bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Competency Management Information Systems
Authors: Urquiza Alfonso
Published: May 2011

One of the greatest surprises of the Internet economy is that far from replacing people, the use of advanced technology is confirming that talent is the most valuable asset in today’s organizations. In this context, competency management (CM) automation practices are becoming the most valuable approach within the e-HRM domain to manage this new business scenario, in which a very high percentage of the total workforce is comprised of knowledge workers (Nordstrom & Ridderstrale, 2000). The ability to effectively manage human capital investments becomes essential to ensure business success. Organizations gain real advantage by applying Internet technology to the measurement and management of its talent needs: the human capital of the organization. The evolution introduced by the e-business transformation (Hartman & Sifonis, 2000) in human resources management (HRM) practices, has meant a change from a pure functional, to a process-oriented approach in which all those activities associated with the management of employment and work relations are included (Boxal & Purcel, 2003). And technology innovation and new e-HRM strategies are affecting organizational effectiveness (Wang, 2005). Traditionally, organizations of any size or activity, used to focus primary attention in automating payroll and basic administrative functions. Other administrative- required functions (recruiting, training, etc.) where largely assumed and performed, in a non-automated way, thus creating large staff departmental units in these areas, often disconnected from the organization’s primary goals. IT implementations were not designed to manage knowledge assets; interest was driven to manage physical assets. Individual employees typically required functions such as tracking and processing personal information, as compensation, benefits, and so forth. Managers required HR to provide adequate information on topics as recruitment or training services.
Considering Call Center Developments in E-HRM
Authors: Carroll Wendy R.
Published: May 2011

Technology advances have dramatically affected the ways in which we manage and organize work. With new evolutions of technologically mediated systems, the development of electronic human resource management (e-HRM) practices becomes more accepted for many organizations. For example, on the one hand, organizations have been able to extend job searches to attract new employees from around the globe using the World Wide Web. This recruitment feature has provided matches of special skilled workers with employers and has lessened recruitment costs for other searches for less skilled positions by bringing potential candidates directly to the organization. On the other hand, HRIS technologies within operation structures such as call centers have been tightly integrated into e-HRM practices creating heavily defined performance management systems. The developments in the call center area specifically have resulted in an interesting convergence of HRIS and HR architectures to explore lessons learned and future directions in e-HRM. The purpose of this article is to first provide a background of the call center developments over the past 15 years in light of e-HRM. Specifically, a focus on the technological advancements in call center operations will be overlaid with the developments of e-HRM practices to reveal the ways in which both are integrated and implemented to create an end-to-end process. The second focus of this article is on the development of performance management HR practices such as electronic performance monitoring (EPM), e-coaching, and e-learning using HRIS integrations. Although in many ways this integrated e-HRM model has improved organization performance and effectiveness, there have also been other implications resulting in negative affects on performance outcomes such as turnover, job satisfaction, and customer satisfaction. So finally, this article will draw out the lessons learned from the call center model and e-HRM with a focus on the balance between human resource management practices and operational structural design.
Employees and Corporate Social Performance
Authors: Arora Punit
Published: May 2011

Over 30 years of research on the relationship between corporate social performance (CSP) and financial performance (FP) has yielded no conclusive results. Researchers have tried to legitimize (or discredit) social performance on the basis of its surmised impact on corporate profitability. However, the empirical evidence on the topic has been as divisive as the theoretical propositioning. By reviewing the theory and evidence on the topic, this article puts forth four intertwined propositions that could be confounding these results: failure to consider the impact of corporate governance, lumping together all sorts of expenditures under the rubric of social performance, failure to consider the stakeholder relationships, and above all, not accounting for the past reputation and stakeholder influence capacity of the firm. In particular, we contend that it is the employment relations that run like a common thread among these factors and hold the key to the dynamics of CSP-FP link.
An Employer-Employee Relationship Perspective on Rewards, Challenges,and Systems
Authors: Ostermann Herwig , Staudinger Bettina , Thoeni Magdalena , Staudinger Roland
Published: May 2011

Beginning with the upsurge of the industrial revolution and the subsequent implementation of labor division practices in most production processes in the 19th century, the question of employee rewarding within the framework of industrial value added has been widely discussed. The resulting controversy of appropriate pay was first put forward on a political level, whereby the predominant liberal approaches could be characterized by the principle that labor had to be first and foremost regarded as a commodity being subject to the free market so that labor offer and demand would determine wages and salaries (Berger, 1998; Birnbaum, 2001).
Human Resources Information Systems Role in Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) Compliance
Authors: Ready Kathryn J. , Novicevic Milorad , Evans Monica
Published: May 2011

Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) has become a new indispensable standard operating procedure for public companies competing in the business world of the 21st century. The SOX compliance is crucial for capital market stakeholders that want to ensure transparent insights into the companies’ business operations and financials following the revelation of significant fraud in financial reporting by Enron, HealthSouth, WorldCom, and Global Crossing. From the onset the demands of SOX compliance have resulted in increased responsibilities from companies’ finance and accounting departments. For more effective compliance and monitoring, the human resource (HR) and information technology (IT) departments need to be more strategically involved (Deloitte & Touche, 2003). One tool that may ease the companies’ burden of SOX compliance is the human resource information system (HRIS), provided its role is expanded beyond the traditional scope of ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)m compliance and supporting payroll systems (Fletcher, 2005).
Influence of Job Relevance, Output Quality, Task Technology Fit, and Privacy Concerns on Human Resources Information Systems Usage
Authors: Deakins Eric
Published: May 2011

Since the late 1990s, human resources information systems (HRIS) that exploit inexpensive browser technology have been implemented by companies and public sector organizations alike due to the perceived benefits of such self-service systems, which include: added convenience for employees, simplified approval processes, reduced administration costs, and more time for strategic human resources management (HRM) activities (e.g., Zampetti and Adamson, 2001). Yet despite their growing pervasiveness, it is common that the e-HRM is underused by employees in many organizations (Gevity, 2005). The purpose of this article is to offer insights that will help system developers and human resources managers to design and introduce user-accepted e-HRM systems. The remainder of this article is organized as follows: Following a review of information technology usage behavior, an augmented technology acceptance model suitable for studying e-HRM use is proposed. An empirical study of e-HRM user behavior is then presented and the findings discussed. The article concludes with future trends, implications for academics and practitioners, and study limitations.
Knowledge Facilitator vs. Knowledge Dictator in Today's Organizations
Authors: Wang Viktor
Published: May 2011

With the wide use of computer technology nowadays, organizational management in recent times appears to be more complex than it ever was. Electronic human resources management (e-HRM) has become a popular term in today’s organizations. Does this mean knowledge facilitator is better than a knowledge dictator or vice versa? The author of this article puts forward an indispensable dichotomy to discuss the interdependence and relationship of a knowledge facilitator and a knowledge dictator in order to determine effective training or management for human resources development (HRD) and human resources management practitioners in today’s organizations. Numerous studies (e.g., Grow, 1991; Jarvis, 2002a; Knowles, Holton, & Swanson, 1998, 2005; Rogers, 1951, 1961, 1969) have postulated that the knowledge facilitator is superior to the knowledge dictator in Western literature in that a knowledge facilitator is germane to learning whereas a knowledge dictator may well stifle learning in today’s organizations. Because Rogers (1961) defines growth not as a process of “being shaped,” but as a process of becoming, he maintains that we cannot teach another person directly, we can only facilitate the other person’s learning. After many years of providing corporate training in different organizations, Knowles, Holton, and Swanson (1998, 2005) replaced getting rewards for controlling students with getting rewards for releasing students. The latter rewards are much more satisfying because knowledge facilitators have positive assumptions about human learning whereas knowledge dictators have negative assumptions about human learning. However, in some other cultures such as in China, South Korea, Japan, or Singapore, scholars and practitioners may prove otherwise (Biggs, 1996). This may be due to the fact that the major determinant of the subservient role expected of a learner in collectivist Eastern cultures is the traditional hierarchical relationship between students and instructors (Hampden-Turner & Trompenaars, 2000); students expect their instructors to be unchallengeable figures (Wang, 2007). The issue of knowledge facilitator vs. knowledge dictator seems to be a perennial topic for scholars and researchers in all cultures. The open relationship between students and instructors in individualist Western cultures (Hampden-Turner & Trompenaars, 2000) encourages students to take charge of learning; scholars and practitioners in the West do not seem to agree with their counterparts in oriental cultures. Likewise, scholars and practitioners in the Eastern Hemisphere do not seem to buy into Western thinking on the premise that knowledge facilitator necessarily leads to effective learning (Wang, 2007). On the basis of this dichotomy, little agreement has been reached regarding whether a knowledge facilitator or a knowledge dictator is more needed in today’s organizations. Because of this dichotomy, subsequent research has been sparked to determine which side of the coin is conducive to learning.
Redefining the Concept of HRIS
Authors: Bocatto Evandro , Pérez-de-Toledo Eloísa
Published: May 2011

A concept is a logical construction that is established in accordance with a framework and is part of it (Ferrari, 1977). According to this definition, a concept is unchangeable within the framework it belongs to and is part of. The concept of gravity is unchangeable within Newtonian physics. However, when treated by Einstein’s relativity it is quite different. In the natural sciences, the frontiers of frameworks can be clearly and easily defined with axioms. In the social sciences, however, axioms are unlikely (Perelman, 1982), so the definitions of concepts are more flexible than one can assure. In the social sciences, social constructed frameworks generally evolve, so the concepts of which they are made up must also evolve. The human resource information system (henceforth HRIS) is a good example of a technological tool that evolves over time. Its definition evolves not only as technology evolves but also as the perception of its impact changes. In fact, the comprehension of HRIS as a concept can go from the naïve understanding (e.g., software applied to human resource management) to its broad conceptualization “in relation to” the greater organizational system and dynamics. Although the literature suggests that HRIS practices can influence organizational performance, such causal conclusion is still problematic. This article describes a study that focuses on both issues. It aims to deepen the comprehension of how information systems are, in general, used as a constituent tool of a greater phenomenon: namely, organizational change and development. Consequently, it aims to redefine the main concepts in this field.
Relations between Knowledge Acquisition Forms and Sources of Power in Organization
Authors: Leray Yvan
Published: May 2011

At the hour when the economic activities leaned with technology (e.g., the Internet) give some signs of maturity, the field of the economy of knowledge does not appear any more to rise out of the possible, but more out of the probable. Vis-a-vis the appearance of new strategic trades for the companies, an evolution of the trades related to technology Internet is done day. Thus, the references of awaited competences, although in adaptation to the changes of the occupied trades, make it possible today to identify the broad outline of the knowledge related to the employment occupied by the “net-workers” and “knowledge workers”(Bouchez, 2004). When we are interested by the individuals and collectives behaviors in companies, we are surprised by the new practices of knowledge’s acquisition, at the point to note an impact on the concept of power and to consider another reading between knowledge and power.
Risks, Gaps, and Global Issues of Project Management
Authors: Wang John , Yan Ruiliang , Zhang Yanli
Published: May 2011

Project management is the discipline of defining and achieving targets while optimizing (or just allocating) the use of resources, that is, time, money, people, materials, energy, space, and so forth, over the course of a project (a set of activities of finite duration). In contrast to ongoing, functional work, a project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to achieve or create a unique product or service(s). The project management knowledge and practices are best described as component processes of initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing. We have taken a closer look at project management by reviewing the types of methodologies and tools that exist in business today. We observed the major existing risk factors facing project management practices. We also evaluated the unique issues in delivering projects brought about by globalization. As we were extracting the information, it became apparent that there should be measures taken related to the project management process that could alleviate some of the major risk factors in some way. Our article illustrates a solution idea for the project management process, which may close the issue gap with regard to many globalization issues and other identified risks. The idea is to include a sub process for project management as it applies to the project life cycle that would benefit an organization internally for a parent organization, and also externally for their clients’ benefit.
Agent-Facilitated Virtual Marketplace for Airline Ticketing
Authors: Guan Sheng-Uei
Published: May 2011

With the ever-increasing amount of available online resources in general, information overload has become a very real problem. One possible solution is the application of software agents in e- or m-commerce. Intelligent agents are already on the Web, freeing us from some of the drudgework of searching and automatically keeping us up to date. There are now many examples of software agents currently available on the Web. Shopping agents like BargainBot, Excite’s Jango and Andersen Consulting’s BargainFinder are just a few. However, they have their shortcomings, such as lack of purchasing capability and limited range of product selection. Furthermore, the current Web front end to an online storefront is not conducive to autonomous browsing by search agents. The objective of this article is to present a virtual marketplace prototype whereby producers and consumers can meet and conduct e-commerce in cyberspace with the help of software agents.
Analysis, Valuation, and Disclosure of Intangible Value
Authors: Canadas Natalia
Published: May 2011

The “information gap” between the data provided by the traditional corporate reporting, with its focus on tangible assets, and the information used to determine corporate value, has long been recognized. The missing information is about the nucleus of the modern corporate capitalization and the substantial foundation of modern corporation: the intangible items, the intangible value and the earnings-capacity of the firm.
Collaboration Based on Web Services
Authors: Bruno Giorgio , La Rosa Marcello
Published: May 2011

Web services are software components designed to support interoperable machine-to-machine interactions over a network, through the exchange of SOAP messages. Since the underlying technology is independent of any specific programming language, Web services can be effectively used to interconnect business processes across different organizations. However, a standard way of representing such interconnections has not yet emerged and is the subject of an ongoing debate. In this area, the term collaboration has often been used to denote a situation in which two or more business processes (participants) cooperate by means of Web services, so as to achieve a common goal. In particular, when only two participants are involved, the more specific term binary collaboration is preferred, while when there are three or more, the term multiparty collaboration can be used instead. The notion of binary collaboration is fundamental, as any multi-party collaboration ultimately relies on a number of binary collaborations.
Concepts, Issues, and Challenges of Virtual Universities
Authors: Inoue Yukiko
Published: May 2011

Although the phrase “virtual learning environment” (VLE) is commonly used, there are others that point to similar concepts of distance learning (DL), such as telematics learning environments, distributed learning environments, and e-learning; VLEs are online domains allowing both synchronous and asynchronous collaborative interactions among teachers and learners (Barajas, 2002). Briefly, DL and VLE are the mechanism and maintenance of virtual universities (VUs). The Internet-based VLE will gain increasing importance in the future for academic education as well as for lifelong continuing adult education (Hutten, Stiegmaier, & Rauchegger, 2005).
Conversational Pragmatics and Learning in Virtual Organizations
Authors: Luppicini Rocci
Published: May 2011

There is growing recognition of the important role conversational quality has in online learning, particularly within virtual organizations. Discerning the quality of online conversations poses a serious challenge for online designers and researchers. The purpose of this article is threefold, namely to: (1) provide an overview of conversation theory and conversational pragmatics, (2) identify a taxonomy of conversations and key conversational competencies for online learning conversations within virtual organizations, and (3) offer practical guidelines for evaluating online learning conversations within virtual organizations using conversational pragmatics. This article is based on prior work supporting that a disciplined approach to conversation can offer virtual organizations a tool for gauging online learning communities. It should be useful to those who study, develop, evaluate and moderate online communities for e-learning, e-business, e-government and other related domains.
A Quantum Real-Time Metric for NVOs
Authors: Lawless W.F. , Howard C.R. , Kriegel Nicole N.
Published: May 2011

Networked and virtual organizations (NVO’s) represent a new organizational paradigm, but no effective management solution exists. NVOs are supposed to be dynamically reconfigurable and more effective to manage than traditional organizations, even though the roles embedded within their structures disappear when a project is done. No matter how short-lived, a key opportunity afforded by an NVO is to extract its performance data for better control and also to measure its cultural and technological integration. To capture the essence of such a metric, we review traditional organizations. Whether a real or virtual organization, the central problem remains the lack of a theory of dynamic interdependence generated by social situations as when forming a dyad between two humans alters the cognitions and actions of both. Introduced to solve this central problem, the quantum mathematical model of dynamic social interdependence has recently gained credibility in the field and from a pilot study in the laboratory. Our ultimate aim is to develop a real-time metric to control and optimize NVO performance.
Reconfiguration of Communities in Cyberspace
Authors: Park  , SungBok
Published: May 2011

Since the emergence of new forms of communities in cyberspace, many scholars have attempted to define the nature of those communities—online, cyber, and virtual. Within the social sciences, online, cyber, and virtual communities are used interchangeably as new forms of community in cyberspace. Due to the lack of agreement on the definition of those terms, many studies fail to explain their unique nature (or characteristics).
Reviewing the Actor-Network Theory
Authors: Figueiredo Jose
Published: May 2011

Actor-network theory (ANT) is usually intended as a powerful conceptual tool to study, analyse, describe and explain socio-technical systems. These systems are built up by the interactions between humans, technology, social entities and organizations. These heterogeneous actors in dynamic interaction built networks of interaction, negotiation. ANT emanated from the science and technology studies (STS) field and is considered to be in the broad domain of social networks. Michel Callon and Bruno Latour, STS academics of the École Supérieure des Mines de Paris, are their uncontested continental parents. We can report John Law, in Lancaster University, as the leading British key proponent of ANT from the very beginning. Lancaster University provides a lot of papers’ references and sources on ANT in their site (see references).
Secure Collaborative Learning Practices and Mobile Technology
Authors: Isomäki Hannakaisa , Päykkönen Kirsi , Räisänen Hanna
Published: May 2011

During the past few years, mobile technologies have become common in everyday life. Almost everyone carry some kind of mobile technological equipment with him or her, for example a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a multimedia player, such as an iPod, or a laptop computer. The use of these equipments is not limited only to workplaces, schools or homes. Particularly useful information and communication technologies (ICTs) are in educational settings. Especially wireless networks and laptop computers may promote many useful practices of collaborative learning (Cutshall, Changchit, & Elwood, 2006; Jones, Holmfeld, & Lindström, 2006).
Software Agents and Contracts
Authors: Andrade Francisco , Novais Paulo , Neves Jose
Published: May 2011

In the current economical context, characterized by the existence of a global society, the access to information is crucial for any economical and social development; yet, important technological challenges still remain. The representation, maintenance, and querying of information is a central part of this problem. How can we obtain the adequate information at the adequate time? How can we supply the correct items for the correct people at the correct time? How and where can we get the relevant information for a good decision-making? The organizations focus their competences in strategical areas and have recourse to external supplies, cooperating with sporadic partners, with the objective of reducing costs, risks, and technological faults or maximizing benefits and business opportunities. One of the most radical and spectacular changes is the information dematerialization, the procedure automation, the recourse to decision support systems or intelligent systems, and to new forms of celebrating contracts (e.g., is it possible to practice commercial acts and celebrate deals using autonomous and pro-active computational agents?). The virtual organizations face new challenges and there must be a search for new answers to old questions. The negotiation processes through electronic means and the e-commerce platforms may set new forms of contracts, with engagements and negotiations among virtual entities.
Spatial Autocorrelation and Association Measures
Authors: Negreiros J. , Painho M. , Lopes I. , Costa A.C.
Published: May 2011

Several classical statements relating to the definition of GIS can be found in specialized literature such as the GIS International Journal, expressing the idea that spatial analysis can somehow be useful. GIS is successful not only because it integrates data, but it also enables us to share data in different departments or segments of our organizations. I like this notion of putting the world’s pieces back together again (ArcNews, 2000). “GIS is simultaneously the telescope, the microscope, the computer and the Xerox machine of regional analysis and the synthesis of spatial data” (Abler, 1988). “GIS is a system of hardware, software and liveware implemented with the aim of storing, processing, visualizing and analyzing data of a spatial nature. Other definitions are also possible” (Painho, 1999). “GIS is a tool for revealing what is otherwise invisible in geographical information” (Longley, Goodchild, Maguire, & Rhind, 2001). Certainly, GIS is not a graphic database.
A Structure Analysis of Keiretsu of Toyota
Authors: Ito Takao , Passerini Katia , Sakamoto Makoto
Published: May 2011

The keiretsu, a system of organizations with integrated and interlocking business relationships and joint shareholdings, is a form of networked organization. As an affiliation of enterprises, the keiretsu plays an important role in the growth of automotive manufacturing in Japan. For example, Asanuma and Kikutani (1997) conducted an empirical study of supply chain relationships in the automotive parts industry and electric machine manufacturing and found the longstanding transactional relationships among the keiretsu as a crucial factor for acquiring economic rationality. From a managerial standpoint, Imai and Kaneko (1988) pointed out that organizational structures evolved from the traditional vertical hierarchy to modern horizontal structures through the support and development of information technology in the keiretsu. They also predicted that the “network organization” form will be a most important type of enterprise in the future. According to Lincoln and Gerlach (2004), “the most distinctive form of network organization in Japan—and the most critical to understanding its economy—is the clusters of industrial, commercial, and financial corporations known as the keiretsu ”(p. 15).
Tourism Networks and Clusters
Authors: Braun Patrice
Published: May 2011

The push towards networked information and communication technologies (ICT), combined with increased customer expectations, has put extraordinary pressure on the information-centric and service-based tourism industry to include the Internet as a major new marketing channel. To date, most research into the implications of the Internet, especially for small tourism firms, has revealed many individual business barriers in relation to ICT adoption. There is widespread consensus that industry preparedness in terms of ICT and e-business skills and training falls well short of the requirements to operate within a now ICT-driven sector (Braun, 2004; Hollick, 2003). As Evans et al. (2001) have noted, small tourism firms may well remain lost in the electronic marketplace unless they are assisted in the usage of ICT tools and acquire the skills needed to participate in the digital economy. With technological change underpinning a global economy, small tourism firms can take advantage of their geographic concentration to form a virtual tourism network or cluster to develop competitive advantage for tourism their destination. In the context of emerging technologies and related e-business models, this article discusses the role of virtual tourism networks, clustering and value chains for small tourism operators in freely assembled destinations. In discussing destination benefits and barriers surrounding SME clustering and networking, business acumen and business performance are highlighted. It is proposed in this article that successful destination clusters can be created by boosting tourism operator performance, and matching skills and infrastructure with visitor expectations.
Web-Based English Writing Courses for Graduate Students
Authors: Liou Hsien-Chin , Kuo Chih-Hua , Chang Jason S. , Chen Hao-Jan , Chang Ching-Fen
Published: May 2011

As globalization and rapid development of science and technology has brought huge impact on today’s world, it is important for non-English speaking countries such as Taiwan, Republic of China, to actively participate in the international community through communication in the international language, English. In higher education, dissemination of research achievements through publication of international journals has been a common degree requirement, the practice in public researchoriented universities being the noticeable example. However, graduate students who have such needs are often unprepared to demonstrate acceptable academic writing abilities in English. To facilitate effective access to research information and to promote national academic excellence through international publications, it is essential to promote writing instruction of English for Academic Purposes (EAP). Meanwhile, Web-based environments provide a viable choice of delivery of EAP courses and the computer-mediated communication tools help formation of the student body as virtual organizations as they learn with one another.
Pattern Based Video Coding
Authors: Paul Manoranjan , Murshed Manzur
Published: May 2011

People’s demands are escalating with technology advances. Now, people are not happy with only text or voice messages, they like to see video as well. Video transmission through limited bandwidth, for example, an existing telephone line, requires an efficient video coding technique. Unfortunately, existing video coding standards have some limitations due to this demand. Recently, a pattern-based video coding technique has established its potentiality to improve the coding compared to the recent standard H.264 in the range of low bit rates. This chapter describes this technique with its background, features, recent developments, and future trends.
Digital Watermarking for Digital Rights Management
Authors: Ahmed Farid , Gomes Cecilia
Published: May 2011

With the remarkable growth of Internet and multimedia applications, production and distribution of digital media has become exceedingly easy and affordable. Applications such as distance education, e-commerce, telemedicine, digital library, and live audio/video broadcast activities require distribution and sharing of digital multimedia contents. Consequently, maintaining the quality of service of the applications and the rights of the content owner as well as enforcing a viable business model among the producer, consumer, and distributor of digital contents has become an increasingly challenging task, leading to a contentious area called digital rights management (DRM). This chapter presents how digital watermarking (DWM) technology can addresses part of this DRM problem of secure distribution of digital contents.
Trends and Prospects of Telemedicine
Authors: Razibul Islam A. H.M. , Begum Rashida , Shawkat Ali A. B.M.
Published: May 2011

Recent development in telecommunication and information technologies came up with several technology options for telemedicine applications in hospitals and for medics for quality healthcare to patients. The research trends therefore need to be addressed for the proper deployment of technologies in a clinical setting or in a telemedicine environment with the adaptive compromise of technology and suitability. In this chapter, along with a description of the research trends and system design issues concerned with telemedicine, a mobile telemedicine system architecture and design have been proposed. Other current telemedicine technology options and prospects and challenges of future research in this emerging area are also described to indicate the possible future research challenges. Research in telemedicine is a future to provide improved and quality access to the healthcare professionals and patients. Therefore, developing telemedicine systems with state-of-the-art technologies is of paramount importance and hence, this chapter would link up an important step in system analysis and design perspective to this evolving research arena.
The Evolution of License Content
Authors: Davis Trisha L. , Feather Celeste
Published: May 2011

The terms of licenses for electronic resources have changed in the past decade as librarians and publishers strived to reach common ground. A review and analysis of thirty-five licenses in effect prior to 2000 and their 2006 counterparts reveals how licenses evolved to meet the licensing principles set forth in recent years by the American Association of Law Libraries, the International Federation of Library Associations, and the NorthEast Research Libraries. Thirteen aspects of licenses were analyzed in the study. Eight aspects have evolved in the spirit of the principles, and four have not. The remaining aspect has not evolved as part of a license, but has emerged as a preferred business practice outside the license agreement that is in keeping with the practice the licensing principles encourage. The results of the analysis indicate that efforts in the library community to encourage the development of licenses that meet the needs of most libraries are having a positive impact.
The Future of Electronic Resource Management Systems
Authors: Fons Ted
Published: May 2011

The core functional requirements for electronic resource management systems have been identified and implemented in varying depths by commercial and library system developers. As use of these systems increases, novel needs have been revealed. These new needs reside on both sides of the end-user spectrum. Library staff have a need to analyze their electronic collections for comprehensiveness, title overlap, cost-per-use, usage distribution within journal packages and other collection analysis functions. They also have the need to automate administrative tasks like IP registration, incident reporting, activation, renewal, sample license review, and license exchange. Library patrons and public services staff have a need to understand the full range of permissions and restrictions for electronic resource use at the local and consortial levels. They also have the need to be alerted when electronic resources have been upgraded, enhanced or when system outages are planned or are on going. Those needs are manifest at all levels of access: the discovery services platform, online public access catalog, the link resolver, the metasearch environment, A-Z list, and so forth. Since the electronic resource management system already stores permitted and restricted uses, it is the ideal source for that data at all levels of patron access. As electronic resource management systems evolve, the functional requirements should evolve to describe the library’s needs for a system that acts as a collection development and analysis tool and as the source for critical access and license data for patrons wherever they access the library’s electronic resources and to support the requirements of libraries in a consortial arrangement.
Gains and Losses in the Rhetoric of Virtual Workplaces
Authors: Brewer Pamela Estes
Published: May 2011

Virtual workplaces are constructed of people using technology to work at a distance, with the goal of transferring knowledge (both explicit and implicit) toward specific purposes. What are the communication gains and losses most experienced in virtual workplaces? Using an economic frame, this chapter seeks to review literature on virtual workplaces from across professional fields in order to suggest methods for maximizing communication utility and minimizing losses in virtual workplaces. With rhetoric as the primary unit of exchange, what steps can be taken to ensure its effectiveness? Current research points to planning, face-to-face opportunities, mixed media, boundaries, and meta-communication as most important as well as the ability to adapt them to the characteristics of virtual workplaces.
Adoption of Wi-Fi Technologies and Creation of Virtual Workplaces
Authors: Wei Ran
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces adoption theory and applies it to examine the use of wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), which has the potential to expand virtual workplaces significantly. Research shows that the use of Wi-Fi to access the Internet is surprisingly low. As understanding users and their needs is a prerequisite for the success of any new information technology, this chapter identifies factors accounting for the low usage of Wi-Fi in organizations and seeks to build a model to increase Wi-Fi usage. Empirical research reported in this chapter shows that motivations of Wi-Fi use, mass media use, and technology cluster have impacted on the awareness of, interest in, and likelihood to use Wi-Fi. More important, a chain-effect process in the adoption of Wi-Fi was presented: the awareness of Wi-Fi, which was influenced mostly by reading newspapers, had a direct effect on interest in Wi-Fi, which directly affected the likelihood to use Wi-Fi. Thus, to increase Wi-Fi usage, the awareness of and interest in this newer Internet technology must be in place. The chapter also discusses future trends in Wi-Fi technology and how increased adoption of Wi-Fi enhances the virtual workplace.
Design and Managing of Distributed Virtual Organizations
Authors: Liberati Diego
Published: May 2011

A framework is proposed that creates, uses, communicates, and distributes information whose organizational dynamics allow it to perform a distributed cooperative enterprise in public environments even over open source systems. The approach assumes Web services as the enacting paradigm, possibly over a grid, to formalize interaction as cooperative services on various computational nodes of a network. A framework is thus proposed that defines the responsibility of e-nodes in offering services and the set of rules under which each service can be accessed by e-nodes through service invocation. By discussing a case study, the chapter will detail how specific classes of interactions can be mapped into a serviceoriented model whose implementation will be carried out in a prototypical public environment.
A Computer-Based Reading Tutor for Young Language Learners
Authors: Reeder Kenneth , Shapiro Jon , Early Margaret , Kendrick Maureen , Wakefield Jane
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes the first year of research on the effectiveness of automated speech recognition (ASR) for ESL learners in the early school years. The aim was to learn how such technology can enhance literacy learning as an element of L2 development, using prototype research software entitled the Reading Tutor (RT). In addition to assessing learners’ gains in reading scores, the attitudinal dimension of speech recognition technology was investigated in an effort to explain the effectiveness of the software. We found that both heritage language (L1) and level of English proficiency were linked to students’ reading gains with the RT. Further, the RT was shown to be equally effective to a more time-intensive volunteer tutoring program. A positive affective impact of the RT was demonstrated in the interview data but not in two widely used attitudinal scales. An Appendix describes the technical implementation of the project.
CMC for Language Acquisition
Authors: Ahern Terence C.
Published: May 2011

Authentic experiences encourage the student to cognitively engage the content by actively trying to make sense and to integrate the experience. This chapter describes a range of currently available and emerging mediated communication technologies for supporting both didactic and constructivist approaches to language acquisition. Even though CMC has several unique characteristics that make it suitable for designing authentic instructional experiences but as the research indicates, using CMC effectively requires careful consideration of the intended discourse goals. Through collaborative discourse, student and teacher engage the content and incorporate it into their cognitive repertoire. These activities are discursive in nature, writing, verbal interaction, and presentation. Consequently, this chapter discusses how to effectively choose the CMC software most effective for epistemic engagement.
A Task-Based Design for Integrating E-Mail with FL Pedagogy
Authors: Johnston Shannon
Published: May 2011

A task-based approach to e-mail provides a sound pedagogical orientation for real language interactions between learners and native speakers. The literature suggests that e-mail-oriented tasks are important for successful e-mail experiences (e.g., as evidenced in Kung, 2002; Müller-Hartmann, 2000) and demands a greater pedagogical role for e-mail (e.g., Marcus, 1995; O’Dowd, 2004; Warschauer, 1995). Nunan’s concept of task-based teaching (2004) appropriately links e-mail and pedagogy. This chapter presents a discussion of e-mail tasks within the Nunan task-based framework, and follows it with evidence from a study of tasks in senior secondary Indonesian as a FL classes in Queensland, Australia. With this proposal, the author hopes to inform teachers, and stimulate research of task-based e-mail as a pedagogically rigorous teaching method. The impacts of context and a teacher’s personal theories on outcomes are areas requiring further research attention.
Technology in Support of Self-Access Pedagogy
Authors: Reinders Hayo , Lázaro Noemí
Published: May 2011

This chapter discusses the results of a study into the use of technology in the specific pedagogical setting of self-access centers. As part of the study, 46 self-access centers in six countries were visited and an evaluative framework was applied to each of them in order to be able to compare the types of support offered by the centers with the help of technology and the range of tools used by them to deliver that support. It was found that the use of technology was limited, especially for the provision of learning support, as opposed to the more common provision of language learning content.
Higher Order Neural Networks for Stock Index Modeling
Authors: Chen Yuehui , Wu Peng , Wu Qiang
Published: May 2011

Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) have become very important in making stock market predictions. Much research on the applications of ANNs has proven their advantages over statistical and other methods. In order to identify the main benefits and limitations of previous methods in ANNs applications, a comparative analysis of selected applications is conducted. It can be concluded from analysis that ANNs and HONNs are most implemented in forecasting stock prices and stock modeling. The aim of this chapter is to study higher order artificial neural networks for stock index modeling problems. New network architectures and their corresponding training algorithms are discussed. These structures demonstrate their processing capabilities over traditional ANNs architectures with a reduction in the number of processing elements. In this chapter, the performance of classical neural networks and higher order neural networks for stock index forecasting is evaluated. We will highlight a novel slide-window method for data forecasting. With each slide of the observed data, the model can adjusts the variable dynamically. Simulation results show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Generalized Correlation Higher Order Neural Networks for Financial Time Series Prediction
Authors: Selviah David R. , Shawash Janti
Published: May 2011

Generalized correlation higher order neural network designs are developed. Their performance is compared with that of first order networks, conventional higher order neural network designs, and higher order linear regression networks for financial time series prediction. The correlation higher order neural network design is shown to give the highest accuracy for prediction of stock market share prices and share indices. The simulations compare the performance for three different training algorithms, stationary versus non-stationary input data, different numbers of neurons in the hidden layer and several generalized correlation higher order neural network designs. Generalized correlation higher order linear regression networks are also introduced and two designs are shown by simulation to give good correct direction prediction and higher prediction accuracies, particularly for long-term predictions, than other linear regression networks for the prediction of inter-bank lending risk Libor and Swap interest rate yield curves. The simulations compare the performance for different input data sample lag lengths.
Modelling and Trading the Soybean-Oil Crush Spread with Recurrent and Higher Order Networks
Authors: Dunis Christian L. , Laws Jason , Evans Ben
Published: May 2011

This chapter investigates the soybean-oil “crush” spread, that is the profit margin gained by processing soybeans into soyoil. Soybeans form a large proportion (over 1/5th) of the agricultural output of US farmers and the profit margins gained will therefore have a wide impact on the US economy in general. The chapter uses a number of techniques to forecast and trade the soybean crush spread. A traditional regression analysis is used as a benchmark against more sophisticated models such as a MultiLayer Perceptron (MLP), Recurrent Neural Networks and Higher Order Neural Networks. These are then used to trade the spread, the implementation of a number of filtering techniques as used in the literature are utilised to further refine the trading statistics of the models. The results show that the best model before transactions costs both in- and out-of-sample is the Recurrent Network generating a superior risk adjusted return to all other models investigated. However in the case of most of the models investigated the cost of trading the spread all but eliminates any profit potential.
Trigonometric Polynomial Higher Order Neural Network Group Models and Weighted Kernel Models for Financial Data Simulation and Prediction
Authors: Zhang Lei , Simoff Simeon J. , Zhang Jing Chun
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces trigonometric polynomial higher order neural network models. In the area of financial data simulation and prediction, there is no single neural network model that could handle the wide variety of data and perform well in the real world. A way of solving this difficulty is to develop a number of new models, with different algorithms. A wider variety of models would give financial operators more chances to find a suitable model when they process their data. That was the major motivation for this chapter. The theoretical principles of these improved models are presented and demonstrated and experiments are conducted by using real-life financial data.