bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reviewing HTTP and RTSP Work in Two Actual Commercial Media Delivery Platforms for Multimedia Services and Mobile Devices
Authors: Zimmermann Martin , Seilheimer Gilbert
Published: October 2011

The media streaming server technology have been developed in the recent past using free software and open source approaches. But commercial approaches are preferred by certain multimedia big enterprises. These enterprises dominate the mobile media delivery business. For this reason we think it is interesting to discover the main characteristics of the principal commercial platforms to deliver mobile video streaming to mobile devices and its main key features: Media and delivery components. We will give our vision on: Real Networks’ Helix Media delivery components based on RTSP and Microsoft’s IIS Media Services based on HTTP. The aim of this book chapter is to provide detailed insight into these different streaming approaches and how these platforms and protocols aid in building flexible streaming applications for mobile devices. A comparison among these approaches is also provided and also we present the delivery of video streaming to Apple mobile devices in the two commercial approaches.
Carbon Markets and Investments
Authors: Zambujal-Oliveira J. , Henriques Miguel R. , Henriques Rui
Published: October 2011

In a world where greenhouse gasses (GHG) carry a price, organizations can create financial instruments that are tradable on the carbon market by investing in projects that reduce GHG emissions. The purpose of this study is to analyse critically an investment project from EcoSecurities to mitigate the emissions of methane from a coalmine located in China’s Sichuan province. This project generates carbon credits that are later sold to governments and organizations under the Kyoto Protocol. In order to evaluate this investment, we conduct an analysis centred on its net present value, and we take into consideration a set of external variables and the financial and economic situation of EcoSecurities. This study concludes that EcoSecurities’ project investment, since the project’s net present value is positive, has a relevant impact on EcoSecurities’ strategy and improves the company’s financial situation as it increases revenues and improves assets using efficiency.
Alternatives to the Global Financial Sector
Authors: Adams Carl , Mouatt Simon
Published: October 2011

This chapter explores complementary currencies and exchange systems and how they can provide some stability and competition to the vulnerability of the financial markets. The social economy, or 3rd sector, already plays a significant part in many societies. This is becoming more so as many governments and nations are facing decades of debt inevitably resulting in cut backs in key social and health services. In addition, the existing formal economic activity does not capture, value or support the full range of social and economic interaction within a nation. The chapter examines timebank systems, a particular type of complementary currencies and exchange system, and provides guidance on issues to consider in develop them. One of the finding from the evaluation is that as the number of people in the timebank system increases then more formality is needed to moderate the system and reduce potential for misuse.
Data Center Technology Roadmap
Authors: Daim Tugrul , Anderson Timothy R. , Thirumalai Mukundan , Subramanian Ganesh , Katarya Nitin , Krishnaswamy Dhanabal , Singh Neelu
Published: October 2011

In this chapter, they take you through the general roadmap architecture starting with market drivers, products, technology and its components followed by their recommendations and inference from the study.
"A Community of Opinion and Debate"
Authors: Beckmann Elizabeth A.
Published: October 2011

Discussion-based learning is a crucial element in postgraduate professional development, particularly important in facilitating peer learning through the sharing of professional experiences. In courses with distance or blended delivery, educational technologies provide opportunities to encourage such peer learning. But do postgraduate students value asynchronous online discussions in the same way as they value the equivalent face-to-face experiences? Do educational technologies have a role to play in facilitating discussions even when students are meeting face to face? Is it helpful to make an online discussion compulsory? This chapter reports design-based research on student reactions to compulsory assessment tasks that involved a variety of asynchronous online discussion structures—from individual reflective journals to large group forums—in 14 Masters courses in development studies and museum studies at an Australian university. Using the students’ own reflections on their learning experiences, this chapter considers the extent to which the use of technologies can enhance or impede the reflective and peer-responsive learning sought by the inclusion of discussions in the postgraduate education of professionals.
Learning in a Virtual World
Authors: Gregory Sue
Published: October 2011

During the past four years over 500 university students have explored the educational potential and value of learning in the virtual world of Second Life™. This research examined from the perspectives of on and off-campus students, their experiences of learning in this virtual world, through activities underpinned by adult learning theories. A compilation of student reactions to their learning in Second Life™ was collected through three pilot studies, and this chapter examines in particular, the students’ perceptions of engagement, immersion, communication, interaction, collaboration and distractions, of learning virtually. The positives and negatives of learning in Second Life™ from the points of view of the students, are discussed. Students who participated in this study were drawn from a variety of groups who were studying different subjects: on-campus students were required to participate in the virtual world educational activities; and the off-campus students, took part voluntarily. This research demonstrates that the students were highly engaged in their virtual learning, as voiced through their perceptions and reactions.
Perceptions of Marginalized Youth on Learning through Technologies
Authors: Johnson Jean , Dyer Jonny , Lockyer Ben
Published: October 2011

This chapter examines students’ views of learning with technologies through four related case studies that utilized online learning with marginalized young people. The studies were carried out in the UK, Austria, Ireland, Sweden and the USA with young people aged 14-21 who had dropped out of formal education. Ethnographic research was used but quantitative data was also gathered to contextualize the qualitative approach. The views and opinions of these young people were used to aid the development of online learning platforms and their content for use both with static computers and mobile devices. The results suggested that the young people embrace new technologies in such a way that they evidence deep thinking and deep learning. However, use of technologies in this way is not possible on a large scale within the existing school system. Further research should examine how the school system can better embrace the way that young people use Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) tools into their learning.
Students’ Views of E-Learning
Authors: O’ Donnell Eileen , Sharp Mary
Published: October 2011

Students are the end users of the Information Systems that educators use to enhance students’ learning experiences. The use of technologies in education has altered the ways in which lecturers and students can interact and has expanded the volume of information that students can access. This study was undertaken to obtain students perspectives on the uses of technologies in higher education to assist educators in improving the pedagogical design of e-learning platforms, known as learning management systems. This chapter provides students’ perspectives on the academic use of technologies in two higher education institutions in Ireland. Analysis of the responses received from three hundred and twenty students indicates that students are of the opinion that the use of technologies in higher education can beneficially transform learning; however, technologies will never replace lecturers.
Social Learning Sites?
Authors: Decuypere Mathias , Bruneel Steven
Published: October 2011

Social networking sites are extremely popular nowadays – especially amongst students – and are increasingly the subjects of educational research. But there is a sparse research base on students’ willingness to adopt social networking sites in their education. In this chapter we investigate to what extent Facebook is used as an educational tool. By means of semi-structured interviews, we asked students why they use Facebook and whether they allow faculty members into their personal sites, or not. During the period of one academic year 2009-2010, 15 students of different bachelor programs in a Flemish University were interviewed several times. The results demonstrate that students draw a sharp distinction between the ways they use Facebook, and why they do so. Furthermore, they barely use the social networking site for educational purposes. Consequently, students are not inclined to allow faculty members presence (as ‘friends’ on Facebook). These results are interpreted in terms of privacy concerns, and we conclude this chapter with some critical reflections concerning the current research about the effectiveness and the educational possibilities of social networking sites.
The Transfer Value of Successful Learning Practices Using Web 2.0
Authors: Fransen Jos , van Goozen Bas
Published: October 2011

Listening to students’ voices might result in the design of more effective learning practices, assuming that learning and teaching can be attuned more adequately in those practices. Therefore, research was carried out to investigate the characteristics of successful innovative learning practices using Web 2.0 technologies to establish to what extent they might serve as a model for learning practices in more or less similar contexts. Five learning practices were investigated through a range of processes including document analysis and by interviewing students. Additionally, a cross case analysis was carried out to track down success factors of teaching and learning with Web 2.0 technologies, and to find out to what extent these practices are contextual. The analysis showed the importance of co-production and co-creation in learning practices supported by the use of Web 2.0 technologies, and the crucial role of students’ motivation and teacher’s willingness to experiment with new learning practices.
Digital Transition in Alaska
Authors: Lan Ping
Published: October 2011

This chapter conducts a preliminary assessment on the early digital transition in Alaska by systematically examining the usage of the Internet in Alaska from five aspects: local information and communication technology providers, top 100 private firms, small private firms crossing different programs, the Government, and varied Alaskan communities. Over 1,000 websites were analyzed. It finds that Alaska is very committed to turning digital opportunities into a development force. The digital transition in Alaska is at various stages throughout the State. This digital transition benefits consumers instead of suppliers. It is driven by government instead of private sectors. It is strong at basic components or lower levels instead of demonstrating a balanced structure.
Reviewing the European Innovation Activities and Industrial Competitiveness
Authors: Korres George M. , Kokkinou Aikaterini
Published: October 2011

The purpose of this chapter is to analyse and examine the evaluation and the development of Community’s policy and how it can be implemented to European member states. This chapter also attempts to examine the effects of innovation activities and the impact of innovation policy on growth and productivity and integration process. More specifically, this chapter relates Research and Development with industrial infrastructure, productivity effects and regional development. Moreover, it analyses “national system of innovations” indicating the national technological capabilities, and also the structure and the planning on research and development. The main conclusion focuses on European technological policy and its important role for the economies of European member states with technological policy aiming to reinforce the competitiveness and enhance the convergence between member states.
An Overview of Trends in Undergraduate Research Practices
Authors: Galbraith James
Published: October 2011

The resources undergraduates use for research have changed significantly over the past two decades as the Internet has become the predominant conduit for information. Access to academic resources has never been easier; undergraduate papers now include more citations, but more non-traditional, non-academic sources are being cited. Libraries’ initial reactions to the ascendancy of the Internet ranged from mild concern to alarm, but soon libraries were themselves using the Internet as both an access point for academic resources and as a tool for information literacy. Studies also suggest that students’ motivations and research methodology have remained consistent. The key to libraries’ success is understanding the motivations that shape students’ research practices and tying information literacy to the curriculum.
Hidden Greenlands
Authors: Menchaca Frank
Published: October 2011

This chapter considers the role of libraries and educational publishers in the information age. Studies show that, for most college and university students, the trigger for research remains the classroom assignment. Tasks associated with specific learning objectives—writing a paper, preparing an interpretive reading, engaging in historical or statistical analysis—still motivate students to engage in research. What has changed is the fact that students no longer rely on librarians, libraries, or traditional publishers for information resources. They go directly to search engines. Today’s learners are, however, quickly overwhelmed and, despite being “digital natives,” struggle to evaluate information and organize it to build ideas. The ability of publishers, librarians, and libraries to address this issue will determine their relevancy in the 21st century and, perhaps, the success of students themselves in the information age. This chapter reviews a wide variety of literature and experiential data on information literacy, findability, metadata, and use of library resources and proposes how all players can re-think their roles.
Indexing Scholarly Reference
Authors: Calaluca Eric
Published: October 2011

The diminished interaction between novice or non-specialist researcher and trained librarian has its root case as much in increased financial pressures on libraries as it does with the simultaneous promotion of single search discovery systems being developed for academic and public libraries systems. Nevertheless, the historical context of the role of specialist finding aids in research, and additionally, the renewed appreciation for the value of specialized subject encyclopedias to facilitate solid research, can provide needed context. The application of new technologies to unlock and apply the content of specialized encyclopedias offers a familiar, yet newly-configured approach to discovery and scholarly search. Rather than exposing the novice to an increasing amount of materials they may not be ready to absorb, a renewed attention to this genre within libraries holds the promise of allowing researchers to actually achieve more by researching less.
Open Web Capture for Libraries
Authors: Dove John G. , Becker Ingrid
Published: October 2011

One of the principle purposes of reference, especially subject encyclopedias, is to facilitate a new learner’s approach to a field of study by providing context and vocabulary for the effective use of the rest of the library. Some have even referred to the subject encyclopedia as the “Rolls Royce of the Library” (East, 2010). With the economic pressures on libraries and the dramatic changes in usage patterns brought on by the shift from print to electronic content, subject encyclopedias must be re-invented if they are to embody their intended function. While print reference has been overshadowed by information on the Web, studies on student research habits show that the need for context, which reference provides, is higher than ever before. This chapter will argue for the contemporary relevance of the subject encyclopedia in response to student research needs in the information age and explore current and possible visions for the transformation of the subject encyclopedia to suit digital media and the open Web in particular.
Changes in Customer Behavior
Authors: Rix R. Wright
Published: October 2011

Today’s library customers exhibit a decreasing tendency to regard the public library as the primary local repository of research information. The rise of the Internet is at the root of this and many other changes that have taken place in public libraries during the past twenty years. Customer preferences have shifted away from print tools in favor of the simplest available online tools. A pervasive user expectation is that information access should be free, easy, and immediate. Information literacy issues continue to occupy a growing portion of librarians’ time. As customer needs and expectations evolve, so must the library’s services and products.
Information Technology Portfolio Management
Authors: Kumar Ram , Ajjan Haya , Niu Yuan
Published: October 2011

There is significant interest in managing IT resources as a portfolio of assets. The concept of IT portfolio management (ITPM) is relatively new, compared to portfolio management in the context of finance, new product development (NPD), and research and development (R&D). This article compares ITPM with other types of portfolio management, and develops an improved understanding of IT assets and their characteristics. It presents a process-oriented framework for identifying critical ITPM decision stages. The proposed framework can be used by managers as well as researchers.
Developing and Aligning a Knowledge Management Strategy
Authors: Ekionea Jean-Pierre Booto , Swain Deborah E.
Published: October 2011

Knowledge capitalization has become a major economic driver in business today and has created enormous requirements for organizations as they reconsider their goals and adapt their business strategies. However, the definition of knowledge management in an organizational context is a difficult task to realize (Spiegler, 2000). Although knowledge is a critical resource, it is generally poorly managed (Earl, 2001). Good knowledge management can help with achieving business goals, as it requires an alignment of KMS and BS. Researchers in KM suggest a taxonomy to better define the field (Earl, 1983; Galliers, 1987; Hansen et al, 1999; Maier, 2001; Yu et al, 2004). This paper provides a KMS and BS alignment framework and taxonomy with concepts, links (contextual links among concepts), actors, actions and processes for effective knowledge management through alignment and interaction in an organization.
A Procedure Model for a SoA-Based Integration of Enterprise Systems
Authors: Lämmer Anne , Eggert Sandy , Gronau Norbert
Published: October 2011

Enterprise systems are being transferred into a service-oriented architecture. In this article we present a procedure for the integration of enterprise systems. The procedure model starts with decomposition into Web services. This is followed by mapping redundant functions and assigning of the original source code to the Web services, which are orchestrated in the final step. Finally an example is given how to integrate an Enterprise Resource Planning System and an Enterprise Content Management System using the proposed procedure model.
Trust-Aware Recommender Systems for Open and Mobile Virtual Communities
Authors: Sahli N. , Lenzini G.
Published: October 2011

This chapter surveys and discusses relevant works in the intersection among trust, recommendations systems, virtual communities, and agent-based systems. The target of the chapter is showing how, thanks to the use of trust-based solutions and artificial intelligent solutions like that understanding agents-based systems, the traditional recommender systems can improve the quality of their predictions. Moreover, when implemented as open multi-agent systems, trust-based recommender systems can efficiently support users of mobile virtual communities in searching for places, information, and items of interest.
Developing Efficient Processes and Process Management in New Business Creation in the ICT-Sector
Authors: Juntunen Arla
Published: October 2011

In this study, a Finnish telecommunication company is analyzed from 1990-2007. Discussing the major developments in technology, society and firm-level decisions, this study focuses on the R&D process development and changes due to these exogenous and endogenous factors that have occurred. These factors have also caused changes in the company’s competitive advantage, organizational structure, product- and service portfolio. It has required adaptation skills and capabilities to manage change in order to survive in a rapidly changing competitive environment. This chapter will describe the changes in the R&D process from the in-house development to a multi-partner R&D network. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can be considered both a strategic catalyst and enabler of business process reengineering (BPR). In summary, the chapter discusses how a competitive advantage in mobile and multimedia business was created by efficient process changes and network management capabilities.
Contributing Knowledge to Knowledge Repositories
Authors: Subramanian Annapoornima M. , Soh Pek-Hooi
Published: October 2011

Knowledge Management Systems (KMS) such as electronic knowledge repositories (EKR) have brought substantial changes to the way organizations leverage their knowledge resources. Despite the importance of KMS, organizations are faced with a challenge to realize the benefits of KMS. One challenging issue that has not been extensively investigated by prior KMS studies is the factors that drive employees’ usage of KMS and their willingness to contribute knowledge. This chapter posits that the drivers of KMS usage can be defined by two facets: (1) the inducement mechanism that motivates the employees to contribute knowledge and (2) the opportunity mechanism that facilitates their knowledge contribution. To examine the determinants of KMS usage, we propose a multi-dimensional model that forms three antecedents of inducement – rewards, power, and centrality – and three antecedents of opportunity – ease in using EKR, organizational structure and top management support. The model is tested using 180 survey responses collected from a software company. The analysis demonstrates that KMS usage is jointly determined by both the inducement and opportunity mechanisms.
A Survey of Open Source Tools for Business Intelligence
Authors: Thomsen Christian , Pedersen Torben Bach
Published: October 2011

The industrial use of open source Business Intelligence (BI) tools is becoming more common, but is still not as widespread as for other types of software. It is therefore of interest to explore which possibilities are available for open source BI and compare the tools. In this survey article, we consider the capabilities of a number of open source tools for BI. In the article, we consider a number of Extract-Transform-Load (ETL) tools, database management systems (DBMSs), On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) servers, and OLAP clients. We find that, unlike the situation a few years ago, there now exist mature and powerful tools in all these categories. However, the functionality still falls somewhat short of that found in commercial tools.
Enabling the Virtual Organization with Agent Technology
Authors: Guimaraes Tor
Published: October 2011

Emerging agent-based systems offer new means of effectively addressing complex decision processes and enabling solutions to business requirements associated with virtual organizations. Intelligent agents can provide more flexible intelligence/expertise and help the smooth integration of a variety of system types (i.e., Internet applications, customer relationship management, supplier network management, enterprise resources management, expert systems). This chapter presents an overview of expert systems as the most widely-used approach for domain Knowledge Management today as well as agent technology, and shows the latter as a superior systems development vehicle providing flexible intelligence/expertise and the integration of a variety of system types. To illustrate, a system developed first by using an expert system approach and then by an agent-based approach is used to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the agent-based approach. Last, the practical implications of a company adoption of agent-based technology for systems development are addressed.
Enterprise Information Systems for Business Integration in Global International Cooperations of Collaborating Small and Medium Sized Organisations
Authors: Osanna P. H. , Durakbasa N. M. , Yurci M. E. , Bauer J. M.
Published: October 2011

The importance of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) is today far beyond any discussion in countries all over the world - in European countries as well as in Asia and in USA, in Africa as well as in Latin America. To meet market demands in the present and future global industrial world, manufacturing enterprises of any kind and any size must be flexible and agile enough to respond quickly to product demand changes. With the support of artificial intelligence and modern information technology, it is possible to realise modern cost-effective customer-driven design and manufacturing taking into account the importance and basic role of quality management and metrology. This will be especially possible on the basis of the innovative concept and model for modern enterprises the so-called “Multi-Functions Integrated Factory – MFIF” that makes possible an agile and optimal industrial production in any kind of industry and especially in up-to-date SMEs.
Enterprise Architecture Management and its Role in IT Governance and IT Investment Planning
Authors: Niemann Klaus D.
Published: October 2011

A comprehensive enterprise architecture management has strategic and operative aspects. Strategic tasks cover the identification of appropriate fields of activity for information technology (IT) investments in accordance with business strategy and portfolio management. Enterprise architecture management is cross-linked with other IT management processes and delivers the necessary information for a sustainable governance. The continuous analysis of the IT landscape, the deduction of measures for optimization and its controlling also belong to the tasks of architecture management. Standards for development and infrastructures are made, e.g. reference architectures and a “book of standards”, whose implementation is overseen by solution architects throughout the operative architecture management.
Information and Knowledge Perspectives in Systems Engineering and Management for Innovation and Productivity Through Enterprise Resource Planning
Authors: Stephenson Stephen V. , Sage Andrew P.
Published: October 2011

This article provides an overview of perspectives associated with information and knowledge resource management in systems engineering and systems management in accomplishing enterprise resource planning for enhanced innovation and productivity. Accordingly, we discuss economic concepts involving information and knowledge, and the important role of network effects and path dependencies in influencing enterprise transformation through enterprise resource planning.
Measuring the Benefits of Enterprise Architecture
Authors: Dyer Alan
Published: October 2011

Enterprise Architecture is the organising logic for business processes and Information Technology infrastructure, the purpose of which is to create a more effective organisation in the context of the business’s strategy and goals. However, the ability to measure the effectiveness of any activities initiated under the guise of Enterprise Architecture is limited, even more so in those organisations, such as government agencies, that do not recognise financial return on investment. In this chapter the author introduces the concept of Knowledge Management, linked to the strategic outcomes of Enterprise Architecture and proposes a maturity model framework for the measurement of Enterprise Architecture implementation. The aim of this chapter is to provide a basis for discussion of a wider Capability Maturity Profile with architectural frameworks to help develop and measure the benefits of implementing frameworks and architectures.
The Knowledge Sharing Model
Authors: Widén-Wulff Gunilla , Suomi Reima
Published: October 2011

This chapter works out a method on how information resources in organizations can be turned into a knowledge sharing (KS) information culture, which can further feed business success. This process is complicated, and the value chain can be broken in many places. In this study this process is viewed in the light of resource-based theory. A KS-model is developed where the hard information resources of time, people and computers are defined. When wisely used, these make communication a core competence for the company. As the soft information resources are added, that is the intellectual capital, KS, and willingness to learn, a knowledge sharing culture is developed, which feeds business success. This model is empirically discussed through a case study of fifteen Finnish insurance companies. The overall KS capability of a company corresponds positively to the different dimensions applied in the model. KS is an interactive process where organizations must work on both hard information resources, the basic cornerstones of any knowledge sharing, and makes constant investment into soft information resources, learning, intellectual capital and process design in order to manage their information resources effectively.
Knowledge Management and the Links to Human Capital Management
Authors: Gloet Marianne
Published: October 2011

This paper explores various linkages between knowledge management (KM) and human capital management (HCM) in the context of developing leadership and management capabilities to support sustainability. Based on the prevailing literature, a framework linking human resource management (HRM), KM and HCM is applied to the development of leadership and management capabilities to support sustainability. The framework identifies ways to promote sustainability through creating effective links between KM and HCM by which organizations can develop their leadership and management capabilities to support sustainability across business, environmental and social justice contexts. This approach provides managers with a framework for addressing sustainability issues and for developing individual and organizational capabilities to support sustainability through KM and HCM practices.
Analysis of User Involvement and Participation on the Quality of IS Planning Projects
Authors: Sridhar Varadharajan , Nath Dhruv , Malik Amit
Published: October 2011

The process of information systems planning is critically dependent on the users of the system. The involvement and participation of these users and its impact on the effectiveness of IS planning has not been studied in the literature. In this article we address the effect of user involvement and participation on the quality of IS planning projects. This was done through an exploratory quasi-experiment study conducted in an academic setting. We studied the effects of user involvement using two sets of teams doing IS planning exercises, one in which the user was involved as part of the project team and the other where the user was outside the project team, but was involved in interviews and reviews of project artifacts. We also measured the extent of user participation through a survey of participants engaged in the IS planning projects. Results indicate that user involvement has significant positive effect on user participation, as well as on the quality of IS planning projects. However the effect of user participation on the quality of projects is mixed and needs further research.
Risks Evaluation and IT Audit Aspects of Business Intelligence Solutions
Authors: Ko Andrea
Published: October 2011

Many organizations are struggling with a vast amount of data in order to gain valuable insights and get support in their decision-making process. Decision-making quality depends increasingly on information and the systems that deliver this information. These services are vulnerable and risky from security aspects, and they have to satisfy several requirements, like transparency, availability, accessibility, convenience, and compliance. IT environments are more and more complex and fragmented, which means additional security risks. Business intelligence solutions provide assistance in these complex business situations. Their main goal is to assist organizations to make better decisions. Better decisions means that these solutions support the management of risks, and they have a key role in raising revenue and in reducing cost. The objectives of this chapter are to give an overview of the business intelligence field and its future trends, to demonstrate the most important business intelligence solutions, meanwhile highlighting their risks, business continuity challenges, and IT audit issues. In spite of the fact that this chapter focuses on the business intelligence solutions and their specialities, risk management and the related IT audit approach can be applied for other categories of information systems. IT audit guidelines, best practices, and standards are presented as well, because they give effective tools in controlling process of business intelligence systems.
Perceived Organizational Environment and Performance Reliability in the Case of Hospital Nurses
Authors: Saito Murako
Published: October 2011

Most hospital organizational environments in Japan are required to redesign the current organization into a new type of organization, namely a knowledge-based or an intelligent organization. Team care formation, for instance, which forms a hierarchy with medical doctors having an initiative, and simply gathering some disciplinary staff in plural areas, is not adequate. Redesigning an innovative organization is not possible without appropriate transformation into a flexible and resilient organization that can cope with the contingency of complex social environment. Professional staff in hospitals need to develop their work organization to be more flexible and adaptive to the changes in society. The accidental events which happen in hospitals are rarely controlled only by technical countermeasures or by traditional human resource management, but can be purposefully aligned by the appropriate application of knowledge management methodologies. Accuracy of human action is not merely acquired by avoiding erroneous behavior, rather it is ensured by continuously redesigning work organizational climate for the participants to take an autonomic action with the sense of organizational citizenship and social responsibility. The focus in this chapter is placed on the current situations of work organization of hospitals in Japan and on the comparison of perceived nursing work, incidence rates during 24 hours of nursing care work, and reduced reliability among four control modes of organizational environment, such as strategic, tactical, opportunistic, and scrambled. This study suggests that cognitive reliability on work conditions and on perceived work environment plays a critical role in improving performance reliability and in reducing human errors in order to provide a high quality of nursing care.
Aligning Six Sigma and ITIL to Improve IT Service Management
Authors: Chan Peter C. , Durant Shauntell R. , Gall Verna Mae , Raisinghani Mahesh S.
Published: October 2011

Organizations are implementing IT Service Management (ITSM) and creating quality standards to design, deliver, and manage IT services to meet or exceed an agreed level of quality. ITSM uses the best practices of IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) that informs IT management what needs to be done and how it will get done from the process perspective. However when undertaking an ITSM a project to implement ITIL, ITIL does not provide a method for measuring quality or identifying and completing process improvement projects. By integrating the Six Sigma quality methodology, IT management will have the methodology and tools for measuring quality and improving processes. Adopting Six Sigma principles also helps IT managers focus on their business strategy and customers, manage proactively based on facts, and reinforce collaboration across the enterprise. The framework in our exploratory experience based research has been built upon a deductive study which has been developed through a literature review and synthesis and an exploratory inductive research which has been developed using a qualitative case study methodology in the e-services and mobile applications field.
Integration of Knowledge Resources in R&D Organizations
Authors: Janev Valentina , Vraneš Sanja
Published: October 2011

This article presents the process of design and implementation of a holistic knowledge management infrastructure for R&D organizations from human resources (HR) perspective. The approach addresses HR challenges such as support for an open and flexible organizational structure, support for managing the specific assets of an R&D organization, supports for analysis and reporting, both internally and towards research funding bodies, as well as integration into the semantic web community space. Using an illustrative case study of a concrete research intensive establishment, the Mihajlo Pupin Institute, this article shows how the latest semantic technologies (ontologies, SPARQL, Semantic Wiki) could be used on the top of the commercial SAP® Enterprise Resource Planning system and the open-source Alfresco Enterprise Content Management system in order to ensure meaningful search and retrieval of the expertise for inhouse users as well as the integration in European research space and beyond.
An Empirical Investigation of Stress Factors in Information Technology Professionals
Authors: Raghavan Vijay V. , Sakaguchi Toru , Mahaney Robert C.
Published: October 2011

This study explores whether organizations can employ job design strategies to relieve organizational stress for information technology (IT) professionals. The effect of flexible work schedule, employee support and training, and telecommuting as potential coping resources to relieve stress were studied. Perceived workload, role ambiguity, work facilitation, and decision latitude were drawn from previous studies as potential stressors of IT professionals. Perceived stress was measured by two commonly used measures: work exhaustion and depressed mood. The results suggest that removing role ambiguity and improving work-facilitation ease work-related stress. Allowing employees to have flexible work schedules was also found to ease their perceptions of workload. Employee support and training strategies were found to influence decision latitude and role ambiguity. Telecommuting did not have any effect on the stressors. Results also indicate that the association between work exhaustion and depressed mood was stronger for males than females.
Diffusing Management Information for Legal Compliance
Authors: Braganza Ashley , Hackney Ray
Published: October 2011

Information systems are vital to successful compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act. However, there is little published academic literature which reports systematic studies that explain how IS organizations implement 404. Institutional theory was adopted as the lens through which to examine the experiences of 404 implementation in three global organizations. The methodology for the research involved in-depth case study analysis. We conclude that key implementation drivers for 404 are directives from senior authorities, financial and resource subsidies, standards being set and adhered to, and knowledge being deployed. The findings are believed to present significant insights into the complexities and role of IS in providing valid and appropriate approaches to 404 compliance.
Examining the Merits of Usefulness Versus Use in an Information Service Quality and Information System Success Web-Based Model
Authors: Landrum Hollis T. , Prybutok Victor R. , Strutton David , Zhang Xiaoni
Published: October 2011

Managers are increasingly facing the question of how to convey electronic information to e-commerce users in a manner that enables those individuals to resolve information search related problems more easily. Information service quality and the associated performance is challenging to manage in Web-based interactions because such settings involve several features (i.e., less tangible contact, more uncertainty, differing feedback loops between business and consumer) not found in more traditional exchanges. In an attempt to capture a broader view of the quality of information service offerings in ecommerce settings, the model compares the DeLone and McLean’s framework (2003) that includes use as an outcome measure with a model suggested by Landrum and Prybutok (2004) that features usefulness as its outcome measure. A random survey of Army Corps of Engineers library customers was performed at two library sites within the Corps.
Outsourcing in the Healthcare Industry
Authors: Gupta Amar , Goyal Raj K. , Joiner Keith A. , Saini Sanjay
Published: October 2011

The healthcare industry is being impacted by advances in information technology in four major ways: first, a broad spectrum of tasks that were previously done manually can now be performed by computers; second, some tasks can be outsourced to other countries using inexpensive communications technology; third, longitudinal and societal healthcare data can now be analyzed in acceptable periods of time; and fourth, the best medical expertise can sometimes be made available without the need to transport the patient to the doctor or vice versa. The healthcare industry will increasingly use a portfolio approach comprised of three closelycoordinated components seamlessly interwoven together: healthcare tasks performed by humans on-site; healthcare tasks performed by humans off-site, including tasks performed in other countries; and healthcare tasks performed by computers without direct human involvement. Finally, this paper deals with intellectual property and legal aspects related to the three-pronged healthcare services paradigm.
Knowledge Management and Organization Security Issues
Authors: Sena James A.
Published: October 2011

This chapter focuses on organization security issues in knowledge management. Security has always been a major corporate consideration. It must be ingrained in the firm’s core processes. An organization’s ability to learn from experience and translate ideas into action is key to sustaining competitive advantage. Under this context and prescribed purpose technology and communication tools are the glue that allows the people to operate under the company’s structure. The social impact of physical space, technology adjustment, and the change to the business environment is dictated by security restrictions and innovations in communication. This chapter addresses security by looking at technology tools, resource utilizers and communication tools.
Virtual Heterarchy
Authors: Pankowska Malgorzata , Sroka Henryk
Published: October 2011

The rapid development of information communication technology (ICT) encourages companies to compete. However, those competitive development goals should enable people to satisfy their own needs and enjoy a better quality of work and life without compromising the quality of life of other people and future generations. Corporate governance models are needed to concentrate on changes of existing rules, customs, practices and rights as the subject matter of governance to be influenced. Governance models must recognize the limitations of the overburdened state and the consequent need to take advantage of existing institutions and structures that promote sustainability. An increasing number of companies are moving into new forms of competition which can be described as information-based competition, knowledge-based competition, technology–based competition and ICT relationship-based competition. However, unlimited supply of information from Internet and other sources, easiness to register and transfer the information, reduced prices of ICT devices result in increase of information processing and its overload. Therefore, information governance model proposed in the chapter seems to be a pattern to deal with information in contemporary common organizations i.e. virtual heterarchical organizations where access to information is democratically permitted. The proposed model is to be an answer to ensure sustainable governance of information i.e. balance, stability and progress of information processing.
Embedding Context-Awareness into a Daily Object for Improved Information Awareness
Authors: Fujinami Kaori , Kawsar Fahim
Published: October 2011

In this chapter, a case study on augmenting a daily object, mirror, for a contextual ambient display is presented. The mirror presents information relevant to a person who is standing and utilizing unshareable objects, e.g. a toothbrush, in front of it on the periphery of his/her field of vision. We investigated methods of interaction with the mirror by analyzing user preferences against contrastive functionalities. Experiments were conducted by a Wizard-of-Oz method and an in-situ experiment. The results showed that a short absence of the mirror function was not a big issue for the majority of participants once they were interested in presented information. The analysis also allowed us to specify requirements and further research questions in order to make an augmented mirror acceptable.
A Survey on the use of Emotions, Mood, and Personality in Ambient Intelligence and Smart Environments
Authors: Ramos Carlos , Marreiros Goreti , Santos Ricardo
Published: October 2011

This Chapter is a survey dealing with the use of emotions and mood to characterize an Ambient Intelligence system. In particular, a key aspect of the described research is the assumption that each level of an Ambient Intelligence infrastructure (e.g., sensing, reasoning, action) can benefit from the introduction of emotion and mood modelling. The Chapter surveys well-known models (e.g., OCC, Big Five – Five Factor Model, PAD, just to name a few) discussing for each one Pros and Cons. Next, architectures for emotional agents are discussed, e.g., Cathexis (assuming the somatic marker hypothesis proposed by Damasio), Flame, Tabasco and many others. Finally, specific implementation examples of emotional agents in Ambient Intelligence scenarios are described.