bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On Utilizing Grounded Theory in Business Doctoral Research: Guidance on the Research Design, Procedures, and Challenges
Authors: Boadu Mark , Karim  Sorour Mohamed
Published: October 2017

Grounded theory is a powerful and rigorous theory building methodology that has attracted considerable interest in business research; however, it is a challenging endeavour especially for novice researchers and in particular at the doctoral level. Although several researchers have attempted to clarify the cannons of various grounded theory approaches, still there is a shortage in guidance for doctoral students who wish to apply grounded theory for their studies. Using an example from a grounded theory business doctoral thesis, this paper provides a guide on the research design and utilisation of the Straussian grounded theory at doctoral level. In doing so, the paper discusses the rationale, features, and benefits of grounded theory. Using an example from corporate governance research, the paper illustrates how the procedures of data analysis (coding), theoretical memoing, and theoretical sampling are applied to systematically generate a grounded theory. Finally, the paper discusses major challenges to utilising grounded theory and how these can be addressed by doctoral researchers. This paper provides a clear and pragmatic exposition that can be useful to guide doctoral researchers who are interested in utilizing the Straussian approach of grounded theory in their studies.
Information Security in Education: Are We Continually Improving?
Authors: Bialaszewski Dennis
Published: October 2017

This paper will shed light on the lack of the development of appropriate monitoring systems in the field of education. Test banks can be easily purchased. Smart phones can take and share pictures of exams. A video of an exam given through Blackboard can easily be made. A survey to determine the extent of cheating using technology was given to several university students. Evidence is provided that shows security is lacking as evidenced by the number of students who have made use of technological advances to cheat on exams. The findings and conclusion may serve as evidence for administrators and policy makers to re-assess efforts being made to increase security in online testing.
IT Teachers’ Experience of Teaching–Learning Strategies to Promote Critical Thinking
Authors: Bailey Roxanne , Mentz Elsa
Published: October 2017

Information Technology (IT) high school learners are constantly struggling to cope with the challenges of succeeding in the subject. IT teachers, therefore, need to be empowered to utilize appropriate teaching–learning strategies to improve IT learners’ success in the subject. By promoting critical thinking skills, IT learners have the opportunity to achieve greater success in the most difficult part of the curriculum, which is programming. Participating IT teachers received once-off face-to-face professional development where some teachers received professional development in critical thinking strategies while other IT teachers received professional development in critical thinking strategies infused into pair programming. To determine how teachers experience these suggested strategies, teachers participated in initial interviews as well as follow-up interviews after they had implemented the suggested strategies. From the interviews, it became evident that teachers felt that their learners benefited from the strategies. Teachers in the pair programming infusing critical thinking strategies focused more on the pair programming implementation than on the totality of pair programming infused with critical thinking. Although teachers were initially willing to change their ways, they were not always willing to implement new teaching–learning strategies.
Informing Systems as the Transformers of Information Wave into Virtual Civilization and Their Ethics Question
Authors: S Targowski Andrew
Published: October 2017

The purpose of this investigation is to define the central contents and issues of the impact of informing systems on the rise and development of Virtual Civilization. The methodology is based on an interdisciplinary big-picture view of the Virtual Civilization’s elements of development and their interdependency. Among the findings are: Virtual Civilization has infrastructural characteristics, a world-wide unlimited, socially constructed work and leisure space in cyberspace, and it can last centuries/millennia - as long as informing systems are operational. Practical implications: The mission of Virtual Civilization is to control the public policy of real civilizations in order to secure the common good in real societies. Social implication: The quest for the common good by virtual society may limit or even replace representative democracy by direct democracy which, while positively solving some problems, may eventually trigger permanent political chaos in real civilizations. Originality: This investigation, by providing an interdisciplinary and civilizational approach at the big-picture level defined the ethics question of the role of informing systems in the development of Virtual Civilization.
Factors of Project Manager Success
Authors: George Saadé Raafat , Dong Heliu , Wan James
Published: October 2017

This research seeks to analyse the project success factors related to project managers’ traits. The context of the research entails a ‘United Nations’ type of organization. Critical success factors from previous recent studies were adopted for this research. Nineteen factors were adopted and a survey methodology approach was followed. Sixty six participants completed the survey. Exploratory factor analysis results revealed the existence of two constructs: project manager engagement, and project manager certification. The total number of factors representing these two constructs after the factor reduction exercise is nine. Our findings indicate that the capacity for a project manager to communicate and lobby for the project to create and sustain positive perceptions, is the most important factor; whereas project manager credentials are viewed as not important for his/her success. The results may seem counter-intuitive, however, in the context of United Nations Organizations, consideration of their political, cultural and international nature reveals that the results apply.
A Flipped Classroom Approach to Teaching Systems Analysis, Design and Implementation to Second Year Information Systems University Students
Authors: Tanner Maureen , Scott Elsje
Published: October 2017

This paper describes the flipped classroom approach followed in two second year Information Systems courses. The various techniques employed through this approach are described. These techniques were underpinned by a theory of coherent practice, which is a pedagogy that provides a framework for the design of highly structured interventions to guide students in their learning experiences. The paper also describes the students’ perceived benefits and limitations of the approach. The students’ performance was compared with that of the previous year where a traditional teaching method was followed. Overall, the flipped classroom approach had a positive impact on students’ attitude to learning, level of understanding, ability to apply concepts, engagement and performance. Limitations were mostly in line with a reluctance to take charge of their own learning (for some of them) and inability to engage in group discussions. A set of recommendations are proposed to address these gaps in line with what has been prescribed in literature.
Using Technology to Support Discussions on Sensitive Topics in the Study of Business Ethics
Authors: WL Fong Michelle
Published: October 2017

There is a dearth of research into teaching strategies and learning approaches for units involving sensitive topics that can provoke an emotional response in students. In a business ethics unit, attempts to strike a balance between conceptual knowledge and theory and skills training can be challenging because the unit can involve personal, sensitive or controversial topics. When engaging in deep and meaningful face-to-face discussion, students may unknowingly divulge personal opinions that they later regret or become identified with by other students over time. Value-laden topics may also lead to clashes between students if face-to-face discussions are not managed properly. This paper considers the use of technology in blended learning to provide an optimal learning environment for student discussion on sensitive topics via role-play and simulation in a first-year business ethics unit. The Audience Response System (ARS), online discussion boards and blogs, and wikis are assessed for their suitability in supporting online role-play and simulation. Among these online tools, asynchronous online discussion boards and blogs are the ideal tools for supporting student discussion on sensitive topics in online role-play and simulation.
An Empirical Study of Online Discussion Forums by Library and Information Science Postgraduate Students using Technology Acceptance Model 3
Authors: Adetimirin Airen
Published: October 2017

E-learning is an important trend globally that is believed to enhance the acquisition of knowledge by students within and outside the classroom to improve their academic pursuit. The Online Discussion Forum (ODF) is one of the tools that are used for e-learning in Nigerian universities. It facilitates interaction among postgraduate students as they can communicate and share information sources with one another to promote learning. However, the optimum use of this forum is determined by anchor factors in TAM 3 such as computer self-efficacy, perceptions of external control, computer anxiety and computer playfulness. A conceptual model based on TAM 3 was proposed and empirically tested. Using a survey research design and an online questionnaire for 121 Library and Information Science (LIS) postgraduate students, the paper demonstrated that computer self-efficacy, perceptions of external control, computer anxiety and computer playfulness have significant influence on the use of ODF. The paper therefore proposes that Online Discussion Forums should be encouraged for learning in postgraduate education.
Discovering the Motivations of Students when Using an Online Learning Tool
Authors: George Saadé Raafat , Abdulaziz AlSharhan Jamal
Published: October 2017

In an educational setting, the use of online learning tools impacts student performance. Motivation and beliefs play an important role in predicting student decisions to use these learning tools. However, IT-personality entailing playfulness on the web, perceived personal innovativeness, and enjoyment may have an impact on motivations. In this study, we investigate the influence of IT-personality traits on motivation and beliefs. The study includes 95 participants. A survey was conducted after using the learning tool for one semester. Assessment of the psychometric properties of the scales proved acceptable and confirmatory factor analysis supported the proposed hypotheses. With the exception of the impact of enjoyment on motivation, all other hypotheses demonstrate behavior different from other contexts: playfulness on the web and perceived personal innovativeness have little to no impact on motivation; motivation in turn has the opposite strong and significant effect on beliefs. Specifically, we found that motivation has a strong impact on students’ attitudes and consequently attitudes were found to determine intentions where the variance explained is 50% (attitude) and 28% (intentions). These results give way to interesting interpretations as they relate to learning.
Employees’ Involuntary Non-Use of ICT Influenced by Power Differences: A Case Study with the Grounded Theory Approach
Authors: Kvernberg Andersen Thale
Published: October 2017

Power differences affect implementation of information and communication technology (ICT) in a way that creates differences in ICT use. Involuntary non-use of new ICT at work occurs when employees want to use the new technology, but are unable to due to factors beyond their control. Findings from an in-depth qualitative study show how involuntary non-use of new ICT can be attributed to power differences between occupational groups in the same organization. The findings suggest that experience is a moderating variable and that closeness to formal power holders as well as closeness to the new technology increases the probability for expert control of the ICT-organization processes. These power differences favor ICT experts over ICT novices and result in a high-quality learning environment for the ICT experts characterized by autonomy, inclusion, and adequate work processes and technological solutions. The ICT novices try to navigate in a learning-hostile work environment characterized by marginalization through expert control, isolation, and inadequate work processes and technological solutions. This led to involuntary non-use by the ICT novices, while the experts became more proficient in ICT use. These findings give managers facing a technological organizational change tools to understand important mechanisms for implementing the change in their own organization, and help them take the right actions to integrate new technology and new organization of work.
eQETIC: a Maturity Model for Online Education
Authors: Rossi Rogério , Notargiacomo Mustaro Pollyana
Published: October 2017

Digital solutions have substantially contributed to the growth and dissemination of education. The distance education modality has been presented as an opportunity for worldwide students in many types of courses. However, projects of digital educational platforms require different expertise including knowledge areas such as pedagogy, psychology, computing, and digital technologies associated with education that allow the correct development and application of these solutions. To support the evolution of such solutions with satisfactory quality indicators, this research presents a model focused on quality of online educational solutions grounded in an approach aimed to continuous process improvement. The model considers of three maturity levels and six common entities that address the specific practices for planning and developing digital educational solutions, targeting quality standards that satisfy their users, such as students, teachers, tutors, and other people involved in development and use of these kinds of educational solutions.
Designing to Inform: Toward Conceptualizing Practitioner Audiences for Socio-technical Artifacts in Design Science Research in the Information Systems Discipline
Authors: Drechsler Andreas
Published: October 2017

This paper identifies areas in the design science research (DSR) subfield of the information systems (IS) discipline where a more detailed consideration of practitioner audiences of socio-technical design artifacts could improve current IS DSR research practice and proposes an initial conceptualization of these audiences. The consequences of not considering artifact audiences are identified through a critical appraisal of the current informing science lenses in the IS DSR literature. There are specific shortcomings in four areas: 1) treating practice stakeholders as a too homogeneous group, 2) not explicitly distinguishing between social and technical parts of socio-technical artifacts, 3) neglecting implications of the artifact abstraction level, and 4) a lack of explicit consideration of a dynamic or evolutionary fitness perspective of socio-technical artifacts. The findings not only pave the way for future research to further improve the conceptualization of artifact audiences, in order to improve the informing power – and thus, impact on practice and research relevance – of IS DSR projects; they can also help to bridge the theory-practice gap in other disciplines (e.g. computer science, engineering, or policy-oriented sociology) that seek to produce social and/or technical artifacts of practical relevance.
Case Study of a Complex Informing System: Joint Interagency Field Experimentation (JIFX)
Authors: F Murphy William , Sanchez Murphy Sandra , R Buettner Raymond , Gill Grandon
Published: October 2017

The Joint Interagency Field Experimentation (JIFX) event, organized by the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), is conducted 3-4 times a year at various locations. The four day event can be characterized as an informing system specifically designed to facilitate structured and unstructured communications between a variety of parties—e.g., software developers, inventors, military and civilian users of various technologies, academics, and agencies responsible for identifying and procuring technology solutions—that frequently are constrained in their informing activities in more restrictive venues. Over the course of the event, participants may observe technology demonstrations, obtain feedback from potential users, acquire new ideas about their technologies might be employed and, perhaps most significantly, engage in ad hoc collaborations with other participants.
The present paper describes an exploratory case research study that was conducted over a one year period and involved both direct observation of the event and follow-up interviews with 49 past participants in the event. The goal of the research was to assess the nature of participant-impact resulting from attending JIFX and to consider the consistency of the findings with the predictions of various theoretical frameworks used in informing science. The results suggest that participants perceived that the event provided significant value from three principal sources: discovery, interaction with potential clients (users) of the technologies involved, and networking with other participants. These findings were largely consistent with what could be expected from informing under conditions of high complexity; because value generally derives from combinations of attributes rather than from the sum of individual attributes, we would expect that overall value from informing activities will be perceived even though estimates of the incremental value of that informing cannot be made.
Risk of Misinforming and Message Customization in Customer Related Management
Authors: Grozdanov Christozov Dimitar , Chukova Stefanka , Mateev Plamen
Published: October 2017

This paper discusses applications of the measures of the risk of misinforming and the role of the warranty of misinforming in the context of the informing component of Customer Related Management (CRM) issues. This study consists of two parts. Firstly, we propose an approach for customers’ grouping based on their attitude toward assessing product's properties and their expertise on the terminology/domain of the seller’s message describing the product. Also we discuss what the most appropriate personal/group warranty is for each of these group/clusters.
The Seven Deadly Tensions of Health-Related Human Information Behavior
Authors: David Johnson J.
Published: October 2017

Tensions are a ubiquitous feature of social life and are manifested in a number of particular forms: contradictory logics, competing demands, clashes of ideas, contradictions, dialectics, irony, paradoxes, and/or dilemmas. This essay aims to explore in detail tensions surrounding seven common findings of the information seeking literature relating to: interpersonal communication, accessibility, level of skill, individual preferences, psychological limits, inertia, and costs. Our incomplete understanding of these tensions can lead us to suggest resolutions that do not recognize their underlying dualities. Human information behavior stands at the intersection of many important theoretical and policy issues (e.g., personalized medicine). Policy makers need to be more attuned to these basic tensions of information seeking recognizing the real human limits they represent to informing the public. So, even if you build a great information system, people will not necessarily use it because of the force of these underlying tensions. While rationality rules systems, irrationality rules people. The proliferation of navigator roles over the last several years is actually a hopeful sign: recognition that people need a human interface to inform them about our ever more complex health care systems.
Educational Technology: A Review of the Integration, Resources, and Effectiveness of Technology in K-12 Classrooms
Authors: Delgado Adolph , Wardlow Liane , O’Malley Kimberly , McKnight Katherine
Published: October 2017

There is no questioning that the way people live, interact, communicate, and conduct business is undergoing a profound, rapid change. This change is often referred to as the “digital revolution,” which is the advancement of technology from analog, electronic and mechanical tools to the digital tools available today. Moreover, technology has begun to change education, affecting how students acquire the skill sets needed to prepare for college and a career and how educators integrate digital technological instructional strategies to teach. Numerous studies have been published discussing the barriers of integrating technology, the estimated amount of investment that is needed in order to fully support educational technology, and, of course, the effectiveness of technology in the classroom. As such, this article presents a critical review of the transitions that technology integration has made over the years; the amount of resources and funding that has been allocated to immerse school with technology; and the conflicting results presented on effectiveness of using is technology in education. Through synthesis of selected themes, we found a plethora of technological instructional strategies being used to integrate technology into K-12 classrooms. Also, though there have been large investments made to integrate technology into K-12 classrooms to equip students with the skills needed to prepare for college and a career, the practical use of this investment has not been impressive. Lastly, several meta-analyses showed promising results of effectiveness of technology in the classroom. However, several inherent methodological and study design issues dampen the amount of variance that technology accounts for.
An Assessment of Competency-Based Simulations on E-Learners’ Management Skills Enhancements
Authors: Levy Yair , M. Ramim Michelle
Published: October 2017

There is a growing interest in the assessment of tangible skills and competence. Specifically, there is an increase in the offerings of competency-based assessments, and some academic institutions are offering college credits for individuals who can demonstrate adequate level of competency on such assessments. An increased interest has been placed on competency-based computer simulations that can assist learners to gain tangible skills. While computer simulations and competency-based projects, in general and particularly in management, have demonstrated great value, there are still limited empirical results on their benefits to e-learners. Thus, we have developed a quasi-experimental research, using a survey instrument on pre- and post-tests, to collect the set of 12 management skills from e-learners attending courses that included both competency-based computer simulations and those that didn’t. Our data included a total of 253 participants. Results show that all 12 management skills measures demonstrated very high reliability. Our results also indicate that all 12 skills of the competency-based computer simulations had higher increase than those that didn’t. Analyses on the mean increases indicated an overall statistically significant difference for six of the 12 management skills enhancements between the experimental and control groups. Our findings demonstrate that overall computer simulations and competency-based projects do provide added value in the context of e-learning when it comes to management skills.
Does 1:1 Computing in a Junior High-School Change the Pedagogical Perspectives of Teachers and their Educational Discourse?
Authors: Peled Yehuda , Blau Ina , Grinberg Ronen
Published: October 2017

Transforming a school from traditional teaching and learning to a one-to-one (1:1) classroom, in which a teacher and students have personal digital devices, inevitably requires changes in the way the teacher addresses her role. This study examined the implications of integrating 1:1 computing on teachers’ pedagogical perceptions and the classroom’s educational discourse. A change in pedagogical perceptions during three years of teaching within this model was investigated. The research analyzed data from 14 teachers teaching in a junior high school in the north of Israel collected over the course of three years through interviews and lesson observations. The findings show that the 1:1 computing allows teachers to improve their teaching skills; however, it fails to change their fundamental attitudes in regard to teaching and learning processes. It was further found that the use of a laptop by each student does not significantly improve the classroom’s learning discourse. The computer is perceived as an individual or group learning technology rather than as a tool for conducting learning discourse. An analysis of the data collected shows a great contribution to collaboration among teachers in preparing technology-enhanced lessons. The findings are discussed in terms of Bruner’s (Olson & Bruner, 1996) “folk psychology” and “folk pedagogy” of teachers and “the new learning ecology” framework in 1:1 classroom (Lee, Spires, Wiebe, Hollebrands, & Young, 2015). One of the main recommendations of this research is to reflect on findings from the teaching staff and the school community emphasizing 1:1 technology as a tool for significant pedagogical change. It seems that the use of personal technology per se is not enough for pedagogical changes to take place; the change must begin with teachers’ perceptions and attitudes.
Crossing International Boundaries through Doctoral Partnerships: Learnings from a Chinese-Australian Forum
Authors: Flynn Matthew , G Carter Merilyn , Alford Jennifer , Hughes Hilary , Fox Jillian , Duke Jennifer
Published: October 2017

International forums for doctoral students offer a fertile context for developing strategic partnerships between higher education institutions, as well as for building the intercultural capacity of early career academics. However, there is limited research investigating the benefits of international doctoral forum partnerships. This paper presents learnings from a recent international doctoral forum held in Beijing, China and attended by doctoral students and academics from Beijing Normal University (China) and Queensland University of Technology (Australia). Drawing on qualitative case study method and a model of boundary crossing mechanisms, we identify the beneficial outcomes of the forum. We describe how the forum arose from a strong ongoing partnership between the Education Faculties of Beijing Normal University and Queensland University of Technology. We then identify how, at the institutional and individual level, international doctoral forum participants can be challenged and benefit in four areas: collaboration, intercultural capacity, academic enhancement and program development. Implications for engaging successfully in international doctoral forum partnerships are also discussed.
The Dynamics and Architecture of an Informing System
Authors: S Targowski Andrew
Published: October 2017

The purpose of this investigation is to define the architecture of computer informing systems. The methodology is based on an interdisciplinary, big-picture view of the cognition units which provide the foundation for informing systems. Among the findings are the following: informing systems should be designed for rigor and relevance with respect to the cognitive units (information), integrating its purpose and goal to achieve its expected utility; informing systems should also be designed for reasoning richness, informing modes, informing quality, and predicting informing biases and filters. Practical implications: A well-designed informing system should provide as an output a message and resonant change by reflecting information that triggers the client’s behavior. Social implication: The quest for the development of informing systems is not supported by Academia in practice; it is only supported by a close circle of early leaders of such systemic applications who sought to enhance the existing information systems which very often process data but do not inform as they should. Originality: This investigation, by providing an interdisciplinary and graphic modeling of informing channels and systems, indicates the vitality of these systems and their potential to create better decision-making in order to solve problems and sustain organizations and civilization.
Come Hell or High Water: Doctoral Students’ Perceptions on Support Services and Persistence
Authors: Greene Melanie
Published: October 2017

While a lack of support has been identified as a contributing factor to non-persistence in graduate studies, there is an absence of literature that matches the provision of specific types of support services with outcomes at the doctoral level. The following questions were addressed in this study: (1) What is the role of institutional support in the persistence and success of graduate students? (2) What do students feel are some of the biggest barriers to graduate student persistence? (3) What do students feel are some of the factors that have a positive influence on persistence? Qualitative methods were employed; eleven interviews were conducted with current and former students who were currently or had previously been enrolled in a doctoral degree program in the social sciences and humanities disciplines. The study was undertaken at a large comprehensive university in Atlantic Canada.
Overall findings point to the need to make transparent to doctoral students the role of institutional units and the support services they provide and the need to promote and raise awareness of these services. Five key themes emerged from this study with regards to doctoral student persistence and the role of support services: (1) the unclear role of institutional support; (2) financial considerations; (3) the culture and structure of academia; (4) individual characteristics; (5) support of others. Recommendations for policy, practice, and further research are presented.
Exploring the Self-Reported ICT Skill Levels of Undergraduate Science Students
Authors: Heerwegh Dirk , De Wit Kurt , C. Verhoeven Jef
Published: October 2017

Computers have taken an important place in the training of science students and in the professional life of scientists. It is often taken for granted that most students have mastered basic Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) skills; however, it has been shown that not all students are equally proficient in this regard. Starting from theories of socialization and technology acceptance we report how we constructed a structural equation model (SEM) to explore the variance in the basic ICT skill levels of science students. We also present the results of a test of this model with university bachelor’s science students. Basic ICT skills were measured using a new, elaborate instrument allowing students to rate their skills in detail. Our results show that science students score high on basic ICT skills and that our SEM explains a large part of the variation in the ICT skill levels of these students. The most explanatory power is coming from four variables: the perceived ease of use and the perceived usefulness of a personal computer, the anxiety for using a personal computer, and students’ belief that ICT is necessary for scientific research.
One Voice Message as a Super-Destroyer of Cultural Borders
Authors: Armoniene Andzela
Published: October 2017

What are steps toward a preparing of ”one voice” and consistent message, which may cross cultural borders? Is it so important to start with new technologies or maybe instead of this it would be better firstly to try to be ahead of them and rethink the capacity to change culture, communication management style and implement integrated communication approach? Addressing such questions leads to the main goal of this article: to search and investigate ways of cultural borders crossing having the evident importance of integration ideas incorporation in the field of organisational communication as a reference point. In sum, the derived conclusion is related to the suggestion to think about the new kind of marginalization and two not so strictly bounded cultural types: integrated organisations and their position of winners and not integrated organisations surrounded by isolation at the same time.
‘Net-Class’ and a Comparison of the Web Based Course Management Tools
Authors: Yilmaz Bilal , Yalabik Nese , Karagoz Alpay
Published: October 2017

A web based course management tool, 'Net-Class', developed in Middle East Technical University is presented. The tool features such as web browsing abilities, instructor and student tools, synchronous and asynchronous sharing is discussed. It is compared to the commercially available tools in terms of these features. The evaluation shows Net-Class is at least as effective as the others in teaching and learning via web.
Teachers' Perceptions of Learning Technologies: An Informing Issue in High School Education
Authors: Cope Chris , Ward Peter
Published: October 2017

A study of the perceptions of learning technologies of a group of high school teachers was undertaken. Underlying the study was the research-based notion that enhanced learning outcomes are likely only if learning technologies are perceived as a means for students to seek the meaning of the subject material. The teachers were interviewed about their perceptions at the beginning and end of a two year period. The interview transcripts were analyzed using phenomenographic research approaches to identify critical variation in perception. The teachers' perceptions of learning technologies were found to have unrelated "what" and "how" components. The "what" component concerned perception of technology. The "how" component concerned perception of the nature of enhanced learning. The various perceptions were found to be inadequate with regard to the "how" component and unlikely to lead to enhanced student learning outcomes. The research findings lead to the suggestion that the teachers need professional development in the nature of enhanced learning and how learning technologies can be used in the classroom to facilitate better learning outcomes.
Training to Overcome Electronic-Information Poverty. An Australian Experience
Authors: Fahey Nichole
Published: October 2017

The rise of the information revolution has led to information becoming a major producer of wealth. This revolution has increased the importance of being able to access and utilise information from a variety of sources, including information published electronically. The Skills.net program was designed to increase electronic- information literacy skills by providing "free or low cost access to training in on-line services and the Internet for those in the community who are least likely to have access.” (Cavill and Miller, 1998) This study found that the Skills.net program did increase electronic- information literacy. However the program was not as successful as it could have been, as it did not adequately address the accepted training needs of its participants.
The Development of Consumer-Driven Human Services Information Technology Initiatives: The Lake County Indiana Experience
Authors: Pavkov Thomas , Winer Charles
Published: October 2017

The Family Access Project will deploy innovative community empowerment, education, consensus building, and information system development strategies to strengthen community, ensure the efficient and effective delivery of needed services, and address the unique needs of families requiring public assistance from a host of public and private agencies in Lake County. The goal of the project is to enhance community life through improved care coordination by linking new technologies to the human service delivery process. Upon completion, the project will assist in the enhancement of community-based services through the development of rules of data transaction and data standards and the deployment of a secure messaging/document exchange network. By putting technology in the hands of consumers we also hope to impact the economic development and workforce readiness goals set forth in our community's welfare to work programs. These innovations will require educational innovations in order to facilitate the use of technology by both provider and consumer end-users. Proposed innovations include tutorials related to data standards development, peer train-the-trainer training in the development and use of technology to support service system reforms; and ongoing support through a technical assistance clearinghouse and help desk.
Changing Education to Meet the Needs of Future Informing Science Clients: Suggestions for New Curriculum Frameworks
Authors: Phukan Sanjeev
Published: October 2017

In the last 10 years we have seen enormous and dramatic changes in the way we view and use Information. These changes have had far reaching effects, including, but certainly not limited to, the creation of a complex and vibrant global economy, and a sea change in the way we live, work and play. Profitability and survival are increasingly contingent upon an ability to successfully operate in this global arena. Technology has played a pivotal role in the creation of this global economy and will be a crucial determinant of success for organizations that operate within it. These organizations must and will demand a comprehensive array of attributes and skills from their personnel. Information Systems (IS) professionals particularly will be called upon to provide their clients with relevant and timely information, which is a major component of the concept of an “Informing Science" as presented.
How Visual Basic Entered the Curriculum at an Australian University: an Account Informed by Innovation Translation
Authors: Tatnall Arthur , Davey Bill
Published: October 2017

In this paper the authors relate an example of an approach to conceptualising curriculum innovation based on Innovation Translation, informed by Actor-Network Theory (ANT). This approach has an advantage over other innovation models in allowing the researcher to concentrate on just those aspects of the innovation that led to its adoption in a particular form, rather than relying on the explanatory power of its supposedly innate characteristics. The paper briefly outlines the theory of innovation translation, and actor-network theory, and describes an instance of how this theory can be applied to describing an information systems curriculum innovation. This example shows the advantages of innovation translation over other ways of viewing curriculum change.
Are E-Privacy and E-Commerce a Contradiction in Terms? - An Economic Examination
Authors: Frosch-Wilke Dirk
Published: October 2017

At first glance, electronic commerce seems to be inconsistent with electronic privacy. Personalization plays an important strategic role in e-commerce. Thus, a lot of information about online consumers are collected, analysed and used. By contrast, e-privacy is aimed at reducing the amount of collected information about the Internet users. On the other hand recent empirical studies show that lack of confidence in privacy protection of e-commerce environments results in lower sales in the business-to-consumer segment. The key contributions of this paper are to elaborate on general relations between e-commerce and e-privacy from an microeconomic perspective, to identify economic consequences entailed by lack of privacy protection, and to identify economic reasons for increasing personalization in e-commerce.
WORKSHOP: Learners speak out - A multi-disciplinary technique
Authors: Akar Hanife
Published: October 2017

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a course called ‘Oral Presentation and Advanced Reading Skills' in higher education in Turkey. Subjects were 86 students from science and social sciences departments. Data was collected through responsive and holistic approaches. Results indicate that higher education learners consider a course on oral presentation skills as indispensable in higher education. Although highly motivated, external variables such as assessment, no sufficient amount of speaking skills during prior education in L2 may means to adopt a speaking anxiety in front of an audience. Results suggest a need for practicing speaking skills in small groups by employing peer evaluation techniques.
Physical and Abstract Elements that Support Cooperation between Team Members During Systems Development
Authors: C. Leonard A.
Published: October 2017

This paper addresses the problem of cooperation between team members by describing two dimensions of elements, namely the physical and abstract dimension, to be focused on by all participants of a systems development team. A conceptual framework is introduced which describes these two dimensions. In the second part of the paper the nature of and theory behind sound relationships between team members of software projects are examined. The conceptual framework shows the position and relationship of each element during systems development process. This conceptual framework helps managers to understand the complexity of such relationships and it gives a structured view of the role of the elements of the two dimensions during systems development.
Working and learning together: social learning in the Australian Defence Organisation
Authors: M. Ali Irena , Agostino Katerina , Warne Leoni , Pascoe Celina
Published: October 2017

This paper reports on the methodologies used and the findings of the research done by the Enterprise Social Learning Architecture (ESLA) Task into learning processes occurring in two diverse environments within the Australian Defence Organisation, tactical and strategic. The research focused on identifying factors that enable and facilitate social learning and these factors are discussed in view of the preliminary architecture proposed by the research team and in view of the socio-technical environment within which people work and learn. The paper concludes by suggesting that the development of information systems requires a multidisciplinary approach and needs an understanding of the cultural issues prevalent in work environments.
Integrated Communication - A Phenomenon in A Nascent State
Authors: Armoniene Andzela
Published: October 2017

A lot of research questions are surrounding the implementation of the concept of integrated communication and possible solution may be a process of evolutionary developed integration as well as a new understanding of strategic planning directed by an outside-in view. The movement toward outside-in development seems to be one of the greatest transformations and the mostly difficult to overcome obstacle. This process has started together with the boom of information and communication technology and has still been in a nascent state, which is related to tremendous energy condensation and the greatest potency in a new age. However, difficulties of measurement are not helpful for building an original wholeness of theoretical and methodological premises of integrated communication. Thus, the article is aimed to introduce some initial findings about the cultivation of the "tulip rose” (Rosengren, 1989, 28) in this research field of reinvented and redesigned communication.
Models of Information Markets: Analysis of markets
Authors: Wijnhoven Fons
Published: October 2017

The Internet reduces much of the costs of information sharing, but it does not solve information receivers' reading and interpretation limitations. Browsers and navigators ease information retrieval but do not solve the problems of specifying information needs and evaluating retrieval results. This article approaches these problems as information market problems with solutions consisting of information market service process models. These models link information suppliers and buyers and define activities, information resources, and information flows for the information market services. The models identified may improve the quality, speed, design and realisation of information market services.
On the Transformation of Traditional IS Service Department into a Modern IS Center: A Case Study
Authors: Fertalj Kresimir , Kalpic Damir
Published: October 2017

Some issues related to the transformation of a traditional IS service department into a modern team-based information center are discussed. The process of transformation comprises human resources analysis, investigation of possible ways of transformation, proposal of a new organization and constitution of development teams (DTs). New organization is based on DTs with flexible structure, which ensures a successful transformation. Education during transformation must be adjusted to the customer and can include different approaches such as on-the-job education, full curriculum and the short-term training plan, consulting services, end-user education and so forth. An educational framework should propose the standards to be followed and possible adjustments of those standards, which would make the education successful. A study done for a large state-owned Croatian company, carried out in practice as part of the initial strategy plan, will be presented and used as an example.
Critical Issues in the Administration of an Integrating Capstone Course )
Authors: E. Novitzki James
Published: October 2017

This paper discusses an MIS Capstone course in a graduate information technology program. The course provides an environment that allows students to apply the information and skills that they have obtained in the program. Teams of students work with organizations and deal with actual IS issues in a real world environment. This paper describes elements of the course, the tasks required to ensure course completion, basic operation of the course, and problems encountered in its administration. As the course has run serious problems have been encountered which required effective resolution if the course was to serve its stated goals. In spite of these problems, the results certainly outweigh the problems encountered.
The Development of an MIS for Iron Ore Mining Operations
Authors: Everett Jim , Howard T , Kamperman M.
Published: October 2017

We describe the development and implementation of a management informing system (MIS) to aid the mining, transporting, stockpiling and shipping of iron ore. Ore is railed from mines to a port, where it is blended on stockpiles and recovered to ships. The project commenced as a Decision Support System to aid quality control of ore grade. It evolved to become an MIS aiding operators, decision makers and managers at multiple stages and levels of the production process. The project’s history provides valuable lessons for the development of an MIS. The project was designed and implemented with clients rather than for clients, ownership by the users was emphasized, and domain knowledge was sought and incorporated at every stage. Contrary to textbook prescription, these considerations suggest that, rather than basing a project upon some initial grand plan, an incremental evolution is preferable, with developers and users cooperatively exploring possibilities as they unfold.