bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Machine Learning Approach to Data Cleaning in Databases and Data Warehouses
Authors: Shahri Hamid Haidarian
Published: May 2011

Entity resolution (also known as duplicate elimination) is an important part of the data cleaning process, especially in data integration and warehousing, where data are gathered from distributed and inconsistent sources. Learnable string similarity measures are an active area of research in the entity resolution problem. Our proposed framework builds upon our earlier work on entity resolution, in which fuzzy rules and membership functions are defined by the user. Here, we exploit neuro-fuzzy modeling for the first time to produce a unique adaptive framework for entity resolution, which automatically learns and adapts to the specific notion of similarity at a metalevel. This framework encompasses many of the previous work on trainable and domain-specific similarity measures. Employing fuzzy inference, it removes the repetitive task of hard-coding a program based on a schema, which is usually required in previous approaches. In addition, our extensible framework is very flexible for the end user. Hence, it can be utilized in the production of an intelligent tool to increase the quality and accuracy of data.
Evaluating XML-Extended OLAP Queries Based on Physical Algebra
Authors: Yin Xuepeng , Pedersen Torben Bach
Published: May 2011

In today’s OLAP systems, physically integrating fast-changing data (e.g., stock quotes) into a cube is complex and time-consuming. The data is likely to be available in XML format on the World Wide Web (WWW); thus, instead of physical integration, making XML data logically federated with OLAP systems is desirable. In this article, we extend previous work on the logical federation of OLAP and XML data sources by presenting simplified query semantics, a physical query algebra, and a robust OLAP-XML query engine, as well as the query evaluation techniques. Performance experiments with a prototypical implementation suggest that the performance for OLAP-XML federations is comparable to queries on physically integrated data.
Open Source Software
Authors: Erlich Zippy , Aviv Reuven
Published: May 2011

The philosophy underlying open source software (OSS) is enabling programmers to freely access the software source by distributing the software source code, thus allowing them to use the software for any purpose, to adapt and modify it, and redistribute the original or the modified source for further use, modification, and redistribution. The modifications, which include fixing bugs and improving the source, evolve the software. This evolutionary process can produce better software than the traditional proprietary software, in which the source is open only to a very few programmers and is closed to everybody else who blindly use it but cannot change or modify it. The idea of open source software arose about 20 years ago and in recent years is breaking out into the educational, commercial, and governmental world. It offers many opportunities when implemented appropriately. The chapter will present a detailed definition of open source software, its philosophy, its operating principles and rules, and its strengths and weaknesses in comparison to proprietary software. A better understanding of the philosophy underlying open source software will motivate programmers to utilize the opportunities it offers and implement it appropriately.
Intelligent Analysis of Software Maintenance Data
Authors: Reformat Marek , Musilek Petr , Igbide Efe
Published: May 2011

Amount of software engineering data gathered by software companies amplifies importance of tools and techniques dedicated to processing and analysis of data. More and more methods are being developed to extract knowledge from data and build data models. In such cases, selection of the most suitable data processing methods and quality of extracted knowledge is of great importance. Software maintenance is one of the most time and effort-consuming tasks among all phases of a software life cycle. Maintenance managers and personnel look for methods and tools supporting analysis of software maintenance data in order to gain knowledge needed to prepare better plans and schedules of software maintenance activities. Software engineering data models should provide quantitative as well as qualitative outputs. It is desirable to build these models based on a welldelineated logic structure. Such models would enhance maintainers’ understanding of factors which influence maintenance efforts. This chapter focuses on defect-related activities that are the core of corrective maintenance. Two aspects of these activities are considered: a number of software components that have to be examined during a defect removing process, and time needed to remove a single defect. Analysis of the available datasets leads to development of data models, extraction of IF-THEN rules from these models, and construction of ensemble-based prediction systems that are built based on these data models. The data models are developed using well-known tools such as See5/C5.0 and 4cRuleBuilder, and a new multi-level evolutionary-based algorithm. Single data models are put together into ensemble prediction systems that use elements of evidence theory for the purpose of inference about a degree of belief in the final prediction.
Malicious Software
Authors: Chen Thomas M. , Tally Gregg W.
Published: May 2011

Malicious software (malware) allows an intruder to take over or damage a target host without the owner’s consent and often without his or her knowledge. Over the past thirty years, malware has become a more serious worldwide problem as Internet-connected computers have proliferated and operating systems have become more complex. Today, the average PC user must be more cognizant of computer security than ever before due to the constant threat of possible infection. Although exact costs are difficult to determine, there is little doubt that malware has widespread impact on equipment damages, loss of data, and loss of productivity. According to surveys, malware is one of the most common and costly types of attack on organizations (CERT, CSO, & ECTF, 2005).
Conceptual Model Driven Software Development (CMDSD) as a Catalyst Methodology for Building Sound Semantic Web Frameworks
Authors: Biskup Thomas , Heyer Nils , Gómez Jorge Marx
Published: May 2011

This Chapter introduces Hyperservices as a unified application model for Semantic Web frameworks, and proposes Conceptual Model-Driven Software Development as a means of easy adoption to them. Hyperservices are based on agent societies, provided with structured information by the Semantic Web, and using Web services as a collaboration and communication interface. Afterwards, the WASP model is proposed as a framework for implementing Hyperservices, also adding personalization rules to modify the agents’ perception as well as the HIVE Architecture as Semantic Information Server infrastructure within the WASP framework. For easier adoption of these new models, Conceptual Model-Driven Software Development is proposed. It separates the conceptual aspects from the technical details by automatically generating executable code from models while the implementation details are hidden to the end user, the service developer.
Formal Modeling and Specification of Design Patterns Using RTPA
Authors: Wang Yingxu , Huang Jian
Published: May 2011

Software patterns are recognized as an ideal documentation of expert knowledge in software design and development. However, its formal model and semantics have not been generalized and matured. The traditional UML specifications and related formalization efforts cannot capture the essence of generic patterns precisely, understandably, and essentially. A generic mathematical model of patterns is presented in this article using real-time process algebra (RTPA). The formal model of patterns are more readable and highly generic, which can be used as the meta model to denote any design patterns deductively, and can be translated into code in programming languages by supporting tools. This work reveals that a pattern is a highly complicated and dynamic structure for software design encapsulation, because of its complex and flexible internal associations between multiple abstract classes and instantiations. The generic model of patterns is not only applicable to existing patterns’ description and comprehension, but also useful for future patterns’ identification and formalization.
Evaluating Performance of Software Architecture Models with the Palladio Component Model
Authors: Koziolek Heiko , Becker Steffen , Reussner Ralf , Happe Jens
Published: May 2011

Techniques from model-driven software development are useful to analyse the performance of a software architecture during early development stages. Design models of software models can be transformed into analytical or simulation models, which enable analyzing the response times, throughput, and resource utilization of a system before starting the implementation. This chapter provides an overview of the Palladio Component Model (PCM), a special modeling language targeted at model-driven performance predictions. The PCM is accompanied by several model transformations, which derive stochastic process algebra, queuing network models, or Java source code from a software design model. Software architects can use the results of the analytical models to evaluate the feasibility of performance requirements, identify performance bottlenecks, and support architectural design decisions quantitatively. The chapter provides a case study with a component-based software architecture to illustrate the performance prediction process.
Present and Future of Software Graphics Architectures for Interactive Digital Television
Authors: Cesar Pablo , Baker Keith , Bulterman Dick , Gomes Soares Luiz Fernando , Cruz-Lara Samuel
Published: May 2011

This chapter aims to define a research agenda regarding the software graphics architecture for interactive digital television (iDTV). It is important to note that by iDTV we do not refer to the provision of a return path, but rather to the potential impact the user has over the television (both video stream and applications) content. We can differentiate three major topics to be included in the agenda: (1) to define a suitable declarative environment for television receivers, (2) to research television input (as multiple input devices) and output (multiple display devices) capabilities, and (3) to rethink the models of television distribution and post-distribution (e.g., peer-to-peer [P2P] networks and optical storage technologies). This chapter elaborates on these topics.
LOGIC-Minimiser
Authors: Sarkar Nurul I. , Petrus Khaleel I.
Published: May 2011

Boolean algebra, minimization of Boolean expressions, and logic gates are often included as subjects in electronics, computer science, information technology, and engineering courses as computer hardware and digital systems are a fundamental component of IT systems today. We believe that students learn minimization of Boolean expressions better if they are given interactive practical learning activities that illustrate theoretical concepts. This chapter describes the development and use of a software tool (named LOGIC-Minimiser) as an aid to enhance teaching and learning minimization of Boolean expressions.
Intelligent Software Agents Analysis in E-Commerce I
Authors: Luo Xin , Akkaladevi Somasheker
Published: May 2011

Equipped with sophisticated information technology infrastructures, the information world is becoming more expansive and widely interconnected. Internet usage is expanding throughout the web-linked globe, which stimulates people’s need for desired information in a timely and convenient manner. Electronic commerce activities, powered by Internet growth, are increasing continuously. It is estimated that online retail will reach nearly $230 billion and account for 10% of total U.S. retail sales by 2008 (Johnson et al. 2003). In addition, e-commerce entailing business-to-business (B2B), business-to-customer (B2C) and customerto- customer (C2C) transactions is spawning new markets such as mobile commerce.
A Semantic Web-Based Information Integration Approach for an Agent-Based Electronic Market
Authors: Viamonte Maria João , Silva Nuno
Published: May 2011

With the increasing importance of e-commerce across the Internet, the need for software agents to support both customers and suppliers in buying and selling goods/services is growing rapidly. It is becoming increasingly evident that in a few years the Internet will host a large number of interacting software agents. Most of them will be economically motivated, and will negotiate a variety of goods and services. It is therefore important to consider the economic incentives and behaviours of e-commerce software agents, and to use all available means to anticipate their collective interactions. Even more fundamental than these issues, however, is the very nature of the various actors that are involved in e-commerce transactions. This leads to different conceptualizations of the needs and capabilities, giving rise to semantic incompatibilities between them. Ontologies have an important role in Multi-Agent Systems communication and provide a vocabulary to be used in the communication between agents. It is hard to find two agents using precisely the same vocabulary. They usually have a heterogeneous private vocabulary defined in their own private ontology. In order to provide help in the conversation among different agents, we are proposing what we call ontology-services to facilitate agents’ interoperability. More specifically, we propose an ontology-based information integration approach, exploiting the ontology mapping paradigm, by aligning consumer needs and the market capacities, in a semi-automatic mode. We propose a new approach for the combination of the use of agent-based electronic markets based on Semantic Web technology, improved by the application and exploitation of the information and trust relationships captured by the social networks.
Facilitating eLearning with Social Software
Authors: Bernsteiner Reinhard , Ostermann Herwig , Staudinger Roland
Published: May 2011

This article explores how social software tools can offer support for innovative learning methods and instructional design in general, and those related to self-organized learning in an academic context in particular. In the first section, the theoretical basis for the integration of wikis, discussion forums, and Weblogs in the context of learning are discussed. The second part presents the results of an empirical survey conducted by the authors and explores the usage of typical social software tools that support learning from a student’s perspective. The article concludes that social software tools have the potential to be a fitting technology in a teaching and learning environment.
Integrating Usability, Semiotic, and Software Engineering into a Method for Evaluating User Interfaces
Authors: Sousa Kenia , Schilling Albert , Furtado Elizabeth
Published: May 2011

We present artifacts and techniques used for user interface (UI) design and evaluation, performed by professionals from the human-computer interaction (HCI) area of study, covering usability engineering and semiotic engineering, which can assist software engineering (SE) to perform usability tests starting earlier in the process. Tests of various interaction alternatives, produced from these artifacts, are useful to verify if these alternatives are in accordance with users’ preferences and constraints, and usability patterns, and can enhance the probability of achieving a more usable and reliable product.
Computer-Aided Management of Software Development in Small Companies
Authors: Pichl Lukáš , Yamano Takuya
Published: May 2011

This chapter focuses on the principles of management in software development projects and optimization tools for managerial decision making, especially in the environment of small IT companies. The management of software projects is specific by high requirements on qualified labor force, large importance of the human capital, low level of fixed costs, and highly fluctuating product demand. This yields a dynamic combinatorial problem for the management involving considerable risk factors. The key aspects addressed here are structuring of the project team, cost estimation, and error avoidance in the implementation phase of the project. Special emphasis is put on human resource and fault-tolerant management of the project cycle. Discrete faults and continuous stochastic inputs are used to test and evaluate project variants. We have developed an online simulation tool for this purpose that facilitates findings of optimal resource structures and creation of optimal network from task relations. General principles of software project management are presented along with the analysis of the software project simulation tool in a brief case study.
Revenue Models in the Open Source Software Business
Authors: Rajala Risto , Nissilä Jussi , Westerlund Mika
Published: May 2011

Profit-oriented business behavior has increased within the open source software movement. However, it has proved to be a challenging and complex issue due to the fact that open source software (OSS) business models are based on software that typically is freely distributed oraccessed by any interested party, usually free of charge. It should be noted, however, that like all traditional software businesses, the business models based on OSS ultimately aim at generating profits. The aim of this chapter is to explore the key considerations in designing profitable revenue models for businesses based on OSS. We approach the issue through two business cases: Red Hat and MySQL, both of which illustrate the complexity and heterogeneity of solutions and options in the field of OSS. We focus on the managerial implications derived from the cases, discussing how different business model elements should be managed when doing business with OSS.
Software Quality and the Open Source Process
Authors: Verma Sameer
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces the open source software development process from a software quality perspective. It uses the attributes of software quality in a formal model and attempts to map them onto the principles of the open source process. Many stages of the open source process appear to have an ad-hoc approach. Although open source is not considered to be a formal methodology for software development, it has resulted in the development of very high quality software, both in the consumer and in the enterprise space. In this chapter, we hope to understand the open source process itself, and apply it to other methodologies in order to achieve better software quality. Additionally, this chapter will help in understanding the “Wild West” nature of open source and what it may hold for us in the future.
Agile Software Development Quality Assurance
Authors: Kile James F. , Inampudi Maheshwar R.
Published: May 2011

Of great interest to software development professionals is whether the adaptive methods found in agile methodologies can be successfully implemented in a highly disciplined environment and still provide the benefits accorded to fully agile projects. As a general rule, agile software development methodologies have typically been applied to non-critical projects using relatively small project teams where there are vague requirements, a high degree of anticipated change, and no significant availability or performance requirements (Boehm & Turner, 2004). Using agile methods in their pure form for projects requiring either high availability, high performance, or both is considered too risky by many practitioners (Boehm et al., 2004; Paulk, 2001). When one investigates the various agile practices, however, one gets the impression that each may still have value when separated from the whole. This chapter discusses how one team was able to successfully drive software development quality improvements and reduce overall cycle time through the introduction of several individual agile development techniques. Through the use of a common-sense approach to software development, it is shown that the incorporation of individual agile techniques does not have to entail additional risk for projects having higher availability, performance, and quality requirements.
Teaching Agile Software Development Quality Assurance
Authors: Hazzan Orit , Dubinsky Yael
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents a teaching framework for agile quality—that is, the way quality issues are perceived in agile software development environments. The teaching framework consists of nine principles, the actual implementation of which is varied and should be adjusted for different specific teaching environments. This chapter outlines the principles and addresses their contribution to learners’ understanding of agile quality. In addition, we highlight some of the differences between agile software development and plan-driven software development in general, and with respect to software quality in particular. This chapter provides a framework to be used by software engineering instructors who wish to base students learning on students’ experiences of the different aspects involved in software development environments.
Ethical, Cultural and Socio-Economic Factors of Software Piracy Determinants in a Developing Country
Authors: Butt Arsalan , Butt Adeel I.
Published: May 2011

Consumer software piracy is widespread in many parts of the world. P2P based websites have made it easier to access pirated software, which has resulted in an increased emphasis on the issue of software piracy in both the software industry and research community. Some factors that determine piracy include poverty, cultural values, ethical attitudes, and education. Earlier empirical studies have looked at software piracy as an intentional behaviour. This study explores the demographic, ethical and socio-economical factors that can represent software piracy as a social norm among a developing country’s university students. The authors have conducted a comparative analysis of university students from Pakistan and Canada, two countries that differ economically, socially, and culturally. The results of the study indicate that software piracy behaviour is different in both groups of students, but that there are also some similarities. Future research directions and implications are also presented.
Measuring the Efficiency of Free and Open Source Software Projects Using Data Envelopment Analysis
Authors: Koch Stefan
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, we propose for the first time a method to compare the efficiency of free and open source projects, based on the data envelopment analysis (DEA) methodology. DEA offers several advantages in this context, as it is a non-parametric optimization method without any need for the user to define any relations between different factors or a production function, can account for economies or diseconomies of scale, and is able to deal with multi-input, multi-output systems in which the factors have different scales. Using a data set of 43 large F/OS projects retrieved from SourceForge.net, we demonstrate the application of DEA, and show that DEA indeed is usable for comparing the efficiency of projects. We will also show additional analyses based on the results, exploring whether the inequality in work distribution within the projects, the licensing schem,e or the intended audience have an effect on their efficiency. As this is a first attempt at using this method for F/OS projects, several future research directions are possible. These include additional work on determining input and output factors, comparisons within application areas, and comparison to commercial or mixed-mode development projects.
Designing Learning Activities with Mobile Technologies
Authors: Ryu Hokyoung
Published: May 2011

This introductory chapter focuses not so much on mobile learning technologies per se, but rather on a theoretical foundation and its pragmatic application to designing learning activities with mobile technologies. It sets out three learning spaces that are explicitly considered in the book: individual, collaborative, and situated learning. On these differing learning spaces, we begin by proposing the essential factors in effective mobile learning experience design that should be addressed by different features or functions of the relevant learning activities. In turn, derived is a conceptual framework to provide systematic support for mobile learning expererience design. This chapter concludes by surveying the mobile learning systems included in this book, reviewing their differing learning activities within context of the framework. We hope that this analysis will help to expose the key qualities and features that can support the future development of increasingly effective mobile learning applications.
Towards Effectiveness and Transparency in E-Business Transactions
Authors: Jarrar Mustafa
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents an ontology for customer complaint management, which has been developed in the CCFORM project. CCFORM is an EU funded project (IST-2001-38248) with the aim of studying the foundation of a central European customer complaint portal. The idea is that any consumer can register a complaint against any party about any problem, at one portal. This portal should: support 11 languages, be sensitive to cross-border business regulations, dynamic, and can be extended by companies. To manage this dynamicity and to control companies’ extensions, a customer complaint ontology (CContology) has to be built to underpin the CC portal. In other words, the complaint forms are generated based on the ontology. The CContology comprises classifications of complaint problems, complaint resolutions, complaining parties, complaint-recipients, ‘’best-practices’’, rules of complaint, etc. The main uses of this ontology are (1) to enable consistent implementation (and interoperation) of all software complaint management mechanisms based on a shared background vocabulary, which can be used by many stakeholders. (2) to play the role of a domain ontology that encompasses the core complaining elements and that can be extended by either individual or groups of firms; and (3) to generate CC-forms based on the ontological commitments and to enforce the validity (and/or integrity) of their population. At the end of this chapter, we outline our experience in applying the methodological principles (Double-Articulation and Modularization) and the tool (DogmaModeler) that we used in developing the CContology.
Business Analytics Success
Authors: Ramakrishna Hindupur
Published: May 2011

The chapter presents a conceptual framework that identifies technological and organizational factors that impact the success of business analytics (BA) use in organizations in general and virtual organizations in particular. The framework explores BA success through three business disciplines: Decision sciences (DS), information systems (IS), and management. We believe that BA success comes from proper interaction between the three disciplines. Though the concept of BA has been around for a long time in business literature, its full potential use has not been realized in organizations for a variety of reasons. The information and communication technologies (ICT) that have made virtual organizations, and flattening of the world possible have also created a better infrastructure/environment for use of BA by providing the capability to collect massive amounts of data and by providing easier-to-use analytic tools. Currently, BA is being touted as the next information technology (IT) capability that will generate considerable value including competitive advantage to businesses. In this chapter we present and discuss our framework, discuss its viability through existing examples of BA success, and finally apply the framework to a special emerging context in organizations, virtual organizing. Implications of this framework for identifying and filling research gaps in this area and implications for managers interested in exploring BA use in their organizations are presented
Editor Conclusions
Authors: Camison Cesar
Published: May 2011

The study of virtual organizations encompasses several research fields, and the variables involved in each of them are sometimes closely related. This represents a challenge for managers, since the decision taken about the technical tools to use, the organizational structure, incentives or procedures, for example, are tightly linked, and this represents a complex problem in itself. Nevertheless, the biggest challenge in virtual organization management is the lack of experience. Although the phenomenon is not new- there are plenty of successful communities of practice in the net- most of the managers and professionals have limited experience in networking, and only as users in specific areas of knowledge or business activities, and are not fully aware of networking possibilities and limitations. This lack of experience implies a big trial when facing the problems involved in virtual organizations management.
Computer Aided Knowledge Discovery in Biomedicine
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Vanathi
Published: May 2011

This chapter provides a perspective on 3 important collaborative areas in systems biology research. These areas represent biological problems of clinical significance. The first area deals with macromolecular crystallization, which is a crucial step in protein structure determination. The second area deals with proteomic biomarker discovery from high-throughput mass spectral technologies; while the third area is protein structure prediction and complex fold recognition from sequence and prior knowledge of structure properties. For each area, successful case studies are revisited from the perspective of computer- aided knowledge discovery using machine learning and statistical methods. Information about protein sequence, structure, and function is slowly accumulating in standardized forms within databases. Methods are needed to maximize the use of this prior information for prediction and analysis purposes. This chapter provides insights into such methods by which available information in existing databases can be processed and combined with systems biology expertise to expedite biomedical discoveries.
Gene Expression in Microbial Systems for Growth and Metabolism
Authors: Desai Prerak
Published: May 2011

The use of systems biology to study complex biological questions is gaining ground due to the ever-increasing amount of genetic tools and genome sequences available. As such, systems biology concepts and approaches are increasingly underpinning our concept of microbial physiology. Three tools for use in functional genomics are gene expression, proteomics, and metabolomics. However, these tools produce such large data sets that we sometimes become paralyzed trying to merge the data and link it to form a consistent biological interpretation. Use of functional groupings has relieved some of the issues in merging data for biological meaning. Statistical analysis and visualization of these multi-dimension data sets are needed to aid the microbiologist, which brings additional methods that are often not familiar. Progress is being made to bring these diverse data types together to understand fundamental metabolic processes and pathways. These efforts are paying tremendous dividends in our understanding of how microbes live, grow, survive, and metabolize nutrients. These insights allow metabolic engineering to progress and allow scientists to further define the mechanisms of metabolism.
In Machina Systems for the Rational De Novo Peptide Design
Authors: Wrede Paul
Published: May 2011

Peptides fulfill many tasks in controlling and regulating cellular functions and are key molecules in systems biology. There is a great demand in science and industry for a fast search of innovative peptide structures. In this chapter we introduce a combination of a computer-based guided search of novel peptides in sequence space with their biological experimental validation. The computer-based search uses an evolutionary algorithm that includes artificial neural networks as fitness function and a mutation operator, called the PepHarvester. Optimization occurs during 100 iterations. This system, called DARWINIZER, is applied in the de novo design of neutralizing peptides against autoantibodies from DCM (dilatative cardiomyopathy) patients. Another approach is the optimization of peptide sequences by an ant colony optimization process. This biologically-oriented system identified several novel weak binding T-cell epitopes.
Photosynthesis
Authors: Adolphs Julia
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces the theory of optical spectra and excitation energy transfer of light harvesting complexes in photosynthesis. The light energy absorbed by protein bound pigments in these complexes is transferred via an exciton mechanism to the photosynthetic reaction center where it drives the photochemical reactions. The protein holds the pigments in optimal orientation for excitation energy transfer and creates an energy sink by shifting the local transition energies of the pigments. In this way, the excitation energy is directed with high efficiency (close to 100 %) to the reaction center. In the present chapter, this energy transfer is studied theoretically. Based on crystal structure data, the excitonic couplings are calculated taking into account also the polarizability of the protein. The local transition energies are obtained by two independent methods and are used to predict the orientation of the FMO protein relative to the reaction center.
General Idea of the Proposed System
Authors: Augustyniak Piotr , Tadeusiewicz Ryszard
Published: May 2011

After an introduction and three chapters highlighting the present state of the art in computerized electrocardiography (Chapter 2), methodological issues of medical and technical nature (Chapter 3), and electronic management of medical data storage and exchange (Chapter 4), this chapter is a midway summary. This book might end here if it were a review of present achievements of tele-medical solutions in cardiology. Fortunately, we are not only witness to the progress, but are also involved in the development of ubiquitous cardiology, so we want to share our ideas, realizations, and results of the research.
The Intelligent Enterprise
Authors: Lee Laurence Lock
Published: May 2011

J.B. Quinn’s influential book on The Intelligent Enterprise was published in 1992 and joined a small cadre of scholars and practitioners reacting to the growth in the services sector and the decline of traditional manufacturing as the dominant source of employment. In 1992, the Swedish Coalition of Service Industries1 established a project entitled the “Valuation of Service Companies”, in recognition of the need to develop more appropriate valuation and reporting mechanisms for firms whose major assets were intangible. The genesis of this activity can be traced back to the 1980s and the work on the “invisible balance sheet” by the Swedish KONRAD group, several of whose members are credited with pioneering the concepts behind Intellectual capital (IC) reporting and management. The publishing of the “Valuation of Service Companies” report provided the basic framework on which subsequent researchers and business practitioners developed IC reports2. This report describes a “new annual report” with four key indicators: market position; human resources/knowledge; structural value; and financial indicators.
Process-Driven Business Integration Management for Collaboration Networks
Authors: Vanderhaeghen Dominik
Published: May 2011

In the chapter, a framework for cross-enterprise business integration management addressing the organizational and technical dimension is developed. Firstly, the authors identify basic characteristics of cross-organizational business processes whose complexity results in the need for an efficient and effective business integration management. Therefore, a holistic framework is focused, consisting of a view concept for knowledge management in collaboration networks, a three-tier architecture, and a process-oriented life-cycle model. The framework for business integration management offers the required methods to set up enterprise processes and ICT-support in collaboration networks. It proposes a management guideline for collaboration participants defining what, why, when, and how they might manage their business integration intra- and cross-organizationally.
The Theoretical Framework of Cognitive Informatics
Authors: Wang Yingxu
Published: May 2011

Cognitive Informatics (CI) is a transdisciplinary enquiry of the internal information processing mechanisms and processes of the brain and natural intelligence shared by almost all science and engineering disciplines. This article presents an intensive review of the new field of CI. The structure of the theoretical framework of CI is described encompassing the Layered Reference Model of the Brain (LRMB), the OAR model of information representation, Natural Intelligence (NI) vs. Artificial Intelligence (AI), Autonomic Computing (AC) vs. imperative computing, CI laws of software, the mechanism of human perception processes, the cognitive processes of formal inferences, and the formal knowledge system. Three types of new structures of mathematics, Concept Algebra (CA), Real-Time Process Algebra (RTPA), and System Algebra (SA), are created to enable rigorous treatment of cognitive processes of the brain as well as knowledge representation and manipulation in a formal and coherent framework. A wide range of applications of CI in cognitive psychology, computing, knowledge engineering, and software engineering has been identified and discussed.
Unraveling the Taste Fabric of Social Networks
Authors: Liu Hugo , Maes Pattie , Davenport Glorianna
Published: May 2011

Popular online social networks such as Friendster and MySpace do more than simply reveal the superficial structure of social connectedness — the rich meanings bottled within social network profiles themselves imply deeper patterns of culture and taste. If these latent semantic fabrics of taste could be harvested formally, the resultant resource would afford completely novel ways for representing and reasoning about web users and people in general. This paper narrates the theory and technique of such a feat — the natural language text of 100,000 social network profiles were captured, mapped into a diverse ontology of music, books, films, foods, etc., and machine learning was applied to infer a semantic fabric of taste. Taste fabrics bring us closer to improvisational manipulations of meaning, and afford us at least three semantic functions — the creation of semantically flexible user representations, crossdomain taste-based recommendation, and the computation of taste-similarity between people — whose use cases are demonstrated within the context of three applications — the InterestMap, Ambient Semantics, and IdentityMirror. Finally, we evaluate the quality of the taste fabrics, and distill from this research reusable methodologies and techniques of consequence to the semantic mining and Semantic Web communities.
The U.S. Video Game Industry
Authors: Dunlop Janet C.
Published: May 2011

Today’s media are vast in both form and influence; however, few cultural studies scholars address the video gaming industry’s role in domestic maintenance and global imposition of U.S. hegemonic ideologies. In this study, video games are analyzed by cover art, content, and origin of production. Whether it is earning more “powers” in games such as Star Wars, or earning points to purchase more powerful artillery in Grand Theft Auto, capitalist ideology is reinforced in a subtle, entertaining fashion. This study shows that oppressive hegemonic representations of gender and race are not only present, but permeate the majority of top-selling video games. Finally, the study traces the origins of best-selling games, to reveal a virtual U.S. monopoly in the content of this formative medium.
The Nature of Strategic Intelligence
Authors: Xu Mark , Kaye Roland
Published: May 2011

This chapter discusses the nature of strategic intelligence and the challenges of systematically scanning and processing strategic information. It reveals that strategic intelligence practice concentrates on competitive intelligence gathering, non-competitive related intelligence have not yet been systematically scanned and processed. Much of the intelligence is collected through informal and manual based systems. Turning data into analyzed, meaningful intelligence for action is limited to a few industry leaders. The chapter proposed a corporate intelligence solution, which comprises of three key intelligence functions, namely organizational-wide intelligence scanning, knowledge enriched intelligent refining, and specialist support. A corporate radar system (CRS) for external environment scanning, which is a part of the organizational-wide intelligence scanning process is explored in light of latest technology development. Implementation issues are discussed. The chapter develops insight of strategic intelligence, and the solution could significantly enhance a manager’s and a company’s sensibility and capability in dealing with external opportunities and threats.
Supply Chain Risk Management
Authors: Blecker Thorsten , Kersten Wolfgang , Späth Hagen , Koeppen Birgit
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces a game-theoretic approach to supply chain risk management. The focus of this study lies on the risk of a single supply chain member defecting from common supply chain agreements, thereby jeopardizing the overall supply chain performance. The chapter goes on to introduce a manual supply chain game, by which dynamic supply chain mechanisms can be simulated and further analyzed using a game-theoretic model. With the help of the game-theoretic model, externalities are identified that negatively impact supply chain efficiency. The conclusion drawn from this chapter is that incentives are necessary to overcome these externalities in order to align supply chain objectives. The authors show that the game-theoretic model, in connection with the supply chain game presented, provides an informative basis for the future development of incentives by which supply chains can be aligned in order to reduce supply chain risks.
An Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation-Based Model for Measuring Consumer Shopping Oriented Web Site Success
Authors: Garrity Edward J. , O’Donnell Joseph B. , Jin Kim Yong , Sanders G. Lawrence
Published: May 2011

This article develops a new model of Web IS success that takes into account both intrinsic and extrinsic motivating factors. The proposed model begins with the Garrity and Sanders (1998) model of technologic acceptance and develops an extended nomological network of success factors that draws on motivation and flow theory.
Databases Modeling of Engineering Information
Authors: Ma Z.M.
Published: May 2011

Information systems have become the nerve center of current computer-based engineering applications, which hereby put the requirements on engineering information modeling. Databases are designed to support data storage, processing, and retrieval activities related to data management, and database systems are the key to implementing engineering information modeling. It should be noted that, however, the current mainstream databases are mainly used for business applications. Some new engineering requirements challenge today’s database technologies and promote their evolvement. Database modeling can be classified into two levels: conceptual data modeling and logical database modeling. In this chapter, we try to identify the requirements for engineering information modeling and then investigate the satisfactions of current database models to these requirements at two levels: conceptual data models and logical database models. In addition, the relationships among the conceptual data models and the logical database models for engineering information modeling are presented in the chapter viewed from database conceptual design.
Action Research with Internet Database Tools
Authors: Mann Bruce L.
Published: May 2011

This chapter will discuss and present examples of Internet database tools, typical instructional methods used with the tools, and implications for Internet-supported action research as a progressively deeper examination of teaching and learning
Cultural Interpretation of E-Commerce Acceptance in Developing Countries
Authors: Belkhamza Zakariya
Published: May 2011

Global deployment in information and communication technology requires understandings of the cultural constraints in technology acceptance and usage behavior. Prior research indicates that the salient technology acceptance models may not be applicable to all cultures since empirical support was mainly obtained from North America and developed countries. There has been little research done on technology acceptance and usage behavior in the context of developing countries which exhibit distinctive cultural differences from developed countries. The purpose of this study is to test the cross-cultural applicability of technology acceptance model in two developing countries, Malaysia and Algeria, and to investigate the influence of cultural values on the acceptance of e-commerce. The four cultural values of individualism/ collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity/femininity identified by Hofstede are posited to comparatively explain the e-commerce acceptance in the context of the two countries. Only uncertainty avoidance was found to moderate the relationship between perceived usefulness and intention to use e-commerce, whereas the other three national culture dimensions did not moderate the relationship, which validate the longstanding notion of important cultural differences between Malaysia and Algeria and show that those differences extend to the e-commerce context.
Software Engineering at Full Scale
Authors: Ludewig Jochen
Published: May 2011

In 1996, a new Software Engineering curriculum was launched at Universität Stuttgart. It was based on many years of practical experience teaching computer science and also on experience in industry where most of our graduates will find jobs. While the topics of this curriculum are not very different from those of computer science, there is much more emphasis on problem solving, software construction, and project work. In 2009, our traditional curriculum leading to the so-called diploma (equivalent to a master’s degree) will be replaced by a new curriculum according to the bachelor and master concept. This chapter describes both the old and the new curriculum, and discusses problems and achievements.
Continuous Curriculum Restructuring in a Graduate Software Engineering Program
Authors: Rosca Daniela
Published: May 2011

The development, maintenance and delivery of a software engineering curriculum present special challenges not found in other engineering disciplines. The continuous advances of the field of software engineering impose a high frequency of changes reflected in the curriculum and course content. This chapter describes the challenges of delivering a program meeting the needs of industry and students. It presents the lessons learned during 21 years of offering such a program, and dealing with issues pertaining to continuous curriculum and course content restructuring, the influence of the student body on the curriculum and course content. The chapter concludes with our recommendations for those who are seeking to create a graduate program in software engineering, with a special note on the situations where an undergraduate and graduate program will need to coexist in the same department.