bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting Consumer Retail Sales Using Neural Networks
Authors: Zhang G. Peter , Qi Min
Published: May 2011

Forecasting future retail sales is one of the most important activities that form the basis for all strategic and planning decisions in effective operations of retail businesses as well as retail supply chains. This chapter illustrates how to best model and forecast retail sales time series that contain both trend and seasonal variations. The effectiveness of data preprocessing such as detrending and deseasonalization on neural network forecasting performance is demonstrated through a case study of two different retail sales: computer store sales and grocery store sales. We show that without data preprocessing neural networks are not able to effectively model retail sales with both trend and seasonality in the data, and either detrending or deseasonalization can greatly improve neural network modeling and forecasting accuracy. A combined approach of detrending and deseasonalization is shown to be the most effective data preprocessing technique that can yield the best forecasting result.
Neural Networks for Target Selection in Direct Marketing
Authors: Potharst Rob , Kaymak Uzay , Pijls Wim
Published: May 2011

The outline of the chapter is as follows. The section on direct marketing explains briefly what it is and discusses the target selection problem in direct marketing. Target selection for a charity organization is also explained. The next section discusses how neural networks can be used for building target selection models that a charity organization can use. The section on data preparation considers how the actual data for training the neural networks is obtained from the organization’s database. The actual model building steps are explained in the following section. The results of the neural network models are discussed afterwards, followed by a comparison of the results with some other target selection methods. Finally, the chapter concludes with a short discussion.
The Social Antecedents of Business Process Planning Effectiveness
Authors: Sahraoui Sofiane
Published: May 2011

Although there has been a wide coverage in the IS literature of the alignment of IT plans with organizational plans, most studies focused on the mechanics of this alignment rather than its antecedents (Brancheau, Janz, & Wetherbe, 1996; Rodgers, 1997). Therefore, emphasis was put on the strategies, structures, and planning methodologies used to attain alignment (Henderson & Sifonis, 1988; Tallon & Kraemer, 1998). A minor line of research that focused on the people involved in the creation of alignment (Nelson & Cooprider, 1996; Subramani, Henderson, & Cooprider, 1999) dealt with the state in which business and IT executives within an organizational unit understand and are committed to the business and IT mission, objectives, and plans (Reich & Benbasat, 2000). While this chapter would partially fit within studies examining the social antecedents of alignment, it departs sharply from earlier studies in the sense that it does not consider the organization as made up of distinct IT and business functions. Instead it adopts a holistic view whereby information systems form the skeleton of business processes and neither can be disentangled from the other. This peculiar perspective on the role of IT in the organization makes it essential to consider antecedents to alignment that go beyond the dichotomy between IT and business. The key concepts that will be introduced throughout this study derive from this logic. Information-enabled leadership, the planning culture, knowledge worker management, and strategic alignment are key constructs that form the backbone of our model of business process planning. The latter is the outcome of integrating IT and business planning. Planning effectiveness that is posited as the outcome variable of the previous variables is itself re-conceptualized within the proposed perspective.
Cybercamp
Authors: Hawley Steven
Published: May 2011

There is an ever-growing need for technology training for the many stakeholders (teachers and students) in our schools. There is an abyss created by technology, which is a medium that is moving forward rapidly within an institution that is bound by tradition. In this chapter, the reader is introduced to a program called Cybercamp, a means to bridge the abyss by having the producers and consumers of education build a bridge together. A partnership between the University of Cincinnati and numerous community organizations is presented, which provides for universal empowerment through technology training.
A Stage Model for Academic-Corporate Partnerships
Authors: Coakley James R. , Tyran Craig K.
Published: May 2011

A strong partnership with the business community can serve as a critical factor for an information systems program in higher education. The purpose of this chapter will be to draw on 10 years of experience to discuss our insights and lessons learned with regard to the Corporate Partnership Program for Information Systems at Oregon State University. The chapter begins with an overview of a “Stages of Partnership Growth” model that provides a framework for understanding and managing the evolutionary stages of growth for the academic-corporate partnership. The model will be illustrated by examining the evolution of the information systems program at Oregon State University. An advisory council comprised of representatives from the business community has played a key role in the development of the information systems program at Oregon State University. Suggestions regarding the creation and maintenance of an advisory council are discussed.
Computer-Supported Learning of Information Systems
Authors: Benbunan-Fich Raquel , Stelzer Leigh
Published: May 2011

New information technologies (IT) can enhance management information systems (MIS) education by improving the quality of the learning experience. This chapter proposes a tri-dimensional conceptual model based on the pedagogical assumptions of the course, the time dimension of the communication between students and professors, and the geographical location of learners and instructors. The implications of the model are reviewed in terms of their potential to contribute to teaching MIS courses and doing research in computer-supported MIS education.
Information Technology in Small Business
Authors: Burgess Stephen
Published: May 2011

Research into the use of information technology (IT) in small businesses is extremely diverse. It encompasses the many different characteristics of small businesses, including size, culture, business strategy, attitudes to IT, industry and location, to name a few. The authors in this book have contributed chapters that address many of these characteristics of small businesses. This chapter provides an introduction to many of the areas covered in the book.
Information Systems Development Outcomes
Authors: Hunter M. Gordon
Published: May 2011

When is an information system development outcome considered a success and when is it considered a failure? What factors contribute to a conclusion of either success or failure? How does the situation arise to create the environment which contributes to the above conclusions? Generally, an information system is considered a success when it does what it is supposed to and/or the user is satisfied with the system’s performance in support of the information-providing and decision-making responsibilities. Naturally, this area is fraught with the problems inherent in divergent interpretations of “what it is supposed to do,” “satisfaction,” and “systems performance.” Suffice it to say, when the systems developer and user are in positive agreement about these interpretations, the information system development outcome may be considered successful.
Use of Decision Support Systems in Small Businesses
Authors: Duan Yangqing , Kinman Russell , Xu Mark
Published: May 2011

The research outlined in this chapter is concerned with current practice in relation to decision support systems (DSSs) in small businesses. The purpose of this research (based on a survey approach) was to identify managers’ needs for computer-based support, and to explore if and how computer-based DSS could be better developed and utilized to meet these needs. Factors that hamper the utilization of DSS in small firms are also discussed.
The Evolution of ERP Systems
Authors: Rashid Mohammad A. , Hossain Liaquat , Patrick Jon David
Published: May 2011

ERP Systems are now ubiquitous in large businesses and the current move by vendors is to re-package them for small to medium enterprises (SMEs). This migration has many consequences that have to be addressed through understanding the history and evolution of ERP systems and their current architectures. The advantages and disadvantages of the ERP systems will impact their penetration in this new market. The market position and general strategy of the major systems providers in preparation for this push are described. The chapter concludes that the growth and success of ERP adoption and development in the new millennium will depend on the legacy ERP system’s capability of extending to Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Supply Chain Management (SCM) and other extended modules, and integration with the Internet-enabled applications.
ERP Systems
Authors: Mayer Nicole
Published: May 2011

Training methods used during ERP package implementation remain largely unstudied in Information Systems literature. This chapter investigates the “product quality” of a training program developed at an Australian university implementing PeopleSoft, to develop a definition of training quality. By examining use quality characteristics and assessing user perceptions against training results, conclusions are drawn indicating that high quality training leads to positive user perceptions of an ERP system.
Assessing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Adoption in the Philippines
Authors: Roldan Maria Divina Gracia Z. , Zamora Antonio R. , Amores Frederick D.
Published: May 2011

The Philippines has already embraced today’s fast-paced global economy. The worldwide advent of e-commerce has driven the Philippine business community to deal with changes in the way business is conducted–extending its reach, working to provide better services for customers, working more closely with suppliers and partners, and tapping new markets. Developments characterized by the new global economy require a shift in the management paradigm of enterprises which gives premium on competitiveness, multifunctionality, and flexibility. This requires managing the technological factors of the enterprise (managing technology and managing with technology) and managing the enterprise for controlled change and stability (Khalil, 2000).
Transnational ERP Systems
Authors: de Souza Cesar Alexandre , Zwicker Ronaldo
Published: May 2011

The development of global information systems infrastructure of enterprises offers many challenges, like the need to balance local and global systems requirements. The use of ERP systems (Enterprise Resource Planning) arises as a possible alternative for this development. This chapter aims to identify aspects involved in the use of ERP systems as transnational information systems, through the analysis of three implementation cases of ERP systems at Brazilian subsidiaries of multinational enterprises.
The ERP Marketplace
Authors: Stein Andrew , Hawking Paul
Published: May 2011

The global ERP industry blossomed in the 1990’s automating back office operations. The Australian ERP industry matched this global trend and has kept pace with the latest amalgam of front office applications including CRM, demand planning and sales-force automation being merged with the traditional ERP applications. ERP vendors are frantic in their attempts to ride the “E” wave whilst ERP customers struggle with the people, process and technology implications that ERP brings. This paper presents the preliminary results of an analysis of the Australian ERP market place. This study looks at the market movement and demographics of SAP, the dominant ERP vendor within the Australian marketplace.
Integrity Constraints in Spatial Databases
Authors: Borges Karla A.V. , Davis Jr. Clodoveu A. , Laender Alberto H.F.
Published: May 2011

This chapter addresses the relationship that exists between the nature of spatial information, spatial relationships, and spatial integrity constraints, and proposes the use of OMT-G (Borges et al., 1999; Borges et al., 2001), an object-oriented data model for geographic applications, at an early stage in the specification of integrity constraints in spatial databases. OMT-G provides appropriate primitives for representing spatial data, supports spatial relationships and allows the specification of spatial integrity rules (topological, semantic and user integrity rules) through its spatial primitives and spatial relationship constructs. Being an object-oriented data model, it also allows some spatial constraints to be encapsulated as methods associated to specific georeferenced classes. Once constraints are explicitly documented in the conceptual modeling phase, and methods to enforce the spatial integrity constraints are defined, the spatial database management system and the application must implement such constraints. This chapter does not cover integrity constraints associated to the representation of simple objects, such as constraints implicit to the geometric description of a polygon. Geometric constraints are related to the implementation, and are covered here in a higher level view, considering only the shape of geographic objects. Consistency rules associated with the representation of spatial objects are discussed in Laurini and Thompson (1992).
Consistent Queries Over Databases with Integrity Constraints
Authors: Greco Sergio , Zumpano Ester
Published: May 2011

Integrity constraints represent an important source of information about the real world. They are usually used to define constraints on data (functional dependencies, inclusion dependencies, etc.). Nowadays integrity constraints have a wide applicability in several contexts such as semantic query optimization, cooperative query answering, database integration and view update. Often databases may be inconsistent with respect to integrity constraints, that is, one or more integrity constraints are not satisfied. This may happen, for instance, when the database is obtained from the integration of different information sources. The integration of knowledge from multiple sources is an important aspect in several areas such as data warehousing, database integration, automated reasoning systems and active reactive databases.
Using Patterns to Capture Tacit Knowledge and Enhance Knowledge Transfer in Virtual Teams
Authors: Lyons Karen L.
Published: May 2011

The virtual team presents a challenging environment in which to share knowledge. These teams can span time zones, geographies, and even cultures. As a result, storytelling sessions and other two-way communications among team members are frequently unachievable. “Maps” to knowledge experts are useless if these experts cannot be reached at the moment when knowledge is needed. In order to transition knowledge from one virtual team member to another, organizations often resort to sharing knowledge in the form of documents or other types of explicit knowledge. However, explicit knowledge typically lacks the context required to be truly useful to the knowledge consumer. A possible solution to this limitation presents itself from another discipline. Patterns and pattern languages, which have their origin in the field of building architecture and urban design, offer a way to enhance explicit knowledge by capturing the context that is typically missing in documented knowledge and by adding a rich, story-like flavor designed to facilitate knowledge transfer.
Knowledge Management and Organizational Design
Authors: Jansen W.
Published: May 2011

This chapter examines the relation between organization design and knowledge management. Choosing a certain organization form implies a way of dealing with knowledge. The adopted strategies for knowledge management must concur with this form. Knowledge management should always constitute a good ‘mix’ of strategies applied in the organization form and its information and communication technology (ICT). A model enables organizations to determine their type and implied consequences for their knowledge management. It offers an explanation of why a specific form of knowledge management will or will not work in certain situations, and suggests measures for an appropriate knowledge management.
A Framework for the Development of an Accredited Web-Based Computer Information Systems Degree
Authors: Lassila Kathy S. , Howell Kris
Published: May 2011

The Web-based delivery of online IS baccalaureate programs is a recent innovation. While IS researchers have identified a number of key factors related to the effective online delivery of individual courses, little empirical evidence exists to suggest “best practices” in the development and delivery of a complete four-year IS online degree program. This chapter examines and synthesizes IS education criteria from two sources: the Computer Sciences Accreditation Commission, which recently established criteria for accrediting programs in information systems, and the Regional Accrediting Commissions, which issued guidelines for the evaluation of electronically offered degree and certificate programs. The result is a set of guidelines that act as a framework for the development of online baccalaureate programs in computer information systems that addresses both IS and online accreditation requirements.
E-Business Modeling
Authors: Forzi Tomaso , Laing Peter
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces a meta-method for e-business modeling. As a matter of fact, the Internet and Web-based e-business solutions nowadays play a crucial enabling role for the design and implementation of new business models. This implies high chances, but also remarkable risks for enterprises that choose to pursue a new business model striving to exploit new technology potentials. In fact, the implementation of a strategically not appropriate business model would critically undermine the long-term success of a company. Hence there is a clear need for action in the field of methodical business modeling. We present a new approach for a customer-oriented e-business modeling, with specific attention on inter-organizational cooperative networks and re-intermediation, as well as on information management within distributed manufacturing networks. The approach has been validated in the case of the information service intermediary of a collaboration network in the German manufacturing industry.
A 3-Dimensional Framework for Evaluating Multimedia Educational Software
Authors: Alkhalifa Eshaa M. , Albalooshi Fawzi
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces a three-dimensional framework aimed at evaluating multimedia educational software. It argues that the current means of evaluations is highly dispersed and ailed with “no significant result” findings mainly due to the evaluation techniques used and not the systems themselves. The framework proposed combines the two approaches currently followed in three dimensions of evaluations which are: system architecture, educational impact and affective measures. System architecture studies the design of the system itself and the technologies it takes advantage of. Educational impact concerns the differences between student levels prior and following exposure to the system. Affective measures concern student motivation issues when using the system. The goal is to provide a solid framework that is general enough to evaluate all types of multimedia educational systems.
Cognitive Styles, Metacognition and the Design of E-Learning Environments
Authors: Webster Ray
Published: May 2011

This chapter considers the use of cognitive styles and metacognitive skills in the design and development of e-learning environments. Participants involved in a unit in Human Computer Interaction used the results of a Riding’s Cognitive Styles Analysis to assist in the design and development of Web-based Individual Learning Environments (ILEs). Student reflections and cognitive styles results are considered in terms of their impact on the design process. They are also used to consider participants’ metacognitive awareness of their own cognitive and learning styles. It is suggested that the use of cognitive styles in this manner will produce interfaces and environments more suited to the learning requirements of each individual. In addition, the process of reflecting on and using the style results will help develop more metacognitively aware learners. The individual environment and metacognitive awareness are both desirable elements for a student-centered learning system for successfully participating in virtual education.
Learning to Analyze Unstructured Systems Using Forster's A Passage to India
Authors: Murtuza Athar , Ali Muhammad
Published: May 2011

The chapter seeks to promote use of literary works as a teaching resource for management information systems (MIS) courses. It does so by using a novel written by E.M. Forster to illustrate what may be done. The use of such a resource to supplement MIS teaching can help students’ communication skills and raise their awareness of cultural diversity in the global village. The main focus in this chapter, however, is to provide a way for instructors to impress upon students the need to be aware of the great number of managerial decisions that cannot be made using boiler-plate recipes. Managers who make decisions often must deal with unstructured situations involving non-recurring and non-routine issues. Such situations do not fit established models and conceptual frameworks; consequently, managers have to rely on their expertise in dealing with them. The education of MIS analysts and managers needs to include such awareness so they will be better prepared to deal with a world where the only constant is change. The chapter starts by discussing the various benefits that can result from using literary works in systems analysis courses. Works such as A Passage to India combine elements associated with both case studies and experiential learning. This makes literary works potentially a very useful resource for MIS curricula even though such an idea may seem unconventional. Even though MIS educators do not use literary works, other curricula aimed at various professions, such as medicine and law, are using them as a teaching resource. After discussing the potential benefits of this untapped resource, the chapter provides a synopsis of the novel. It then discusses the specific relevance of Forster’s novel for MIS and suggests ways of using it in systems analysis context.
Adopting the Entrepreneurial Process in the Study of Information Systems and Small Business
Authors: Hunter M. Gordon , Long Wayne A.
Published: May 2011

This document suggests the adoption of the Theory of Entrepreneurship by researchers who investigate the use of information systems by small businesses. The majority of existing research into this area tends to adopt results determined from investigations of larger businesses. Thus, the uniqueness of small business is not considered. Concepts such as strategic orientation, decision-making, and resource poverty contribute to the unique situation and approach taken by small business managers. The Theory of Entrepreneurship responds to these concepts. The framework suggests that organizations evolve and that entrepreneurs throughout this evolution face various challenges. The components of the Theory of Entrepreneurship are described here, in concert with the challenge to researchers to consider adopting this framework when conducting investigations into how information systems may be employed to support small business.
Interorganizational Relationships, Strategic Alliances, and Networks
Authors: Yamada Keiichi
Published: May 2011

This chapter deals with roles and ways of interorganizational communication systems. Prior to the subject, author refers to three topics related to the subject: what are interorganizational relationships, strategic alliances, and interorganizational networks. In order to understand interorganizational networks, the author utilizes Barnard’s theory of cooperative system and formal organization, in which communication plays a significant role to formulate and to maintain interorganizational networks as organization of organizations. Furthermore, there are some problems for effective interorganizational communication systems – both human and machine: standardization of communication systems, impact of IT development, and interorganizational strategy using IT.
Culture and Anonymity in GSS Meetings
Authors: Limayem Moez , Khalifa Mohamed , Coombes John
Published: May 2011

Anonymity is an important aspect of group support systems (GSS). However, as to the overall effectiveness of the use of anonymity, findings have been inconclusive. Some studies show positive effects in the number of ideas generated, quality of ideas, and uniqueness of ideas, whereas other studies show negative or neutral effects. An examination of social psychology literature indicates that the effect of public self-awareness on evaluation apprehension in different cultural groups may play a crucial role. Thus, social psychology and Hofstede’s model of cultural differentiation are used in this chapter to explain the different effects of anonymity on the behavior of Hong Kong and Canadian groups during GSS sessions. It is hoped that understanding the effects of anonymity in different cultural contexts will better inform the design and facilitation of GSS in increasingly diverse global settings.
A National Information Infrastructure Model for Information Warfare Defence
Authors: Stagg Vernon , Warren Matthew
Published: May 2011

Information infrastructures are an eclectic mix of open and closed networks, private and public systems, the Internet, and government, military, and civilian organisations. Significant efforts are required to provide infrastructure protection, increase cooperation between sectors, and identify points of responsibility. The threats to infrastructures are many and various, and are increasing daily: information warfare, hackers, terrorists, criminals, activists, and even competing organisations all pose significant threats that cannot be sufficiently dealt with using the current infrastructure model. We present a National Information Infrastructure model that is based on defence against threats such as information warfare.
Info-Mathics - The Mathematical Modeling of Information Systems
Authors: Targowski Andrew S.
Published: May 2011

This chapter reviews Information Systems (IS) modeling techniques, including relational algebra, structured design, architectural design, and Unified Modeling Language. A new technique “info-mathics” (i.e.,mathematical description of the hierarchical systems architecture) is defined to secure the system reliability and quality. The classification of IS categories and its attributes such as components, structure, relationships, system level, system product, system deepness, system width, system list, system end, and other are presented. Examples of the mathematical notations are provided and their meaning for the practical implications of info-mathics in system analysis and design are indicated.
Use of UML Stereotypes in Business Models
Authors: Brandon Jr. Daniel
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents some particularly useful UML stereotypes for use in business systems. Stereotypes are the core extension mechanism of UML. If you find that you need a modeling element or information extension to an element that is not in UML but it is similar to something that is, you treat your addition/extension as a stereotype. These new stereotypes are defined and the need for them is discussed. The stereotypes aid in both the design/drawing phase and in the implementation (coding) phase of the overall system construction. An example case study illustrates their usage with both design drawings and the implementation code (C++).
Business Processes in UML
Authors: Rittgen Peter
Published: May 2011

Today, modeling business processes and modeling software is done using different notations that are designed to fit the special needs of the respective tasks. However, this fact results in a painful methodological gap between business models and software models, which is hard to bridge. This problem becomes even more painful if we try to build software to support certain business models because a smooth transition between the employed notations is usually not supported, or due to methodological problems, impossible. In order to allow for a smoother transition, we propose using Business Process Diagrams (BPDs), which are based on the UML activity diagrams ( in both business and software worlds). We show how to derive BPDs from the well-known business process language of Event-driven Process Chains (EPCs) using Petri nets as a common process meta- model.
How to Prioritize Information Systems Selection Decisions Under Time Pressure
Authors: McDermid D. C.
Published: May 2011

This chapter reports on an action research study that used the Strategic Choice method. This method was used to support the prioritization of information systems with respect to enhancing these systems within a public sector health department. Such decisions are notoriously complex, fuzzy, time-consuming and political for stakeholders. The results of this study indicate that the Strategic Choice method offers the potential to reduce time commitment for stakeholders in a satisfactory manner.
Conceptualizing the SMEs' Assimilation of Internet-Based Technologies
Authors: Bharati Pratyush , Chaudhury Abhijit
Published: May 2011

This chapter conceptualizes a model for the assimilation of Internet-based technologies in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The research examines the factors influencing the assimilation of Internet-based technologies and the penetration of these technologies in SMEs. Internet-based technologies are complex organizational technologies. The model uses the learning related scale, related knowledge and diversity, together with several control variables like host size, IT size, specialization and education. Several external factors, such as influence of customers, suppliers, vendors and competitors, that have been suggested in studies of SMEs have also been included to explain the assimilation and diffusion of innovation. The results of an exploratory survey are presented and future research is discussed.
Implementing Privacy Dimensions within an Electronic Storefront
Authors: Liu Chang , Marchewka Jack , Mackie Brian
Published: May 2011

Many electronic businesses will attempt to distinguish themselves from their competition and gain a competitive advantage by customizing their Web sites, in order to build a strong relationship with their customers. This will require the collection and use of personal information and data concerning the customer’s online activities. Although new technologies provide an opportunity for enhanced collection, storage, use, and analysis of this data, concerns about privacy may create a barrier for many electronic businesses. For example, studies suggest that many people have yet to shop or provide personal information online due to a lack of trust. Moreover, many others tend to fabricate personal information. To this end, many electronic businesses have attempted to ease customers’ concerns about privacy by posting privacy policies or statements, or by complying with a particular seal program. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission has proposed four privacy dimensions that promote fair information practices. These dimensions include: (1) notice/awareness, (2) access/participation, (3) choice/consent, and (4) security/integrity. An electronic storefront was developed to include these privacy dimensions as part of a study to learn how privacy influences trust and, in turn, how trust influences behavioral intentions to purchase online. The empirical evidence from this study strongly suggests that electronic businesses can benefit by including these privacy dimensions in their Web sites. This chapter will focus on how these dimensions can be implemented within an electronic storefront.
Deploying Java Mobile Agents in a Project Management Environment
Authors: Xue F. , Li K. Y.R.
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces mobile agent technology and explains how it can help businesses to implement client-server enterprise computing solutions. A Java mobile agent-based project management system prototype is presented to demonstrate the main features of mobile agents (mobility, functionality, intelligence and autonomy), and how they help to enhance communication processes and facilitate security within the project environment. It suggests a practical way to isolate all host resources from all visiting agents using host agents and exported host functions. It also proposes a communication infrastructure to support intelligent dialogue among agents.
The Second Wave ERP Market
Authors: Stein Andrew , Hawking Paul
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents the market penetration of SAP systems in the Australian market together with an analysis of three mini-case study implementations. The implementations showcase a global rollout, a global consolidation and a “greenfields” small to medium implementation, and present the diverse range of implementations that are occurring in the Australian ERP marketplace. The global ERP industry blossomed in the 1990s, automating back office operations and, in the new century, moves have been made to introduce a “second and third wave” of functionality in ERP systems. Research up-to-date has been limited, especially in the relation to market penetration, of these new “second wave” products in the Australian region. The trend in 2000/01 was for upgrades and restructure in preparation for the move to e-commerce. In 2002, there has been an expanded focus on mysap.com, small to medium enterprises and the expansion into “third wave” products. This chapter looks at the market movement and demographics of companies that have implemented SAP software, the dominant ERP vendor within the Australian marketplace, and will focus on the trends that are impacting the Australian ERP market.
Software Metrics, Information and Entropy
Authors: Dospisil Jana
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes the foundation and properties of object-oriented software measures. Many software measures for object-oriented applications have been developed and tested in the development environment. However, the process of defining new measures is still alive. The reason for such development lies in difficulties associated with understanding and maintaining object-oriented applications. It is still difficult to relate the measures to the phenomena we want to improve. Do our measurements indicate problems in reliability, maintenance, or too much complexity of some portions of the application? In order to reduce the complexity of software, new development methodologies and tools are being introduced. An example of the new approach to development is separation of concern. The tools, such as Aspect/J (Kiezales et al., 1997) or Hyper/J (Ossher & Tarr, 1998), facilitate the development process. There does not seem to be a sound metrics suite to measure complexity and efficiency of applications developed and coded with Aspect/J or Hyper/J. In this chapter, we attempt to review the current research into object-oriented software metrics and suggest theoretical framework for complexity estimation and ranking of compositional units in object-oriented applications developed with Hyper/J.
Design of Narrowband Highpass FIR Filters Using Sharpening RRS Filter and IFIR Structure
Authors: Jovanovic-Dolecek Gordana
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents the design of narrowband highpass linear-phase finite impulse response (FIR) filters using the sharpening recursive running sum (RRS) filter and the interpolated finite impulse response (IFIR) structure. The novelty of this technique is based on the use of sharpening RRS filter as an image suppressor in the IFIR structure. In that way, the total number of multiplications per output sample is considerably reduced.
Knowledge Management
Authors: McManus Denise J. , Snyder Charles A.
Published: May 2011

This chapter provides a new perspective for Knowledge Management applications within organizations. The relevance of knowledge management components in disaster planning has been underscored by the large-scale terror attacks of September 11, 2001. The objective of the chapter is to provide a different perspective on the risk management category of business continuity planning or disaster recovery. Specifically, the authors show how most plans ignore or downplay the essential requirement for the organization to preserve its critical knowledge resources in the event the possessors of that knowledge are killed. Most proponents of Knowledge Management have neglected this important facet of the field. At the same time, the risk management and disaster recovery fields have ignored the important contributions of Knowledge Management to a viable business continuity plan.
Navigational Tools in Hypertext Information Retrieval Frames and an Expandable Table of Contents
Authors: Tenissara Rawiwan
Published: May 2011

Difficulties with navigation are common in hypertext documents. Many studies have examined techniques and design strategies to find the proper structure of a hyperdocument whereas others have investigated navigational tools such as overview diagrams, maps, menus, and/or tables of contents that help users navigate through complex hyperdocuments. This study has investigated the effects of table of contents and frames as user interface on user performance and user satisfaction. The result suggests several guidelines for designing complex hypertext information retrieval systems and creating on-line documentation.
S3
Authors: Disterer Georg
Published: May 2011

Many elderly people (age of 60+) are keen on getting familiar with the Internet. At the same time, end-user training gets more and more important for IT management. Therefore, we implemented a graduate Information Systems course, where students have to design, organize, manage, and run a training session, where elderly people can see and try using the Internet. The students learned to design a teaching curriculum and teaching materials, to set up and maintain the technical infrastructure, to organize end-user training, and, most importantly, to teach and to train end-users.
Designing e-Business and e-Commerce Courses to Meet Industry Needs
Authors: Stiller Anthony D.
Published: May 2011

This chapter is designed to assist undergraduate program developers in designing and developing courses that will better prepare graduates to have a balanced mix of e-business, e-commerce, communication, and leadership skills that will equip them for roles as consultants for small-to-medium enterprises. Because small-to-medium enterprises do not have a vast budget or knowledge of e-commerce development, they are more likely to contract a consultant within their local community rather than contract a larger consulting firm that is more likely to have a number of staff members with a variety of specialist skills. This being the case, undergraduate courses must equip our professionals with skills sets that focus on e-business strategic planning as well as the e-commerce technology skills that will enable them to design, develop, and implement e-business strategies that meet the needs of small-to-medium enterprises by understanding the environments in which they operate.
Adding Reality to Team Projects
Authors: Tabor Sharon W.
Published: May 2011

While hiring companies consistently emphasize the importance of communication and team skills for new IT graduates, students consistently emphasize their dislike for academic team projects. In an effort to make the team project a more interesting and valuable experience, an upper-division e-commerce course at Boise State University includes the development of prototype sites for actual businesses. In addition to concepts, strategies, and technical tools, students learn transferable consulting skills and improve necessary team skills. These skills groups are applied to real-world business problems, resulting in successful team experiences for the students and expanded horizons for the participating businesses. Part of the success is attributable to well-defined expectations, team-building exercises, and a structured client engagement process that serves the needs of the businesses as well as the student teams.
Business Students as End-User Developers
Authors: Barker Sandra
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, the introduction of “real-life” scenarios to undergraduate business students to enhance their understanding of end-user development of databases is investigated. The problems experienced with end-user development due to incomplete information, incorrect design procedures, and inadequate software knowledge are identified. It is the hope of the author that by identifying the design issue relevant to good database production and using “real-life” case studies as insight into how businesses use and store data, the students will be more aware of good practice for their future employment.
Information Management in Public Sector Agencies
Authors: Green Maurice W.
Published: May 2011

Managerial responsibilities for information technology (IT) have, increasingly, been consolidated in the person of the “chief information officer” (CIO). Despite the increased prevalence of the CIO position, no one model has emerged that explains what can realistically be expected of the CIO in various organizational contexts. This is particularly true of the public-sector CIO. In this chapter, insight into the problems, challenges, and requisite competencies for public-sector CIOs is provided. The conceptual framework of CIO competence presented here is multidimensional and interdisciplinary in nature. In the chapter, the importance of considering the contextual setting in which CIOs operate in understanding the competencies he or she deems critical to the CIO role is illustrated. The competencies deemed critical by CIOs with differing perceptions of the role of IT, as well as those deemed critical by CIOs managing different size IT units, are contrasted. The discussion should inform academicians developing IT management curricula and practitioners engaged in CIO search and development activities.
An Examination of ICT Planning Maturity in Schools
Authors: Mackey Julie , Mills Annette
Published: May 2011

Information and communication technology (ICT) has the potential to revolutionize teaching and learning as well as school administration, yet little is known about the maturity of ICT planning in schools and the manner in which schools plan for the acquisition and use of these technologies in the educational environment. However, as school investments in ICT increase and they become more reliant on ICT, effective planning becomes more central to schools’ ability to maximize their use of technology. This research examines ICT planning in schools and proposes a four-stage model of the evolution of ICT planning maturity in schools. The model emerges from case studies conducted in eight New Zealand primary schools and provides insight into the nature of ICT planning in schools and the factors that contribute to planning maturity.
On-Line Case Discussion
Authors: Isaac Henri
Published: May 2011

Over the past several years, a number of research studies have investigated the application of Internet technologies to the classroom. Most of the research focus on asynchronous technology such as newsgroups or Web sites, or on GSS. No research investigates the possibility of conducting on-line case discussion. As case discussion in the classroom is a key pedagogical method in an executive program, our research examines a methodology for on-line case discussion. In this chapter, the results of an experiment conducted in an executive MBA program to investigate the use of on-line case discussion is presented. First, other research to determine the distinguishing characteristics of case discussion is reviewed. Then, the pedagogical context for the experiment is provided, and the experimental method is described. Finally, the results of a satisfaction questionnaire completed by the participants in the experiment are presented. Suggestions for further research and experiments are also discussed.
Conclusions
Authors: Ratnasingam Pauline
Published: May 2011

In this chapter we conclude our study by contributing to a model of inter-organizational trust within bi-directional dyads based on the findings of this study. The participants agreed that technology trust mechanisms (also known as technology trust) by and large exist in e-commerce technologies and applications. Technology trust is defined as “the subjective probability by which an organization believes that the underlying technology infrastructure and control mechanisms are capable of facilitating inter-organizational transactions according to its confident expectations” (Ratnasingam and Pavlou, 2002, 2003). However, what is more important is the need to develop trading partner relationships that will form cohesive (win-win) trading partner relationships. Most of the participants agreed that developing trust is a gradual process and can be challenging because of differing personalities and expectations, the lack of a physical presence, varied standards used within each organization, and the changing external e-commerce environment. The rest of the chapter is organized as follows. The next section presents and discusses the model of inter-organizational trust within bi-directional dyads. Then we discuss the contributions to theory and practice, leading to the limitations of the study and recommendations for future research.
IT Management
Authors: Targowski Andrew
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents the main issues of IT management with special emphasis on business, IT strategies integration and on trends that are taking take place in this discipline at the beginning of the 21st century.
Knowledge Assets in the Global Economy
Authors: Malhotra Yogesh
Published: May 2011

This article has the following objectives: developing the need for assessing knowledge capital at the national economic level; review of a national case study of how intellectual capital assessment was done in case of one nation state; suggesting implications of use of such assessment methods and needed areas of advancement; and highlighting caveats in existing assessment methods that underscore the directions for future research. With increasing emphasis on aligning national information resource planning, design and implementation with growth and performance needs of businesses or nations, better understanding of new valuation and assessment techniques are necessary for information resource management policymakers, practitioners and researchers.
Implementing Virtual Organizing in Business Networks
Authors: Klueber Roland , Alt Rainer , Osterle Hubert
Published: May 2011

Virtual organizations and knowledge management have been discussed on a very broad scale in literature. However, a holistic view and methods that support implementation of these concepts are rare. Based on the understanding derived from literature and the experience of many action research-based projects, a method is described that addresses these issues for business networks. This includes the dimensions of strategy, process and IS required for establishing and managing business networks. By providing a systematic and documented procedure model, techniques and results, this method aims to improve the efficiency of setting up business networks, thus improving a company’s networkability. In order to illustrate why this method is needed and how it can be applied, a project for implementing a business-networking solution for electronic procurement is described. It shows how a structured approach helps to identify the scenarios, aids implementation and applies previously as well as newly created knowledge. The outlook describes areas for future research and new developments.