bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Priorities Assignment for Information Systems Based on Todim Multicriteria Method
Authors: Paula Cabral Seixas Costa Ana , Teixeira de Almeida Adiel , F. Autran M. Gomes Luiz
Published: October 2017

The paper presents how to select modules of an information system, applying a multicriteria decision approach, using the interactive multicriteria decision making method - TODIM. The problem is to assign priorities for information modules in the planning stage of information systems. These priorities should be attributed in agreement with the decision makers’ preferences, considering the impact on strategic factors and operational aspects of processes, as examples of criteria. The TODIM method is based on the prospect theory and has the technical resources to minimise the possibility of occurrence of the reversion order. It also allows the multicriteria decision approach a group of interdependent actions; this method uses the additive difference model to determine the ranking of an alternative over another one. An analytical structure is proposed to incorporate the multicriteria TODIM method, integrated with the information system planning methodology. Strategic factors and operational aspects of processes are integrated.
The Lack of Communication and the Need of IT for Supply-Chain Management Strategies in SMEs
Authors: Fulantelli Giovanni , Allegra Mario , Zelia Pia Vitrano Antonia
Published: October 2017

The term “Supply Chain Management” (SCM) denotes the creation, integration, planning and control of all elements of universal added-value chains, from the procurement of raw materials to the final delivery to the customer. IT offer huge potentials for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises to activate effective SCM mechanisms. Even though experts estimate the potential saving that can be achieved through the implementation of effective SCM strategies at 3-5 per cent of turnover, SMEs are experiencing a great deal of difficulty in coping with these strategies. Reasons for this, especially among small enterprises (50 employees and under), are to be found in the specific enterprise culture. The results presented in this paper are the outcome of an EU funded project named “Supply Chain Partnership”, a pilot project aimed at analysing the communication, social and technological obstacles to the implementation of effective SCM strategies in SMEs. The focus of this paper is on the Italian experience, and concerns an industrial district located in Sicily.
The Status of End-User Computing Support: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Govindarajulu Chittibabu , K. Lippert Susan
Published: October 2017

End-User Computing (EUC) influences user productivity, information systems backlogs and user satisfaction. An exploratory study of 192 Midwest end-users was undertaken to investigate support services and end-user types superimposed on support sources. The results of this integrated review offer a richer understanding of end-user dynamics. Data collection occurred through a three-part questionnaire. End-user types were categorized using the Cotterman and Kumar (1989) classification scheme. Support categories were assessed using the Mirani and King (1994) instrument. The Govindarajulu and Reithel (1998) assessment instrument evaluated support services within information centers for local MIS staff and informal assistance. Results are presented from instrument validation procedures and descriptive data analysis that permit conclusions about EUC dynamics. Instrument validation was conducted using standard measures of internal consistency reliability and factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha and a Principle Components Factor Analysis (PCFA), to facilitate factor loading. Descriptive data analysis employed conventional frequency distributions, scatterplots, descriptive data statistics, and other graphical data displays.
A Role for Information Systems Education Programs
Authors: Alan Hodgett R.
Published: October 2017

The international media continually reports a worldwide shortage of skilled information technology literate people. An intermediary role or disciplinary area between business requirements and computer science has been identified in the past. A number of institutions have developed information systems education programs to fill this role. A survey of pasl graduates and employers evaluates the performance of several information systems education programs at the University of South Australia.
Towards an Adaptive Multimedia Learning Environment
Authors: Kurzel Frank , Slay Jill , Chau Yenha
Published: October 2017

In this paper, we describe an evolving adaptive multimedia learning environment that utilises multimedia presentation techniques in its interface while still providing Internet connectivity for management and delivery purposes. The structure of the domain is based on concepts that can be presented in a variety of ways; multimedia players display the content on the client computer. A student and course model exists that determine what content item is presented, based on both student prior competencies (pre-requisite knowledge and skills) and preferences.
Informing Across a Cultural Divide: Delivery of Distance Education
Authors: Miliszewska Iwona , Horwood John
Published: October 2017

Victoria University offers a Computer Science degree in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong program matches the one in Melbourne, but both the content coverage and the delivery model of the Hong Kong program are affected by expectations and demands of the Hong Kong government and students. The paper outlines challenges, legislative, cultural, quality, time and distance that shaped the program delivery model. It examines the social construction of the program curriculum, and identifies cultural factors that have had most impact in modifying the program. The paper regards distance education as an informing discipline and discusses the program delivery model in terms of the Informing Science Framework. It uses a Project subject to illustrate the model and rationale behind it, and comments on suitability of various multimedia components as program delivery vehicles. The paper concludes by considering the implications of the Hong Kong program experience on future directions in distance education.
E-Business Education: A Comparison of Graduate Programs and Curricula
Authors: E. Novitzki James
Published: October 2017

This study looks at both MBA and MS E-business programs. Specifically it looks at the number and types of courses offered in these programs and compares and contrasts what is offered between the MS and MBA programs, and also between the different groups of schools being studied. Results indicate that there is no real consensus in what knowledge is core to the concentration. The programs offered at any particular school seem to have only incidental agreement with other programs, and many seem to be the result of faculty skills available and requests for specific skills from organizations, rather than a logical integrated approach to the issues inherent in the global issues of Ebusiness. There appears to be a major need to determine the core knowledge that is critical in the design, development, management, and operation of E-business in organizations to produce graduates with consistent knowledge that is school independent.
Learning Object Repository Technologies for TeleLearning: The Evolution of POOL and CanCore
Authors: Richards Griff , McGreal Rory , Friesen Norm
Published: October 2017

Repositories provide mechanisms to encourage the discovery, exchange and re-use of learning objects. This paper describes Portals for On-line Objects in Learning (POOL), a consortium project of the TeleLearning NCE to build a learning object repository scalable to the national level. Funded in part by the Canarie Learning Program, POOL contributes to the development of two focal technologies: “POOL POND and SPLASH” a distributed architecture for a peer-to-peer network of learning object repositories, and CanCore, a practical metadata protocol for cataloguing learning objects.
Utility and Flexibility Functions for Potential Customers in B2B E-Commerce Transactions
Authors: Stavrovski Boris
Published: October 2017

One of the most evident premises for successful E-Commerce transaction should lie in as much detailed recognition of personal customers’ differentiation as it becomes possible through the usage of multiple data resources available over the Internet. The methodical basis for the evaluation and subsequent utilization of all available data may be formed under the well known concepts of the utility theory. A new quantitative measure of the personal readiness for acceptable concessions in E-Commerce transaction (when the item under the consideration have been already chosen) is proposed in a form of so called flexibility functions for potential customers. Flexibility functions are shown to be useful also as a measure of the personal readiness for changes in a scale of attractiveness for all admissible items. The simple algorithms for the derivation of flexibility functions alongside with the particular examples from the commercial real estate field are further discussed.
E-Learning in a Financial Institution
Authors: Jauregui Kety , Andreu Rafael
Published: October 2017

This paper examines how information technology is used in training. It also analyzes the consequences when a particular financial institution based in Barcelona starts to use new technologies to deliver a training program aimed at providing basic knowledge of the business to new employees joining the branch network throughout Spain. From our study, we conclude that there is great potential in the use of new technologies in training. They are being used to exchange (deliver and receive) the course materials, including syllabus, tasks and theoretical content, and as a means of interaction between participants and teachers, and among participants. However, implementing such an online communication system is not very easy, for instance, developing virtual communities of formal and non-formal learning, obtaining adequate course coherence when combining face-to-face and virtual learning, creating virtual courses based on real cases, and having in-house employees as on-line tutors.
The Experience of Information Distribution in a Distance Learning University: The Spanish Case
Authors: de Pablos Carmen , Juliana Lopez M.
Published: October 2017

Information and communication technologies offer us new possibilities to improve the way we develop our own work as both educators and researchers. In this paper we have stressed the particular case of their application to a Spanish Distance Learning University, the UNED, by emphasising the peculiarities of a distance learning traditional university, different from a virtual university or a traditional one that wants to use these technologies. First we offer a general vision about the University’s main objectives, main procedures and traditional information systems used. Second we show the change of the situation when the University decided to implement new technological tools as Internet and the WebCT. We pay a special attention to how these tools are trying to solve the specific situations that a university with these special characteristics faces.
Factors Affecting Home Internet Use in Central Queensland
Authors: J. Taylor W , X Zhu G. , Dekkers J. , Marshall S.
Published: October 2017

This paper reports on a social survey that was conducted in 2001 in Central Queensland, Australia, in order to identify the disadvantaged groups in relation to accessing the Internet from home. The research found that people in younger age groups, with higher education levels, being married , having children at home, owning a house/flat, with the higher income level, or being employed, had higher levels of Internet access from home respectively, compared to their counterparts. Regression analysis found that variation of any factors of education levels, marital status, children at home, income level and employment status may affect the decision to access the Internet from home. It also found that unemployment and low education levels were two major factors detrimentally affecting home Internet access and that seniors (>55 years of age) were disadvantaged because of lack of awareness and capability to use the Internet.
Personalising the Learning Environment
Authors: Kurzel Frank , Slay Jill , Hagenus Kim
Published: October 2017

In this paper, we describe the development of a personalised multimedia/hypermedia learning environment that utilises multimedia presentation techniques in its interface while still providing Internet connectivity for management and delivery purposes. The structure of the domain is based on concepts that can be presented in a variety of ways; multimedia players display the content on the client computer. Tools are provided in the interface to allow students to search for concepts and create personalised views of the materials. Link annotations driven by an overlay student model are supported in all components of the system. The system supports the WWW as its addressing space but uses the local client areas to store media items expensive in terms of delivery time. Learning objects that provide frameworks for tasks and other summative assessment activities are stored on a server and delivered when required.
Possible, Probable and Preferable Futures of the Digital Divide
Authors: Mitchell Matthew
Published: October 2017

The digital divide is widely recognized as a contemporary problem between society and technology. Strategies for bridging the digital divide are often informed and guided by quantitative assessments of the deployment of information communication technologies. There are few rigorous qualitative attempts to assess the digital divide from either an ethnographic or a futures-oriented perspective. This paper reports findings from a study that examined the possible, probable and preferable futures of the digital divide from an ethnographic perspective. The contents of this report include background to the problem of the digital divide, a review of literature describing the relationship between society and technology, findings from the data collection, and implications for future strategies to bridge the digital divide.
Using Text Analysis to Inform Clients of the Subject of a Document
Authors: Drori Offer
Published: October 2017

Contemporary information databases contain many millions of electronic documents. Locating information on the Internet today is problematic, due to the enormous number of documents it contains. Several other studies have found that associating documents with a subject or list of topics can improve lo-catability of information on the Internet (Drori, 2000a 2000b 2000c). Effective cataloguing of information is performed manually, requiring extensive resources. Consequently, most information is currently not catalogued. This paper aims to present a software tool that automatically locates the subject of a document and to show the results of a test performed, using the software tool, TextAnalysis, specially developed for this purpose. The main purpose of this study is to inform clients of the subject of the corpus of texts it obtains from search engines as a search results list.
The Relationship between Technological Innovation Activity Based Costing and Business Size
Authors: Askarany Davood , Smith Malcolm
Published: October 2017

Size is one of the most controversial influencing factors in the diffusion literature. Some authors argue that large firms have several advantages over smaller firms in the adoption of an innovation (Brown 1981), while others argue that diffusion of innovation in small firms is quicker than in large firms because of the advantages associated with small size (Acs & Audretsh, 1988; Julien, 1993; Lefebvre & Le-febvre, 1993; Riding, 1993). However, the controversy on the impact of size on diffusion of innovation has been further complicated by the mixed results of the studies investigating the relationship between size as an influential factor and diffusion of innovation (Aiken, et al., 1980; Blau & McKinley, 1979; Booth & Giacobbe, 1998; Damanpour, 1992; Dewar & Dutton, 1986; Hage, 1980; Krumwiede, 1998; Libby & Waterhouse, 1996). Shedding light on this controversy, this paper examines the relationship between business size and the diffusion of both technological innovation and activity based costing (ABC) through a longitudinal study in a single industry.
Rethinking Social and Economic Development: Promoting Digital Literacy
Authors: Amiri Shahram
Published: October 2017

Today’s digital divide that separates the “haves” and the “have nots” is attributed in part to geography, race, income, employment, age, gender, and education. Not only do some segments of the population remain unconnected, but these sectors also have no desire to connect. Thus, the connected portions of the world must create an urge and necessity to connect so that even the most remote location can access the same information as countries with technological enrichment. The first step towards worldwide connectivity involves worldwide understanding, achieved through information literacy, therefore allowing each person to become an independent, self-sufficient user. These characteristics lead to a better education, where the user can reap the benefits of schooling and life experience because of information literacy skills. The most important reward is an overall improved life where the Internet no longer separates people, but instead brings them together for work, communication, and leisure. These goals can only be accomplished through a collaborative effort involving both those connected, and those not connected. Without cooperation from both sides, the digital divide will continue existing.
More Dominant in their Inactivity: Consumer Response and the Adoption of Digital TV in Australia
Authors: D. Weerakkody Niranjala
Published: October 2017

After much hesitation, discussion, and power brokering, Australia adopted digital TV for its Free-to air broadcasting on January 1, 2001. However, by December 2002, only a few thousand homes had adopted the technology. This paper examines the implementation and regulation of digital TV in Australia from the point of view of the ‘established base’ the new technology will replace, theories on diffusion and innovation of new technologies, and the Justification Model, which sees technology choice as social gambling. It then evaluates the various protectionist regulations and limitations imposed on the technology to safeguard the various stakeholders, the implementation strategies used, lack of digital content, marketing efforts, negative media coverage, and the economic realities of the technology, and argues that if consumers reject the technology altogether, it would lead to Australia missing the future applications of digital technology and the opportunity to address the issue of the ‘digital divide’ in the 21st century.
Bridging the Digital Divide in Rural Appalachia: Internet Usage in the Mountains
Authors: J. Podber Jacob
Published: October 2017

This project looks at Internet usage within the Melungeon community of Appalachia. Although much has been written on the coal mining communities of Appalachia and on ethnicity within the region, there has been little written on electronic media usage by Appalachian communities, most notably the Melun-geons. The Melungeons are a group who settled in the Appalachian Mountains as early as 1492, of apparent Mediterranean descent. Considered by some to be tri-racial isolates, to a certain extent, Melungeons have been culturally constructed, and largely self-identified. According to the founder of a popular Melungeon Web site, the Internet has proven an effective tool in uncovering some of the mysteries and folklore surrounding the Melungeon community. This Web site receives more than 21,000 hits a month from Melungeons or others interested in the group. The Melungeon community, triggered by recent books, films, and video documentaries, has begun to use the Internet to trace their genealogy. Through the use of oral history interviews, this study examines how Melungeons in Appalachia use the Internet to connect to others within their community and to the world at large.
Designing Online Information Systems for Portfolio-Based Assessment: Design Criteria and Heuristics
Authors: Love Terence , Cooper Trudi
Published: October 2017

This paper reports the main findings of an exploratory investigation into the key factors necessary to designing information systems for online portfolio-based assessment in tertiary, professional, secondary and primary education that maximize benefits for all stakeholders. A review of contemporary practice in designing online portfolio assessment systems showed a widespread neglect of several key factors necessary to formulating designs that maximize benefits for all stakeholders. In addition, it was found that design processes were marked by an over-emphasis on technical issues to facilitate implementation rather than addressing the primary educational goals. The result is online portfolio systems that fall significantly short of their potential, and, in many cases, are inferior to conventional portfolio assessment and other more traditional assessment approaches. The paper identifies key design factors necessary for successful conceptual design of online portfolio information systems that maximize benefits for all stakeholders. Initial design heuristics are outlined for designing online portfolio assessment information systems that provide improvements on conventional portfolio assessment and other assessment modalities for all stakeholders.
Panel on: Maintaining Identity in the Virtual World
Authors: Lu Xin-An , Yang Jun , Mikkola Leena , Jakala Mikko
Published: October 2017

Being able to establish and maintain an identity on the virtual world is becoming an increasingly important issue in the twenty-first century. These presentations address this critical issue from three perspectives: virtual identity fraud, virtual social support, and access to virtual communication technologies.
Public Perceptions of Biometric Devices:The Effect of Misinformation on Acceptance and Use
Authors: Moody Janette
Published: October 2017

Organizations are introducing biometric devices into various sections of the economy for various reasons. What began as a security feature for a limited number of government organizations has been adapted to such diverse uses as paying for school children’s lunches to tracking employees’ work attendance. From an organizational perspective, justifications for use of biometric devices are plentiful. However, the public’s perception of these devices may be quite different. These perceptions in turn will influence public willingness to accept and use biometric devices. Although employee use of biometric devices can be mandated, a more productive alternative might be to understand their perceptions and address those specifically through education and information. This paper describes common types of biometrics, reviews their current use in organizations, presents findings of a recent survey of public perceptions to determine the areas requiring the most education, and concludes with suggestions for providing this education.
How Much Can We Spare with E-business: Examining the Effects in Supply Chain Management
Authors: Ferbar Liljana
Published: October 2017

In this paper we concentrate on one aspect of e-business applications, namely on its effects in supply chain management. We derive a mathematical model that shows how different changes in ordering costs as a result of using e-business can affect the optimal ordering intervals and quantity, average stock level and consequently total inventory-related costs. We study the sensitivity of the objective function of the average cost approach to finite magnitude perturbations of some of the system parameters which influence the optimal ordering policy. We deal with the detailed coordination case of two-level model and determine the conditions in which the model is sensitive to the variation of system parameters.
e-HR and Employee Self Service: A Case Study of a Victorian Public Sector Organisation
Authors: Hawking Paul , Stein Andrew , Foster Susan
Published: October 2017

The application of the internet to the Human Resource function (e-HR) combines two elements: one is the use of electronic media whilst the other is the active participation of employees in the process. These two elements drive the technology that helps organisations lower administration costs, improve employee communication and satisfaction, provide real time access to information while at the same time reducing processing time. This technology holds out the promise of challenging the past role of HR as one of payroll processing and manual administrative processes to one where cost efficiencies can be gained, enabling more time and energy to be devoted to strategic business issues. The relative quick gains with low associated risk have prompted many Australian companies to realise what can be achieved through the implementation of a business to employee (B2E) model. Employee Self Service (ESS), a solution based on the B2E model enables employees to access the corporate human resource information system 24x7. This paper adopts a case study approach with a view to investigating the benefits and associated issues obtained from an implementation of an ESS in an Australian public sector organisation.Keywords: Employee Self Service, e-Human Resources, B2E, HRMIS, ERP Systems, Australian Case Study
Do Project Manager’s Utilise Potential Customers in E-Commerce Developments?
Authors: Terry Julian , Standing Craig
Published: October 2017

In e-commerce, customers have become Information System users. In this environment of nonmandatory usage, remote, untrained users need to quickly feel comfortable and satisfied with a site encounter. Throughout the literature for four decades, a commonly cited factor pertaining to system success has been user participation in the systems development process. Among other things this is likely to lead to increased user satisfaction and the perceived usefulness of the application. This study surveys project leaders regarding customer participation in e-commerce development activities, as well as several constraints that may hinder this participation. The business need for a rewarding customer experience on an e-commerce site would suggest customer input would substantially influence the site design. The study finds that although participation by customers in developmental activities is occurring, it is having little influence on the design of the site.
Introducing Instruction into a Personalised Learning Environment
Authors: Kurzel Frank
Published: October 2017

In this paper, we describe the theory and techniques we have employed within a pre-existing learning environment to provide personalised features for students within an IT related domain. Our system is based on concepts, both declarative and practical, that can be combined in different configurations, and displayed in different media formats to account for different students. We also use instructional objects to represent higher level instructional content that play particular roles in a methodology. These objects could be groupings of concepts presented to the learner, or some instructional template that plays another role within the methodology. Students have access to all course metadata through a range of tools, along with web based tools to scrutinise and access information stored about them. This includes both the formal assessment data along with the individual settings that drive the environment.
Web-enhanced Course
Authors: MacEntee Virginia , Lewis Barbara
Published: October 2017

The purpose of this paper is to review the findings from a web enhanced course, SPE 304-800 Educational Planning for All Students, offered at SUNY Oswego in the fall 2003 semester. It discusses the rationale for developing a web enhanced class. It analyses the success of the webenhanced class from both the student and instructor prospective
To PhD or not to PhD
Authors: A. Hodgett R.
Published: October 2017

This article questions whether the PhD remains the most relevant advanced qualification for the majority of academic staff in Australian universities given the changes in the environment of the universities over the past two decades.
Computer Use and Immersion in a Non-IT course
Authors: David Brecht H. , M. Ogilby Suzanne , Sauls Eugene
Published: October 2017

This paper presents an enhanced strategy to incorporate computer applications in a non-IT course, called Computer Immersion Strategy (CIS). Previous attempts to fully incorporate current technology in accounting courses highlighted the failure of those strategies to enable or motivate students to master analytical problem-solving skills. In response to this crucial shortcoming, CIS was developed for use in a numerically technical but non-IT course - cost accounting. The CIS strategy marries seven pedagogical and computer-use techniques to develop student analytical problem-solving: 1) sequencing of problem-solving techniques versus concepts, 2) increased complexity of problems solved by students, 3) in-class computer problems solved by students, 4) more convenient access to necessary course files, 5) interactive in-class assignments on the computer 6) course projects requiring the use of the computer, and 7) multi-media lectures made available through the course files.
Contextual Factors and Administrative Changes
Authors: Askarany Davood , Smith Malcolm
Published: October 2017

This paper explores the impact of a variety of contextual factors on the diffusion of six administrative innovations. The paper explores the level importance of 13 contextual factors on decisions^) to implement (or not) administrative changes. It also examines the level of association between contextual factors and the diffusion of six administrative innovations, finding that the several contextual factors contribute significantly to the incidence of administrative change.
ERP Systems and User Perceptions: An Approach for Implementation Success
Authors: Thavaruban Thavapragasam Xavier
Published: October 2017

The growth of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems since the 90’s has been immense. Their organisational wide functionality is vast and overall capabilities are enormous but their success, usability and the user perception is questioned in the information systems (IS) literature. This paper looks at an implemented ERP system in a large Australian University. The core aspect of the paper is the user perception on the implemented system, which is measured by two criteri-ons: user satisfaction and post-implementation factors. The author is using interviews, documentary analysis and observation techniques for data gathering. Based on the gathered findings, the author portrays the use of participatory design (PD) methods as a possible tool for successful ERP implementation. User-Centred Design (UCD) and Joint Application Development (JAD) were compared as part of the PD approach and it was concluded that the UCD approach would best suit for the development and the implementation of an ERP system.
The Human Dimension on Distance Learning: A Case Study of a Telecommunication Company
Authors: Keiko Nakayama Marina , Smith Pilla Bianca , Binotto Erlaine , Azambuja Silveira Ricardo
Published: October 2017

This paper describes a case study concerning the human dimension in a Distance Learning (DL) program implemented at a telecommunications company in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The objective was to identify how the company addresses this perspective in the administration of their DL System. To attain the proposed objectives, documentation techniques, direct observation and interviews were used. The findings reveal that only some human aspects of DL are receiving priority in the company. It is reported that the DL have some problems of the traditional training and new problems as well. The research points out that a new learning model directed to knowledge build-up is needed.
Computer Network Simulation and Network Security Auditing in a Spatial Context of an Organization
Authors: Zaliwski Andrzej
Published: October 2017

The business organizations currently functioning inside cyberspace are vulnerable to threats and forms of crimes that were unknown prior to the Internet era. New challenges for security have emerged from this situation. It has become increasingly necessary to educate a large number of professionals to be better prepared to maintain the growing number of computer networks. Also, there is a need to place strong emphasis on the security aspects of a network. These goals are impossible to realize without solving the following problems: lack of safe infrastructure, where security experiments can not compromise the organization’s security; and the complexity of existing security auditing methodologies which limits the number of professionals who are able to use them. The complexity makes difficult to obtain a bird-eye view of the whole company’s security system in a way similar to tactical and strategic military map. This hinders the ability to have a single complete status of an organization. This paper describes a tool that can be used to overcome the above problems.
Understanding Information Technology: What do Graduates from Business-oriented IS Curricula Need to Know?
Authors: Beachboard John , Parker Kevin
Published: October 2017

This paper describes the results of a study designed to assess the practical relevance of learning objectives for a course that corresponds to the IS 2002.4 recommended guidelines for an information technology hardware and systems software course. This study represents the first step in identifying the baseline technical knowledge that IS majors should possess upon entering practice. The survey reveals a general consensus among survey participants, consisting of experienced IT academics and practitioners, that learning objectives associated with systems thinking, systems administration functions, and information assurance practices are useful. However, the survey revealed that study participants had notably different perceptions concerning the value of learning objectives associated with achieving a deeper understanding of technical concepts concerning the design and functioning of hardware and systems software. The identification of these systematically differing perceptions among IT professionals is provocative and warrants further investigation.
The IT Revolution: Applications and Strategies for Transgeographic Learning and Academia in the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Buzzetto-More Nicole
Published: October 2017

Digital technologies are closing spatial and temporal gaps while engendering expansive new international communities. Replete with symbolic interactions, these transgeographic communities inspire new realms of educational possibility, allowing educators and learners to broaden perspectives through intellectual discourse and collaboration while eradicating cultural divides. The Summer Ecosystems Experience for Undergraduates (SEE-U) is a superior model of how such technology can be used to this end. Available to colleges and university students worldwide, the SEE-U program operates at three geographically distinct locations concurrently. The program includes global networking, GPS and GIS usage, real-time interactions, data collection, a globally networked geo-referenced digital database that was specifically created for this project, data manipulation, online lectures, bulletin board discussions, Web-based office hours, links to relevant resources, expert presenters, online demonstration videos, networked simulations, collaborative research, and a series of student presentations.
A Review of Distance Learning Influences on Adult Learners: Advantages and Disadvantages
Authors: O'Lawrence Henry
Published: October 2017

This paper discussed the advantages and disadvantages of distance learning influences on adult learners. Distance learning has become popular in higher institutions because of its flexibility and availability to learners and teachers at anytime, regardless of geographic location. With so many definitions and phases of distance education, this paper only focuses on the delivery mode of distance education (the use of information technology), background, and its disadvantages and advantages for today’s adult learners. Overall, distance learning is increasingly becoming an alternative in education, industry, large corporation, and various government entities, by and large when students, employees are far and wide spread geographically within and outside that region in which the course has been taken place. As a result of this success, the benefits of distance learning have led many higher educational institutions to implement some distance learning classes, even if on an experimental basis. As a consequence, society in general may benefit from an overall increase in literacy through greater access to education (Belanger & Jordan, 2004). In the United States alone, 62% of public 4-year institutions offered some courses over the Internet in 1995, an increase of 150% over 1992 (National Center for Educational Statistics, 1997).
Ethical IT Behaviour as a Function of Environment
Authors: Jewels Tony , Evans Nina
Published: October 2017

Research is currently being undertaken to compare attitudes and behaviour towards ethics in information technology between students at an Australian and a South African university. This work provides a background to ethics from the literature from which a behavioural model for micro-level ethical standards is proposed. Using a theoretical underpinning of Fishbein & Azjen’s Theory of Reasoned Action, a survey document has been developed to identify and compare what constructs most affect an individual’s intention to behave in situations requiring ethical considerations.
A Framework for the Evaluation of CASE Tool Learnability in Educational Environments
Authors: Senapathi Mali
Published: October 2017

The aim of the research is to derive a framework for the evaluation of Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) tool learnability in educational environments. Drawing from the literature of Human Computer Interaction and educational research, a framework for evaluating CASE tool learnability in educational environments is derived. The two main differences between this framework and existing evaluation frameworks is that 1) it is specific to educational environments and 2) it recognizes the significance of contextual factors such as learning environment and teaching and learning methodologies in evaluating learnability. The framework is oriented towards learnability and is customisable. It helps to define the important issues related to CASE tool learnability, and allows conclusions to be drawn about all influential factors on learning in the given context. A detailed case study describes the application of the framework to evaluate the learnability of Rational Rose, a CASE tool used in an undergraduate Systems Analysis and Design course.
Resistance to Electronic Medical Records (EMRs): A Barrier to Improved Quality of Care
Authors: Meinert David
Published: October 2017

While most industries have aggressively leveraged information technology (IT) to improve quality and reduce costs the healthcare sector has lagged behind. Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) hold great promise for improving quality of care yet widespread adoption is lacking. Physician acceptance is critical to widespread adoption of ambulatory EMRs, yet there is little independent research on physician perceptions. This paper attempts to address this void by reporting the results of a study of physician perceptions related to EMRs in a large, multi-specialty clinic. Physician perceptions of select EMR functions and general attitudes and beliefs are reported. While the importance and anticipated utilization of EMR functions varied, nearly 80 percent of the respondents felt an EMR should be implemented. The findings have implications for both vendors attempting to design and market EMR systems and physician executives and practice managers seeking to solicit support for EMR adoption and/or develop a successful implementation strategy.
Discipline Formation in Information Management: Case Study of Scientific and Technological Information Services
Authors: Middleton Michael
Published: October 2017

Discipline formation in information management is investigated through a case study of the origination and development of information services for scientific and technical information in Australia. Particular reference is made to a case of AESIS, a national geoscience, minerals and petroleum reference database coordinated by the Australian Mineral Foundation. This study provided a model for consideration of similar services and their contribution to the discipline. The perspective adopted is to consider information management at operational, analytical and strategic levels. Political and financial influences are considered along with analysis of scope, performance and quality control. Factors that influenced the creation, transitions, and abeyance of the service are examined, and some conclusions are drawn about an information management discipline being exemplified by such services.
Optimizing Enterprise IT Infrastructure through Virtual Server Consolidation
Authors: Chen Qiyang , Xin Rubin
Published: October 2017

As computing power and storage needs increase rapidly, companies are looking for ways to reduce costs and improve overall return on investment. Although this is not market responsibility, a better understanding of this knowledge would greatly help managers of the companies that are wishing to enhance their current information technology infrastructure. The purpose of this study is to review issues of virtual server consolidation. Factors contributing to the both the positives and negatives associated with the implementation of virtual server consolidation will be evaluated in order to provide increased awareness of this emerging technology. Practical knowledge is discussed to help information technology managers explore this emerging technology for their enterprise information technology infrastructure.
Multi-Method Evaluations: Case Studies of an Interactive Tutorial and Practice System
Authors: de Villiers Ruth
Published: October 2017

The teaching and learning of a complex section in Theoretical Computer Science 1 in a distance-education context has been enhanced by a supplementary interactive e-learning system with tutorial and practice functionality in a classic computer-aided instruction (CAI) style. A participative action research process was used to develop, evaluate and refine the application over a longitudinal period. Case studies are presented of evaluations by four different methods - questionnaire surveys, interviews, heuristic evaluation and a post-test. Their respective findings, relating to functionality, usability and contributions to learning, are given and discussed. The findings lead to reflection and lessons are learned regarding the design of e-learning applications. In an overview, the complementary roles of different evaluation techniques are discussed.
Openness to Experience: An HCI Experiment
Authors: Saade Raafat , Kira Dennis , Nebebe Fassil , Otrakji Camille
Published: October 2017

Today’s market continues to introduce many and different information communications technologies. As a result, end users are faced with a variety of interfaces which they need to learn and use in a short period of time. The motivation to learn a new interface is subject to many variables most importantly is level of computer competencies, and openness to experience. The aim of this study was to explore end-users’ overall computer competencies, competencies using software with graphical interfaces and openness to experiencing new software interfaces. In a controlled experiment, participants were asked to perform five tasks using an image editing icon based interface software for the first time. We identify possible personality trait construct in modeling better interfaces.
An Information Assurance and Security Curriculum Implementation
Authors: Liles Samuel , Kamali Reza
Published: October 2017

A holistic approach to security education is important to providing practitioners the scope of learning necessary for integration of their skills into the enterprise. Specifically domains of knowledge can easily be identified that allow for this holistic approach to be implemented into a new program of study or curriculum for information assurance and security. Within the Purdue Calumet CIT Department a new curriculum has been written and the program of study has been approved for implementation and the first students have applied to the program. The domains of systems assurance, software assurance, and operations assurance are as critical to the success as the overall goal of ABET accreditation of the program to the ACM SIGITE draft specifications when finalized.
The Issue of Gender Equity in Computer Science - What Students Say
Authors: Miliszewska Iwona , Barker Gayle , Henderson Fiona , Sztendur Ewa
Published: October 2017

The under-representation and poor retention of women in computing courses at Victoria University is a concern that has continued to defy all attempts to resolve it. Despite a range of initiatives created to encourage participation and improve retention of females in the courses, the percentage of female enrolments has declined significantly in recent years, from 32% in 1994 to 18% in 2004, while attrition rates soared to 40% in 2003. A recent research study investigated these negative trends with respect to gender equity in computing courses: of interest was the possibility of gender bias in the learning environment and its impact on female attrition rates. Focus groups and surveys involving computing students of both genders were used as data collection tools in the study. The overall findings from the focus groups were rather surprising, as they yielded no strong indication of gender bias in the learning environment of the computing course; this applied to the logistical arrangements, academic staff, pedagogical methods, and course content. The thesis that the existence of gender bias in the learning environment contributes to high attrition rates of females in computing courses was not sufficiently supported. While the fact that students, both male and female, found their learning environment gender neutral was comforting, the realization that reasons other than gender bias drove females away from the computing course was not. High attrition rate of females remains the reality. Possible explanations of this phenomenon were suggested by the focus groups, and the search for confirmation of these indications and discovery of other contributing factors continued.
Are Universities to Blame for the IT Careers Crisis?
Authors: Van Der Vyver Glen , Lane Michael
Published: October 2017

At a time when the IT industry in general and the IT academy in particular face major challenges, some accuse universities of producing graduates with poor or inappropriate skills. This qualitative study, based on interviews with fifteen senior IT executives and managers in the Australian financial services industry, examines what employers seek when they recruit new graduates. We find that employers now expect much more from IT graduates. They require a blend of technical, business and people skills combined with the right attitude. Furthermore, requirements are highly mediated by contextual factors such as company size and corporate culture. We also find that universities are not perceived as negatively as some would have it. Universities face a significant challenge in producing graduates with much wider skill sets. Although this study was conducted in Australia, we are of the opinion that the issues discussed are relevant in the wider international context.