bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modern Design Dimensions of Multiagent CSCW Systems
Authors: Gasmelseid Tagelsir M.
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces and investigates the applicability of the multiagent paradigm for engineering and developing CSCW systems with the aim of advocating modern design dimensions and software engineering implications. It argues that the use of multiagent systems can significantly improve and enhance the functionalities of computer supported work systems. To meet such an objective, the chapter raises the importance of “revisiting” the context and domain of CSCW in accordance with the growing organizational transformations, situational shifts, and technological developments. While such changes are motivating group collaboration, the information systems that support them must be powerful. The author believes that because of their specific limitations and the continuous changes in the collaboration environment, there is an urgent importance of using thorough system-oriented approaches to address the way they evolve. Furthermore, the chapter draws a framework for the use of the multiagent paradigm to understand and deploy CSCW systems by adopting an integrated context of analysis that improves our general understanding about their potentials.
Support Vector Machine
Authors: Shawkat Ali A. B.M.
Published: May 2011

From the beginning, machine learning methodology, which is the origin of artificial intelligence, has been rapidly spreading in the different research communities with successful outcomes. This chapter aims to introduce for system analysers and designers a comparatively new statistical supervised machine learning algorithm called support vector machine (SVM). We explain two useful areas of SVM, that is, classification and regression, with basic mathematical formulation and simple demonstration to make easy the understanding of SVM. Prospects and challenges of future research in this emerging area are also described. Future research of SVM will provide improved and quality access to the users. Therefore, developing an automated SVM system with state-of-the-art technologies is of paramount importance, and hence, this chapter will link up an important step in the system analysis and design perspective to this evolving research arena.
Balancing the Capacity in Health Care
Authors: Odd Petersen Lars
Published: May 2011

Diagnostics and treatment of patients often involve several different clinics. When improving quality and efficiency in health care we therefore need to consider the entire pathway from the patient’s first contact with a health institution until the final discharge from the hospital and rehabilitation after the end of treatment. A system view is needed to consider the stochastic nature of acute patient arrivals, the variety of pathways through the clinics, and the stochastic time needed for diagnostics and treatment. A balancing of the capacity at the different clinics, in order to deliver health care services in due time, to improve the overall productivity or use of capacity, calls for a reallocation of resources. A successful accomplishment of such a process requires a common insight and agreement by the clinics and therefore representatives from the clinics participating in the analytical process. The clinician participation enables elucidation and use of information on organizational behaviour of importance for the daily operations. This type of information does not appear from the registered patient data and implies analytical tools, which are both simple and intuitive and capable of handling and displaying the type and amount of information needed in a trustworthy and consistent way.
Source Localization of Subtopographic Brain Maps for Event Related Potentials (ERP)
Authors: Duru Adil Deniz , Bayram Ali , Demiralp Tamer , Ademoglu Ahmet
Published: May 2011

Event-related potentials (ERP) are transient brain responses to cognitive stimuli, and they consist of several stationary events whose temporal frequency content can be characterized in terms of oscillations or rhythms. Precise localization of electrical events in the brain, based on the ERP data recorded from the scalp, has been one of the main challenges of functional brain imaging. Several currentDensity estimation techniques for identifying the electrical sources generating the brain potentials are developed for the so-called neuroelectromagnetic inverse problem in the last three decades (Baillet, Mosher, & Leahy, 2001; Koles, 1998; Michela, Murraya, Lantza, Gonzaleza, Spinellib, & Grave de Peraltaa, 2004; Scherg & von Cramon, 1986).
Selecting, Acquiring, and Renewing Electronic Resources
Authors: Joshipura Smita
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this chapter is to provide in-depth and comprehensive coverage of the workflow for electronic resources (e-resources) from selection to acquisition. Along the way, it addresses major steps, processes, procedures, and issues in selecting and acquiring e-resources and acts as a teaching tool for librarians who would like to learn best practices for managing the life cycle of e-resources. This chapter covers various facets of the selection process, including tools, challenges, and criteria, and provides a checklist for collection development librarians for evaluating the resources. It also addresses acquisitions workflow from verification of a resource to ordering and acquiring the product and provides an additional checklist for acquisitions librarians for reviewing license agreements.
Authentication and Access Management of Electronic Resources
Authors: Rodriguez Juan Carlos , Zhang Bin
Published: May 2011

This chapter opens with a discussion of the varying needs of libraries to provide their users with both local and remote access to electronic resources within the context of the various legal and technical issues surrounding them. An overview of the various types of authentication and authorization mechanisms currently in use by libraries, their parent organizations and electronic resource providers is presented. Further discussion follows on the unique needs and requirements of consortia licensed electronic resources and metasearch applications. The chapter concludes with a look at future considerations and directions libraries and e-resource providers may take with regard to secure and seamless access to electronic resources.
Standards, the Structural Underpinnings of Electronic Resource Management Systems
Authors: Koppel Ted
Published: May 2011

Electronic resource management (ERM) software is in the spotlight as a new management tool within libraries. Built to manage all steps in the lifecycle of an electronic product, ERM systems must interoperate with existing Integrated Library System (ILS), public service, and financial software already in use within the library. Although ERM software leverages and expands earlier standards work (MARC, Onix for Serials, openURL, metasearch, etc.), most contemporary ERM systems are built using the DLF-ERMI specification as the underlying guide for data element and functional requirements. Recent efforts, such as SUSHI and the License Expression Work Group, are defining new standards and protocols to address new ERM issues. Further, experience in the era of electronic resource management has pointed out the need for additional standards and protocols, which are discussed in this chapter.
Foundations and Applications of Intelligent Knowledge Exchange
Authors: Overbeek S. J. , van Bommel P. , Proper H. A. , Rijsenbrij D. B.B.
Published: May 2011

Exchange of knowledge is becoming increasingly important to modern organizations. In this chapter, it is explained what this elementary knowledge exchange consists of and how a virtual workplace can support knowledge exchange between workers. A scenario from the medical domain illustrates how physicians can improve their knowledge exchange by utilizing the virtual workplace models introduced. Better adaptation to the rapidly changing nature of providing healthcare is a desirable effect of improved knowledge exchange between physicians. Explicit models concerning possible physical, social and digital contexts of knowledge exchange are discussed, as well as models which depict how knowledge relatedness enables intelligent knowledge exchange. Researchers studying virtual workplace models for industry and academic purposes belong to the intended audience of this chapter. Administrators of public sector or other non-profit agencies who wish to incorporate virtual workplace models and methods into their daily operations can also benefit from the contents discussed.
Accommodating Persons with Disabilities in Virtual Workplaces
Authors: Lazarus Belinda Davis
Published: May 2011

Virtual workplaces offer persons with disabilities new opportunities in the workplace that may simultaneously accommodate their disabilities while posing challenges in terms of access to the information that they need to perform their jobs. Employers also need information about various disabilities and ways to accommodate the limitations imposed by each one. This chapter provides background and rationale for including persons with disabilities in the virtual workforce, detailed descriptions of each disability category, and common accommodations for each disability category. Resources for employers are discussed.
The Virtual Classroom @ Work
Authors: Thompson Terrie Lynn
Published: May 2011

Before we can exploit new technologies to realize new ways of working, we must be able to imagine innovative possibilities for learning. Organizations seeking to improve the way they work and build knowledge reach for new learning paradigms. Possibilities emerge when exploring learning and working in virtual spaces from social learning perspectives, such as situated learning.. In this chapter, findings from a qualitative case study in a geographically dispersed organization are used as a springboard for exploring the challenges of introducing innovative e-learning initiatives. This chapter adds to our understanding of learning and working in virtual spaces by delving into: (1) workplace practices related to virtual learning and work that facilitate and frustrate new ways of learning; and (2) notions of online community, informal learning, and blended learning which offer promise for re-conceptualizing learning within virtual work spaces. Recommendations are provided to guide the creation of fresh teaching and learning practices.
Knowledge Transfer and Marketing in Second Life
Authors: Rive Peter
Published: May 2011

This chapter considers the virtual world Second Life as a workplace. It argues that despite its apparent novelty, Second Life is descended from a 2000-year-old tradition of immersive art that informs its popular attraction and its two big business drivers, knowledge management and marketing. To illustrate this, I describe a project by the international advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi, which shows how knowledge management and marketing can come together in a virtual workplace. The chapter further contends that it is insufficient to simply attain virtual presence in order to achieve knowledge management goals. Instead, intellectual property rights and their management must also be addressed. Because avatars in Second Life own the items they create and can explicitly set permission rights, Second Life users can share virtual goods and knowledge easily, and in the tradition of hacker culture and open source coding. Despite general opposition to Digital Rights Management from some in the open source community, I argue that it is necessary to ensure that the metadata, such as the original creator information, is protected to encourage the sharing and transfer of knowledge in a virtual workplace. The creator of Second Life, Linden Lab, opened up the source code of the client software, thus allowing organizations to further benefit from this virtual workplace.
Collaborative Writing Tools in the Virtual Workplace
Authors: Youngblood Norman E. , West Joel
Published: May 2011

Collaborative writing is an important element of the virtual workplace. While it is sometimes enough to e-mail a document back and forth between authors and editors, users frequently need a more effective solution. Users can choose from system-based or browser-based software and from synchronous and asynchronous editors. These products can vary from the simple to the sophisticated and from free to expensive. This chapter looks at research on the use of collaborative editors and tools currently on the market and provides guidance as how to evaluate the appropriateness of the tools, paying particular attention to collaborative features, industry standards, and security.
Virtual Political Office Where Gender and Culture Meet
Authors: Goroshko Olena Igorivna
Published: May 2011

Based on the underlying assumption that gender is a social construct, this chapter explores the World Wide Web home pages of key political figures in the USA and Ukraine focusing specifically on what the content posted to these sites and their structure suggests about gender and cultural peculiarities in constructing political identity on the Web. The personal page is rendered as a virtual political office—a peculiar meeting point between the site owner and its potential audience, electorate, and citizenry providing an excellent working place to be constantly in touch with the electoral body from anyplace and in anytime. All data are analyzed according to four parameters: male, female, Ukrainian, and American. The main result highlights the intersection across culture, gender, and computer-mediated communication (CMC) influencing the virtual identity formation. The intersectional approach towards viewing gendered virtual identity is proposed. The data obtained lead to suggestions for the creation of sites that are more in line with the potential provided by the Net to facilitate political communication.
Australasian Language Learners and Italian Web Sites
Authors: Brussino Gabriella , Gunn Cathy
Published: May 2011

A theoretically driven and technology enhanced approach to second language acquisition at beginners level is illustrated through the description of an iterative learning design process implemented at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. The study draws on three areas of current literature: SLA/FLA, the use of authentic tasks and integration of subject specific and generic skills. Beginners enrolled in Italian language courses engage with authentic media, public service and entertainment web sites. Through this engagement, learners are guided in the acquisition of a range of language structures, vocabulary, cultural knowledge and communication skills. Evaluation data gathered over a five-year period provided the basis for continuous improvement and is presented here as evidence of effectiveness of the learning design and teaching strategies involved.
Interventions and Student Factors in Collaboration
Authors: Pawan Faridah , Yalcin Senom T. , Kou Xiaojing
Published: May 2011

This research is an exploratory study of student variables that mediate collaborative engagement in online discussions. More directly, the research explores what happens in online discussions when four teacher interventions designed to increase collaboration are introduced. The specific aim of the study is increasing collaboration that is ‘externally-revealed’ through engagement with others, especially at the integration level of Garrison, Anderson and Archer’s (2001) practical inquiry model. The secondary aim of the study is to address the problem of serial monologues in student online discussions and participation. The findings yield factors that impact student online collaboration such as student familiarity with the subject matter and with the online medium; purpose and timing of online engagement; importance of face-saving; and student acceptance of the ‘constructed knower’ role. The research sets the stage for future studies of online collaboration from a pedagogical perspective.
Foreign Exchange Rate Forecasting Using Higher Order Flexible Neural Tree
Authors: Chen Yuehui , Wu Peng , Wu Qiang
Published: May 2011

Forecasting exchange rates is an important financial problem that is receiving increasing attention especially because of its difficulty and practical applications. In this chapter, we apply Higher Order Flexible Neural Trees (HOFNTs), which are capable of designing flexible Artificial Neural Network (ANN) architectures automatically, to forecast the foreign exchange rates. To demonstrate the efficiency of HOFNTs, we consider three different datasets in our forecast performance analysis. The data sets used are daily foreign exchange rates obtained from the Pacific Exchange Rate Service. The data comprises of the US dollar exchange rate against Euro, Great Britain Pound (GBP) and Japanese Yen (JPY). Under the HOFNT framework, we consider the Gene Expression Programming (GEP) approach and the Grammar Guided Genetic Programming (GGGP) approach to evolve the structure of HOFNT. The particle swarm optimization algorithm is employed to optimize the free parameters of the two different HOFNT models. This chapter briefly explains how the two different learning paradigms could be formulated using various methods and then investigates whether they can provide a reliable forecast model for foreign exchange rates. Simulation results showed the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Wireless Wardriving
Authors: Caviglione Luca
Published: May 2011

Wardriving is the practice of searching wireless networks while moving. Originally, it was explicitly referred to as people searching for wireless signals by driving in vans, but nowadays it generally identifies people searching for wireless accesses while moving. Despite the legal aspects, this “quest for connectivity” spawned a quite productive underground community, which developed powerful tools, relying on cheap and standard hardware. The knowledge of these tools and techniques has many useful aspects. Firstly, when designing the security framework of a wireless LAN (WLAN), the knowledge of the vulnerabilities exploited at the basis of wardriving is a mandatory step, both to avoid penetration issues and to detect whether attacks are ongoing. Secondly, hardware and software developers can design better devices by avoiding common mistakes and using an effective suite for conducting security tests. Lastly, people who are interested in gaining a deeper understanding of wireless standards can conduct experiments by simply downloading software running on cost effective hardware. With such preamble, in this chapter we will analyze the theory, the techniques, and the tools commonly used for wardriving IEEE 802.11-based wireless networks.
Intrusion and Anomaly Detection in Wireless Networks
Authors: Makhlouf Amel Meddeb , Boudriga Noureddine
Published: May 2011

The broadcast nature of wireless networks and the mobility features created new kinds of intrusions and anomalies taking profit of wireless vulnerabilities. Because of the radio links and the mobile equipment features of wireless networks, wireless intrusions are more complex because they add to the intrusions developed for wired networks, a large spectrum of complex attacks targeting wireless environment. These intrusions include rogue or unauthorized access point (AP), AP MAC spoofing, and wireless denial of service and require adding new techniques and mechanisms to those approaches detecting intrusions targeting wired networks. To face this challenge, some researchers focused on extending the deployed approaches for wired networks while others worked to develop techniques suitable for detecting wireless intrusions. The efforts have mainly addressed: (1) the development of theories to allow reasoning about detection, wireless cooperation, and response to incidents; and (2) the development of wireless intrusion and anomaly detection systems that incorporate wireless detection, preventive mechanisms and tolerance functions. This chapter aims at discussing the major theories, models, and mechanisms developed for the protection of wireless networks/systems against threats, intrusions, and anomalous behaviors. The objectives of this chapter are to: (1) discuss security problems in a wireless environment; (2) present the current research activities; (3) study the important results already developed by researchers; and (4) discuss the validation methods proposed for the protection of wireless networks against attacks.
Identity Management for Wireless Service Access
Authors: Chowdhury Mohammad M.R. , Noll Josef
Published: May 2011

Ubiquitous access and pervasive computing concept is almost intrinsically tied to wireless communications. Emerging next-generation wireless networks enable innovative service access in every situation. Apart from many remote services, proximity services will also be widely available. People currently rely on numerous forms of identities to access these services. The inconvenience of possessing and using these identities creates significant security vulnerability, especially from network and device point of view in wireless service access. After explaining the current identity solutions scenarios, the chapter illustrates the on-going efforts by various organizations, the requirements and frameworks to develop an innovative, easy-to-use identity management mechanism to access the future diverse service worlds. The chapter also conveys various possibilities, challenges, and research questions evolving in these areas.
End-to-End Security Comparisons Between IEEE 802.16e and 3G Technologies
Authors: Adibi Sasan , Agnew Gordon B.
Published: May 2011

Security measures of mobile infrastructures have always been important from the early days of the creation of cellular networks. Nowadays, however, the traditional security schemes require a more fundamental approach to cover the entire path from the mobile user to the server. This fundamental approach is so-called end-to-end (E2E) security coverage. The main focus of this chapter is to discuss such architectures for IEEE 802.16e (Mobile-WiMAX) and major third generation (3G) cellular networks. The E2E implementations usually contain a complete set of algorithms, protocol enhancements (mutual identification, authentications, and authorization), including the very large-scale integration (VLSI) implementations. This chapter discusses various proposals at the protocol level.
Ambient Intelligent (AmI) Systems Development
Authors: Gill Simrn Kaur , Cormican Kathryn
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces the concept of ambient intelligence (AmI), a new concept in the area of information and communication technology (ICT), from a systems development perspective in the manufacturing environment. To create an AmI environment, requires the use of a combination of technologies. The AmI environment can be enabled through the use of computers that are embedded into everyday objects and through the use of wireless communication. The interaction between these embedded devices and the human user is improving through advancements in the area of natural interaction. The aim of the chapter is to provide a better understanding of AmI. To this end the following tools are presented, an AmI definition, typology, and taxonomy. The typology solidifies the understanding of AmI by highlighting the elements that need to be considered when developing an AmI system. The taxonomy shows the evolution of technologies towards development of AmI.
E-Commerce Innovation in SMEs
Authors: Molla Alemayehu , Duncombe Richard
Published: May 2011

Small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) innovativeness to use e-commerce has received significant research attention. This chapter continues with this tradition and offers a theoretically grounded and deeper insight into the e-commerce innovation process in SMEs. This is achieved by proposing a motivation ability-based four-state developmental framework. Each of the four states is then described in terms of organisational readiness, organisational capability, e-commerce capability, e-commerce motivational factors, and commodity chain position. SME mangers can use the framework as a decision making tool to critically stock-take their innate state and to set realistic goals and expectations with regards to future e-commerce investments. The utility of the framework is demonstrated through case studies of 14 small-scale enterprises located in the Indian state of Karnataka. The result suggests that rather than static models of e-commerce adoption, temporal models that are dynamic in nature and that recognise e-commerce as an ongoing innovation process have more explanatory power to understand innovation in SMEs in such an environment.
Prevention of Cyber Crime in Cybercafés
Authors: Emiri Ogochukwu Thaddaeus
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this chapter is to examine the concept of cyber crime as it relates to cybercafés, forms of cyber crime, the role of the Internet, and suggest measures of cyber crime control and prevention in cybercafés. This chapter unveils the various forms of cyber crime and preventive measures with the view to addressing insecurity on the Internet and methods of protecting cybercafés systems. This chapter revealed some forms of cyber crimes to include computer viruses, data dwindling, hacking, data leakages, trapdoors, scavenging, e-mail bombing, and so forth, and equally suggested preventive measures such as user education, legal regulations against cyber crimes, international cooperation, restricting system use, limiting access to certain programs, and so forth.
Cybercafés and Prevention of Terrorist Activities
Authors: Adomi Esharenana E. , Akpochafo Williams P.
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this chapter is to describe the use of the Internet by terrorists in cybercafés and explore measures intended to stem the use of cybercafés for terrorist activities. Specifically, the reasons terrorists use of the Internet, how they use the Net, their motivations for utilization of cybercafés, various measures adopted in different countries for combating terrorists’ use of cafés for their acts, impediment to prevention of terrorism via cybercafés, and future trends are set forth.
Efficient Encodings for Web Service Messages
Authors: Werner Christian , Buschmann Carsten , Brandt Ylva , Fischer Stefan
Published: May 2011

A major drawback of using SOAP for application integration is its enormous demand for network bandwidth. Compared to classical approaches like Java-RMI and Corba, SOAP messages typically cause more than three times more network traffic. In this chapter we will explore compression strategies and give a detailed survey and evaluation of state-of-the-art binary encoding techniques for SOAP. We also introduce a new experimental concept for SOAP compression based on differential encoding, which makes use of the commonly available WSDL description of a SOAP Web service. We not only conduct a detailed evaluation of compression effectiveness, but also provide the results of execution time measurements.
XWRAPComposer
Authors: Liu Ling , Zhang Jianjun , Han Wei , Pu Calton , Caverlee James , Park Sungkeun , Critchlow Terence
Published: May 2011

We present a service-oriented architecture and a set of techniques for developing wrapper code generators, including the methodology of designing an effective wrapper program construction facility and a concrete implementation, called XWRAPComposer. Our wrapper generation framework has two unique design goals. First, we explicitly separate tasks of building wrappers that are specific to a Web service from the tasks that are repetitive for any service, thus the code can be generated as a wrapper library component and reused automatically by the wrapper generator system. Second, we use inductive learning algorithms that derive information flow and data extraction patterns by reasoning about sample pages or sample specifications. More importantly, we design a declarative rule-based script language for multi-page information extraction, encouraging a clean separation of the information extraction semantics from the information flow control and execution logic of wrapper programs. We implement these design principles with the development of the XWRAPComposer toolkit, which can semi-automatically generate WSDL-enabled wrapper programs. We illustrate the problems and challenges of multi-page data extraction in the context of bioinformatics applications and evaluate the design and development of XWRAPComposer through our experiences of integrating various BLAST services.
Organizational Analysis of Small Software Organizations
Authors: Zavala-Ruiz Jesús
Published: May 2011

The intention of this chapter is twofold. On the one hand, I illustrate the complexity of the small software organization, because it is not a reduced version of a large company. Rather, it has very important advantages and challenges. Then, I use organization studies as a multi-disciplinary and multi-paradigmatic link between disciplines, able to reconcile those distinct visions. On the other hand, I open the discussion on the state of crisis affecting software engineering as a discipline. For that, I try to sensitize the reader to the facts surrounding this crisis, but also to the most promising alternative, which is the redefinition of software engineering as a discipline. One of the possible options for that paradigmatic change requires a multi-disciplinary orientation because their positivist roots and the adoption of a constructivist ontology and epistemology facilitating the inclusion of visions non-qualified for a systematic, disciplined and quantitative approach. My position is that only by opening up this discussion is it possible to begin transforming and consolidating software engineering as a strengthened and more terrain-attached discipline because of its powerful theoretical and practical explanatory capacity.
Agile SPI
Authors: Hurtado Julio A. , Pino Francisco J. , Vidal Juan C. , Pardo César , Fernández Luís Eduardo
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents Agile SPI, a framework in which the main goal is to motivate small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) towards improving and certifying their software development processes. This framework was born in the SIMEP-SW project where a software process improvement model for supporting process improvement in the Colombian software industry context was built. We present Agile SPI, its origin, development, principles, architecture, main components, and the initial experiences.
Agile Practices In Project Management
Authors: Gómez John , Núñez Alejandro
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces agile project management as a way to improve the processes for software development in small organizations. The chapter contains a description of the main concepts and techniques used along with practical recommendations for their application in real situations. The chapter also analyzes the relationship between these practices and recognized process improvement models like the CMMI and the PMI PMBOK and presents case studies to illustrate implementation.
Practical Application of a Software Development Framework in an Accountant Office
Authors: Mon Alicia , Estayno Marcelo , Scalzone Patricia
Published: May 2011

The present chapter exposes the definition and practical application of a framework in the system area of an organization. Due to the total lack of the process, this framework has permitted us to generate the need of the implementation of a definite process model for software development. The described framework has been applied in a study case, just as has been done in other opportunities by different organizations with similar characteristics. This work provides the possibility of applying the framework slowly against an improvised and indefinite process, in which a methodology, a process model, and a collection of techniques and tools converge. These elements are advisable for small- and medium-sized software development companies and would facilitate their way to implement an integral process model which would continuously improve.
A Conceptual Model for Knowledge Sharing as Dependent on Cultural Factors
Authors: Usoro Abel , Kuofie Matthew H.S.
Published: May 2011

Often, organisational members are separated not only geographically but also culturally. Information technology has inevitably become a facilitator of knowledge sharing. However, earlier studies have posited that culture can significantly facilitate or hinder knowledge sharing in culturally diverse teams. Greater enlightenment on the cultural effect is a useful contribution to understanding the most effective way of managing knowledge sharing in organisations. However, little effort have been put into dimensioning culture in such a way as to enable comparative and large scale study. This investigation tries to fill this gap by bringing together and examining the few attempts at dimensioning this concept. This review results in the proposing of cultural dimensions which are grouped into organisational and societal classes. The review also results in a proposal of a conceptual model that expresses knowledge sharing to be a function of organizational and societal cultural factors. We formulated two major hypotheses: H1 - There is a high positive relationship between organisational culture and knowledge sharing, and H2 - There is a high positive relationship between societal culture and knowledge sharing. The model requires further investigation as explained in the paper.
Developing and Analysing Core Competencies for Alignment with Strategy
Authors: Sawyer Keith , Gammack John
Published: May 2011

Although it is widely accepted that alignment of knowledge with corporate strategy is necessary, to date there have been few clear statements on what a knowledge strategy looks like and how it may be practically implemented. We argue that current methods and techniques to accomplish this alignment are severely limited, showing no clear description on how the alignment can be achieved. Core competencies, embodying an organisation’s practical know-how, are also rarely linked explicitly to actionable knowledge strategy. Viewing knowledge embedded in core competencies as a strategic asset, the paper uses a case study to show how a company’s core competencies were articulated and verified for either inclusion or exclusion in the strategy. The study is representative of similar studies carried out across a range of organisations using a novel and practically proven method. This method, StratAchieve, was used here in a client situation to show how the core competencies were identified and tested for incorporation or not in the strategy. The paper concludes by considering the value of the approach for managing knowledge.
Knowledge Management Systems
Authors: Stenmark Dick , Lindgren Rikard
Published: May 2011

This chapter is motivated by one simple question: Why do so many knowledge management systems (KMS) fail when implemented in organizational knowledge work practice? Indeed, imbalance between the desire for accurate content and the workload required to achieve this still appears to be a critical issue, resulting in KMS of little use for organizational members. Hence, KMS maintenance is an important research subject. With the objective to contribute recommendations for how to integrate KMS with everyday knowledge work, we apply general lessons learned from development of groupware applications as a theoretical lens to analyze empirical experiences of three implemented and evaluated KMS. Theorizing the relationship between the recommendations developed and extant KMS design theory, the chapter offers implications for IS research and practice.
Knowledge Characteristics, Knowledge Acquisition Strategy and Results of Knowledge Management Implementations
Authors: Jih Wen-Jang ("Kenny") , Chen Cheng Hsui , Chen Andy
Published: May 2011

The very fundamental mission of hospital management is to deliver quality healthcare services by utilizing highly specialized medical knowledge and solve other healthcare problems within various resource constraints. Similar to other knowledge-intensive industries which operate in highly challenging business environments, hospitals of all sizes must view the creation, organization, distribution, and application of knowledge as a critical aspect of their management activities. Knowledge management, therefore, represents a viable strategy as hospitals strive to simultaneously provide quality medical services, improve operational efficiency, and comply with governmental documentation and reporting regulations. This study examines the correlation as well as causal relationships between knowledge characteristics, knowledge acquisition strategy, implementation measures, and performance of knowledge management implementations in the context of hospital management. Using primary data collected in Taiwanese hospitals, our analyses showed that the characteristics of knowledge affect the ways in which knowledge management is implemented, and the implementation measure, in turn, has a significant impact on the results of knowledge management implementation.
Emergency Preparedness and Information Systems
Authors: Raman Murali , Ryan Terry , Olfman Lorne , Jennex Murray E.
Published: May 2011

This chapter is about the design and implementation of an information system, using Wiki technology to improve the emergency preparedness efforts of the Claremont University Consortium. For some organizations, as in this case, responding to a crisis situation is done within a consortia environment. Managing knowledge across the various entities involved in such efforts is critical. This includes having the right set of information that is timely, relevant, and is governed by an effective communication process. It is expected that issues such as training in use of system(s), a knowledge sharing culture between entities involved in emergency preparedness, and a fit between task and technology/system must be there to support emergency preparedness activities given such structures. This study explored the use of Wiki technology to support knowledge management in the context of emergency preparedness within organizations. While initially found to be useful for supporting emergency preparedness, continuing experience with the system suggests that wikis might be more useful as a collaborative tool used to train people involved in emergency preparedness, rather than being used to support response activities during an actual emergency.
Synaestesia
Authors: Geisler Eliezer
Published: May 2011

A good portion of brain research has been directed towards its anomalies, and mental illnesses that result from them. Examples include Alzheimer’s disease and synaesthia.1 This is due partly to the desire of researchers to assist in understanding diseases and hastening cures for them, and partly because the study of anomalies is a better way to understand how complex systems such as the human brain actually function (Harrison, 2001).
Knowledge is Clustering
Authors: Geisler Eliezer
Published: May 2011

The emergence of the basic unit of knowledge (by conjoining multiple sensorial intervals) is possible by means of the mind’s ability to cluster such sensorial intervals. As I outlined in Chapter IV, this is a mechanistic or structuralist approach.1
From the Garden of Eden to the Knowledge Society
Authors: Geisler Eliezer
Published: May 2011

In the contemporary post-industrial society, we are continually creating and accumulating knowledge. There seems to be an unending quest to know more about less. Peter Drucker (1994) had a good explanation. He argued that in the past, workers in farming and even in factories were generalists, whereas knowledge workers are highly specialized. One of the crucial skills they develop is their ability to learn how to acquire additional specialized knowledge.
The Architecture of Knowledge
Authors: Mitra Amit , Gupta Amar
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces the layered structure of knowledge and describes why chaos rides on the wings of change and adaptation. It tells us how traditional analytical approaches, like functional decomposition, can lead to chaos when the size and complexity of business processes and information systems exceed a critical threshold.
Relationships
Authors: Mitra Amit , Gupta Amar
Published: May 2011

The focus of this chapter is on how interactions between objects create new meanings. It develops a model of business rules, and shows how mutability supports innovation. It introduces the rules that support inference and innovation by manipulating the patterns of information that constitute different meanings.
Strategies and Models for IT Governance
Authors: van Grembergen Wim , De Haes Steven
Published: May 2011

This introductory chapter records and interprets some important existing theories, models, and practices in the IT governance and strategic alignment domain. IT governance will be defined and its relationship with corporate governance and IT management clarified. A separate section is devoted to the concept of strategic alignment, one of the key elements of IT governance. Finally, a detailed set of IT governance structures, processes, and relational mechanisms is discussed that can be leveraged to implement IT governance in practise. Two important IT governance processes, COBIT and the balanced scorecard, are discussed in more detail in separate chapters.
IT Governance in Practice
Authors: van Grembergen Wim , De Haes Steven
Published: May 2011

In order to obtain an understanding on how large organizations implement IT governance in a pragmatic way, six pilot cases were selected from different sectors. Case research is particularly appropriate for research within the IT area because researchers in this field often lag behind practitioners in discovering and explaining new methods and techniques (Benbasat, Goldstein, & Mead, 1987). This is certainly true for the concept of IT governance. The purpose of this case study research is to look for different IT governance elements in use and how they contribute to better IT governance within the organisation.
Understanding Agile Software, Extreme Programming, and Agile Modeling
Authors: Erickson John , Lyytinen Kalle , Siau Keng
Published: May 2011

Failure rates for systems development projects are estimated to approach 50% (Hirsch, 2002). In such an environment, a growing number of developers propose the use of so-called agile methodologies as one means of improving the systems developed while simultaneously decreasing failure rates. Agile proponents insist that adherence to The Agile Manifesto will improve the entire systems development process. This chapter begins by describing some of the agile methodologies, follows that with an overview of current research in the area, and closes with thoughts on possibilities for future applied research into the agile methodologies that could provide evidence supporting or disputing the many claims for success emerging from the field.
The Role of Emotional Capital in Organisational KM
Authors: Tanner Kerry
Published: May 2011

In the intellectual capital and knowledge management (KM) literatures, emotional capital has been a neglected dimension. From the late 1980s into the 1990s, there was burgeoning interest in intellectual capital, which had a substantial impact on the early development of KM. Over the past decade, social capital theory has sparked a new wave of thinking in KM. The concept of emotional capital has the potential to further enrich the knowledge base of the KM discipline. This article explicates the concept of emotional capital and provides a framework for understanding its role in organisational KM.
Technology and Knowledge Management
Authors: Mitchell Helen
Published: May 2011

Technology, having made rapid and extensive advances particularly in the area of communications, has opened opportunities for the gathering of information and providing a means through which knowledge can be shared. Organisations are recognising that information and knowledge will have an important bearing on where they are going in the future. While technologies are a means to link functional areas providing effective conduit for information and the sharing of knowledge, people within the organisation must be well trained in the use and understanding of technology for maximum benefit to be gained. Referred to frequently as just being an enabler, technology does add value. Without technology, organisations would find it very difficult to access the vast amount of information that is available in the external environment. They would not be able to link people both internally and externally for the sharing of knowledge and it is through sharing of ideas that new innovations emerge. While technology can be identified as an enabler it also adds considerable value to the management and operation of organisations.
Knowledge Communication
Authors: Eppler Martin J.
Published: May 2011

Communicating professional knowledge is a key activity for today’s specialized workforce. The efficient and effective transfer of experiences, insights, and know-how among different experts and decision makers is a prerequisite for high-quality decision making and coordinated, organizational action (Straub & Karahanna, 1998). Situations of such deliberate (interfunctional) knowledge transfer through interpersonal communication or group conversations (Gratton & Goshal, 2002) can be found in many business constellations, as the following typical examples illustrate:
Knowledge Management as an E-Learning Tool
Authors: Andrade Javier , Ares Juan , García Rafael , Rodríguez Santiago , Seoane Maria , Suárez Sonia
Published: May 2011

The goal of educational methods is to allow the pupil the acquisition of knowledge. Even so, the way in which this aim is pursued originates four different currents of methods sorted by two criteria: (1) who leads the educational process and (2) requirement of pupil physical attendance. Regarding the former criterion, the process may be conducted either by the teacher—Teaching-Oriented Process—or by the pupil—Learning-Oriented Process. Obviously, both processes have the same aim: the interiorization and comprehension of knowledge by the pupil. But the difference between them is based on the distinctive procedure followed in each case to achieve the common goal. Regarding the second criterion, the methods may or may not require pupil attendance. Bearing in mind this classification, four different types of educational methods could be described: 1. Teaching Method: This includes the already known classic educational methods, the Conductivity Theory (Good & Brophy, 1990) being the foremost one. This method is characterized by the fact that the teacher has the heavier role during education—the transmission of knowledge. 2. E-Teaching Method: This second type comes from the expansion and popularity of communication networks, especially the Internet. This method brings the teacher to the physical location of the pupil; one of its most important representative elements is the videoconference. 3. Learning Method: This constitutes a new vision of the educational process, since the teacher acts as a guide and reinforcement for the pupil. The educational process has the heavier role in this method. In other words, the teacher creates a need for learning and afterwards provides the pupil with the necessary means in order to fill these created requests. Piaget Constructionist Theory is one of the most remarkable methods for this (Piaget, 1972, 1998). 4. E-Learning Method: This method is supported both by learning methods and by the expansion of communication networks in order to facilitate access to education with no physical or temporal dependence from pupil or teacher. As in learning methods, the pupil, not the teacher, is the one who sets the learning rhythm.