bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cognitive Processes by Using Finite State Machines
Authors: Rodríguez Ismael , Núñez Manuel , Rubio Fernando
Published: February 2011

Finite State Machines, in short FSMs, are formalisms that have been used for decades to describe the behavior of systems. They can also provide an intelligent agent with a suitable formalism for describing its own beliefs about the behavior of the world surrounding it. In fact, FSMs are the suitable acceptors for right linear languages, which are the simplest languages considered in Chomsky’s classification of languages. Since Chomsky proposes that the generation of language (and, indirectly, any mental process) can be expressed through a kind of formal language, it can be assumed that cognitive processes can be formulated by means of the formalisms that can express those languages. Hence, we will use FSMs as a suitable formalism for representing (simple) cognitive models. We present an algorithm that, given an observation of the environment, produces an FSM describing an environment behavior that is capable to produce that observation. Since an infinite number of different FSMs could have produced that observation, we have to choose the most feasible one. When a phenomenon can be explained with several theories, Occam’s razor principle, which is basic in science, encourages choosing the simplest explanation. Applying this criterion to our problem, we choose the simplest (smallest) FSM that could have produced that observation. An algorithm is presented to solve this problem. In conclusion, our framework provides a cognitive model that is the most preferable theory for the observer, according to the Occam’s razor criterion.
The Cognitive Processes of Formal Inferences
Authors: Wang Yingxu
Published: February 2011

Theoretical research is predominately an inductive process; while applied research is mainly a deductive process. Both inference processes are based on the cognitive process and means of abstraction. This article describes the cognitive processes of formal inferences such as deduction, induction, abduction, and analogy. Conventional propositional arguments adopt static causal inference. This article introduces more rigorous and dynamic inference methodologies, which are modeled and described as a set of cognitive processes encompassing a series of basic inference steps. A set of mathematical models of formal inference methodologies is developed. Formal descriptions of the four forms of cognitive processes of inferences are presented using Real-Time Process Algebra (RTPA). The cognitive processes and mental mechanisms of inferences are systematically explored and rigorously modeled. Applications of abstraction and formal inferences in both the revilement of the fundamental mechanisms of the brain and the investigation of next generation cognitive computers are explored.
Testing the Behaviour of Entities in a Cognitive Language
Authors: Encina Alberto dela , Hidalgo-Herrero Mercedes , Rabanal Pablo , Rodriguez Ismael , Rubio Fernando
Published: February 2011

We present a programming environment to help study the behavior of cognitive models. The core of the environment is a programming language based on high-level constructions that allow the easy development of general schemes that can be used (and even modified) without requiring knowledge about the underlying language. In addition, we have introduced observation facilities to the language to help analyze how each process takes its own decisions. Thus, we can analyze not only the external behavior of each entity, but also how it constructs its knowledge. Moreover, our framework also provides visualizing facilities.
On Concept Algebra
Authors: Wang Yingxu
Published: February 2011

Concepts are the most fundamental unit of cognition that carries certain meanings in expression, thinking, reasoning, and system modeling. In denotational mathematics, a concept is formally modeled as an abstract and dynamic mathematical structure that encapsulates attributes, objects, and relations. The most important property of an abstract concept is its adaptive capability to autonomously interrelate itself to other concepts. This article presents a formal theory for abstract concepts and knowledge manipulation known as “concept algebra.” The mathematical models of concepts and knowledge are developed based on the object-attribute-relation (OAR) theory. The formal methodology for manipulating knowledge as a concept network is described. Case studies demonstrate that concept algebra provides a generic and formal knowledge manipulation means, which is capable to deal with complex knowledge and software structures as well as their algebraic operations.
RTPA
Authors: Wang Yingxu
Published: February 2011

Real-time process algebra (RTPA) is a denotational mathematical structure for denoting and manipulating system behavioral processes. RTPA is designed as a coherent algebraic system for intelligent and software system modeling, specification, refinement, and implementation. RTPA encompasses 17 metaprocesses and 17 relational process operations. RTPA can be used to describe both logical and physical models of software and intelligent systems. Logic views of system architectures and their physical platforms can be described using the same set of notations. When a system architecture is formally modeled, the static and dynamic behaviors performed on the architectural model can be specified by a three-level refinement scheme at the system, class, and object levels in a top-down approach. RTPA has been successfully applied in real-world system modeling and code generation for software systems, human cognitive processes, and intelligent systems.
Deductive Semantics of RTPA
Authors: Wang Yingxu
Published: February 2011

Deductive semantics is a novel software semantic theory that deduces the semantics of a program in a given programming language from a unique abstract semantic function to the concrete semantics embodied by the changes of status of a finite set of variables constituting the semantic environment of the program. There is a lack of a generic semantic function and its unified mathematical model in conventional semantics, which may be used to explain a comprehensive set of programming statements and computing behaviors. This article presents a complete paradigm of formal semantics that explains how deductive semantics is applied to specify the semantics of real-time process algebra (RTPA) and how RTPA challenges conventional formal semantic theories. Deductive semantics can be applied to define abstract and concrete semantics of programming languages, formal notation systems, and large-scale software systems, to facilitate software comprehension and recognition, to support tool development, to enable semantics-based software testing and verification, and to explore the semantic complexity of software systems. Deductive semantics may greatly simplify the description and analysis of the semantics of complicated software systems specified in formal notations and implemented in programming languages.
Language Independent Recognition of Human Emotion using Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Bhatti Muhammad Waqas , Wang Yongjin , Guan Ling
Published: February 2011

This article presents a language-independent emotion recognition system for the identification of human affective state in the speech signal. A group of potential features are first identified and extracted to represent the characteristics of different emotions. To reduce the dimensionality of the feature space, whilst increasing the discriminatory power of the features, we introduce a systematic feature selection approach which involves the application of sequential forward selection (SFS) with a general regression neural network (GRNN) in conjunction with a consistency-based selection method. The selected parameters are employed as an input to the modular neural network, consisting of sub-networks, where each sub-network specializes in a particular emotion class. Comparing with the standard neural network, this modular architecture allows decomposition of a complex classification problem into small subtasks such that the network may be tuned based on the characteristics of individual emotion. The performance of the proposed system is evaluated for various subjects, speaking different languages.
Scaling Behavior of Maximal Repeat Distributions in Genomic Sequences
Authors: Wang J.D. , Liu Hsiang-Chuan , Tsai Jeffrey J.P. , Ng Ka-Lok
Published: February 2011

The genome sequences data from various organisms were analyzed, and it is found that the relative frequency distributions of maximal repeat sequences P(k) verses the frequency of appearance k exhibits scaling behavior (P(k) ~ k-?). Correlation analysis provides very good evidence (with a coefficient of determination r2 > 0.875 for every case studied case, and the scaling relation is valid over three orders of magnitude of k) supporting that the distributions are well described by the power-law. It is found that the scaling behavior holds at the chromosome level, for different organelles (nucleus, chloroplast and mitochondria) and for a very wide range of taxa, such as Fungi, Algea, Protozoa, Archaea, bacteria, Plants, Nematode. This result is quite surprise as it suggests that (1) the scaling behavior seems to be universal and probably independent of the organisms, and (2) genomic sequences have features resembles natural languages.
A Denotational Semantics of Real-Time Process Algebra (RTPA)
Authors: Tan Xinming , Wang Yinggxu
Published: February 2011

Real-time process algebra (RTPA) is a form of denotational mathematics for dealing with fundamental system behaviors such as timing, interrupt, concurrency, and event/time/interrupt-driven system dispatching. Because some key RTPA processes cannot be described adequately in conventional denotational semantic paradigms, a new framework for modeling time and processes is sought in order to represent RTPA in denotational semantics. Within this framework, time is modeled by the elapse of process execution. The process environment encompasses states of all variables represented as mathematical maps, which project variables to their corresponding values. Duration is introduced as a pair of time intervals and the environment to represent the changes of the process environment during a time interval. Temporal ordered durations and operations on them are used to denote process executions. On the basis of these means, a comprehensive set of denotational semantics for RTPA are systematically developed and formally expressed.
Reducing Cognitive Overload by Meta-Learning Assisted Algorithm Selection
Authors: Fan Lisa , Lei Minxiao
Published: February 2011

With the explosion of available data mining algorithms, a method for helping user to select the most appropriate algorithm or combination of algorithms to solve a given problem and reducing users’ cognitive overload due to the overloaded data mining algorithms is becoming increasingly important. In this article, we have presented a meta-learning approach to support users automatically selecting most suitable algorithms during data mining model building process. The article discusses the meta-learning method in details and presents some empirical results that show the improvement we can achieve with the hybrid model by combining meta-learning method and Rough Set feature reduction. The redundant properties of the dataset can be found. Thus, we can speed up the ranking process and increase the accuracy by using the reduct of the properties of the dataset. With the reduced searching space, users’ cognitive load is reduced.
Modeling Underwater Structures
Authors: Jenkin Michael , Hogue Andrew , German Andrew , Gill Sunbir , Topol Anna , Wilson Stephanie
Published: February 2011

For systems to become truly autonomous it is necessary that they be able to interact with complex real-world environments. In this article we investigate techniques and technologies to address the problem of the acquisition and representation of complex environments such as those found underwater. The underwater environment presents many challenges for robotic sensing including highly variable lighting and the presence of dynamic objects such as fish and suspended particulate matter. The dynamic six-degree-of-freedom nature of the environment presents further challenges due to unpredictable external forces such as current and surge. In order to address the complexities of the underwater environment we have developed a stereo vision-inertial sensing device that has been successfully deployed to reconstruct complex 3-D structures in both the aquatic and terrestrial domains. The sensor combines 3-D information, obtained using stereo vision, with 3DOF inertial data to construct 3-D models of the environment. Semiautomatic tools have been developed to aid in the conversion of these representations into semantically relevant primitives suitable for later processing. Reconstruction and segmentation of underwater structures obtained with the sensor are presented.
Foundations of Nonconventional Neural Units and their Classification
Authors: Bukovsky Ivo , Hou Zeng-Guang , Bila Jiri , Gupta Madan M.
Published: February 2011

This article introduces basic types of nonconventional neural units and focuses on their notation and classification. Namely, the notation and classification of higher order nonlinear neural units, time-delay dynamic neural units, and time-delay higher order nonlinear neural units are introduced. Brief introduction into the simplified parallels of the higher order nonlinear aggregating function of higher order neural units with both the synaptic and somatic neural operation of biological neurons is made. Based on the mathematical notation of neural input intercorrelations of higher order neural units, it is shown that the higher order polynomial aggregating function of neural inputs can be understood as a single-equation representation of synaptic neural operation plus partial somatic neural operation. Thus, it unravels new simplified yet universal mathematical insight into understanding the higher computational power of neurons that also conforms to biological neuronal morphology. The classification of nonconventional neural units is founded first according to the nonlinearity of the aggregating function; second, according to the dynamic order; and third, according to time-delay implementation within neural units.
Human Discovery and Machine Learning
Authors: Dartnell Christopher , Martin Éric , Hagège Hélène , Sallantin Jean
Published: February 2011

This article studies machine learning paradigms from the point of view of human cognition. Indeed, conceptions in both machine learning and human learning evolved from a passive to an active conception of learning. Our objective is to provide an interaction protocol suited to both humans and machines to enable assisting human discoveries by learning machines. We identify the limitations of common machine learning paradigms in the context of scientific discovery, and we propose an extension inspired by game theory and multiagent systems. We present individual cognitive aspects of this protocol as well as social considerations, and we relate encouraging results concerning a game implementing it.
A Computational Cognitive Model of the Brain
Authors: Shi Zhiwei , Hu Hong , Shi Zhongzhi
Published: February 2011

Recent fruitful progresses on brain science have largely broadened our understanding of the cerebrum. These great works led us to propose a computational cognitive model based on a graphical model that we carried out before. The model possesses many attractive properties, including distinctive knowledge representation, the capability of knowledge accumulation, active (top-down) attention, subjective similarity measurement, and attention-guided disambiguation. It also has “consciousness” and can even “think” and “make inference.” To some extent, it works just like the human brain does. The experimental evidence demonstrates that it can give reasonable computational explanation on the human phenomenon of forgetting. Although there are still some undetermined details and neurobiological mechanisms deserving consideration, our work presents a meaningful attempt to give further insights into the brain’s functions.
Concept of Symbiotic Computing and its Agent-Based Application to a Ubiquitous Care-Support Service
Authors: Suganuma Takuo , Sugawara Kenji , Kinoshita Tetsuo , Hattori Fumio , Shiratori Norio
Published: February 2011

In this paper, a concept of “symbiotic computing” is formalized to bridge gaps between Real Space (RS) and Digital Space (DS). Symbiotic computing is a post-ubiquitous computing model based on an agent-oriented computing model that introduces social heuristics and cognitive functions into DS to bridge the gaps. The symbiotic functions and agent-based architecture of symbiotic applications are also discussed. Based on the concept, functions, and architecture of symbiotic applications, we develop an agent-based care-support service to enable supervision of persons by their families and friends easily while protecting privacy. In this application system, a hierarchical structure of multi-agents is organized dynamically using heuristics in agents based on the situation of a watched person and watching persons. The system appropriately alters the contents and quality of the live video. The flexible system construction scheme using a multiagent framework facilitates the symbiosis of RS and DS by bridging the gaps in the care-support service domain.
Amplification of Signal Features Using Variance Fractal Dimension Trajectory
Authors: Kinsner Witold , Grieder Warren
Published: February 2011

This paper describes how the selection of parameters for the variance fractal dimension (VFD) multiscale time-domain algorithm can create an amplification of the fractal dimension trajectory that is obtained for a natural-speech waveform in the presence of ambient noise. The technique is based on the variance fractal dimension trajectory (VFDT) algorithm that is used not only to detect the external boundaries of an utterance, but also its internal pauses representing the unvoiced speech. The VFDT algorithm can also amplify internal features of phonemes. This fractal feature amplification is accomplished when the time increments are selected in a dyadic manner rather than selecting the increments in a unit distance sequence. These amplified trajectories for different phonemes are more distinct, thus providing a better characterization of the individual segments in the speech signal. This approach is superior to other energy-based boundary-detection techniques. Observations are based on extensive experimental results on speech utterances digitized at 44.1 kilosamples per second, with 16 bits in each sample.
Information Technology in the Practice of Law Enforcement
Authors: Rebstock Williams Susan , Aasheim Cheryl
Published: February 2011

In February 2001, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department began the rollout of a “mobile” information system that will eventually enable all information relating to incident reports, arrests, and investigations to be collected, distributed, and managed in a paperless, wireless environment. The system, dubbed Knowledge-Based Community Oriented Policing System (KBCOPS), began as a “grass roots” project within the police department to reduce paperwork, increase data accuracy, share knowledge and information, and promote a problem solving analytical framework. The system has been under development for seven years, from concept to implementation. The strategies and approaches used to develop this system, the technologies employed, and, most importantly, the challenges faced in merging wireless, wired, database, and applications technologies while satisfying the user requirements of the police department are detailed in this report.
Up In Smoke
Authors: Ross Steven C. , Tyran Craig K. , Auer David J. , Junell Jon M. , Williams Terrell G.
Published: February 2011

On July 3, 2002, fire destroyed a facility that served as both office and computer server room for a College of Business located in the United States. The fire also caused significant smoke damage to the office building where the computer facility was located. The monetary costs of the disaster were over $4 million. This case, written from the point of view of the chairperson of the College Technology Committee, discusses the issues faced by the college as they resumed operations and planned for rebuilding their information technology operations. The almost-total destruction of the college’s server assets offered a unique opportunity to rethink the IT architecture for the college. The reader is challenged to learn from the experiences discussed in the case to develop an IT architecture for the college that will meet operational requirements and take into account the potential threats to the system.
Enterprise System Development in Higher Education
Authors: Chae Bongsug , Poole Marshall Scott
Published: February 2011

“One system for everyone” has been an ideal goal for information technology (IT) management in many large organizations, and the deployment of such systems has been a major trend in corporate world under the name of enterprise systems (ES) (Brown & Vessey, 2003; Davenport, 2000; Markus, Petrie, & Axline, 2000). Benefits from ES use are claimed to be significant and multidimensional, ranging from operational improvements through decision-making enhancement to support for strategic goals (Shang & Seddon, 2002). However, studies (Hanseth & Braa, 2001; Rao, 2000; Robey, Ross, & Boudreau, 2002) of the deployment of ES in private sector organizations show that the ideal is difficult to accomplish. This paper reports a case in which a major university system in the US attempted to develop an in-house enterprise system. The system is currently used by more than 4,000 individual users in almost 20 universities and state agencies. This case offers a historical analysis of the design, implementation and use of the system from its inception in the mid 1980s to the present. This case indicates that ES design and implementation in higher education are quite challenging and complex due to unique factors in the public sector — including state mandates/requirements, IT leadership/resources, value systems, and decentralized organizational structure among other things — that must be taken into account in planning, designing and implementing ES (Ernst, Katz, & Sack, 1994; Lerner, 1999; McCredie, 2000). This case highlights (1) the challenges and issues in the rationale behind “one system for everyone” and (2) some differences as well as similarities in IT management between the private and public sectors. It offers some unique opportunities to discuss issues, challenges and potential solutions for the deployment of ES in the public arena, particularly in higher education.
IT-Business Strategic Alignment Maturity
Authors: Sledgianowski Deb , Luftman Jerry
Published: February 2011

Both information technology (IT) and business leaders are continually looking for management practices to help them align their IT and business strategies. Alignment seems to grow in importance as companies strive to link IT and business in light of dynamic business strategies and continuously evolving technologies. Importance aside, what is not clear is how to achieve and sustain harmony among business and IT, how to assess the maturity of alignment, and what the impact of misalignment might be on the firm. This case study describes the use of a management process and assessment tool that can help to promote long-term IT-business strategic alignment. The Strategic Alignment Maturity (SAM) assessment (Luftman, 2000) is used as a framework to demonstrate the evolution of an international specialty chemicals manufacturer’s IT-business alignment practices to enable the achievement of their corporate goals. Major insights from their experience and SAM best practices are highlighted.
From Principles to Practice
Authors: Drinka Dennis , Voge Kathleen , Yen Minnie Yi-Miin
Published: February 2011

The College of Business Administration (CBA) is part of a mid-sized urban university with a primary focus on teaching. It had recently decided to develop a process for defining student learning objectives and outcomes, measuring success in achieving these, and using the results of those measures for continuously improving the quality of student learning. Its aim was to design and develop a system which could automate data collection and streamline the processes of course effectiveness evaluation and course/curriculum enhancement. Even though many challenges still existed for the college, it nevertheless launched into a logical design of the Student Learning Outcome Assessment System (SLOAS). Alexis, the college’s IT Manager, was assigned the responsibility for managing this project. She determined this system would be used for data collection and reporting in order to provide evidence that student learning outcomes were being achieved at the course, college, and potentially university levels. Amid the lack of internal development resources, insufficient IT support, constantly changing standards and policies, budget issues, and so forth. Alexis knew that she was faced with a challenging project.
LIBNET
Authors: Hooper A.S.C.
Published: February 2011

In any cooperative database the participants contribute their data for their own as well as the benefit of the other members, usually with incentives from the database administrators. A South African library network company (LIBNET) provided a networked service to participating libraries. Member benefits included conversion of their catalogues into machine-readable form, significantly reduced costs through cooperative cataloguing and more efficient interlibrary loans through a union catalogue of the holdings of the participant libraries. This case study explores some of the issues influencing tariff determination in a cooperative database. Questions of data ownership and the provision of incentives for the uploading of data also raise legal and ethical issues. The case study provides a basis for exploring business strategy in collaborative database management.
The Case of Telepsychiatry Adoption and Diffusion in a Healthcare Organization in New Zealand
Authors: Al-Qirim Nabeel
Published: February 2011

This research investigated telemedicine adoption and usage in psychiatry in one hospital in New Zealand (NZ). This research utilized the technological innovations theories as a guiding theoretical framework to develop a set of determinants of telemedicine adoption in healthcare organizations. The research looked at two stages in the case study concerning the adoption process of telemedicine, utilizing the video conferencing technology (TMVC). Prior to TMVC adoption, the findings suggested that TMVC was adopted according to its relative advantage and cost effectiveness, along with other facilitating factors such as image enhancement. None of the deterring factors seemed to impede the adoption decision of TMVC. Results from the post-adoption stage suggested that TMVC was used minimally in the case study. The superficial assessment of important factors such as complexity and compatibility, prior to TMVC adoption, further suggested this weakness. In comparison with the literature, the incompatibility of TMVC in psychiatry stood as a unique cultural identifier pertaining to TMVC adoption in the NZ case study.
Herding 3,000 Cats
Authors: Andriole Stephen J. , Monsanto Charlton
Published: February 2011

Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors, an independently owned and operated member of the Prudential Real Estate Affiliate, Inc., is the fourth-largest provider of real estate services in the U.S., with $15.5 billion in annual sales in 2004. The company operates 70 offices staffed by 900 employees. Prudential Fox & Roach also contracts with more than 3,300 independent agents who work on commission. Real estate companies and their sales agents face stiff competition for listings and clients. Finding new ways to expedite the complex sales cycle offers an important advantage to a real estate company. Prudential Fox & Roach sought a better way to give its mobile-sales agents and branch-office employees access to the myriad applications, forms, and databases, such as multiple-listing services, needed to list and sell properties. The company wanted to deliver applications and the corporate intranet over the Internet, which offered wide availability and a familiar browser interface for agents, many of whom are technologically unsophisticated. Prudential Fox & Roach implemented the Citrix MetaFrame Secure Access Manager to augment its existing MetaFrame Presentation Server environment with secure access to applications and information over the Internet.1 Independent agents and 900 employees now have a single point of access from any standard Web browser to applications, databases, forms and documents, and tools such as Web search engines. The impact of the remote access implementation project shortened the real estate sales cycle, provided data security for remote and mobile users, and reduced support requirements by 60%.2 The project also simplified computing for many nontechnical users. Perhaps just as importantly, the project has reduced the number of agents that have left the company for technology support reasons by more than 80%.
A Database Project in a Small Company (or How the Real World Doesn't Always Follow the Book)
Authors: Mallach Efrem
Published: February 2011

The case study describes a small consulting company’s experience in the design and implementation of a database and associated information retrieval system. Their choices are explained within the context of the firm’s needs and constraints. Issues associated with development methods are discussed, along with problems that arose from not following proper development disciplines.
Developing a Telecommunication Operation Support Systems (OSS)
Authors: Williams James G. , Olsen Kai A.
Published: February 2011

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 opened competition in the telecommunications market in the U.S. and forced the incumbent telecommunications companies to open both their physical and logical infrastructure for Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs). In this case study we focus on the problems that face a CLEC with regard to designing an information system and getting a back office system, called an Operations Support Systems (OSS), operational in a highly competitive, complex, fast-paced market in a compressed time frame when a change in a critical telecommunications network component, namely the central office switch, is made after 75% of the system implementation was completed. This case deals with the factors that led to this change in central office switches, its impact on the IT department, its impact on the company, and the alternatives considered by the IT department as possible solutions to the many problems created by this change.
E-Learning at the Polytechnic University of Valencia
Authors: Naharro Susana Martínez , Labarta Mónica Alagón
Published: February 2011

Since 2000, the Open Polytechnic University has been working at e-learning methods as a commitment to introduction of Communication Technologies into training process. The development of grade and postgraduate subjects was a specific way of putting it into practice. The figures support our work; 200 courses have been developed at the moment and more than 10,000 students are using our e-learning platform. The future looks brilliant for e-learning when the development course process is a quality procedure and the contents are designed for online training purposes. Teachers must consider the online training materials differently from other training materials as there are distinct and specific pedagogical aspects to bear in mind; this is the reason why they follow the pedagogical modules structure designed by the Open Polytechnic University. On the other hand, teachers from the Polytechnic University of Valencia can take advice from the Open Polytechnic University in order to apply new technologies to their courses. The Open Polytechnic University offers training to teachers in e-learning and give them resources to improve their skills in order to teach their subjects by means of an e-learning platform. The courses development process at the Open Polytechnic University is a process called “stages and experts,” because several expert agents are involved. They work together in a multidisciplinary model that gives quality to the courses--a quality that is proven by the Open Polytechnic University stamp. All this process is based on our own author tool, e-learning platform, and pedagogical methodology.
EVAINU Research
Authors: Bosco Alejandra
Published: February 2011

New virtual learning environments for educational innovation at the university of the presentfuture—EVAINU—is a research project financed by the Autonomous University of Barcelona as part of its support for emerging research groups. The project came about as a result of the growing presence of the ICTs in the higher education system and has focused on identifying typical cases, which use these media at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) involving some form of curricular innovation or improvement in accordance with the European convergence processes, which the Spanish university system is currently undergoing. As a result, three case studies of different qualifications were carried out in order to investigate their potential for improving university education. One of these cases—Virtual Veterinary Science—is described in this study. Among the preliminary results of this research so far, of particular interest is the fact that while the ICTs are clearly an important opportunity to make a qualitative leap and to go beyond teaching outlooks based on exposition, passive reception, and memorising, more institutional support is necessary in terms of working strategies, which promote new ways of organising teaching, the development of ICT skills among teaching staff and students, and the creation of incentives for teacher training, among other initiatives.
The Role of Project Management in a Small Business IT Firm
Authors: Ratnasingam Pauline
Published: February 2011

Small businesses have found project management to be a powerful approach since it encourages them to focus on results and also demands effective leadership. It also provides them with a single point of management contact which, among other factors, fosters a synergistic atmosphere encouraging the team to focus on achieving a common goal within a specific time frame and resource constraints. Despite applying the best practices, projects fail primarily for two reasons. First, although most firms do abide by the best practices to some degree, they do not perform them rigorously. Most intelligent software development organizations are still immature. According to the Standish group, fewer than 31% of IT projects succeed, nearly 20% are cancelled before completion, and the remaining 53% are challenged by being seriously late, over budget, or lacking expected features (Marchewka, 2003). Furthermore, on average, 70% of all information technology- (IT) related projects fail to meet their objectives (Lewis, 2003). This case examines the role of the project management life cycle in a small IT firm ABC that implements competitive intelligent systems for their clients in the health care industry. The research question designed for this article is: how does the project management life cycle facilitate the development of IT solutions? We describe the impact of IT in the ABC firm and its role in the project management life cycle. We then discuss the challenges and lessons learned by the firm, thereby contributing to factors that would benefit practitioners and researchers.
Healthcare IT Project Failure
Authors: Chowdhury Rajneesh , Butler Ruth E. , Clarke Steve
Published: February 2011

This case describes the experiences of a healthcare organization in the North of England that introduced a multi-lingual electronic patient information system, the first of its kind in this part of the country. This information technology (IT) based project, commissioned as a pilot for the establishment of an information system to cater to the needs of ethnic minority languages, failed to make progress in-spite of its great potential, and the user satisfaction that it offered. The case presents a number of issues related to how the design and deployment of the project resulted in its lack of satisfactory progress. The findings from this case suggest why the project failed: the failure being a direct result of the approach taken to the project.
A Teaching Case for a Distance Learning Course
Authors: Zhang Yu-Jin
Published: February 2011

Tsinghua University in Beijing, China reported a teaching case related to the experience of conducting a distance-learning course entitled “Digital Image Processing.” The course is at the graduate level for students of continuing education who are separately located in more than 60 cities around the country. This course was conducted twice with an interval of 2 years (in academic years 2000-2001 and 2002-2003). A number of tasks for improvements were performed based on the lesson learned from the first round, and their effects were justified by the second round. The organization background is described. Information about the course setting and related tools for the course conduction are provided. The outputs and evaluation of the experience are also presented. From this experimental based case, some helpful insights for the utilization and management of modern educational concepts and information technology in distance learning would be obtained. They include: more studies on the special requirements of distance learning should be continued; more concerns on the particularity of working students should be taken into the course designing and conduction; as well as more advantages of the progress of network technology should be followed.
Improving IT-Enabled Sense and Respond Capabilities
Authors: Welk Richard , Cavalheiro Gabriel , Dahanayake Ajantha
Published: February 2011

Commercial airlines face an extremely challenging operating and competitive environment. To remain in business they must comply with ever-changing regulatory requirements while, at the same time, minimizing their operational costs without sacrificing customer expectations of service levels. Increasingly, airlines are realizing that a “plan-execute” mode of operation must give way to a “sense-respond” mode of operation; in other words they must become a real-time (agile) organization, capable of sensing the occurrence of unforeseen events such as the placement of a last-minute shipping order, flight delays, and cancellations, and respond effectively in real-time to such events. To enable enterprises in general, and the airline industry in particular, to improve their sense-and-respond capabilities and ensure better resource utilization, a number of software vendors are offering event stream processing and Business Activity Monitoring (BAM) solutions. This case examines a longitudinal set of real-world implementation projects using such a solution at a major US airline (referred to as Southern International Airlines) and the results and lessons gained from this deployment.
Analysis-Sensitive Conversion of Administrative Data into Statistical Information Systems
Authors: Fugini Mariagrazia , Mario Mirko Cesarini , Mezzanzanica Mario
Published: February 2011

Public Administrations (PAs) are facing profound institutional and organizational changes requiring managers, stakeholders, and responsible statesmen to increase their ability in quick decision making processes. In this context, information related to individual and collective needs plays a large and relevant role, and therefore a deep knowledge of the observed phenomena and an increased degree of timeliness, quality, and efficiency is required. This article presents a case study concerning the development of a Statistical Information System (SIS) out of data coming from administrative archives of the PAs. Such archives are a rich source of up to date information, but an attempt to use them as sources for statistical analysis reveals errors and incompatibilities among each other that do not permit their usage as a statistical and decision support basis. These errors and incompatibilities are usually undetected during administrative use, since they do not affect their day-by-day use in the PAs; however they need to be fixed before performing any further aggregate analysis. In the sequel of the article, the reader is engaged with the basic aspects involved in building a SIS out of administrative data, such as design of an integration model for different and heterogeneous data sources, improvement of the overall data quality, removal of errors that might impact on the correctness of statistical analysis, design of a data warehouse for statistical analysis, and design of a multidimensional database to develop indicators for decision support. Finally, some examples are presented concerning the information that can be obtained by making use of a SIS constructed out of Registry and Income Office archives.
Stability and Creativity as Contradicting Values in Information Management
Authors: Leino Timo
Published: February 2011

This case represents the situation at a North European business school in 1996 and the development process since then. At this school, the IT environment was quite heterogeneous and unstable, causing low user satisfaction. We describe the strategic actions taken and the successful consequences of those actions. Finally, we reflect on the lessons learned in our case for the current situation, where modern organizations are planning to implement Windows Vista and Office 2007, and the school in case is facing a new organizational challenge.
Implementing E-Justice on a National Scale
Authors: Politis Dionysios , Donos George , Christou George , Giannakopoulos Panagiotis , Papapanagiotou-Leza Aggeliki
Published: February 2011

The world of justice is undergoing drastic changes that commenced about a decade ago. Trends in an effort for enterprise like management, along with the advent of information and communication technologies, have culminated in a strong imperative for technological and organizational reforms. However, justice is not simply another sector for e-government implementations. Justice is an autonomous function of democratic regimes that not only interprets laws but also poses restrictions and preconditions on how electronic systems are implemented with concern for the protection of constitutional and civil rights. Multiple types of relationships have been developed between politicians, administrators, technological infrastructure providers, and businesses, converting the roadmap for e-justice implementation from a mere quantified investment on content and organization to a complex strategy involving broader social and economical modeling techniques. Using case studies in three Balkan countries this research illustrates the problems in applying e-justice on a national scale.
Using Information Technology for Strategic Growth from Single-Mission Transportation Company to Multi-Faceted Global Logistics Corporation
Authors: Hanshaw Shirley , Carter Lemuria
Published: February 2011

Businesses involved in logistics and supply chain management rely on information technology to deliver services "on time" with highest productivity. One such business began in 1971 as a single-service trucking company known as O-J Transport. It later expanded its capabilities and diversified its mission to become The O-J Group, a multiservice transportation and logistics enterprise. Strategically seizing opportunities, the CEO in 1998 expanded the company to become a global supplier to the automotive divisions whose mission is to optimize the customer’s supply chain infrastructures and processes by designing and implementing complex supply chain solutions and leveraging information technology to reduce costs and improve service. This study assesses the diffusion of information technology within the compnay by exploring the evolution of its technological infrastructure using Windley’s (2002) e-government maturity model to evaluate JGI’s adoption of goverment-to-business initiatives.
Free Wireless Internet Park Services
Authors: Al-Shafi Shafi
Published: February 2011

This article examines the adoption of free wireless Internet parks (iPark) by Qatari citizens as a means of accessing electronic services from public parks. The Qatar government has launched the iPark concept with a view of providing free internet access for all citizens while enjoying the outdoors. This concept is enabled by an ICT infrastructure and broadband facilities which is considered as regional good practice. By offering free wireless Internet access, the Qatari government encourages its citizen’s to actively participate in the global information society with a view of bridging the digital divide. Using a survey based study this research set out to examine the Qatari citizens’ perceptions of the iPark initiative. Results of the survey showed that there is a positive level of relation between the independent variables, usefulness, ease of use, Internet safety, and Internet speed/response time and one dependent variable, intention to use the iPark in Qatar. The paper provides a discussion on the key findings, research implications, limitations, and future directions for the iPark initiative in Qatar.
Understanding Factors Affecting Consumer Adoption of Broadband in India
Authors: Dwivedi Yogesh K. , Williams Michael D. , Weerakkody Vishanth , Lal Banita , Bhatt Sneha
Published: February 2011

The aim of this study is to provide an initial understanding of the factors affecting the adoption of broadband Internet in a developing country context, in this instance India. In order to achieve this aim, this study identified and examined various attitudinal, normative and control factors and their possible influence upon broadband adoption. The data on these variables was collected using a survey approach. The findings of this article suggest that relative advantage, hedonic outcomes and cost are significant factors for explaining consumers’ behavioral intentions to adopt broadband in India. The article also outlines the limitations of this study, and directions for future research.
Reforming Public Healthcare in the Republic of Ireland with Information Systems
Authors: Sammon David , Adam Frederic
Published: February 2011

The need for reforming public healthcare towards greater efficiency and measurable returns on investment has been felt by governments in many countries. In Ireland, this led to the PPARS project, which sought to implement SAP across all public healthcare sites. This project, however, was unsuccessful and led to a parliamentary inquiry. To understand why the PPARS project failed, we carried out an extensive case study of the project and compared our findings to the implementation of JD Edwards in a multinational in the private sector. Our study reveals that despite specific circumstances in the public sector that contributed to the failure of the ERP project, the primary causes of failure result from a lack of understanding of what ERP involves and a failure to prepare adequately, which can be found in any organisation, public or private. This leads to significant lessons for ERP implementations and IS projects involving substantial change.