’argumentation suivante : après avoir rappelé les contours de l’« évidence éthique » de la fin du 20 e siècle, « évidence éthique » fondatrice du discours de la RSE, les éléments saillants de l’idéologie du « moment libéral » seront présentés puis les contours de la RSE avant d’envisager la RSE comme un discours ambigu. Codes JEL : M1, M38, M59
Responsabilité sociale de l'entreprise, comité d'entreprise européen et négociation collective transnationale
Authors: Barreau Jocelyne , Arnal Juliette
Published: February 2011

Résumé Les liens entre le mouvement de responsabilisation sociale de l’entreprise et l’instauration de comités d’entreprise européens (CEe) sont supposés étroits. Ces deux démarches ont en commun le passage par une négociation collective transnationale et la conclusion d’un accord cadre européen ou d’un accord cadre international (ACI), par obligation légale pour la création d’un CEe, par option choisie de plus en plus fréquemment pour l’engagement d’une entreprise dans une démarche RSE. Nous étudions dans cet article les négociations transnationales menées au sein du groupe Accor. Elles ont eu pour résultats la création précoce d’une instance européenne de consultation des salariés (octobre 1994), puis d’un CEe (juin 1996) et la conclusion du second accord cadre international (juin 1995). L’analyse de ces processus de négociation transnationale et de leurs résultats permet-elle d’identifier un engagement RSE de la direction de l’entreprise ou de mettre en exergue une stratégie de communication d’entreprise, adoptée sans volonté de la direction de s’engager sur le plan social et environnemental ?
De flux et de reflux
Authors: Potamianou Anna
Published: February 2011

Résumé Cette discussion du rapport de F. Coblence envisage les questions suivantes : les caractéristiques de la vie d’âme en appuyant surtout sur le processuel et les mouvements psychiques ; les rapports entre le somatique et le psychique en termes de flux et reflux d’investissement ou de la mise en œuvre d’une énergie disqualifiée ; la problématique du pulsionnel ainsi que celle de l’étendue et de l’espace psychique ; le rôle de l’objet par rapport au potentiel gestionnaire de l’ infans .
Notes sur l'âme, l'incarnation, l'affect et l'hallucinatoire
Authors: Lavallée Guy
Published: February 2011

Résumé La notion d’âme « plus corporelle que l’esprit » (F. Coblence) est d’abord interrogée dans ses rapports à « l’incarnation » de certains patients dans l’analyse et à la « recorporation » des grandes souffrances psychiques. La place clef de l’affect et de son quantum d’hallucinatoire positif ou négatif y est soulignée. Puis l’auteur propose de concevoir que l’hallucinatoire serait à la source de la notion d’âme. Le texte se clôt sur l’approche de la mort dans ses rapports à l’hallucinatoire : le moi y est parfois sacrifié au profit de la vie d’âme dans une solution délirante. L’âme devient alors synonyme de « noyau vivant » ultime rempart contre la mort psychique et somatique.
Gorge chaude
Authors: Khoury Maurice
Published: February 2011

Résumé Ce texte expose une situation clinique qui montre le discours hautement « corporéisé » d’une analysante, discours saisi par le travail de symbolisation et d’élaboration psychique au fur et à mesure du déploiement du processus analytique. L’auteur s’arrête plus particulièrement sur la représentation paradigmatique de la « gorge » – chair informe et étrangement inquiétante – qu’il lie aux deux premières gorges de l’Histoire de la psychanalyse : celle d’Irma et celle de Dora.
Chorégraphies du corps
Authors: Lindenmeyer Cristina
Published: February 2011

Résumé Ce texte explore le corps engagé dans les mouvements du dehors et du dedans, de l’intérieur et l’extérieur, redonnant une place prépondérante au corps à corps initial avec l’autre. Mouvements qui engagent l’instauration de la sexualité et ses conséquences, dans des processus conflictuels inconscients. Deux vignettes cliniques illustreront la sollicitation du corps à mettre en scène les contradictions intrapsychiques.
Modalités de l'interprétation dans l'approche de la psyché corporelle
Authors: Richard François
Published: February 2011

Résumé Cette contribution cherche à dégager la spécificité des modalités de l’interprétation avec les patients présentant des fonctionnements limites compliqués par des décompensations somatiques, à partir des rapports de M. Aisenstein et de F. Coblence, et d’une reprise de certains textes de S. Freud et de D.W. Winnicott. Les dimensions de reconnaissance et d’implication de l’analyste sont particulièrement soulignées.
Défaillance de la psychisation du corps chez le bébé non câlin
Authors: Szwec Gérard
Published: February 2011

Résumé L’auteur traite des ratages de la psychisation du corps à travers l’exemple du bébé non câlin qui cherche à se passer prématurément de sa mère. Sa conduite paraît répondre à un impératif de désengagement objectal qui dénature sa vie pulsionnelle. La recherche du calme par épuisement établit un ancrage antiérotique dans le corps. Ce fonctionnement remplace le fonctionnement psychique issu de l’ancrage du pulsionnel dans l’instinctuel. C’est le corps physiologique qui est alors en première ligne, avec un risque accru de désorganisation somatique.
Des transferts entre psyché, cognition et soma
Authors: Cléopas Iacovos
Published: February 2011

Résumé Cet article propose une approche de la dimension transitionnelle de la relation entre psyché, cognition et soma, à partir de l’exemple clinique d’une patiente aphasique.
Plasticité cérébrale et liens somatopsychiques
Authors: Lechevalier Bernard
Published: February 2011

Résumé L’existence d’une plasticité cérébrale s’oppose à la conception d’un cerveau fixe et immuable ; des exemples montrent que son organisation fonctionnelle peut se modifier dans certaines circonstances : suppléance de l’hémisphère cérébral gauche lésé, siège du langage, chez l’aphasique par l’hémisphère droit ; récupération de la surface de projection normale des mains sur le cortex après l’allogreffe des deux mains et chez le sujet sain : nombreux exemples d’asymétrie de la représentation corticale d’une main d’avantage utilisée que l’autre (musiciens) et surtout, contrairement à la théorie classique, découverte récente d’une production de nouveaux neurones dans la substance blanche de l’adulte pouvant migrer à distance vers un foyer lésionnel. La plasticité cérébrale contribue donc au lien somatopsychique, à l’échelon microscopique, elle est un des éléments de la mémoire et de la conscience.
La norme ISO 26000 relative à la responsabilité sociétale : une nouvelle source d'usages internationaux
Authors: Cadet Isabelle
Published: February 2011

ISO 26000 NORM ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY : A NEW SOURCE OF CUSTOMARY LAW Sustainable development concerns have conducted to build an international system of reference recognised by most of the economic actors. With the objective of taking into account the interests of all stakeholders, and also the needs of the present and future generations, the “social responsibility guidelines” have been created. What could possibly be the “legal status” or the place in the legal hierarchy, of the norm ISO 26000 among the 17000 standards issued by the ISO since its creation in 1946 ? Private by its origin, this socio-political standard, can’t leave the scholar indifferent in a context of a globalized world where converging initiatives by private and public actors, aiming at regulating the economic activities, have lead to the emergence of a new form of intervention of the States and the International Institutions in the market. With this new and innovative standardisation process set forth by ISO 26000, which is based on a large consensus, we seem to be witnessing the emergence, or the formalisation, of an international custom. In addition, the universal impact of this “metanorm” raises the question of its potential legal effects and its interface with the “lex mercatoria”, or more generally, to international economic law.
« Politiste et socialiste ». Une politique d'enquête au PS
Authors: Lefebvre Rémi
Published: February 2011

Résumé L’article propose une réflexion sur les effets d’un double statut d’observateur et de militant sur l’étude ethnographique du parti socialiste. Il s’attache à montrer les profits de recherche tirés de cette position mais aussi ses écueils et limites. Les conduites des acteurs observés sont toujours biaisées par l’attribution de rôles. Ces prescriptions de rôles sont sans doute plus fluides et contradictoires dans le cas considéré. Cette renégociation dans le temps prend une forme particulière dans la mesure où la double identité exerce des injonctions fortes à la restitution des travaux aux acteurs.
Le phénomène de l'hésitation selon Paul Ricœur
Authors: Boyer Alain
Published: February 2011

Résumé En 1950, Paul Ricœur publia une imposante Philosophie de la volonté , vite brocardée par la vague structuraliste et les critiques de toute « philosophie de la conscience ». On y trouve notamment une analyse du phénomène de l’hésitation qui contient bien des éléments encore pertinents. Phénomène bien connu, l’hésitation n’a pas été vraiment thématisée en tant que telle, même si, comme le montre Ricœur, l’histoire de la philosophie est susceptible d’aider à le faire. Mais le doute cartésien, par exemple, n’est guère hésitant. Ce chapitre fourmille d’analyses denses mais claires, d’allusions qu’il faut expliciter, de métaphores « vives » très riches, qui permettent de concevoir un sujet se cherchant dans l’hésitation avant de se choisir dans la décision. Il y a là un concept indispensable à toute théorie de l’action.
Investigating water distribution in the Luitel Lake peat bog using MRS, ERT and GPR
Authors: Legchenko Anatoly , Clément Rémi , Garambois Stéphane , Maury Etienne , Mic Lisa‐Maria , Laurent Jean‐Paul , Desplanque Carole , Guyard Hélène
Published: February 2011

In this paper we present the results of a geophysical study of water distribution in the peat bog at Luitel Lake. The goal of the study was to determine water distribution within the bog, which is part of a protected nature preserve. The small peat bog (17 ha) provides a good test site for developing and testing surface geophysical methods. For this study we used magnetic resonance sounding (MRS), electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and ground‐penetrating radar (GPR). Because the water distribution in the bog is a 2D target for MRS, we had to develop a measuring procedure and 2D inversion routine for MRS. The fieldwork consisted in establishing seventeen MRS stations and conducting three ERT profiles and one GPR line. The MRS, ERT and GPR results on the reservoir geometry correlated well with each other. Pine and birch trees cover most of the bog surface but they have not yet populated the centre of the bog, the location where the maximum water content was observed. This result agrees well with vegetation distribution in the study area: at the centre of the bog, vegetation is typical of a swampy environment but outside the centre the vegetation is typical of a forest. According to MRS, the water content of the peat formation at the centre of the bog is 60–70%, whereas GPR estimated the water content to be between 64–70%. Outside the centre, MRS showed the water content of the peat to be about 30%.
Biomolecular Computing Devices in Synthetic Biology
Authors: Miró Jesús M. , Rodríguez-Patón Alfonso
Published: February 2011

Synthetic biology and biomolecular computation are disciplines that fuse when it comes to designing and building information processing devices. In this chapter, we study several devices that are representative of this fusion. These are three gene circuits implementing logic gates, a DNA nanodevice and a biomolecular automaton. The operation of these devices is based on gene expression regulation, the so-called competitive hybridization and the workings of certain biomolecules like restriction enzymes or regulatory proteins. Synthetic biology, biomolecular computation, systems biology and standard molecular biology concepts are also defined to give a better understanding of the chapter. The aim is to acquaint readers with these biomolecular devices born of the marriage between synthetic biology and biomolecular computation.
Cyberbullying Among High School Students
Authors: Aoyama Ikuko , Barnard-Brak Lucy , Talbert Tony L.
Published: February 2011

Bullying, a typical occurrence in schools, has gone digital. As a result, cyberbullying has become ever more present among youth. The current study aimed to classify high school students into four groups based on their cyberbullying experiences and to examine the characteristics of these groups based on the sex and age of the participants and the level of parental monitoring. Participants were 133 high school students located in central Texas. A cluster analysis revealed four distinct groups of students who were “highly involved both as bully and victim,” “more victim than bully,” “more bully than victim,” or “least involved.” Significantly more girls and more students in lower grades were classified into the “more victim than bully group” while older students were more likely to be classified into the “more bully than victim” group. No significant differences were found between cluster membership and the degree of parental monitoring.
Online Social Networking and Learning
Authors: Greenhow Christine
Published: February 2011

This article introduces a youth-initiated practice: online social networking that is transforming our society in important ways and has vast implications for research concerning online behavior, the social and psychological aspects of online learning and the institution of education. In this paper, the author introduces the socio-technical features that characterize social networking systems and outlines results from preliminary research that suggests the informal social and intellectual practices in which participants naturally engage and how these relate to the competencies increasingly valued in formal education. The paper outlines four overlapping categories for research such as activities and outcomes, tool, place, and medium, identity and communication, and network analytics and methods. Within these categories the author outlines interesting research questions to pursue in documenting and interpreting the complexity of ‘learning’ within these spaces. Goals are to catalyze inquiry that bridges informal and formal learning and stimulate interdisciplinary conversation about where such agendas fit within and advance learning research.
Honing Emotional Intelligence with Game-Based Crucible Experiences
Authors: Raybourn Elaine M.
Published: February 2011

The focus of the present paper is the design of multi-player role-playing game instances as crucible experiences for the exploration of one’s emotional intelligence. Subsequent sections describe the design of game-based, intercultural crucible experiences and how this design was employed for training with members of the United States Marine Corps (USMC). This work with the USMC is presented as a case study and example of the use of crucible experiences in game-based learning. Crucible experiences are learning opportunities relevant across a number of different domains and disciplines such as education, healthcare, corporate training, diplomacy, crisis management, international business, and intercultural communication. The present paper demonstrates that crucible experiences are catalysts for personal growth and can be incorporated into game-based learning design whose intent is to create defining moments in which learners can explore emotional intelligence and examine who they are under challenging conditions.
Personality Scales and Learning Styles
Authors: Arora Anshu Saxena , Raisinghani Mahesh S. , Leseane Reginald , Thompson Lemaro
Published: February 2011

There is a vast body of literature that indicates students not having homogeneous learning patterns. Just as the students vary, their learning styles, cognitive abilities, and learning preferences vary; similarly, instructors employ different teaching methods. Numerous researchers have hypothesized that when students’ unique learning dimensions are matched with similar teaching styles, it can have a significant positive impact in regards to students’ grasp on information, their satisfaction with the course, improved academic grades, and group/team interaction. However, it is rigorously debated what these dimensions are, if they are fixed or changeable, and which scale gives the most accurate purview into the various learning dimensions of students. This paper explores the behavior and learning style of the human mind and its capacity in different learning environment. The authors examine theory, similarities, differences, and implications of the five relevant learning models discussed in the paper. Analyzing and interpreting these learning styles and behaviors will help the reader employ the best scale or combination of scales that should be used in the creation of Web-based learning environments (WBLE) for students and adapting WBLE to their particular learning styles and preferences.
Engineering Professional Development Related to Sustainability of Quality
Authors: Burns George U. , Chisohlm Colin
Published: February 2011

The relationship between employability, professionalism and routes to chartered engineer for engineering graduates in relation to the sustainability of quality and standards is discussed in this paper. Different political and economic developments, set in the context of globalisation, like knowledge led economic policy and the political drift from neo-liberal to third way policies have impacted and shaped the current notion of employability, professionalism and standards. These concepts are outlined and considered in relation to sustaining quality assured formation of undergraduate engineers through routes to professional chartered engineer. Two routes, academic and work related are discussed using case studies to show how the necessary academic standards can be achieved for recognition as a chartered engineer and consideration given as to whether the same quality assured outcomes can be achieved by both routes. These two routes do not deliver similar profiles. A model and work related framework is proposed, which needs to be government led within a global context to achieve the solution to many of the tensions discussed and provide a common global system of professional formation.
Students’ Feedback
Authors: Nair Chenicheri Sid
Published: February 2011

The collection of stakeholder feedback has been gradually increasing in universities around the world. The most common practice is the use of surveys to evaluate student perceptions of their units (subjects), courses, programs and overall learning experience. The elements of a good quality system involve not only collecting evaluation information but making improvements based on it. This article gives an overview of the importance of student evaluations, the research supporting such feedback and a case study that illustrates how evaluation and improvement enhance the learning and teaching environment.
Computer-Mediated Inter-Organizational Knowledge-Sharing
Authors: Majchrzak Ann , Rice Ronald E. , King Nelson , Malhotra Arvind , Ba Sulin
Published: February 2011

How does a team use a computer-mediated technology to share and reuse knowledge when the team is inter-organizational and virtual, when the team must compete for the attention of team members with collocated teams, and when the task is the creation of a completely new innovation? From a review of the literature on knowledge sharing and reuse using collaborative tools, three propositions are generated about the likely behavior of the team in using the collaborative tool and reusing the knowledge put in the knowledge repository. A multi-method longitudinal research study of this design team was conducted over their ten-month design effort. Both qualitative and quantitative data were obtained. Results indicated that the propositions from the literature were insufficient to explain the behavior of the team. We found that ambiguity of the task does not determine use of a collaborative tool; that tool use does not increase with experience; and that knowledge that is perceived as transient (whether it really is transient or not) is unlikely to be referenced properly for later search and retrieval. Implications for practice and theory are discussed.
Building a Knowledge Base for MIS Research
Authors: Hwang Mark I. , Windsor John C. , Pryor Alan
Published: February 2011

This study was conducted to create a knowledge base for MIS research. Building on two previous theoretical models, a systems success model relating six independent variables (external environment, organizational environment, user environment, IS operations environment, IS development environment, and information systems) to four success variables (use, satisfaction, individual impact, and organizational impact) was developed. This model was tested using data from 82 empirical studies in a meta-analysis. Results showed that all but one independent variable, external environment, had a significant relationship with success variables. In addition, each independent variable had varying strengths of relationships with different success variables. The findings yield important guidelines for the selection of variables in future research. The validated systems success model is general and theory based, and is useful in providing directions for future research.
Technology Acceptance and Performance
Authors: Marshall Thomas E. , Byrd Terry A. , Gardiner Lorraine R. , Rainer Jr. R. Kelly
Published: February 2011

Organizations expend large amounts of educational and training resources to improve employee task and job performance. These resources must be allocated efficiently and effectively to increase the probability of organizational success. Information technology (IT) is one organizational area in which education and training are particularly important, largely because IT has redefined the requisite skills for functional competency in the workplace. Through an empirical study, this research investigates how knowledge bases contribute to subjects’ attitudes and performance in the use of a CASE tool in database design. The study identified requisite knowledge bases and knowledge base interactions that significantly impacted subjects’ attitudes and performance. Based upon these findings, alternatives are provided to management that may help organizations increase the performance benefits of technology use and promote more positive attitudes towards technology innovation acceptance and adoption. By structuring education and training efforts to increase performance and enhance positive attitudes, organizations will be better able to optimize their investments in information technology innovations.
Information Technology, Core Competencies and Sustained Competitive Advantage
Authors: Byrd Terry A.
Published: February 2011

The value of information technology (IT) in today’s organizations is constantly debated. Researchers and practitioners have examined organizations to try to discover causal links between competitive advantage and IT. This paper presents and details a model that depicts a possible connection between competitive advantage and IT. Furthermore, this paper attempts to show how one major component of the overall IT resources, the IT infrastructure, might yield sustained competitive advantage for an organization. More precisely, IT infrastructure flexibility is examined as an enabler of "core competencies" that have been closely related to sustained competitive advantage in the research literature. The core competencies enabled by IT that are the focus of this study are mass customization and time-to-market. By showing that IT infrastructure flexibility acts as an enabler of these competencies, the relationship to sustained competitive advantage is demonstrated.
A Path Analytic Study of the Antecedents of Organizational Commitment of IS Managers
Authors: Tu Qiang , Ragunathan Bhanu , Ragunathan T. S.
Published: February 2011

Information systems (IS) technology has become a strategic resource for most organizations to compete successfully in today’s highly uncertain marketplace. One critical component of this strategic resource is the IS human resource. Unlike many other professions, the IS professionals historically displayed a much higher rate of turnover due to rapid technological changes, job stress and emerging employment opportunities. Such excessive turnover can be very costly to the organization in terms of costs of recruiting and re-training, and the loss of systems development productivity. Therefore, maintaining a qualified and stable body of IS staff has been continually ranked among the most important issues for the successful functioning of IS departments. However, these important IS human resource management issues have not received enough empirical research attention within the IS management literature. The current study attempts to fill this gap by empirically examining the relationships among a set of organizational and psychological factors (i.e., management support, degree of IS control, IS strategic significance, role stressors) and the organizational commitment of IS managers. Empirical data was collected through large-scale questionnaire survey. The rigorous statistical method of LISREL path analysis was used. Results show that these variables are closely related to each other, which provides valuable insights for organizations to more effectively manage their IS human resource.
Internet Privacy
Authors: Dhillon Gurpreet S. , Moores Trevor T.
Published: February 2011

The phenomenal growth in Internet commerce in recent years has brought privacy concerns to the fore. Although privacy as a concept has been well understood with respect to brick and motor businesses, there is limited research in identifying major issues of concern related to Internet privacy. This paper systematically identifies the major Internet privacy concerns. Data for the study was collected through two panels and subjective evaluation.
The Impact of Perceived Innovation Characteristics on Intention to Use Groupware
Authors: Van Slyke Craig , Lou Hoa , Day John
Published: February 2011

Information technologies that support groups of individuals have become increasingly visible. While some of these, such as electronic mail, have become almost ubiquitous in many organizations, other groupware applications have not enjoyed similar acceptance. This study uses diffusion of innovation theory to investigate factors that may influence intentions to use a specific groupware application, Lotus Domino discussion databases. Findings indicate that perceptions of relative advantage, complexity, compatibility and result demonstrability are significantly related to intentions to use Domino discussion databases. There was not a significant relationship between intentions to use and perceived trialability, visibility, or voluntariness. Those interested in increasing the use of groupware technologies may find these results helpful in guiding their efforts.
Information Technology Outsourcing in Australia
Authors: Beaumont Nicholas , Costa Christina
Published: February 2011

In Australia, popular discussion of the growing market in outsourcing information technology (IT) has been spurred by decisions of several large companies and the Australian government to outsource IT operations but there has been little academic research into IT outsourcing in Australia. This paper reports on research into Australian IT outsourcing based on data collected in 1999. The primary research objectives were to identify the IT functions that were outsourced and the reasons for outsourcing. Secondary research objectives were ascertaining the incidence of IT outsourcing amongst Australian organisations, the costs and benefits of IT outsourcing, possible changes in modes of and motivations for IT outsourcing and factors that are associated with successful IT outsourcing arrangements. The research used quantitative and qualitative methods. A survey was used to collect data from 277 informants. Six interviews were used to explore managers’ reasons for outsourcing and relate these to the success of outsourcing arrangements. The nature of and motivations for outsourcing have evolved; for example, cost saving is not (if it ever was) the prime motivator. The three most important factors driving outsourcing in Australia are access to skills, improved service quality and increasing managers’ ability to focus on core business activities. Decisions to outsource were weakly associated with company size but not with industry sectors. The factors most associated with successful IT outsourcing were the cultural match between the service provider and client, and the nature of the contractual arrangements–partnerships are more fruitful than rigidly interpreted black letter contracts. Outsourcing (not just of IT) is becoming increasingly popular; we suggest reasons for this and propose further research.
The Effects of Synchronous Collaborative Technologies on Decision Making
Authors: Baker Gary
Published: February 2011

Technological advances have an ever-increasing impact on our society. Globalization and the changing structures of organizations have created virtual work groups that are distributed across space (different sites) and time. Collaboration among workers is vital to both ongoing organizational activities and project-based activities. Communication is often seen as the most important factor contributing to the success of individuals, project teams, and organizational growth. Improved connectivity together with the increase in groups and teams has resulted in increased interest in extending the usefulness of IT at the individual level to support the issues faced by dispersed teams. This study compares the performance of sixty-four virtual teams utilizing four different collaborative technologies; text-only, audio-only, text-video and audio-video. While the results of the study found no significant difference between the quality of the decisions for teams using text-only versus audio-only communication, the addition of video to audio-only communication resulted in a significant improvement in the quality of teams’ strategic decisions.
The Effect of Task and Tool Experience on Maintenance CASE Tool Usage
Authors: Dishaw Mark T. , Strong Diane M.
Published: February 2011

Computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools have been advocated for improving maintainer productivity and the quality of maintained software. While there is evidence that such benefits can accrue to organizations adopting maintenance-oriented CASE tools, a key problem in achieving the desired benefits from CASE tools is low usage of these tools by programmers. The previously tested Maintenance Tool Utilization Model was a first step in investigating the factors that affect whether maintainers choose to use CASE tools during maintenance projects. We test the addition of experience with software maintenance tools and with the software maintenance task to the Maintenance Tool Utilization Model. The role of experience is important because managers can provide training to increase experience and they can ensure that project teams have some members experienced with the tools or with the task. Data for the test are collected from software maintainers working on their organization’s normal maintenance project backlog. Tool experience is significant as both a main and interaction effect, but task experience adds little to the explanatory power of the Maintenance Tool Utilization Model. These results support the value of improved CASE tool training programs.
Organizational Culture and Employees' Computer Self-Efficacy
Authors: Sheng YiHua P. , Pearson Michael , Crosby Leon
Published: February 2011

IT-based business initiatives, such as ERP and BPR, require high computer self-efficacy among employees because these changes require a large-scale use of computers. Computer self-efficacy is affected by many internal and external factors, for instance, personality, organizational culture, etc. While extensive literature exists on how psychological and sociological factors affect a person’s self-efficacy, almost no research has been done on how organizational culture could influence employees’ computer self-efficacy. This paper examines the relationship between organizational culture and employees’ self-efficacy for a sample of 352 subjects. The results from multiple regression and discriminant analysis show teamwork and information flow contribute most to employees’ computer self-efficacy.
An Examination of the Role of Organizational Enablers in Business Process Reengineering and the Impact of Information Technology
Authors: Ahadi Hamid Reza
Published: February 2011

This study examines organizational factors that affect the implementation of business process reengineering (BPR) when applying two specific Information Technologies (i.e., electronic data interchange and/or Internet technology). This research uses a survey methodology to gather information about how organizational enablers and IT affect BPR implementation. By determining the factors that affect BPR implementation, these factors can be managed in the best interest of customers, employees, and organizations. From the nine hypotheses tested in this study, six factors found to be positively associated with successful implementation of BPR. These factors are: top management supports, change management, centralization of decision making, formalization of procedure, organizational culture, and customer involvement. No significant relationship is found between employee resistance and integration of jobs with successful implementation of BPR. In this research we found that the lack of resources is negatively associated with successful implementation of BPR. We also found that, different information technologies such as those examined in this paper — EDI and Internet — provide different capabilities and can be useful in different ways and for different purposes. The findings of this research can help practitioners to better understand the role of critical success and failure factors in BPR, as well as the impact of different Information Technologies on BPR. By determining the factors that affect BPR implementation, these factors can be managed in the best interest of customers, employees, and organizations.
IT Project Managers' Perceptions and Use of Virtual Team Technologies
Authors: Beise Catherine M. , Niederman Fred , Mattord Herb
Published: February 2011

This paper presents the results of a case study pertaining to the use of information and communication media to support a range of project management tasks. A variety of electronic communication tools have evolved to support collaborative work and virtual teams. Few of these tools have focused specifically on the needs of project managers. In an effort to learn how practicing IT project managers employ these tools, data were collected at a North American Fortune 500 industrial company via interviews with IT project managers regarding their use and perceptions of electronic media within the context of their work on project teams. In this study, “virtual” describes the extent to which communication is electronic rather than the extent to which team members are geographically separated. Although the number of respondents was limited, the richness of the data collected leads to the conclusion that successful project managers and teams become skilled at adapting a variety of existing communication technologies to match the project task or process, the receiver, their own role as sender, and the content of the message. Groupware designers and developers need to better understand project management methods and best practices in order to provide better tools for practitioners, particularly as organizations expand globally and increasingly outsource various functions of their IT development and operations.
Information Technology as a Target and Shield in the Post 9/11 Environment
Authors: Lally Laura
Published: February 2011

This paper draws upon Normal Accident Theory and the Theory of High Reliability Organizations to examine the potential impacts of Information Technology being used as a target in terrorist and other malicious attacks. The paper also argues that Information Technology can also be used as a shield to prevent further attacks and mitigate their impact if they should occur. A Target and Shield model is developed, which extends Normal Accident Theory to encompass secondary effects, change and feedback loops to prevent future accidents. The Target and Shield model is applied to the Y2K problem and the emerging threats and initiatives in the Post 9/11 environment.
Internet Privacy Policies
Authors: Peslak Alan R.
Published: February 2011

Privacy on the Internet has been of increasing concern with the explosive growth of electronic commerce. A series of past surveys by the Federal Trade Commission and other organizations measured the implementation of fair information practices and industry self-regulation of privacy. This report includes two important additional factors in the review — enforcement and simplicity. Using this more comprehensive analysis, this article reviews the current Internet privacy polices of the 50 largest US companies.
Strategic Intent and E-Business in SMEs
Authors: Levy Margi , Powell Philip , Worrall Les
Published: February 2011

Small firms’ use of e-business is limited, and little is known about what drives them to embrace e-business. Using survey data from 354 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK West Midlands, this paper investigates e-business use and drivers. It first discusses different growth strategies adopted by SMEs and then reviews Internet adoption in SMEs. Drivers and inhibitors of e-business are identified. Three research questions are derived: Does strategic intent drive e-business adoption, and is it a factor of market position or product innovation? Is this consistent across sectors? How is strategic intent and industry adoption influenced by the enablers and inhibitors of e-business adoption? This research demonstrates that strategic intent influences decisions to invest in e-business. Those SMEs remaining in their existing markets are the least likely to invest, primarily due to the Internet not being seen as necessary for growth. Product innovation rather than market penetration drives e-business, and e-business drivers and inhibitors provide insights into this.
A Metadata-Based Approach for Unstructured Document Management in Organizations
Authors: Paganelli Federica , Pettenati Maria Chiara , Giuli Dino
Published: February 2011

Effectively managing documents is a strategic requirement for every organization. Available document management systems (DMSs) often lack effective functions for automatic document management. One reason is that relevant information frequently is conveyed by unstructured documents, whose content cannot be easily accessed and processed by applications. This article proposes a metadata model, the DMSML (Document Management and Sharing Markup Language) to enable and to ease unstructured document management by supporting the design of DMSs. We argue that the extensive use of this metadata language will render organizational information explicit, promoting information reuse and interoperability in a more profitable way than what is guaranteed by proprietary DMSs. We also briefly depict the design and deployment phases of a Web-based DMS prototype based on DMSML. Our overall intent is to increase the awareness of what managers should account for when considering the possibility of adopting a DMS.
Effects of Managerial Drivers and Climate Maturity on Knowledge-Management Performance
Authors: Lee Jang-Hwan , Kim Young-Gul , Kim Min-Yong
Published: February 2011

This study examined the effects of the organizational climate maturity on knowledge-management performance, measured in terms of knowledge quality and knowledge-sharing level. Reward, top management support, and IT service quality were investigated as the managerial drivers to positively influence such climate maturity. The hypothesized relationships were tested by the partial least square analysis, with data from 42 organizations in Korea. Findings of the study indicate that a more mature (knowledge friendly) organizational climate is linked to higher knowledge-management performance; reward, top management support, and IT service quality are critical managerial drivers influencing such climate maturity.
Home Alone
Authors: Baker Ellen , Avery Gayle C. , Crawford John
Published: February 2011

While technology enables home-based telecommuting (HBT), it also has been blamed for its slow growth. Thus, technology may both facilitate and hinder HBT. In order to clarify the role that technology currently plays when employees telecommute, this study investigated the relationship between different forms of organizational support (classified as technology-related, somewhat technology-related, and nontechnological) and employees’ reactions to HBT. Dependent variables included satisfaction, Perceived Productivity, and number of days/weeks spent telecommuting. Respondents were 50 full-time employees from 20 organizations. Two technology-related support variables and manager’s trust (a nontechnological support) had a broad impact on employees’ reactions to HBT. So, technology plays a crucial role and, thus, could be a major factor in HBT’s slow growth, but HBT is better understood within a multi-factor rather than a single-factor framework. Results also indicate that organizations should emphasize providing IT support and appropriate technology for telecommuters as well as HBT-related training for nontelecommuting coworkers and managers.
Communicating and Coordinating
Authors: Holmstrom Jonny , Boudreau Marie-Claude
Published: February 2011

This article uses the theory of loose coupling to explain failure in the adoption of a technology that was supposed to improve collaboration across one organization’s internal boundaries. The research details an interpretive case study of a single organization, MacGregor Crane, in which relatively autonomous individuals are connected only loosely in terms of their daily interactions. The company implemented Lotus Notes® in an attempt to increase collaboration. However, this effort failed because employees in various units, particularly engineering, were reluctant to share information across unit boundaries. In light of these findings, it is suggested that the successful implementation of a collaborative IT within a loosely coupled organization should involve the reconsideration of the organizational members’ roles and functions.
Dissent, Protest and Transformative Action
Authors: Duane Aidan , Finnegan Patrick
Published: February 2011

An e-mail system is a critical business tool and an essential part of organisational communication. Many organisations have experienced negative impacts from e-mail and have responded by electronically monitoring and restricting e-mail system use. However, electronic monitoring of e mail can be contentious. Staff can react to these controls by dissent, protest and potentially transformative action. This article presents the results of a single case study investigation of staff reactions to electronic monitoring and control of an e-mail system in a company based in Ireland. The findings highlight the variations in staff reactions through multiple time frames of electronic monitoring and control, and identifies the key concerns of staff which need to be addressed by management and consultants advocating the implementation of e-mail system monitoring and control.
Beyond Development
Authors: Jin Leigh , Robey Daniel , Boudreau Marie-Claude
Published: February 2011

Open source software has rapidly become a popular area of study within the information systems research community. Most of the research conducted so far has focused on the phenomenon of open source software development, rather than use. We argue for the importance of studying open source software use and propose a framework to guide research in this area. The framework describes four main areas of investigation: the creation of OSS user communities, their characteristics, their contributions and how they change. For each area of the framework, we suggest several research questions that deserve attention.