bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integration of Business Event and Rule Management With the Web Services Model
Authors: Nagarajan Karthik , Lam Herman , Su Stanley Y.W.
Published: May 2011

Web services technology is emerging as a promising infrastructure to support loosely coupled, Internet-based applications that are distributed, heterogeneous and dynamic. It provides a standards-based, process-centric framework for achieving the sharing of distributed heterogeneous applications. While Web services technology provides a promising foundation for developing distributed applications for e-business, additional features are required to make this paradigm truly useful in the real world. In particular, interactions among business organizations need to follow the policies, regulations, security and other business rules of the organizations. An effective way to control, restrict and enforce business rules in the use of Web services is to integrate business event and rule management concepts and techniques into the Web services model. In this paper, we focus on incorporating the business event and rule-management concepts into the Web services model at the service provider side. Based on a code-generation approach, we have developed techniques and implemented tools to generate Web service “wrappers” and other objects required to integrate an Event-Trigger-Rule (ETR) technology with the Web services technology.
Web Accessibility for Users with Disabilities
Authors: Dudley Alfreda , Lazar Jonathan
Published: May 2011

When designing information systems, it is important to consider the needs of users with disabilities, including those with visual impairment, hearing impairment, or color-blindness. This is especially important for designing Websites. It takes time and money to create or redesign Websites for easy access for users with disabilities. This is also known as Web accessibility. This chapter will discuss the ethical implications involved with Web accessibility. An ethical analysis of Web accessibility will be performed using a partial combination of two structured analysis approaches. It is the position of the authors of this chapter that Website development should consider accessibility for users with sensory and motor disabilities as an ethical requirement.
MAMA on the Web
Authors: Schuldt Barbara A.
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces ethical considerations that are especially relevant for the current networked world. It discusses the use of a mnemonic, MAMA — multicultural, adaptive, multifaceted, and archival — as a way to categorize ethical issues as we discover and discuss them today and in the future. By using these categories, the reader can evaluate how the Internet and, more specifically, the World Wide Web (Web) create new ethical concerns as information technology innovation and users drive new Web-based applications and discoveries. In addition, this chapter will pose key ethical questions that will help stimulate the reader to think about Web ethics. In thinking about these questions the reader will explore and hopefully discover his or her own past learned user behaviors and their potential for adverse ethical consequences to the individual and to society. It is through thinking and discussing the ethical consequences of Web-based applications that society will become aware of our own ethical norms and assess how we would respond before we electronically encounter ethical dilemmas.
Integrity and Security in the E-Century
Authors: Currie Carolyn
Published: May 2011

E-commerce offers an enormous range of solutions to payment and settlements problems. However it also poses a myriad of regulatory issues. Understanding the technical, taxation and institutional issues posed by e-commerce that impact the ability to provide such services aids in comprehending the vast integrity and security issues surrounding this innovation. In this chapter the effect of this technological innovation is examined in the light of theories of regulation that postulate a struggle process between attempts to control innovation and further innovation and regulation. To understand how regulation of e-commerce may be counterproductive, a case study of the evolution of regulation of derivatives is used to test a hypothesis concerning social and avoidance costs. A comparative case study of regulation of e-commerce is then examined to suggest a policy approach of a private sector solution within a public policy matrix similar to private deposit insurance.
Moral Psychology and Information Ethics
Authors: Crowell Charles R. , Narvaez Darcia , Gomberg Anna
Published: May 2011

This chapter discusses the ways in which moral psychology can inform information ethics. A “Four Component Model” of moral behavior is described involving the synergistic influences of key factors including sensitivity, judgment, motivation, and action. Two technology-mediated domains, electronic communications and digital property, are then explored to illustrate how technology can impact each of the four components believed to underlie moral behavior. It is argued that technology can create a kind of “psychological distance” between those who use technology for communication or those who acquire and use digital property (e.g., software or music) and those who may be affected by such uses (e.g., e-mail recipients or digital property owners). This “distance” potentially impacts all four components of moral behavior in such a way that the usual social or moral constraints operative under normal (non-technology-mediated) circumstances (e.g., face-to-face communication) may be reduced, thereby facilitating the occurrence of unethical activities like piracy, hacking, or flaming. Recognition of the potential deleterious impact of technology on each of the four components leads to a better understanding of how specific educational interventions can be devised to strengthen moral sensitivity, judgment, motivation, and action within the context of our increasingly digital world.
Blurring the Boundaries
Authors: Lawson Danielle
Published: May 2011

As use of the Internet has grown, so to has the amount of research concerning various aspects of computer-mediated communication (CMC). In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of research projects dealing with Internet-based, synchronous chat programs. Although timely, this increased research interest in synchronous chat media is problematic due to potential ethical dilemmas regarding data gathering and research publication. This paper examines the ethical problems related to subject identity, privacy and “chat copyright” in synchronous online research. Additionally, it addresses possible strategies for minimizing ethical conflict, while maintaining research integrity.
Security Issues in Distributed Transaction Processing Systems
Authors: Haraty R. A.
Published: May 2011

Transaction-processing systems (TPS) are becoming increasingly more available as commercial products. However, the approaches to the issues associated with using TPS in multilevel secure environments are still in the research stage. In this article, we address the issues of multilevel security in distributed transaction-processing systems. A distributed transaction-processing system (DTPS) is a collection of a finite number of centralized transaction-processing systems connected by a computer network. Each of these transaction-processing systems is controlled by a software layer and can be accessed both remotely and locally. Properties of a DTPS, such as data replication, may have a substantial effect on the security of the system. The security policies and integrity constraints adopted at each site may result in global security having inconsistent states. We address the issues of achieving a multilevel secure DTPS, and discuss the security constraints and data replication.
Security Engineering for Ambient Intelligence
Authors: Mana A. , Rudolph C. , Spanoudakis G. , Lotz V. , Massacci F. , Melideo M. , Lopez-Cobo J. S.
Published: May 2011

The scenarios of Ambient Intelligence introduce a new computing paradigm and set new challenges for the design and engineering of secure and dependable sys-tems. This chapter describes SERENITY, a comprehensive approach to overcome those problems. The key to success in this scenario is to capture security expertise in such a way that it can be supported by automated means. SERENITY’s integral model of S&D considers both static and dynamic aspects by relying in two main innovations: (1) the enhanced notion of S&D patterns and integration schemes; and (2) the computer aided run-time monitoring of the implemented security solutions.
The Moral Status of Information and Information Technologies
Authors: Søraker Johnny Hartz
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this chapter is to explore whether information and information technology in certain cases ought to be valued as ends in themselves rather than as mere means to other ends. I will address this problem by proposing a theory of moral status: a theory of who or what has moral status in the sense that we, as moral agents, have an obligation to take their well-being into consideration when making ethical judgments. The proposed relational theory of moral status draws on insights from both classical Western and East Asian philosophy in order to question the exclusion of all nonliving entities in most theories of moral status. The relational properties constitutivity and irreplaceability are singled out as ethically relevant and are suggested as one possible way to ground the moral status of information and information technologies.
Intellectual Property Rights - or Rights to the Immaterial - in Digitally Distributable Media Gone All Wrong
Authors: Kimppa Kai Kristian
Published: May 2011

In the light of three major ethical theories, Lockean liberalism, consequentialism, and Kantian deontology, it seems that the intellectual property rights in digitally distributable media — be it software or other — have not been derived correctly. The three theories and their implications are reviewed and handled individually and conclusions based on each will be presented. Many aspects of these theories do not match with the current copyright and patent laws affecting digitally distributable media in western societies. A different, less restricting approach is offered.
The Ethics of Conducting E-Mail Surveys
Authors: Krishnamurthy Sandeep
Published: May 2011

E-mail is a low-cost and highly effective form of individual contact for primary research. However, researchers who contact strangers for their survey research through e-mail are, in essence, sending them Spam. Some academic researchers might argue that due to the low volume and infrequent nature of their surveys and the general positive perception of academia, their e-mail surveys do not add to the Spam problem. However, this is an insufficient resolution of the ethical problem. This chapter examines one solution to avoid this problem—the use of respondent permission prior to contact. Obtaining respondent permission is tricky and can be costly. But, it may be the only long-term solution. Importantly, using this approach could lead to a loss of randomness in the sampling procedure due to self-selection. Ideas for implementation of a permission-based contact system at the individual researcher and academic field level are provided at the end.
Bridging the Growing Digital Divide
Authors: Tarnanas Ioannis , Kikis Vassilios
Published: May 2011

That portion of the Internet known as the World Wide Web has been riding an exponential growth curve since 1994 (Network Wizards, 1999; Rutkowski, 1998), coinciding with the introduction of NCSA’s graphically-based software interface Mosaic for “browsing” the World Wide Web (Hoffman, Novak, & Chatterjee, 1995). Currently, over 43 million hosts are connected to the Internet worldwide (Network Wizards, 1999). In terms of individual users, somewhere between 40 to 80 million adults (eStats, 1999) inthe United States alone have access to around 800 million unique pages of content (Lawrence & Giles, 1999), globally distributed on arguably one of the most important communication innovations in history.
The Digital Citizen
Authors: Papacharissi Zizi
Published: May 2011

The objective of this article is to sketch out the profile of the digital citizen. The premise for this article rests upon utopian views that embrace new media technologies as democratizers of postindustrial society (e.g., Bell, 1981; Johnson & Kaye, 1998; Kling, 1996; Negroponte, 1998; Rheingold, 1993) and cautionary criticism that questions the substantial impact new media could have on reviving a dormant public sphere (e.g., Bimber & Davis, 2003; Davis, 1999; Hill & Hughes, 1998; Jankowski & van Selm, 2000; Jones, 1997; Margolis & Resnick, 2000; Scheufele & Nisbet, 2002). Concurrently, declining participation in traditional forms of political involvement and growing public cynicism (e.g., Cappella & Jamieson, 1996, 1997; Fallows, 1996; Patterson, 1993, 1996) position the Internet and related technologies as vehicles through which political activity can be reinvented. Still, conflicting narratives on civic involvement, as articulated by the government, politicians, the media, and the public, create confusion about the place and role of the citizen in a digital age. The digital citizen profile, therefore, is defined by historical and cultural context, divided between expectation and skepticism regarding new media, and presents hope of resurrecting the public sphere and awakening a latent, postmodern political consciousness. This article outlines these conditions, reviews perceptions of the digital citizen, and proposes a digital citizen role model for the future.
E-Business in Developing Countries
Authors: Raven Peter V. , Huang Xiaoqing , Kim Ben B.
Published: May 2011

The Internet has changed the way many companies do business, but has also tended to increase the disparity between firms in developed countries and those in developing countries. As the digital divide seems to grow, the question becomes how will developing countries catch up? We examine two large developing countries, China and India, in an attempt to understand their approaches to developing e-business. While both countries had access to the technology at about the same time, each has taken a different path to utilizing it. These approaches are based on a number of factors, including government initiatives and focus, infrastructure building, experience and understanding of business operations, and culture, among others. China appears to be ahead of India in the mechanics and infrastructure, but India is ahead in e-readiness. Both countries are poised for rapidly increasing e-business, however, they have huge problems of poverty and inequality between urban and rural connectivity must be resolved to really take advantage of e-business.
The CRM-KDD Nexus
Authors: Dholakia Nikhilesh , Bang Jounghae , Hamel Lutz , Shin Seung-Kyoon
Published: May 2011

Customer relationships are increasingly central to business success (Kotler, 1997; Reichheld & Sasser, 1990). Acquiring new customers is five to seven times costlier than retaining existing customers (Kotler, 1997). Simply by reducing customer defections by 5%, a company can improve profits by 25% to 85% (Reichheld & Sasser, 1990). Relationship marketing—getting to know customers intimately by understanding their preferences—has emerged as a key business strategy for customer retention (Dyche, 2002).
Gender and ICTs in Zambia
Authors: Wakunuma Kutoma Jacqueline
Published: May 2011

This article looks at gender equality combined with social and economic empowerment within the context of information communication technologies (ICTs). It discusses rhetoric surrounding the promotion of ICTs as tools for social and economic empowerment and subsequently challenges whether such rhetoric does mirror the real situation on the ground, especially as it relates to developing countries like Zambia. The main focus is underprivileged women, especially those in rural areas, and how access, or indeed the lack of it, to ICTs like the Internet and mobile phones does actually affect their daily existence.
The Digital Divide within the Digital Community in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al-Saggaf Yeslam
Published: May 2011

This chapter looks at the effects of the widening of the gap between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’, in terms of the digital divide, in Saudi Arabia. It focuses on the divide among members of the Saudi society who already have access to the Internet and synthesises results from four studies about the Internet in Saudi Arabia conducted between 2000 and 2005. It discusses the factors that could be blamed for the digital divide in the country and some of the groups of people who have access to the Internet but are still among the ‘have-nots’.
A Methodology for Web Accessibility Development and Maintenance
Authors: Abascal Julio , Arrue Myriam , Vigo Markel
Published: May 2011

Web design and evaluation are currently framed by legal restrictions and social demands for full accessibility. The main reason is that currently most web sites are not accessible for people with physical, sensory or cognitive restrictions due to diverse causes, such as disability, use of non-standard equipment or special work conditions. Accessibility awareness has advanced considerably in recent years, but designers are still having difficulties in updating or creating new accessible pages. Even though useful tools and sound evaluation methodologies are being designed, they are of no use if they are not integrated into the standard web design lifecycle, interacting naturally with common design and authoring tools. This chapter introduces the basic concepts related to web accessibility and proposes a method for including accessibility in standard web engineering methodologies. The key phases, accessibility, evaluation and maintenance, are described in detail. Finally, a model is proposed for implementing accessibility policy in organizations.
A Quantitative Study of the Adoption of Design Patterns by Open Source Software Developers
Authors: Hahsler Michael
Published: May 2011

Several successful projects (Linux, Free-BSD, BIND, Apache, etc.) showed that the collaborative and self-organizing process of developing open source software produces reliable, high quality software. Without doubt, the open source software development process differs in many ways from the traditional development process in a commercial environment. An interesting research question is how these differences influence the adoption of traditional software engineering practices. In this chapter we investigate how design patterns, a widely accepted software engineering practice, are adopted by open source developers for documenting changes. We analyze the development process of almost 1,000 open source software projects using version control information and explore differences in pattern adoption using characteristics of projects and developers. By analyzing these differences, we provide evidence that design patterns are an important practice in open source projects and that there exist significant differences between developers who use design patterns and who do not.
Impact of Individual Differences on Web Searching Performance
Authors: Morgan Allison J. , Trauth Eileen M.
Published: May 2011

This chapter will encourage the consideration of the role of individual differences in determining Web behavior and performance, which could inform and improve the development of search engines. Currently, users of search engines may experience differences in their level of success in searching for information. This difference could be realized through search success or search strategies. However, there is currently no definitive explanation regarding the characteristics that influence differences in search engine use and behavior. This chapter will serve asan introduction to and explore the phenomena of online Web searching and the potential role of individual differences in investigating this situation. An overview of the literature will be detailed as well as issues regarding how individual differences can be incorporated into this type of research. This chapter will support the notion that individual usage and performance with Web search engines is influenced by a collection of factors, more specifically, individual differences.
IT Software Development Offshoring
Authors: Niederman Fred , Kundu Sumit , Salas Sylvia
Published: May 2011

The offshoring of IT development is a significant global economic phenomenon. It influences the lives and fortunes of individuals, organizations, and nations/regions. However, because offshoring so broadly affects different stakeholders, a multi-level theory is required so that influences that may positively affect one set of stakeholders while negatively affecting another are not misinterpreted by an overly narrow analysis. This chapter discusses how IT development is differentiated from other global labor sourcing and argues that it is worthy of investigation as an offshoring domain. The chapter proposes that the study of IT development offshoring needs to recognize precursors and results as they affect individuals, organizations, and nation/regions, and presents examples and discussion in each of these areas. The chapter further argues that the domain of IT development offshoring is incomplete without consideration of interactions between the individual and nation/region as well as between the organization and nation/region. The chapter concludes by considering the complexity of presenting a complete picture in this domain and suggesting some areas for future research.
Systems and Processes Framework in Global Business Transition
Authors: Lan Y. , Unhelkar B.
Published: May 2011

Having argued for and created a vision of the global entity, we now consider the system and process framework for GET. During global transition, organizations often face many explicit as well as implicit factors that could delay or, in the worst cases, even destroy the globalization process. In order to eliminate these unnecessary incidents, enterprises need to identify, document and follow the activities of the process of GET. In the past decade, researchers have made significant efforts to identify the global information systems management (GISM) activities. Most notable are Senn’s six key information technology issues (Senn, 1992), and the eight multinational categories of global information technology challenges by Palvia and Saraswat (1992). Based on the implication of activities on the process of globalization, six categories are identified to facilitate classification and collation of the GISM activities (Figure 3.1). The core concept of categorization intends to provide the organizations with an abstract overview of concerns in relation to the transition to globalization. These categories are labeled as:
Decision Support and Data Warehousing
Authors: Anisimov Alexander
Published: May 2011

This chapter is dedicated to the major managerial, organizational and technological aspects of development of data warehouses in a global information environment, when different external sources of information are available and potentially may have value for decision support and managerial analysis. It summarizes the major benefits that become available for businesses if they decide to integrate information from external sources into their data warehouses. It also introduces the overall organizational framework of development of data warehouses that are based upon the information from different external sources. Furthermore the author hopes that understanding of the framework introduced will not only inform practitioners (both information technology (IT) specialists and managers in different spheres of business) of new possible approaches to design of decision support systems but also assist in the improvement of approaches to decision-making procedures.
Standardization and Other Coordination Mechanisms in Open Source Software
Authors: Egyedi Tineke M. , van Wendel de Joode Ruben
Published: May 2011

Open-source software (OSS) offers programmers the opportunity to elaborate and adapt source code. It is an opportunity to diverge. We would therefore expect incompatible strains of software to develop, and, consequently, a demand for standardization to arise. However, this is only partly the case. In this chapter we explore which other coordinative mechanisms are at work next to committee standardization. We identify four other categories of coordinative mechanisms and illustrate their relevance in OSS development. They complement committee standardization, can be used in standardization, and are sometimes an alternative to standardization.
An Evaluation System for IT Outsourcing Customer Satisfaction Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process
Authors: Yoon Yong Ki , Im Kun Shin
Published: May 2011

Many companies recently have been choosing information technology (IT) outsourcing in response to complicated information systems and various internal requirements. In order to monitor and maintain a high quality of IT outsourcing vendors’ services, it is necessary to develop a system to evaluate IT outsourcing customer satisfaction. The system can be used as a tool for choosing IT outsourcing providers. Through the literature reviews and expert interviews, we propose the evaluation system of the IT outsourcing customer satisfaction. Using AHP (analytic hierarchy process) technique, attributes associated with customer satisfaction in IT outsourcing environments are then rated in terms of their importance. The customer satisfaction evaluation system is applied to IT outsourcing service receivers in Korea to demonstrate its practical implications.
Changing IT skills
Authors: Bullen Christine V. , Abraham Thomas , Gallagher Kevin , Kaiser Kate M. , Simon Judith
Published: May 2011

The increasingly global sourcing of IT work and other socio-economic trends are prompting fundamental changes in the availability of IT skills needed in both client and vendor organizations. This article analyzes the results of a survey conducted in 2005, in which IT executives were asked to describe the skills they felt were critical to keep in house now and in 2008. The top ten current skills included three in project management, five in business domain and three in technical. In 2008, the top five emerging skills are almost all business domain while the top five exiting skills are all technical. Our findings indicate that the critical skills to keep in-house are primarily client-facing skills, even when they are technical. Findings indicate that IT professionals need to have a balance that demonstrates a foundation in the traditional “hard skills” and experience with “softer” business-oriented skills.
E-Commerce Infrastructure and Economic Impacts in Developing Countries
Authors: Sridhar Varadharajan , Sridhar Kala Seetharam
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents a conceptual model that explains how e-commerce adoption in developing countries is affected by various infrastructure enablers and socio-economic variables. It describes the status of infrastructure enabler variables such as computer and Internet penetration, quality and speed of Internet connectivity, security infrastructure, online payment mechanisms and dispute resolution mechanisms in India and their impact on e-commerce adoption. Furthermore the chapter highlights the relationship between e-commerce adoption and various socio-economic variables such as prices, market reach, disposable income level, and cultural orientation of consumers. The chapter discusses the taxation of e-commerce, taking into account the complexity of the tax structure in India. A couple of mini-cases exemplify the utility of e-commerce in some practical applications. With this review of e-commerce adoption, stakeholders such as the government, the policy makers and industries will be able identify ways to nurture the positive effects and mitigate the negative effects to sustain the growth of e-commerce in many developing countries such as India.
Experiences Enhancing Open Source Security in the POSSE Project
Authors: Smith Jonathan M. , Greenwald Michael B. , Ioannidis Sotiris , Keromytis Angelos D. , Laurie Ben Maughan , Rahn Dale , Wright Jason
Published: May 2011

This chapter reports on our experiences with POSSE, a project studying “Portable Open Source Security Elements” as part of the larger DARPA effort on Composable High Assurance Trusted Systems. We describe the organization created to manage POSSE and the significant acceleration in producing widely used secure software that has resulted. POSSE’s two main goals were, first, to increase security in open source systems and, second, to more broadly disseminate security knowledge, “best practices,” and working code that reflects these practices. POSSE achieved these goals through careful study of systems (“audit”) and starting from a well-positioned technology base (OpenBSD). We hope to illustrate the advantages of applying OpenBSD-style methodology to secure, open-source projects, and the pitfalls of melding multiple open-source efforts in a single project.
Women in Technology in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Galpin Vashti
Published: May 2011

International research has shown that in most countries, there are few women studying towards information technology (IT) careers (Galpin, 2002), and there is much research, particularly in the United States (U.S.), United Kingdom (UK) and Australia into why this is the case (Gürer & Camp, 2002). This article considers the situation in sub-Saharan Africa and focuses on women’s involvement in the generation and creation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in sub-Saharan Africa, as opposed to ICT use in sub-Saharan Africa, which is considered elsewhere in this volume. There are a number of aspects to the generation and creation of ICTs: how women are involved in this process as IT professionals and how they are educated for these careers, as well how technology can be used appropriately within the specific conditions of sub-Saharan Africa. ICTs will be considered in the broadest sense of the word, covering all electronic technologies, from computers and networking to radio and television. Women’s participation is important: The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Gender Caucus (www.genderwsis.org) has identified women’s involvement in the design and development of technology as well as technology management policy, as key principles for the information society. Marcelle (2001) emphasizes the necessity for African women to become involved in technological and scientific areas, including “computer science, software engineering, network design, network management and related disciplines” (Marcelle, 2001, para. 15) to create an information society appropriate for African women. The diversity of those involved in design leads to higher-quality and more appropriate technological solutions (Borg, 2002; Lazowska, 2002). Background Sub-Saharan Africa has a population of 641 million, young (almost half under 15) and rural (35% urban). Significant problems are undernourishment, poverty and HIV/AIDS (United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 2004). All the countries in sub-Saharan Africa are classified as developing countries. Some countries are relatively wealthy, such as Mauritius, South Africa, and Nigeria, but have large wealth disparities within their populations. Women in sub-Saharan Africa are expected to focus on the home, they have less access to education and health, and their contribution to family and community is not valued (Huyer, 1997).
Narrowing the Digital Divide
Authors: Hilton June K.
Published: May 2011

Empirical data from a secondary school that took steps to increase technology integration in its classrooms with the long-term goal of raising student achievement are presented. Results from the analysis of this data indicate positive effects from the implementation of two grants designed to bridge the digital divide. Research confirms that the results from this case study are consistent with the methods for success in implementing technology as a tool to improve student achievement. Future study should involve further data collection via teacher evaluations of the professional development process and the analysis of the results from standardized test scores to confirm the positive impact of technology on student achievement.
Online, Offline, and In-Between
Authors: Johri Aditya
Published: May 2011

Online collaborative learning is a situated activity that occurs in complex settings. This study proposes a sociocultural frame for theorizing, analyzing, and designing online collaborative- learning environments. The specific focus of this study is: learning as situated activity, activity theory as a theoretical lens, activity system as an analytical framework, and activity-guided design as a design framework for online learning environments. Using data gathered from a naturalistic investigation of a global online collaborative-learning site, this study reveals how these lenses and frameworks can be applied practically. The study also identifies the importance of design iterations for learning environments.
The Use of Information Technology in Teaching Accounting in Egypt
Authors: Dahawy Khaled , Kamel Sherif
Published: May 2011

The use of information and communication technology has become an integral component and a vital tool in teaching accounting. Over the last few decades, the blend of using state-of-the-art technologies has improved the effectiveness and efficiency of the learning process. Respectively, some predict that physical campuses will decay and crumble in the near future with the continuous growth of borderless societies and the diffusion of extended enterprises leading to a hybrid model for knowledge delivery that extends beyond distance and time barriers. The main emphasis of this case is to study the deployment of technology in teaching accounting in Egypt, using the case of Becker Professional Review in providing trainees with the required training that enables them to pass exams and get professional certification using emerging information technology tools and techniques. The case demonstrates how information technology adaptation can provide a platform for knowledge dissemination and demonstrates a model that can be replicated in similar environments.
An ICT Enabled "Community" in Rural Nigeria and the UK
Authors: McLean Pamela
Published: May 2011

Development initiatives in Nigeria tend to be delivered down through layers of administration, from federal government, to state government, to local government, before they get implemented. Often developments are concentrated in urban areas rather than rural communities.
Challenges to Community Informatics to Bridging the Digital Divide
Authors: Songan Peter , Hamid Khairuddin Ab. , Yeo Alvin W. , Gnaniah Jayapragas , Zen Hushairi
Published: May 2011

Community Informatics (CI) is the application of ICT to overcome the “digital divide” both within and among communities (Gurstien, 2000). Taylor (2004) further asserts that CI is a connection between theory and practice in community networks. In this case, CI refers to the use of ICT for community practice, which Glen (1993) elaborates as encompassing concepts of community development, community service delivery and community action. With the emergence of CI, it is possible for remote communities to enjoy the benefits of ICT for economic and social development. For example, in India, the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation established six Village Information Shops, which enabled rural families to access and exchange a basket of information using ICT (Balaji & Harris, 2000). In Costa Rica, there is a project involving the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to implement “digital town centers” in remote villages (Harris, 1999).
Evaluation of Information Infrastructures and Social Development Among the Visegrad-Four Countries of Central Europe
Authors: Pook László A. , Pence Norman E.
Published: May 2011

The paper examines the developmental status of four of the next candidate countries’ information infrastructures for accession into the European Union (EU). It develops significant relationships between nations’ levels of information infrastructure development and their economic and social developments, and applies these relationships to evaluate investment needs for a select group of accession countries called the Visegrad Four. Using cross-country analysis the candidate countries were compared to other countries and were classified into like groups using cluster analysis while their relative developments were evaluated using regression modeling. Developmental requirements and capital needs to promote growth in their information and communications industries were then identified. It is hoped that the paper will offer a comparative glimpse of the information and communications infrastructures of some Central and East European countries as compared to other nations.
Organizational Structure Without Hierarchy in a Dynamic Global Business Environment
Authors: Kern Tom
Published: May 2011

The chapter deals with the inefficiency of classical business systems in a dynamic global business environment. The main reasons for inefficiency are complicated processes, which are limited and influenced by inadequate classical business structures. But in new circumstances business structures must be designed according to process needs. Classical business systems should be urgently renewed to survive. Furthermore the author concludes that a single business system re-engineering project is not the definitive answer. In the global business environment, changes are constant. The efficiency of business processes can be maintained and increased in the long term only by constant but effortless adaptation of structures. This is possible by the introduction of the organizational structure without hierarchy and the mechanism for dynamic adaptation of structures to business.
Virtual Organizations in Post-Graduate Education in Egypt
Authors: Kamel Bernard
Published: May 2011

New online learning techniques lead to improved ways to investing in larger numbers of people and optimizing the use of resources. Respectively, virtual organizations are gaining grounds in the education sector with its vehicle capable of closing the digital divide and spreading knowledge that can help improve the literacy rate. This article covers the case of the Regional IT Institute (RITI), an institute located in Cairo, Egypt, that specializes in providing quality education in the fields of information and communication technology and management. The institute’s goal is to educate more students while overcoming the challenge of scarce resources, trying to meet the needs of 30% of the population (70 million) enrolled in education programs (Economic News Bulletin).
Innovative Technological Paradigms for Corporate Offshoring
Authors: Patki Tapasya , Patki A. B.
Published: May 2011

Internet technology has impelled us to develop faith in the modern practices of business, commerce, and trade. Offshoring has been viewed as a global phenomenon on the economic frontier. While new technologies need to be framed, stopgap arrangements in the form of transient solutions to upgrade the current systems are also desired. Newer regulations and multi-jurisdictional compliance have profound impacts on the growth of outsourcing projects. The development of new technological solutions must challenge the myth that legislation and statutory practices are the only possible mechanisms to counter the unscrupulous activities in the context of outsourcing. A change in the outlook toward such methodologies is essential to shed away the technological inertia and latency. This article opens up discussion issues in the perspective of hardware and software requirements for efficient offshoring. The aim is to achieve higher precision, protection, and throughput by applying core-computing techniques to the existing practices of outsourcing.
Managing Information Technology Component of Knowledge Management
Authors: Okunoye Adekunle
Published: May 2011

Information technology and social-cultural, organizational variables are considered major components to support knowledge processes in knowledge management. These components have to be carefully managed and be supported in balanced proportion for organization to create and retain greater value from their core competencies. The peculiar situation of developing countries, where there is lack of adequate information technology infrastructure, emphasizes the importance of strategic management of organizational information technology. Using a case study, we discuss the possibility of outsourcing the management of the information technology in order to have more focus on the other components in knowledge management.
Analysis of a Large-Scale IT Outsourcing "Failure"
Authors: Rouse Anne C. , Corbitt Brian. J.
Published: May 2011

Much of the research that has been carried out into outsourcing is based on relatively successful case studies. Yet drawing inferences from case studies when those with largely negative outcomes rarely see the light of day represents a significant problem. When negative cases are systematically unrepresented, there is less opportunity to subject theory to scrutiny. This chapter goes some way towards redressing this trend, by reporting on a large scale “selective” outsourcing arrangement that has been publicly described as a failure — the Australian Federal Government’s “whole of government” IT infrastructure outsourcing initiative. This initiative, originally promoted as likely to lead to a billion dollar saving, was abandoned early in 2001, after a damning public report by the Australian Auditor General. However, a detailed study of the initiative suggests that the “failure” occurred despite the project adhering to many of the recommended guidelines for successful outsourcing that had been derived from earlier case analysis. The findings have important implications for decision makers confronted with outsourcing choices. The study suggests that the risks of outsourcing are often downplayed, or ignored in the rush to reap the expected benefits. The study also suggests that expectations of savings from outsourcing IT are often substantially higher than those that have been empirically confirmed in the field. Decision makers are advised that key assumptions about costs, savings, managerial effort, and the effects of outsourcing on operational performance might be incorrect, and to plan for their outsourcing activity accordingly. They should pay particular attention to coordination and transaction costs, as these tend to be overlooked in the business case. These costs will be magnified if “best in breed” multiple-vendor outsourcing is chosen, and if contracts are kept short. Decision-makers are also warned of the difficulties they are likely to have at the end of an outsourcing contract if there is not a large and robust pool of alternative vendors willing to bid against the incumbent.
Conceptual Evolution of Business Organizations into Outsourcing-Insourcing Alliance Networks
Authors: Schniederjans Ashlyn M. , Schniederjans Dara G.
Published: May 2011

Most business organizations have recognized the importance of outsourcing information systems and related business processes. As the industry of outsourcing evolves it impacts how business organizations are structured. This chapter reviews current literature and proposes two possible evolutions of how businesses motivate organizations to incorporate outsourcing as an integral strategy for success. The resulting trends show an evolution that may lead hierarchal business structures to incorporate temporary outsourcing alliance networks in the same way that general contractors in the construction industry have operated for years.
Contracting Mechanisms in the IS/IT Outsourcing Phenomenon
Authors: Khalfan Abdulwahed Mohammed , Al-Hajery Majed Z. , Al-Gharbi Khamis
Published: May 2011

As organisations need diverse and high quality IS/IT services to survive and excel in the rapidly changing business environment (Lacity & Willcocks, 2001), regular attempts have been made by organisations to sustain competitiveness through increasing their investments in IS/IT operations and resources. However, this has pushed for pursuing different options and alternatives as organisations strive to maximise their flexibility and control (Lacity, Willcocks, & Feeny, 1996). To accomplish this objective, more and more organisations are constantly looking to IS/IT outsourcing by external vendors as a viable option rather than pursuing in-house IT developments (Lacity & Willcocks).
Global E-Business Alliances
Authors: Unhelkar Bhuvan
Published: May 2011

With increasing ability to interact globally through the electronic medium, businesses are able to tap into newer business opportunities externally as well as capitalize internally on pools of resources and talents spread across the globe. However one of the major hindrances to the utilisation of these opportunities and talents through global alliances is cross-cultural issues. While technology renders the geographical boundaries redundant, it aggrandizes the chasms in socio-cultural value systems of physically disparate alliance partners. This chapter discusses the gamut of global e-business alliance: the primary reasons for their needs, their socio-cultural perspective, and the various factors that influence such alliances. Finally the corresponding mitigating approaches to those negatively influencing factors are suggested.