bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Semantic Competence Pull
Authors: Colomo-Palacios Ricardo
Published: May 2011

Despite its considerable growth and development during the last decades, the software industry has had to endure several significant problems and drawbacks which have undoubtedly had negative effects. One of these aspects is the lack of alignment between the curricula offered by Universities and other kinds of education and training centres and the professional profiles demanded by companies and organizations. This problem defines the objective of this work: to provide a set of mechanisms and a solution to allow companies to define and express their competency gaps and, at the same time, allow education centres to analyse those gaps and define the training plans to meet those needs.
The Role of Trust, Satisfaction, and Communication in the Development of Participation in Virtual Communities
Authors: Casaló Luis V.
Published: May 2011

The rapid growth of virtual communities has created a new interest in researchers. Indeed, understanding these communities is especially relevant because it may allow for the obtaining of valuable information (e.g. needs of particular groups of people). In this respect, this work tries to explore which factors motivate individuals to take part of a virtual community since participation is one of the most important variables for the development and sustainability of virtual communities. More specifically, we analyze the effects of trust in a community, satisfaction with previous interactions and the communication level of the members’ intentions to participate in a given virtual community. The data (obtained through an online surveys made to members of several virtual communities) show that trust in a virtual community had a positive and significant effect on members’ participation in a virtual community. In addition, we found that satisfaction with previous interactions and the level of communication in a community significantly increased the level of trust in that virtual community.
The Evolution from Data to Wisdom in Decision-Making at the Level of Real and Virtual Networks
Authors: Targowski Andrew
Published: May 2011

This chapter provides theoretical analysis and synthesis of how computer applications are applied in problem-solving and decision-making in practice of real and virtual networks. The defined semantic ladder of cognition units provides the background for the analysis of the evolution of Knowledge Management technology and its applications in problem-solving and decision-making processes. The defined categories of decision-making tasks allow for the categorization of activities in network-oriented collaboration and the review of knowledge technology application in their implementations. Based upon this approach, the review of Knowledge Management technology is synthesized in real and virtual networks. Eventually both kinds of networks are compared by the Knowledge Management application criterion. However, Knowledge Management technology, despite its growing popularity is not the ultimate application, since wisdom not knowledge is the ultimate unit of cognition. Its structure in the civilization context is synthesized. Conclusions for theoreticians and practitioners are offered.
Deterministic Modeling in Medicine
Authors: Maschke-Dutz Elisabeth
Published: May 2011

In this chapter basic mathematical methods for the deterministic kinetic modeling of biochemical systems are described. Mathematical analysis methods, the respective algorithms, and appropriate tools and resources, as well as established standards for data exchange, model representations and definitions are presented. The methods comprise time-course simulations, steady state search, parameter scanning, and metabolic control analysis among others. An application is demonstrated using a test case model that describes parts of the extrinsic apoptosis pathway and a small example network demonstrates an implementation of metabolic control analysis.
Uncovering Fine Structure in Gene Expression Profile by Maximum Entropy Modeling of cDNA Microarray Images and Kernel Density Methods
Authors: Sakellaropoulos George , Daskalakis Antonis , Nikiforidis George , Argyropoulos Christos
Published: May 2011

The presentation and interpretation of microarray-based genome-wide gene expression profiles as complex biological entities are considered to be problematic due to their featureless, dense nature. Furthermore microarray images are characterized by significant background noise, but the effects of the latter on the holistic interpretation of gene expression profiles remains under-explored. We hypothesize that a framework combining (a) Bayesian methodology for background adjustment in microarray images with (b) model-free modeling tools, may serve the dual purpose of data and model reduction, exposing hitherto hidden features of gene expression profiles. Within the proposed framework, microarray image restoration and noise adjustment is facilitated by a class of prior Maximum Entropy distributions. The resulting gene expression profiles are non-parametrically modeled by kernel density methods, which not only normalize the data, but facilitate the generation of reduced mathematical descriptions of biological variability as mixture models.
Gene Expression Profiling with the BeadArrayTM Platform
Authors: Wruck Wasco
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes the application of the BeadArrayTM technology for gene expression profiling. It introduces the BeadArrayTM technology, shows possible approaches for data analysis, and demonstrates to the reader how the technology performs in comparison to alternative microarray platforms. With this technique, high quality results can be achieved so that many researchers consider employing it for their projects. It can be expected that the technology will gain much importance in the future. The author hopes that this résumé will introduce researchers to this novel way of performing gene expression experiments, thus giving them a profound base for judging which technology to employ.
Discrete Networks as a Suitable Approach for the Analysis of Genetic Regulation
Authors: Santiago-Cortés Elizabeth
Published: May 2011

Biological systems are composed of multiple interacting elements; in particular, genetic regulatory networks are formed by genes and their interactions mediated by transcription factors. The establishment of such networks is critical to guarantee the reliability of transcriptional performance in any organism. The study of genetic regulatory networks as dynamical systems is a helpful methodology to understand the transcriptional behavior of the genome. From a number of theoretical studies, it is known that networks present a complex dynamical behavior that includes stability, redundancy, homeostasis, and multistationarity. In this chapter we present some particular biological processes modeled as discrete networks to show that the theoretical properties of networks have a clear biological interpretation.
Investigating the Collective Behavior of Neural Networks
Authors: Maffezzoli A.
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, authors review main methods, approaches, and models for the analysis of neuronal network data. In particular, the analysis concerns data from neurons cultivated on Micro Electrode Arrays (MEA), a technology that allows the analysis of a large ensemble of cells for long period recordings. The goal is to introduce the reader to the MEA technology and its significance in both theoretical and practical aspects of neurophysiology. The chapter analyzes two different approaches to the MEA data analysis: the statistical methods, mainly addressed to the network activity description, and the system theory methods, more dedicated to the network modeling. Finally, authors present two original methods, introduced by their selves. The first method involves innovative techniques in order to globally quantify the degree of synchronization and inter-dependence on the entire neural network. The second method is a new geometrical transformation, performing very fast whole-network analysis; this method is useful for singling out collective-network behaviours with a low-cost computational effort. The chapter provides an overview of methods dedicated to the quantitative analysis of neural network activity measured through MEA technology. Until now many efforts were devoted to biological aspects of this problem without taking in to account the computational and methodological signal processing questions. This is precisely what the authors try to do with their contribution, hoping that it could be a starting point in an interdisciplinary cooperative research approach.
Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Hamblin Michael R.
Published: May 2011

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a rapidly advancing treatment for multiple diseases. PDT involves the administration of a nontoxic drug or dye known as a photosensitizer (PS), either systemically, locally, or topically, to a patient bearing a lesion (frequently but not always cancer), followed after some time by the illumination of the lesion with visible light; in the presence of oxygen, leads to the generation of cytotoxic species and consequently to cell death and tissue destruction. The light is absorbed by the PS molecule and the excited state PS transfers energy to ground state molecular oxygen, forming a reactive oxygen species that oxidize lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. The resulting damage to essential biomolecules kills target cells by necrosis, apoptosis, or autophagy. When used as a cancer treatment PDT is known to cause direct tumor cell killing, severe damage to tumor blood vessels, and also produce an acute inflammatory reaction that can stimulate the immune system to recognize, track down, and even kill distant tumor cells that could cause metastases. This chapter focuses on studies of PDT that have employed a systems biology approach. These experiments have been frequently carried out using geneexpression micro-arrays. We will cover protective responses induced by PDT that include activation of transcription factors, heat shock proteins, antioxidant enzymes, and antiapoptotic pathways. Elucidation of these mechanisms might result in the design of more effective combination strategies to improve the antitumor efficacy of PDT. Specific pathways shown to be activated after PDT are heat shock proteins 90, 70, and 27, heme oxygenase, and cyclooxygenase-2.
Background 1
Authors: Augustyniak Piotr , Tadeusiewicz Ryszard
Published: May 2011

This chapter briefly introduces the basic concepts of electrocardiography?the anatomy and physiology of the heart, highlighting the electrophysiological phenomena. This technical overview recalls facts concerning the heart action, only as far as it creates the background necessary for future technical considerations. Therefore, the origin of the signal and the principles of medical interest in electrical heart action representation are put forward. Particular attention is paid to physiological limitations of the signal variability, since this concept is a key for assessment of the limited signal predictability and expected local bandwidth. These terms, not yet common in the everyday ECG description, are a background to the auto-adaptive telemonitoring system proposed as a scientific challenge in Chapters 7 to 11.
Interpretation of the ECG as a Web-Based Subscriber Service
Authors: Augustyniak Piotr , Tadeusiewicz Ryszard
Published: May 2011

This chapter is about the idea of medical information interchange networks providing signal and possibly image interpretation services. Technically, the issue is similar to Web-accessible services: document conversion, searching the Web, photo development, video on demand, electronic booking of hotels or airline ticketing. Various services use state-of-the-art Internet technology for commerce and entertainment purposes. Unfortunately, medical applications are rarely represented in that form.
Corporate Social Capital and the Intelligent Enterprise
Authors: Lee Laurence Lock
Published: May 2011

This chapter is concerned with building up the concept of Corporate Social Capital (SC) as a critical firm resource in terms the governance of multisourcing relationships. The establishment of Corporate SC as a performance related concept draws from the related concepts of Social Networks (SN), Intellectual capital (IC) and Corporate Reputation (CR). The relevance of the relationship aspects of SN has been established in chapter III (Figure 12). Also addressed in that review was the knowledge based theory of the firm, that will be developed in more detail through an exploration of the IC literature and the CR literature, each seen as contributing to a foundation for Corporate SC and ultimately impacting IT Governance and multisourcing relationships.
Personal Network Competencies
Authors: Lee Laurence Lock
Published: May 2011

Traditionally the competency of an IT worker has been largely measured in technical terms. The ability to understand and deploy complex technology was seen as the critical skill required. However, the environment is changing. The time where applications could simply automate tried and tested manual processes with the confidence that immediate benefits to the business would result, is now past. The industry has matured to the extent that current IT applications need to develop and evolve hand in hand with the business.
Nazar Foods Company
Authors: Polatoglu Vichuda Nui
Published: May 2011

Nazar Group of Companies has been a leading producer and distributor of cookies, crackers, cakes, chocolate, and other products in Turkey for more than 40 years. This case is about the group’s management roles in transforming the companies into a more consumer-focused orientation using supply chain management philosophy as a strategic framework. Descriptions of supporting business systems were summarized along with the challenges and problems facing managers in effective utilization of these systems in practice.
Building Dynamic Business Process in P2P Semantic Web
Authors: Du Timon C. , Li Eldon Y.
Published: May 2011

Business process management systems such as the workflow management system and the enterprise application integration system manage process flow on a minute-by-minute basis in various application domains. In the conventional approach, the business process must be predefined before it is implemented. However, involving business users in the early stage of the design phase is neither efficient nor realistic in the dynamic business world. This study proposes a framework to implement a dynamic business process in the P2P Semantic Web, which provides the flexibility to dynamically alter business process and to take semantic data into consideration. The system is demonstrated by a case of a manufacturer that is processing an order.
A Security Blueprint for E-Business Applications
Authors: Du Jun , Jiao Yuan-Yuan , Jiao Jianxin ("Roger")
Published: May 2011

This chapter develops a security blueprint for an e-business environment taking advantage of the three-tiered e-business architecture. This security blueprint suggests best practices in general. It involves (1) security control by layers—from physical access, to network communication, to operating systems, to applications, and (2) different stages of the management process, including planning, deployment, administration, and auditing. Also reported is a case study of the implementation of the proposed security blueprint in a Singapore multinational corporation. Such issues as security control analysis, management process analysis, and cost-benefits analysis are discussed in detail.
Outsourcing Non-Core Business Processes
Authors: Romaniello Adriana , Medlin B. Dawn
Published: May 2011

This study examines corporate performance effects when banks outsource noncore business processes. Additionally, the article proposes that knowledge management process plays a significant role in determining the outcomes of outsourcing. Drawing from resource theory and knowledge management literature, the authors develop the concept of managerial outsourcing competence and then propose a conceptual model. Also presented is an exploratory study of members of the North Carolina Bankers Association to assist in identifying the business processes they are currently outsourcing and their principal reasons for outsourcing.
Delivering the ‘Whole Product'
Authors: Feller Joseph , Finnegan Patrick , Hayes Jeremy
Published: May 2011

It has been argued that competitive necessities will increasingly require OSS companies to participate in cooperative business networks in order to offer the complete product/service (whole product) demanded by customers. It is envisaged that these business networks will enhance the business models of participant firms by supplementing their value-adding activities and increasing responsiveness to customers. However, while such propositions have intuitive appeal, there is a lack of empirical research on such networks. This article examines Zea Partners, a network of small open source companies cooperating to deliver the ‘whole product’ in the area of content management systems (CMSs). It investigates how participation in the network augments the business models of participant companies and identifies the business agility challenges faced by the network. The article concludes that reconciling the coordination needs of OSS networks with the operational practices of participant firms is a critical issue if such networks are to achieve adaptive efficiency to deliver whole products in a ‘bazaar-friendly’ manner.
A Methodology for Developing an Integrated Supply Chain Management System
Authors: Lan Yi-chen , Unhelkar Bhuvan
Published: May 2011

Integrated Supply Chain Management (ISCM) involves the linking of suppliers and customers with the internal business processes of an organization. ISCM solutions allow organizations to automate workflows concerning the execution and analysis of planning, sourcing, making, delivering, returns handling, and maintenance, to name but a few. Many of today’s ISCM systems use primarily Web technology as the supporting infrastructure. Undoubtedly, the electronic (Internet-based) ISCM systems deliver the enterprises with a competitive advantage by opening up opportunities to streamline processes, reduce costs, increase customer patronage, and enable thorough planning abilities. However, there has been significant customer backlash concerning the inability of software vendors to deliver easy integration and promised functionality. Although various researchers have suggested strategies to overcome some of the failures in operating ISCM systems, there appears to be a lacunae in terms of architectural investigations in the analysis stage. The methodology proposed in this chapter seeks to resolve these gaps and provides a fundamental framework for analyzing ISCM systems.
An Application of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Model to Strategic Outsourcing for Effective Supply-Chain Linkages
Authors: Kwak N. K. , Won Lee Chang
Published: May 2011

An appropriate outsourcing and supply-chain planning strategy needs to be based on compromise and more objective decision-making procedures. Although factors affecting business performance in manufacturing firms have been explored in the past, focuses are on financial performance and measurement, neglecting intangible and nonfinancial factors in the decision-making planning process. This study presents development of an integrated multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model. This model aids in allocating outsourcing and supply-chain resources pertinent to strategic planning by providing a satisfying solution. The model was developed based on the data obtained from a business firm producing intelligent home system devices. This developed model will reinforce a firm’s ongoing outsourcing strategies to meet defined requirements while positioning the supply-chain system to respond to a new growth and innovation.
The Cognitive Process of Decision Making
Authors: Wang Yingxu , Ruhe Guenther
Published: May 2011

Decision making is one of the basic cognitive processes of human behaviors by which a preferred option or a course of actions is chosen from among a set of alternatives based on certain criteria. Decision theories are widely applied in many disciplines encompassing cognitive informatics, computer science, management science, economics, sociology, psychology, political science, and statistics. A number of decision strategies have been proposed from different angles and application domains such as the maximum expected utility and Bayesian method. However, there is still a lack of a fundamental and mathematical decision model and a rigorous cognitive process for decision making. This article presents a fundamental cognitive decision making process and its mathematical model, which is described as a sequence of Cartesian-product based selections. A rigorous description of the decision process in real-time process algebra (RTPA) is provided. Real-world decisions are perceived as a repetitive application of the fundamental cognitive process. The result shows that all categories of decision strategies fit in the formally described decision process. The cognitive process of decision making may be applied in a wide range of decision-based systems such as cognitive informatics, software agent systems, expert systems, and decision support systems.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Authors: McGaughey Ronald E. , Gunasekaran Angappa
Published: May 2011

Business needs have driven the design, development, and use of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Intra-enterprise integration was a driving force in the design, development, and use of early ERP systems, but increased globalization, intense competition, and technological change have shifted to focus to inter-enterprise integration. Current and evolving ERP systems thus reflect the expanded scope of integration, with greater emphasis on things like supply chain management and customer relationship management. This manuscript explores the evolution of ERP, the current status of ERP, and the future of ERP, with the objective of promoting relevant future research in this important area. If researchers hope to play a significant role in the design, development, and use of suitable ERP systems to meet evolving business needs, then their research should focus, at least in part, on the changing business environment, its impact on business needs, and the requirements for enterprise systems that meet those needs.
Developing a Telecommunication Operation Support System (OSS)
Authors: Williams James G. , Olsen Kai A.
Published: May 2011

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

This chapter introduces XML-based e-commerce standards that have emerged within the past decade. The chapter describes the history of e-commerce standards, and then presents representative horizontal and vertical e-commerce standards by detailing their functionality, and how their development has been shaped by various stakeholders. The chapter also describes the potential for these standards to transform B2B practice by providing three industry examples. The chapter finishes by suggesting directions for future research by describing factors that could influence the future of these standards. Due to the central role these standards are likely to play in future e-commerce activity, most firms will at some point need to become aware of their capabilities, their application, and potential impact. This chapter is intended to provide an overview of the situation as it is understood today, and presents likely scenarios for how these standards may progress.
E-Commerce Opportunities in the Nonprofit Sector
Authors: Abuhamdieh Ayman , Kendall Julie E. , Kendall Kenneth E.
Published: May 2011

To what extent does having a Web presence reflect on an organization’s e-commerce operations? Will a mere brick-and-mortar organizational Web site guarantee online success? This case presents the experience of the New York Theatre Group (NYTG), a nonprofit performing arts organization, in integrating e-commerce in its business practices. The case begins with a very broad overview of the nonprofit sector, the performing arts industry, its delivery channels, and the theatrical production process in general. Then attention turns to NYTG itself in terms of its history, organizational structure, its market segmentation, market trends, and forecasted growth. The strategic planning at NYTG, and the programs put in place to help it achieve its objectives and mission, are detailed. A survey that maps the demographic attributes of NYTG’s patrons and subscribers is discussed. The case concludes with the current e-commerce challenges facing NYTG in particular and the nonprofit performing arts organizations in general.
Exploring Decision Rules for Sellers in Business-to-Consumer (B2C) Internet Auctions
Authors: Baker Jeff
Published: May 2011

The recent growth of business-to-consumer (B2C) Internet auctions challenges researchers to develop empirically-sound explanations of critical factors that allow merchants to earn price premiums in these auctions. The absence of a comprehensive model of Internet auctions leads us to conduct an exploratory study to elucidate and rank critical factors that lead to price premiums in Internet auctions. We employ Classification and Regression Trees (CART), a decision-tree induction technique, to analyze data collected in a field study of eBay auctions. Our analysis yields decision trees that visually depict noteworthy factors that may lead to price premiums and that indicate the relative importance of these factors. We find shipping cost, reputation, initial bid price, and auction ending time as the factors most predictive of price premiums in B2C Internet auctions.
Business Data Warehouse
Authors: Bose Indranil
Published: May 2011

The retailing giant Wal-Mart owes its success to the efficient use of information technology in its operations. One of the noteworthy advances made by Wal-Mart is the development of the data warehouse which gives the company a strategic advantage over its competitors. In this chapter, the planning and implementation of the Wal-Mart data warehouse is described and its integration with the operational systems is discussed. The chapter also highlights some of the problems encountered in the developmental process of the data warehouse. The implications of the recent advances in technologies such as RFID, which is likely to play an important role in the Wal-Mart data warehouse in future, is also detailed in this chapter.
Bioinformatics Web Portals
Authors: Cannataro Mario
Published: May 2011

Bioinformatics involves the design and development of advanced algorithms and computational platforms to solve problems in biomedicine (Jones & Pevzner, 2004). It also deals with methods for acquiring, storing, retrieving and analysing biological data obtained by querying biological databases or provided by experiments. Bioinformatics applications involve different datasets as well as different software tools and algorithms. Such applications need semantic models for basic software components and need advanced scientific portal services able to aggregate such different components and to hide their details and complexity from the final user. For instance, proteomics applications involve datasets, either produced by experiments or available as public databases, as well as a huge number of different software tools and algorithms. To use such applications it is required to know both biological issues related to data generation and results interpretation and informatics requirements related to data analysis. Bioinformatics applications require platforms that are computationally out of standard. Applications are indeed (1) naturally distributed, due to the high number of involved datasets; (2) require high computing power, due to the large size of datasets and the complexity of basic computations; (3) access heterogeneous data both in format and structure; and finally (5) require reliability and security. For instance, applications such as identification of proteins from spectra data (de Hoffmann & Stroobant, 2002), querying of protein databases (Swiss-Prot), predictions of proteins structures (Guerra & Istrail, 2003), and string-based pattern extraction from large biological sequences, are some examples of computationally expensive applications. Moreover, expertise is required in choosing the most appropriate tools. For instance, protein structure prediction depends on proteins family, so choosing the right tool may strongly influence the experimental results.
E-Commerce Adoption and Appropriation by SMEs in Sri Lanka
Authors: Kapurubandara Mahesha
Published: May 2011

Acceptance of the Internet has paved the way towards the development of virtual communities that keep increasing in the current information society making it imperative for business, especially the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which form the backbone of any economy, to keep abreast with e-commerce and remain competitive. To stimulate and facilitate SME participation in business activities through the Internet, it is necessary, therefore, to provide clear guidance and direction with suitable models and frameworks specifically tailored for the purpose. This chapter highlights an attempt to develop a suitable framework for the e-transformation of SMEs in Sri Lanka. In the belief that new models and frameworks can help SMEs to equip themselves to better understand their current stage and identify the main barriers at each stage of the adoption process, this attempt starts with an initial exploratory study of 17 SMEs, followed by a regional survey involving 625 SMEs from various industry sectors, along with interviews with the SME intermediary organizations. The proposed model facilitates establishing the current stage of an SME with regard ICT and e-commerce sophistication using five stage variables. It also assists to determine current position with regard to barriers towards the adoption of e-commerce and helps determine the support necessary to overcome such identified barriers. The research detailed in this chapter establishes that barriers show variance when SMEs proceed to more advanced stages in the adoption process. Likewise, the necessary support required indicates a similar trend. Going further, the chapter proposes a model for adoption of e-commerce for SMEs in Sri Lanka and identifies the essential need for support while acknowledging available support. Finally, it proposes an initial framework to e-transform SMEs in developing countries
Electronic Commerce Reality in Tunisia
Authors: Ziadi Jameleddine , Ben Salah Abderrazzak
Published: May 2011

This chapter has as an aim the identification of the present reality of the e-commerce activity in Tunisia and the challenges its faces. After giving an overview on the e-commerce birth in the country, it focuses on two distinct experiences: First, the e-commerce transactions via the Tunisian Post Office (known as the ONP) and secondly the e-commerce operations via the Banking Association (known as the SMT). While exploring the general scheme of the two different techniques notably concerning the relation with the merchants’ commercial Websites (CWS), it gives statistics related to the evolution of transactions in this field. We depart from that point to discuss the general situation of the Tunisian e-commerce activity, to explore the problems it faces and to give potential solutions for its real expansion and development in the country. In this regard, we believe that the spread of use of bank cards and other forms of electronic payments would make citizens used to those forms and would constitute therefore the real takeoff point of the e-commerce activity.
The State and Development of E-Commerce in Serbia
Authors: Jošanov Borislav , Vidas-Bubanja Marijana , Vuksanovic Emilija , Kajan Ejub , Travica Bob
Published: May 2011

The authors of this chapter constructed and published multidimensional model for the evaluation of e-commerce diffusion in any country. According to this model qualitative research of conditions for ecommerce penetration in Serbia was conducted. Serbia is located on an important geographical location in Southeast Europe. After Yugoslavia’s falling apart and a decade of stagnation, Serbia came to a road of economic changes and it became an economy in transition – it was pronounced the leading reformer in 2005 by The World Bank. Our main finding is that the process of diffusing e-commerce in Serbia is still on the waiting list, but different states are found for different layers of this multidimensional model. Some good experiences found in Serbia’s e-commerce practice are mainly from the B2C e-commerce, while a strategy of B2B e-commerce could be a catalyst for pulling together the facilitating conditions and engaging Serbia in global electronic economy.
Software Engineering Education
Authors: Hislop Gregory W.
Published: May 2011

There is a strong and growing global demand for skilled software engineers. The institutions that educate software engineers are evolving and changing to meet this need. This chapter provides an overview of this effort to develop software engineering education. It discusses the historical development of software engineering education, provides some perspective on current status, and identifies some of the challenges faced by software engineering educators. The intended audience for this chapter is anyone interested in software engineering education who has not participated in the developments to the present time. The goal is to provide a summary background of how the discipline has evolved and pointers to key publications that are part of that history. Since this chapter surveys foundational topics in software engineering education, many of the topics touched on in this chapter are covered in more detail in other chapters of this volume.
Experiences in Collaboration in Distance Education from the Caribbean, Looking Beyond Electronic
Authors: Marrett Christine
Published: May 2011

Information communication technologies (ICTs) have facilitated institutional collaboration in distance education. Based on the study, Institutional collaboration in distance education at the tertiary level in the small, developing countries of the Commonwealth Caribbean: To what extent does it enhance human resource development? (Marrett, 2006), the author examines the experiences in the Caribbean between 1982 and 2002. She explores not only the role played by ICTs, but also some of the issues that arise beyond those presented by the technology, highlighting aspects that need attention in order to ensure successful institutional collaboration in tertiary education, and makes recommendations to overcome the challenges.
Hybrid Synergy for Virtual Knowledge Working
Authors: Lambropoulos Niki , Kampylis Panagiotis , Papadimitriou Sofia , Vivitsou Marianna , Gkikas Alexander
Published: May 2011

Recent rapid technological advancement has influenced communication and information management. In addition, it has facilitated collaboration, an interactive process that engages participants who work together to achieve outcomes they could not accomplish independently. Using new technologies for remote collaboration from U.K., Finland, and Greece, we created our own collaboration and creativity technique as best practices for our team by utilizing an adaptation of Collaborative E-Learning and Six Thinking Hats. We call this model for knowledge working to enhance collaborative creativity Hybrid Synergy. The question under investigation was “What tools, methodologies, techniques, and practices can support collaborative creativity of multidisciplinary teams for virtual knowledge working?” The results from the study conducted in an online course verified the importance of the individual contribution for the development and evolution of a virtual team as a whole. Furthermore, the propositions suggested the use of specific techniques and methodologies can enhance technology enabled organisational change.
Collaborative Partnerships and the Application of ICTs in Secondary Education in South Africa
Authors: Evoh Chijioke J.
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this study is to examine the dynamics of collaborative partnership involving the private sector, government, and community groups in the application of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for expanding access to and improving the quality of secondary education in South Africa. Based on the operations and projects of Mindset Learn channel in secondary schools in South Africa, the study explores the enabling factors for the innovative improvement of secondary schooling with ICTs. On the other hand, the study also focused on the challenges facing Mindset Learn innovative approach to secondary education as well as the prospects of the sustaining this model of educational development in South Africa and other countries in Africa. Qualitative data collection methods were used to gather data from key informants.
Creating Synergy for Inter-Cultural Learning
Authors: Köhler Tine , Berry Michael
Published: May 2011

Internationally distributed teams (IDTs) face challenges related to the team members’ diversity and geographic dispersion. However, research on IDTs has yet to explore the joint effects of diversity and dispersion on team processes and performance, as well as the role that cultural norms play in IDT effectiveness. Reporting findings from an 11-week e-mail exchange between American and Finnish business students, the current chapter focuses on how and why cultural communication and coordination norms affect IDT team processes and performance. The data shows that differences in cultural norms were amplified by differences in the local context of IDT members and that successful IDTs also created group norms that helped them manage their cultural diversity and geographic dispersion. Given the teachers’ discovery of how they had unintentionally reinforced cultural communication and coordination norms, the authors make explicit how cultural norms unexpectedly influence leadership strategies and learning experiences in positive and negative ways.
Working Collaboratively on the Digital Global Frontier
Authors: Lock Jennifer , Redmond Petrea
Published: May 2011

An international online collaborative learning experience was designed and implemented in preservice teacher education classes at the University of Calgary, Canada and the University of Southern Queensland, Australia. The project was designed to give preservice teachers an opportunity to live the experience of being online collaborators investigating real world teaching issues of diversity and inclusivity. Qualitative research was conducted to examine the complexity of the online collaborative experiences of participants. Redmond and Lock’s (2006) flexible online collaborative learning framework was used to explain the design and the implementation of the project. Henri’s (1992) content analysis model for computer-mediated communication was used for the online asynchronous postings and a constant comparative method of data analysis was used in the construction of themes. From the findings, the authors propose recommendations for designing and facilitating collaborative learning on the digital global frontier.
Scholarly Collaboration Across Time Zones
Authors: Lynch Kathy , Heinze Aleksej , Scott Eljse
Published: May 2011

The barriers to global collaboration of yesteryear include country boundaries and time zones. Today, however, in a world where communication is thriving on new technologies, these barriers have been overcome, not only by the technology itself, but also by the collaborators in a desire (and need) to extend knowledge, seize opportunities, and build partnerships. This chapter reports on one such collaboration: a case study where the focus is the writing of a scholarly article between authors from Australia, England, and South Africa. The challenges of different time zones, academic calendars, and managing the collaboration are outlined in this chapter. Findings from the case study suggest that the key elements of success are related to individual and project management techniques, and not the technology per se. The constructivist learning theory, as well as the e-moderation model are supported by this work, and thus extend their application to the academic writing process.
Collective Identity and Learning in a Virtual Team
Authors: Burnett Garry G.
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces Media Synchronicity Theory as a means to examine the influence of technology use on the relationship between a multidimensional model of collective identity and its impact on the multidimensional team learning in virtual teams. The study was conducted in an educational setting over an academic semester. Hypotheses testing suggest that the basis for a team’s collective identity does impact team learning. The authors believe that a clearer understanding of the underlying relationships will enable academicians to improve their course offerings to provide more realistic representation of existing team tasks, technology use, and work-groups presently found in organizations.
Collaborative Synergy and Leadership in E-Business
Authors: Strang Kenneth David
Published: May 2011

Logically, it makes sense that organizations can be successful if their employees collaborate effectively, in a synergistic manner. Economically, e-businesses around the world leverage the Internet for efficient collaboration while in parallel many companies now use enterprise applications for process automation and knowledge sharing. From a human resource perspective, it is argued professionals must inspire and influence their e-business teams to virtually collaborate and synergize across physical organization boundaries using transformational leadership principles. Rationally, investors in e-business need proof that applying knowledge sharing and transformational leadership theories will facilitate team collaboration and synergy and therefore improve organizational performance. Empirically, this e-business industry study develops a statistically significant path model using multivariate linear regression (n=3995), revealing transformational leadership and knowledge sharing factors are mediated by a latent construct of collaborative synergy, which predicts project performance and stakeholder satisfaction. Rival theories are evaluated to stimulate future research.
Enhancing Collective Memory with a Community Repository
Authors: Corradini Elena
Published: May 2011

This chapter discusses a project for the implementation of a digital repository in a specific context, namely a small Italian town. The latest developments of Web 2.0, as well as recent concepts of the libraries as places where ‘conversations’ are fostered, can enable new ways of managing library collections, by allowing every member of the community to collaborate in the process of selecting and acquiring sources of information. The author hopes to provide evidence that such a project can represent a valid approach to enhance co-operation among people with different backgrounds who share the common aim to build a community repository that can represent all of them.
An AAA Framework for IP Multicast Communication in Next Generation Networks
Authors: Pillai Prashant
Published: May 2011

IP multicast mechanisms provide efficient bandwidth consumption and distribution of high volume contents such as audio/video streaming, audio/video-on-demand and file sharing to multiple users. To commercially deploy multicast services in next generation networks it is important for Network Providers (NPs) to be able to control user access to the multicast content and to be able to account the multicast usage. This chapter compares some of the existing security mechanisms and highlights their inadequacies for providing efficient multicast security. The chapter then describes an AAA framework for IP multicast, which combines the IETF MSEC architecture with efficient AAA techniques to provide secure multicast content and to enable NPs to authenticate, authorise and provide efficient access control of end users requesting multicast content. This AAA framework also supports both post-paid and pre-paid accounting of users and allows the monitoring of session information like session duration and data volume for each multicast session.
Wavelength Division Multiplexing Technologies and their Applications
Authors: Merlemis N. , Zevgolis D.
Published: May 2011

This chapter is an introduction of the Wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) technologies (such as Dense WDM and coarse WDM) and their recent applications in optical networks. WDM is used to multiplex multiple optical carrier signals on a single optical fibre by using different wavelengths of laser light to carry different signals. This allows for a multiplication in available bandwidth and, in addition, makes possible to perform bidirectional communications over one strand of fibre. We present the optical components used in WDM and review some of the most important applications of the technology.
A Case Study on the QoS, Energy Consumption and Mobility of WLANs and WMANs
Authors: Papapanagiotou Ioannis , Paschos Georgios S.
Published: May 2011

The present chapter contains a thorough investigation of Quality of Service, Energy Conservation and mobility in 802.11 and 802.16 standards. Interest on these two technologies arises from the fact that they are designed to cooperate offering wireless access capabilities in Next Generation Networks (NGNs). Under NGN Wireless architectures, key challenges must be taken into account: (a) Broadband technologies are based on QoS Enabled Telecommunication Services; (b) Mobile devices are battery limited. In fact, how to prolong the life time of a mobile device and minimize power usage is a very important design issue; (c) Wireless operation means that the user is expected to roam freely, which must also be taken into account. The dependability of NGN operation is obviously depended on these three features.
Mobile Positioning in Next Generation Networks
Authors: Brida Peter , Cepel Peter , Duha Jan
Published: May 2011

This chapter deals with mobile positioning in wireless heterogeneous next generation networks. Positioning process is analyzed and the chapter gives an overview of the basic positioning principles and methods that can be used in various NGN platforms. The main focus is given on cellular, ad hoc and sensor networks. Fundamental positioning methods are similar regardless of network platform. The difference usually lies in positioning accuracy. This is caused by technical parameters of the particular application platform. The end of the chapter deals with positioning experiments. The main purpose of authors is simple explanation of fundamental positioning principles for various NGN network platforms.