bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Innovation in Mobile Learning
Authors: Kukulska-Hulme Agnes , Sharples Mike , Milrad Marcelo , Arnedillo-Sanchez Inmaculada , Vavoula Giasemi
Published: February 2011

In the evolving landscape of mobile learning, European researchers have conducted significant mobile learning projects, representing a distinct perspective on mobile learning research and development. Our article aims to explore how these projects have arisen, showing the driving forces of European innovation in mobile learning. We propose context as a central construct in mobile learning and examine theories of learning for the mobile world, based on physical, technological, conceptual, social and temporal mobility. We also examine the impacts of mobile learning research on educational practices and the implications for policy. Throughout, we identify lessons learnt from European experiences to date.
Wildfire Activities
Authors: Engeström Yrjö
Published: February 2011

The article argues for a historical perspective on mobility and learning. In social production or peer production, mobility takes the shape of expansive swarming, sideways transitions and boundary-crossing. The notion of wildfire activities is proposed to point out that activities such as birding, skateboarding, and disaster relief of the Red Cross have characteristics similar to those of peer production but predate internet and take place mainly outside the sphere of digital virtuality. Wildfire activities pop up in unexpected locations at unexpected times and expand very rapidly. They become extinguished from time to time, yet they reappear and flare up again. Learning in wildfire activities is learning by swarming that crosses boundaries and ties knots between actors. It is also learning by building mycorrhizae communities by means of cognitive trails and social bonds that make the terrains knowable and livable. The mechanism of stigmergy is foundational in mycorrhizae communities.
Improving Cross-Cultural Awareness and Communication through Mobile Technologies
Authors: Botha Adele , Vosloo Steve , Kuner John , van den Berg Madelein
Published: February 2011

Increasingly, technology is mediating the way in which the youth around the world communicate, consume content and create meaning. As mobile communication media and the internet become more pervasive, young people from different cultures and communities are afforded more opportunities for collaboration across previously unbridgeable distances. The need for cross-cultural awareness and communication is thus more important than ever. The initiative described in this article, successfully demonstrated the role of mobile phones and the web as mediating technologies in the development of intercultural competencies and communication skills among a group of teenagers scattered across two countries.
Meeting the Challenges in Evaluating Mobile Learning
Authors: Vavoula Giasemi , Sharples Mike
Published: February 2011

We propose six challenges in evaluating mobile learning: capturing and analyzing learning in context and across contexts, measuring mobile learning processes and outcomes, respecting learner/participant privacy, assessing mobile technology utility and usability, considering the wider organizational and socio-cultural context of learning, and assessing in/formality. A three-level framework for evaluating mobile learning is proposed, comprising a micro level concerned with usability, a meso level concerned with the learning experience, and a macro level concerned with integration within existing educational and organizational contexts. The article concludes with a discussion of how the framework meets the evaluation challenges and with suggestions for further extensions.
Optimizing Message Verbosity and Energy Consumption in Secured Wireless Mobile Networks
Authors: Haleem P. P. Abdul , Sebastian M. P.
Published: February 2011

This article presents a method for reducing the verbosity of messages in the constrained wireless mobile networks. Wireless mobile devices, especially low cost devices are stifled by the limited resources such as battery power, screen size, input, memory and processors. The relevance of low cost wireless mobile devices in penetrating to the third world market demands for a cost effective messaging format that fits in the constrained wireless environment. The proposed scheme is based on YAML Ain´ Markup Language (YAML), a user friendly and light weight messaging format. Measures to reduce the message size and energy consumption together with secure processing are proposed.
A Secure and Trustworthy Framework for Mobile Agent-Based E-Marketplace with Digital Forensics and Security Protocols
Authors: Wei Qi , Patel Ahmed
Published: February 2011

Mobile agents raise security issues such as the protection of platform/host that runs the mobile agent against attacks which can harm or use its resources without permission, and another is the need for protection to guard mobile agents and their supporting systems against the malicious attacks from a variety of intervening sources that might alter information it carries and processes when it visits the hosts in its transactions itineraries. In this article, the authors propose a framework which includes safe, secure, trusted and auditable services, as well as forensic mechanisms to provide audit trails for digital evidence of transactions and protection against illegal activities. The proposed framework and protocols provide a secure communication for mobile agents when they move to different security environments to deal with e-marketplace activities such as search information, negotiation and payments. This article is concluded by highlighting and discussing further research work to build viable systems.
Quality of Experience Models for Multimedia Streaming
Authors: Menkovski Vlado , Exarchakos Georgios , Liotta Antonio , Sánchez Antonio Cuadra
Published: February 2011

Understanding how quality is perceived by viewers of multimedia streaming services is essential for efficient management of those services. Quality of Experience (QoE) is a subjective metric that quantifies the perceived quality, which is crucial in the process of optimizing tradeoff between quality and resources. However, accurate estimation of QoE often entails cumbersome studies that are long and expensive to execute. In this regard, the authors present a QoE estimation methodology for developing Machine Learning prediction models based on initial restricted-size subjective tests. Experimental results on subjective data from streaming multimedia tests show that the Machine Learning models outperform other statistical methods achieving accuracy greater than 90%. These models are suitable for real-time use due to their small computational complexity. Even though they have high accuracy, these models are static and cannot adapt to environmental change. To maintain the accuracy of the prediction models, the authors have adopted Online Learning techniques that update the models on data from subjective viewer feedback. This method provides accurate and adaptive QoE prediction models that are an indispensible component of a QoE-aware management service.
A Probabilistic Routing Protocol in VANET
Authors: Yan Gongjun , Olariu Stephan , Salleh Shaharuddin
Published: February 2011

The key attribute that distinguishes Vehicular Ad hoc Networks (VANET) from Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANET) is scale. While MANET networks involve up to one hundred nodes and are short lived, being deployed in support of special-purpose operations, VANET networks involve millions of vehicles on thousands of kilometers of highways and city streets. Being mission-driven, MANET mobility is inherently limited by the application at hand. In most MANET applications, mobility occurs at low speed. By contrast, VANET networks involve vehicles that move at high speed, often well beyond what is reasonable or legally stipulated. Given the scale of its mobility and number of actors involved, the topology of VANET is changing constantly and, as a result, both individual links and routing paths are inherently unstable. Motivated by this latter truism, the authors propose a probability model for link duration based on realistic vehicular dynamics and radio propagation assumptions. The paper illustrates how the proposed model can be incorporated in a routing protocol, which results in paths that are easier to construct and maintain. Extensive simulation results confirm that this probabilistic routing protocol results in more easily maintainable paths.
The Factors that Influence E-Instructors’ Performance in Taiwan
Authors: Shen Chun-Yi , Chang Chiung-Sui
Published: February 2011

Online teaching is the fastest growing form of delivery in higher education and faculty is expected to integrate technology into their teaching. The purpose of this study is to examine the performance of e-instructors in Taiwan based on the new human performance model. To achieve the purposes, this paper adopted a questionnaire survey and One hundred and six online instructors from 25 universities in Taiwan participated in this study. Correlation and multiple regression are performed to analysis the data. After statistical analysis, the results show that the four factors, advanced skill, basic skill, effort, and self-efficacy, contributed significantly to the model variance of e-instructors’ performance in online teaching. The results also provide the evidences of the importance of self-efficacy in online teaching.
Getting Connected
Authors: Pirhonen Antti , Sillence Elizabeth
Published: February 2011

The large scale deployment of mobile applications inevitably impacts upon our culture as a whole and affects more intimately our daily lives. Not all of these effects are desirable. In a market economy, ethical issues are not the most important drivers in the development of technology. In this article, we ask whether the mobile human-computer interaction community could take an active role in discussing ethical issues. In so doing we could focus our attention on developing technology for ‘human beings’ rather than fine tuning our emerging gadgets.
Paper Rejected (p>0.05)
Authors: Dunlop Mark. D. , Baillie Mark
Published: February 2011

Null-hypothesis statistical testing has been seriously criticized in other domains, to the extent of some advocating a complete ban on publishing p-values. This short position article aims to introduce the argument to the mobile-HCI research community, who make extensive use of the controversial testing methods.
Crossmodal Audio and Tactile Interaction with Mobile Touchscreens
Authors: Hoggan Eve
Published: February 2011

This article asserts that using crossmodal auditory and tactile interaction can aid mobile touchscreen users in accessing data non-visually and, by providing a choice of modalities, can help to overcome problems that occur in different mobile situations where one modality may be less suitable than another (Hoggan, 2010). By encoding data using the crossmodal parameters of audio and vibration, users can learn mappings and translate information between both modalities. In this regard, data may be presented to the most appropriate modality given the situation and surrounding environment.
Visual Demand Evaluation Methods for In-Vehicle Interfaces
Authors: Pettitt Michael , Burnett Gary
Published: February 2011

The primary aim of the research presented in this paper is developing a method for assessing the visual demand (distraction) afforded by in-vehicle information systems (IVIS). In this respect, two alternative methods are considered within the research. The occlusion technique evaluates IVIS tasks in interrupted vision conditions, predicting likely visual demand. However, the technique necessitates performance-focused user trials utilising robust prototypes, and consequently has limitations as an economic evaluation method. In contrast, the Keystroke Level Model (KLM) has long been viewed as a reliable and valid means of modelling human performance and making task time predictions, therefore not requiring empirical trials or a working prototype. The research includes four empirical studies in which an extended KLM was developed and subsequently validated as a means of predicting measures relevant to the occlusion protocol. Future work will develop the method further to widen its scope, introduce new measures, and link the technique to existing design practices.
Comparison of Zipper and Non-Zipper Merging Patterns Near Merging Point of Roads
Authors: Wakita Y. , Iguchi T. , Shimizu H. , Tamaki T. , Kita E.
Published: February 2011

At the merging point, vehicles on the main road must reduce their velocity to avoid slow merging vehicles from a branch road, which leads to a traffic jam. Some researchers point out the effectiveness of a zipper merging pattern for improving the traffic near the merging point. In this study, the authors discuss the effectiveness of a zipper merging pattern using cellular automata simulation. Firstly, the single and multiple vehicle following models are defined. The stability analysis of the models then gives the parameters. In the simulation, two merging patterns are compared. In the non-zipper merging pattern, two vehicles merge continuously from a branch road. In the zipper merging pattern, two vehicles merge between main road vehicles. The results show that the zipper merging pattern is more effective than the non-zipper merging pattern for reducing the traffic jam near the merging point.
DNA Hash Pooling and its Applications
Authors: Shasha Dennis , Amos Martyn
Published: February 2011

In this article we describe a new technique for the comparison of populations of DNA strands. Comparison is vital to the study of ecological systems, at both the micro and macro scales. Existing methods make use of DNA sequencing and cloning, which can prove costly and time consuming, even with current sequencing techniques. Our overall objective is to address issues such as whole genome detection, fragment detection and sample similarity. Because our method is similar in spirit to hashing in computer science, we call it DNA hash pooling. To illustrate this method, we describe protocols using pairs of restriction enzymes. The in silico empirical results we present reflect a sensitivity to experimental error. Our method, performed as a filtering step prior to sequencing, may reduce the amount of sequencing required (generally by a factor of 10 or more). Even as sequencing becomes cheaper, an order of magnitude remains important.
Architecture of a Massively Parallel Processing Nano-Brain Operating 100 Billion Molecular Neurons Simultaneously
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Anirban , Fujita Daisuke , Pati Ranjit
Published: February 2011

Molecular machines (MM, Badjic, 2004; Collier, 2000; Jian & Tour, 2003; Koumura & Ferringa, 1999; Ding & Seeman 2006) may resolve three distinct bottlenecks of scientific advancement. Nanofactories (Phoenix, 2003) composed of MM may produce atomically perfect products spending a negligible amount of energy (Hess, 2004) thus alleviating the energy crisis. Computers made by MM operating thousands of bits at a time may match biological processors mimicking creativity and intelligence (Hall, 2007), thus far considered as the prerogative of nature. State-of-the-art brain surgeries are not yet without fatalities, but MMs guided by a nano-brain may execute perfect bloodless surgery (Freitas, 2005). Even though all three bottlenecks converge to a single necessity, the nano-brain, futurists and molecular engineers have remained silent on this issue. Our recent invention of 16-bit parallel processor is a first step in this direction (Bandyopadhyay, 2008). However, the device operates inside ultra-high vacuum chamber. For practical application, one needs to design a 3D standalone architecture
Application of Single Electron Devices Utilizing Stochastic Dynamics
Authors: Sato Shigeo , Nakajima Koji
Published: February 2011

Single electron devices utilizing the Coulomb blockade phenomenon have attractive features such as extreme low power consumption, one by one electron flow controllability, small device size, etc. However, besides promising applications such as the current standard and charge detection, it is not easy to apply the single electron devices to conventional computational tasks due to its stochastic operation and low amplification capability. Therefore, it is important for us to consider suitable applications of single electron devices. In this paper, we show three applications such as a noise generator, a stochastic neural network, and a charge detector employing stochastic resonance. Trough these applications, we see the advantages of single electron devices and study the direction of applications.
Full Adder Operation Based on Si Nanodot Array Device with Multiple Inputs and Outputs
Authors: Kaizawa Takuya , Jo Mingyu , Arita Masashi , Fujiwara Akira , Yamazaki Kenji , Ono Yukinori , Inokawa Hiroshi , Takahashi Yasuo
Published: February 2011

A highly functional Si nanodot array device that operates by means of single-electron effects was experimentally demonstrated. The device features many input gates, and many outputs can be attached. A nanodot array device with three input gates and two output terminals was fabricated on a silicon-on-insulator wafer using conventional Si MOS processes. Its feasibility was demonstrated by its operation as both a half adder and a full adder when the operation voltage was carefully selected.
Fine Control and Selection of Travelling Waves in Inorganic Pattern Forming Reactions
Authors: de Lacy Costello B. P.J. , Armstrong J. , Jahan I. , Ratcliffe N. M.
Published: February 2011

Under normal reaction conditions [AlCl3 0.28-0.34M and NaOH 2.5M A.Volford et al.] spontaneous spiral and circular travelling precipitate waves were observed. We constructed a phase diagram for the reaction and identified a large controllable region at lower aluminum chloride levels. We show that it is possible to selectively initiate travelling circular waves and other self-organized structures within this controllable region. In previous work initiation was undertaken before adding the outer electrolyte resulting in disorganized waves. However, marking the gel one minute after adding outer electrolyte resulted in cardioid waves. Increasing the time interval to two minutes caused a transition to single circular waves. If the gel is marked sequentially nested circular waves (target waves) are formed. These reactions were used to calculate simple and additively weighted Voronoi tessellations. The fine control of self-organization in precipitation reactions is of interest for the synthesis of novel and functional Materials.
Towards Arithmetical Chips in Sub-Excitable Media
Authors: Zhang Liang , Adamatzky Andrew
Published: February 2011

We discuss a theoretical design of an arithmetical chip built on an excitable medium substrate. The chip is simulated in a two-dimensional three-state cellular automaton with eight-cell neighborhoods. Every resting cell is excited if it has exactly two excited neighbors, the excited cells takes refractory state unconditionally. A transition from refractory back to resting state also happens irrelevantly to a state of the cell neighborhood. The design is based on principles of collision-based computing. Boolean logic values are encoded by traveling localizations, or particles. Logical gates are realized in collisions between the particles. Detailed blue prints of collision-based adders and multipliers presented in the article pave the way to future laboratory experimental prototypes of general-purpose chemical computers.
A Social Bookmarking-Based People Search Service Building Communities of Practice with Collective Intelligence
Authors: Huang Jeff J.S. , Yang Stephen J.H. , Chen Jeng C.C , Li Irene Y.S. , Hsiao Indy Y.T.
Published: February 2011

The emergence of Web 2.0 has brought along the trend of community. It is also the trend that contributes to socialization of the Internet. The essence of Web 2.0 is creation and sharing which give rise to social networking communities such as Blog, Wikipedia and Facebook. Through Wikipedia, Blogs, Facebook and other kinds of social networking websites, interactive relationship and bridge of knowledge sharing have been built up successfully. This paper attempts to propose an effective way to locate people with shared interests. By using Internet resources bookmarked by the users, the similarity of interests between them can be analyzed. Based on this relationship, people could build communities. Also, through community activities, the innovation and exchange of collective intelligence are accomplished.
Schools of Thought in Research into End-User Computing Success
Authors: Harris Roger W.
Published: February 2011

This article analyses the last decade of research into the causal factors of end-user computing (EUC) success. The last ten years of EUC research are characterised within an analysis of 16 studies, which demonstrates the variety of influences that researchers have postulated to contribute towards EUC success. Three distinct schools of thought are described. One school of thought of research is based on the contribution towards EUC success made by the behaviour of individuals, one is based on the characteristics of an end-user application, and another is based on the characteristics of the organization in which EUC occurs. The analysis provides researchers and practitioners with a road-map for defining and creating the conditions necessary for success with EUC. It is expected to assist future research in identifying gaps in current knowledge as well as facilitating a coherent progression of contribution to the field. Practitioners can use it to identify those factors that contribute most relevance to their achievement of success with EUC within their own contexts. A framework and agenda are suggested for future research.
End Users as Expert System Developers?
Authors: Wagner Christian
Published: February 2011

Knowledge is receiving recognition as a strategic force in organizations. Correspondingly, one form of knowledge capture and maintenance organizations are tempted to use is expert system design by end users. The article discusses difficulties associated with end user development, both in terms of design quality and knowledge content. An analysis of 25 expert systems written by non-professional developers reveals significant quality and size limitations that indicate limited feasibility of end user expert system development. Furthermore, the lack of design quality may not be easily compensated for by a "knowledge advantage" of the end users, as end users may have a performance advantage in using their knowledge, but not in "knowing" it.
An Architecture for Organizational Decision Support Systems that Utilizes a Model Coordination Subsystem
Authors: Kim Gyeung-Min J. , Burns James R. , Myung Rohae
Published: February 2011

Organizational Decision Support Systems (ODSS) aim to support organizational decision-making that cuts across functional boundaries in the organization. As opposed to the conventional top-down approach to ODSS development, this research views integration of end-user-developed, organization-wide functional decision support systems as a viable approach for the development of an ODSS. First, this research examines coordination issues of those individual DSSs when they participate in organizational decision making as constituents of an ODSS. The coordination issues are discussed from the perspective of cycle time and quality of the organizational decision outcomes that the ODSS intends to promote. Then, a software architecture for ODSS that is capable of delivering coordination mechanisms for individually-developed DSS is presented. This work will be of interest to end-users and researchers involved with the fabrication and deployment of ODSS. In addition to the architecture, they will find important insights on how best to construct such software entities in the paper.
The Relationship Between User Participation and the Management of Change Surrounding the Development of Information Systems
Authors: Butler Tom , Fitzgerald Brian
Published: February 2011

While much is known about the general process of user participation in information systems development, its impact on matters of organisational change has not been the subject of systematic, in-depth investigation. In addition, researchers have typically adopted variance, rather than process-based approaches to the study of these related phenomena. This paper addresses these deficiencies and makes several important contributions to the literature. First, it presents the results of a comprehensive, process-based study of the relationship between user participation and organisational change in the development and implementation of information systems in a large organisation. Second, it presents a theoretical model which captures the institutional and development-related contexts that shape and influence the processes of user participation and management of change. Third, using the model as a framework to guide the research effort, this study illustrates that an organisation’s institutional context plays a dominant role in shaping and influencing the content and process of user participation and management of change in systems development. This particular finding has important implications for both research and practice. Finally, the model and its associated framework has been validated by the findings of this stud; it may, therefore, be used in future explorations of these important phenomena.
Influence of Computer Attitude and Self-Efficacy on IT Usage Behavior
Authors: Chau Patrick Y.
Published: February 2011

Based on an augmented Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this paper examines the influence of computer attitude and self-efficacy on IT usage behavior. Computer attitude and self-efficacy were explicitly incorporated in the research model as external variables affecting perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, the two key factors influencing the IT usage behavior in the original TAM. Data collected from 360 business students were tested against the model using LISREL. The results show that computer attitude has a significant, positive effect on perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Computer self-efficacy, on the other hand, has a relatively small, but negative, effect on perceived usefulness and no significant effect on perceived ease of use. The addition of computer attitude and self-efficacy into the TAM greatly improves the explanatory power of the model on the variance of perceived usefulness, which is again found to be a significant factor affecting the behavioral intention of using an IS/IT. Implications of the findings for research and practice are discussed.
A Study of Remote Workers and Their Differences from Non-Remote Workers
Authors: Staples D. Sandy
Published: February 2011

Information technology (IT) is enabling the creation of virtual organizations and remote work practices. As this practice of working remotely grows, so does the importance of making these remote end-users of technology effective members of organizations. This study tested a number of relationships that were suggested in the literature as being relevant in a remote work environment. Interpersonal trust of the employee in their manager was found to be strongly associated with higher self-perceptions of performance, higher job satisfaction and lower job stress. There was weak support for the impact of physical connectivity (i.e., the availability of IT) on job satisfaction, supporting the enabling role of IT. These findings were similar for both remote employees (i.e., those that worked in a different building than their managers) and non-remote employees. However, more frequent communications between the manager and employee was associated with higher levels of interpersonal trust only with the remote workers. Cognition-based trust was also found to be more important than affect-based trust in a remote work environment, suggesting that managers of remote employees should focus on activities that demonstrate competence, responsibility and professionalism.
The Effect of Attitudes, Goal Setting and Self-Efficacy on End User Performance
Authors: Jawahar I. M. , Elango B.
Published: February 2011

Research on the influence of attitudes toward computers and end user performance has reported inconsistent results. The inconsistent results, at least in part, could be attributed to the lack of correspondence between the general nature of the attitude measure and the specific nature of the criterion, end user performance. Based on Ajzen and Fishbein’s (1980) behavioral intentions model, we argue that attitudes toward working with computers matches end user performance in terms of specificity and relevance, and therefore should be consistently related to end user performance. In this study, in addition to attitudes toward working with computers, the effects of goal setting and self-efficacy on end user performance were also tested. Results indicate that attitudes toward working with computers, goal setting and self-efficacy significantly influence end user performance. Strong support for attitudes, goal setting and self-efficacy indicate that end user performance can be substantially enhanced by shaping end users’ attitudes toward working with computers, teaching end users to set specific and challenging goals, and enhancing end users’ beliefs to effectively learn and use computing technology.
Organizational and Implementation Issues of Patient Data Management Systems in an Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Mitev Nathalie , Kerkham Sharon
Published: February 2011

Since the National Health Service reforms were introduced, the NHS has moved towards a greater emphasis on accountability and efficiency of healthcare. These changes rely on the swift delivery of IT systems, implemented into the NHS because of the urgency to collect data to support these measures. This case study details the events surrounding the introduction of a patient data management system into an intensive care unit in a UK hospital. It shows that its implementation was complex and involved organisational issues related to the costing of healthcare, legal and purchasing requirements, systems integration, training and staff expertise, and relationships with suppliers. It is suggested that the NHS is providing an R&D environment which others are benefiting from. The NHS is supporting software development activities that are not recognised, and the true costs of this task are difficult to estimate. It is also argued that introducing PDMS crystallises many different expectations making them unmanageably complex. This could also be due to PDMS being a higher order innovation that attempts to integrate information systems products and services with the core business.
The Importance of User Ownership and Positive User Attitudes in the Successful Adoption of Community Information Systems
Authors: Coombs C. R. , Doherty N. F. , Loan-Clarke J.
Published: February 2011

The factors that influence the ultimate level of success or failure of systems development projects have received considerable attention in the academic literature. However, despite the existence of a ‘best practice’ literature many projects still fail. The record of the National Health Service has been particularly poor in this respect. The research reported in this paper proposes that two additional factors; user ownership and positive user attitudes warrant further development and investigation. The current study investigated these two factors in a homogenous organisational sector, Community NHS Trusts, using a common type of information system, in order to eliminate the potentially confounding influences of sector and system. A multiple case-study design incorporating five Community Healthcare Trusts was utilised. The key results from the analysis indicated that both user ownership and positive user attitudes were important mediating variables that were crucial to the success of a CIS. In addition, it was also identified that the adoption of best practice variables had a dual role, directly influencing the level of perceived success but also facilitating the development of user ownership and positive user attitudes. These results will be of particular interest to practising IM&T managers in the NHS and also to the wider academic research community.
Introducing Computer-Based Telemedicine in Three Rural Missouri Counties
Authors: Harris Kimberly D. , Donaldson Joseph F. , Campbell James D.
Published: February 2011

This study investigated predictors of utilization of the computer-based telemedicine in three rural Missouri counties. Participating health care agencies were given computers and access to an Internet-based workstation that provided e-mail and World Wide Web (WWW) services. Utilization data for e-mail messages sent and WWW pages accessed were collected through proxy servers. A survey was distributed to those employees who are enrolled in the Rural Telemedicine Evaluation Project (RTEP), which addressed perceptions of the Internet-based RTEP workstation. The results of the survey were analyzed to see how perceptions and demographic variables predicted actual utilization. The findings of the study revealed that for e-mail, behavioral intentions/attitude, age, organizational support, and time were the most significant predictors. For WWW, only the behavioral intentions/attitude subscale predicted utilization. The majority of respondents did not utilize the e-mail technology. Strategies need to be developed through training interventions and organizational policies to address non-utilization.
The Role of Trainer Behavior in End User Software Training
Authors: Compeau Deborah
Published: February 2011

Understanding the factors that differentiate effective from ineffective end user software training is an under-researched topic in MIS research. Only a few studies have investigated the characteristics of effective training, and the cognitive and social processes through which they influence learning. Of these, none has focused on the role of the trainer and his or her influence on training effectiveness. Thus, the purpose of this research is to identify the behaviors that characterize effective trainers, and examine these behaviors in the context of the learning process. Fifty-three items were identified through interviews with trainers as characterizing effective trainer behavior. These items were organized using card sorting and factor analysis. Six primary categories of behavior emerged: knowledge, communication, course design, sympathy, training techniques, and class management. The prototypicality of the behaviors was also assessed, through a survey of 68 trainers. The results of the study are useful in a number of ways. First, the study provides a basis for training feedback instruments that can be used in applied settings. Second, the results provide a foundation for including trainer behavior into existing training models in a more comprehensive fashion than has been undertaken to date.
Organizational Actions, Computer Attitudes, and End-User Satisfaction in Public Organizations
Authors: Aladwani Adel M.
Published: February 2011

This paper reports the results of a field study that investigated the relationship among organizational actions (management advocacy and internal computing support), computer attitudes, and end-user satisfaction in public organizations. The results show that computer attitudes have a positive direct influence on end-user satisfaction. The findings also reveal that management advocacy has positive direct effects on computer attitudes and end-users satisfaction. Internal computing support, however, failed to show a significant effect on neither computer attitudes nor end-user satisfaction. We discuss these results and suggest directions for practice and future research.
A Three-Tier Technology Training Strategy in a Dynamic Business Environment
Authors: Huang Albert
Published: February 2011

As end-user training becomes increasingly important in today’s technology-intensive business environment, progressive companies remain alert to find ways to provide their end users with timely training and resources. This paper describes an innovative training strategy adopted by one midsize organization to provide its end users with adequate, flexible, and responsive training. The paper then compares the three-tier strategy with other models described in technology training literature. Managers who supervise technology end users in organizations comparable to the one in the study may find the three-tier strategy workable and may want to use it in their own training programs to facilitate training and improve end-user skills. Researchers and scholars may find that the idea of three-tier training generates new opportunities for research.
A Study of Computer Attitudes of Non-Computing Students of Technical Colleges in Brunei Darussalam
Authors: Seyal Afzaal H. , Rahim Mahbubur M. , Rahman M. Noah
Published: February 2011

The study surveyed 268 non-computing students among three technical colleges in Brunei Darussalam. The study validated an existing instrument to measure computer attitudes of non-computing students, and identified factors that contributed to the formation of their attitudes. The findings show that computer experience and educational qualification are associated with students’ computer attitudes. In contrast, variables such as gender, age, ownership of a personal computer (PC), geographical location of institution, and prior computer training appeared to have no impact on computer attitudes.
User-Developed Applications
Authors: McGill Tanya J.
Published: February 2011

Organizations rely heavily on applications developed by end users, yet lack of experience and training may compromise the ability of end users to make objective judgments about the quality of their applications. This study investigated the ability of end users to assess the quality of applications they develop. The results confirm that there are differences between the system quality assessments of end user developers and independent expert assessors. In particular, the results of this study suggest that end users with little experience may erroneously consider the applications they develop to be of high quality. Some implications of these results are discussed.
Effectiveness of Systems Analysis and Design Education
Authors: Kohli Rajiv , Gupta Jatinder N.
Published: February 2011

This paper reports the results of an exploratory study of student perceptions of the education and experiences of the Systems Analysis and Design (SA&D) course taught in the IS programs at academic institutions. An ex-ante and post-hoc empirical study of student perceptions in the SA&D courses was conducted. These results indicate that after taking the SA&D course and working with a real-life project, students’ perceptions improved for the applicability of structured methodologies across industries, the importance of computer programming in systems analysis and design process, and the role of advanced technologies in SA&D. Respondents also perceived that when working as groups, SA&D team members did not do their fair share of the work. However, the importance of user involvement was recognized.
A Visual Code Inspection Approach to Reduce Spreadsheet Linking Errors
Authors: Morrison Mike , Morrison Joline , Melrose John , Wilson E. Vance
Published: February 2011

Spreadsheet programs are deceptively simple tools that are widely used by end-user developers in organizations. However, recent studies have shown that spreadsheets often contain significant, decision-affecting errors. One study that addressed “linking errors,” i.e., incorrect references to spreadsheet cell values on separate work areas, found these errors to be a major error source in complex spreadsheets that use distinct work areas spread across multiple worksheets. This paper describes a code inspection approach that visually represents the structure of a linked spreadsheet and graphically identifies linked cells and their sources. We tested this approach in an experimental study where subjects created a complex spreadsheet. Results indicate that subjects who used the approach made significantly fewer errors and experienced no decrease in speed of spreadsheet production or satisfaction with the production process.
An Analysis of IS Professional and End User Causal Attributions for User-System Outcomes
Authors: Karsten Rex
Published: February 2011

The working relationship of information systems (IS) professionals and end users is an ongoing source of both research and practical concern. This study employs Attribution Theory to examine the causal attributions IS professionals and end users make for successful and unsuccessful user-system outcomes¾end user attempts to use an information system to get the information needed to complete system-dependent, work-related tasks. Eighty-six IS professionals and 122 end users participated. The results show no differences in the nature of IS professional-end user attributions for successful outcomes, but very significant differences between them following unsuccessful outcomes. Post hoc analysis indicates that for unsuccessful user-system outcomes, the causal attributions of IS professionals and end users who are cross-functional team members are significantly less divergent than the causal attributions of those who are not. The implications of Attribution Theory for IS professional-end user interaction are discussed.
Some UK and USA Comparisons of Executive Information Systems in Practice and Theory
Authors: Xu Xianzhong M. , Lehaney Brian , Clarke Steve , Duan Yanqing
Published: February 2011

This study draws on relevant literature from Europe and the USA to show that there have been a number of reported failures of Executive Information Systems (EISs) in practice over the last decade. Design concerns, such as data access, ease of use, and graphical presentation, have been emphasised, but there is no consensus in the literature as to what may be critical to EIS success. The results of a survey of UK executives is used to suggest that the central focus of EIS design and implementation should be on the scanning of corporate external environmental information and the provision of meaningful strategic information.
Internetalization of End-Users
Authors: Aggarwal A. K.
Published: February 2011

Technology revolution, specifically the Internet, is creating unprecedented demands on end users (especially managers) to access information, to make decisions, and to take instant action. Information is changing by the minute and is at the users’ fingertips. Most information, be it local or global, is available on the Internet or company’s intranet. Skills needed for jobs are changing. Most jobs in the current century require skills that are very different from traditional decision-making skills. Managers will have to be technically savvy, diversity conscious, and globally competent.
The Impact of Computer Processor Speed on End-User Productivity
Authors: Wierschem David C. , Brodnax Thomas L.
Published: February 2011

With each new improvement the power, speed and capabilities of the computer have increased as has the demand for computing power Some managers have questioned the necessity of continuously upgrading computing technology when its efficient use is dictated more by the speed of the user than by the speed of the processor. These observations have led to the questioning of the value that continued processor speed upgrades add to end-user productivity. This paper identifies the impact that upgrades in processing speeds of personal computers have on end-user productivity. A controlled lab experiment was conducted to measure the impact that processor speed had on student output. Based on the results of the experiment, it was observed that end-user productivity (as measured by an increase in the amount of work completed) improved.
Learning through Planning
Authors: Sahraoui Sofiane
Published: February 2011

This study postulates that an empowered workforce can rally the organization to the objective of achieving IT planning effectiveness within the premises of a planning culture geared to empowerment. The planning culture is a powerful lever to empower knowledge workers and establish a learning environment conducive to planning effectiveness. A sample of 101 IT professionals was used to look at the indirect effects of the planning culture on IT planning effectiveness through the empowerment of knowledge workers. Strong support was garnered for the three hypotheses of the study, namely: (1) empowered knowledge workers make a significant impact on the quality of planning outcomes; (2) planning cultures empower knowledge workers; hence (3) improving the quality of planning through the motivational path of knowledge workers’ empowerment. Implications of the findings for organizational learning are discussed at the end.
Exploring the Effects of Hardware Performance, Application Design and Cognitive Demands on User Productivity and Perceptions
Authors: Sears Andrew , Jacko Julie A.
Published: February 2011

We report on an investigation of the effects of hardware performance, application design, and cognitive demands on user productivity and perceptions. This investigation focuses on clerical tasks typical of those activities that many lower level organization workers encounter. This was accomplished by engaging one hundred seventy-five representative participants in a field-based experiment. Participants worked one eight-hour shift and completed a variety of realistic tasks involving the creation and modification of documents using Microsoftâ Word, Excel, and PowerPointâ. Motivation was ensured through the use of a quantity/quality-based financial incentive. An analysis of both task-completion times and error rates revealed significant effects for cognitive demands, with more demanding tasks resulting in longer task completion times and higher error rates. The analysis also confirmed that under the right circumstances, providing individuals with a more powerful computing platform can lead to an increase in productivity. Participants also expressed a preference for more powerful computing platforms. Finally, the results provide strong support for the importance of navigational activities even when the users’ primary goal is not navigation. Implications for user training, task design, and future research are discussed.
Assessing Customer Perceptions of Website Service Quality in Digital Marketing Environments
Authors: Wang Yi-Shun , Tang Tzung-I
Published: February 2011

The e-commerce literature has rarely addressed the measurement of customer perceptions of website service quality in digital marketing environments. It is argued that the current SERVQUAL and IS-SERVQUAL instruments need to be refined and validated to fit the digital marketing environment, as they are targeted primarily towards either traditional retailing or information systems contexts. This article validates and refines a comprehensive model and instrument for measuring customer-perceived service quality of websites that market digital products and services. After a discussion of the conceptualization and operationalization of the service quality construct, the procedure used in modifying items, collecting data, and validating a multiple-item scale is described. Subsequently, evidence of reliability and validity on the basis of analyzing data from a quota sample of 260 adult respondents is presented. Implications for practice and research are then explored. Finally, this paper concludes by discussing limitations that could be addressed in future studies. The final EC-SERVQUAL instrument with good reliability and validity will be essential to the development and testing of e-business theories, and provide researchers with a common framework for explaining, justifying, and comparing differences across results.