bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fuzzy Aggregations and Fuzzy Specializations in Eindhoven Fuzzy EER Model
Authors: Galindo Jóse , Urrutia Angélica , Piattini Mario
Published: April 2011

Some approaches about fuzzy ER/EER model have been published recently. Few of these works study how to relax constraints and other aspects expressed in the model. In this chapter our aim is to relax some semantic aspects which have not been studied in previous works and to extend the EER model with fuzzy capabilities. We use fuzzy quantifiers and fuzzy degrees which have been widely studied in the context of fuzzy sets and fuzzy query systems for databases. We will also examine the representation of these new features in an EER model and their practical repercussions. The studied extensions are: fuzzy aggregations and fuzzy aspects on specializations, such as fuzzy degrees, fuzzy completeness constraint, fuzzy cardinality constraint on overlapping specializations, fuzzy disjointed or overlapping constraints, fuzzy attribute defined specializations, fuzzy constraints in union types or categories and fuzzy constraints in shared subclasses (or intersection types). All these fuzzy extensions have a new meaning and offer greater expressiveness in conceptual design.
Regression Test Selection for Database Applications
Authors: Haraty Ramzi A. , Mansour Nashat , Daou Bassel A.
Published: April 2011

Database applications features such as Structured Query Language programming, exception handling, integrity constraints, and table triggers pose difficulties for maintenance activities, especially for regression testing that follows modifying database applications. In this chapter, we address these difficulties and propose a two-phase regression testing methodology. In phase 1, we explore control flow and data flow analysis issues of database applications. Then, we propose an impact analysis technique that is based on dependencies that exist among the components of database applications. This analysis leads to selecting test cases from the initial test suite for regression testing the modified application. In phase 2, we propose two algorithms for reducing the number of regression test cases. The Graph Walk algorithm walks through the control flow graph of database modules and selects a safe set of test cases to retest. The Call Graph Firewall algorithm uses a firewall for the inter-procedural level. Our experience with this regression testing methodology shows that the impact analysis technique is adequate for selecting regression tests and that phase 2 techniques can be used for further reduction in the number of these tests.
An Attempt to Establish a Correspondence between Development Methods and Problem Domains
Authors: Dieste Oscar , Genero Marcela , Juristo Natalia , Moreno Ana M.
Published: April 2011

Most development methods need to be adapted before they can be used in a specific development project. This is because each method can be applied to a series of paradigmatic problems, but, as a problem moves further away from the ideal, the effectiveness of each method gradually decreases. Although development method adaptation has been a recurrent theme in the literature, no work has been published that proposes any sort of criterion or metric that can be used to assess the fitness of any one method to a particular problem. Therefore, in this chapter, we propose a new approach that can be used to calculate the fitness of methods to particular problems.
Using DEMO and ORM in Concert
Authors: Dietz Jan L.G. , Halpin Terry
Published: April 2011

The Demo Engineering Methodology for Organizations (DEMO) enables business processes of organizations to be modeled at a conceptual level, independent of how the processes are implemented. DEMO focuses on the communication acts that take place between human actors in the organization. The Object-Role Modeling (ORM) approach enables business information to be modeled conceptually, in terms of fact types as well as the business rules that constrain how the fact types may be populated for any given state of the information system and how derived facts may be inferred from other facts. ORM also includes procedures to map conceptual data models to physical database schemas. Both DEMO and ORM treat fact types as fundamental, and require that their models be expressible in natural language sentences. This suggests that the approaches may be synthesized in a natural way, resulting in a more powerful method for business modeling. This chapter discusses an exploratory case study in which both methods were used in concert, and identifies some lessons learned.
Revisiting Workflow Modeling with Statecharts
Authors: Mok Wai Y. , Paper David
Published: April 2011

In this chapter, we model business workflows using Harel’s statecharts. We demonstrate that mapping to statecharts allows one to systematically identify potential workflow problems. Moreover, it also allows one to investigate specific properties inherent in actual business workflows. Our research focuses on three desirable properties of active database systems — termination, confluence, and observable determinism. As a theoretical lens for termination and confluence, we develop algorithms linking desirable active database system properties to workflow management systems problems. Preliminary validation of our algorithms is accomplished by mapping business workflows from a case study. Our research thus generates preliminary theory by developing a systematic method for identifying workflow problems.
Framework for the Rapid Development of Modeling Environments
Authors: Ledeczi Akos , Matoti Miklos , Volgyesi Peter
Published: April 2011

This chapter introduces the concepts and techniques required for developing graphical, domain-specific modeling and program synthesis environments. It argues that a fully functional modeling environment can be quickly developed for a wide variety of engineering domains using a configurable and extensible toolset with a limited set of generic concepts. The configuration is accomplished through metamodels specifying the modeling language and methodology containing all syntactic, semantic and presentation information of the domain. The authors applied this approach to several real-world systems.
Federated Process Framework for Transparent Process Monitoring in Business Process Outsourcing
Authors: Bae Kyoung-Il , Huh Soon-Young
Published: April 2011

Process information sharing is a beneficial tool through which a company can monitor and control its outsourced business process transparently, as if the outsourced business process is performed locally. However, autonomy and agility of insourcing companies providing outsourcing services have placed limitations in the development of process information sharing, which the previous research has not satisfactorily addressed. This chapter proposes a federated process framework and its system architecture that provide a conceptual design for effective implementation of process information sharing supporting the autonomy and agility of the insourcing companies. First, in terms of autonomy, the federated process framework supports a flexible sharing policy to control the amount of shared data so that the framework can be applied to a wide variety of practical situations, from loosely-coupled cases to tightly-coupled cases. Second, in terms of agility, the system architecture based on the federated process framework supports the entire life cycle of business process outsourcing by allowing sufficient adaptability to the changes of business environments. We develop the framework using an object-oriented database and Extensible Markup Language to accommodate all the constructs and their interactions within object-oriented message exchange model in a distributed computing environment.
Online Analytical Mining for Web Access Patterns
Authors: Fong Joseph , Wong Hing K. , Fong Anthony
Published: April 2011

The WWW and its associated distributed information services provide rich world-wide online information services, where objects are linked together to facilitate interactive access. Users seeking information from the Internet traverse from one object via links to another. It is important to analyze user access patterns, which helps improve web page design by providing an efficient access between highly correlated objects, and also assists in better marketing decisions by placing advertisements in frequently visited documents. We need to study the user surfing behavior through examining the web access log, browsing frequency of web pages and computing the average duration of visitors. This chapter offers an architecture to store the derived web user access paths in a data warehouse, and facilitates its view maintainability by use of metadata. The system will update the user access paths pattern with the data warehouse by the data operation functions in the metadata. Whenever a new user access path occurs, the view maintainability is triggered by a constraint class in the metadata. The data warehouse can be analyzed on the frequent pattern tree of user access paths on the web site within a period and duration. The result is an online analytical mining path traversal pattern. Performance studies have been done to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the system with the following contributions: an architecture of online analytical mining using frame model metadata, a methodology of implementing the online analytical mining, and the resultant cluster of web pages frequently visited by users for marketing use.
On-Line Retailing
Authors: Golden William , Hughes Martin , Gallagher Patricia
Published: April 2011

This research is a descriptive study to identify some of the factors that contribute to the successful use of e-business. The research was focused on the retail industry in Ireland and more specifically on existing on-line retailers of Irish made gifts. The study was conducted using a postal survey. The research found that specific organizational factors—early adoption of web technology, internal IS/IT expertise, having an e-business strategy and a person who champions the e-business project—result in more successful e-business websites. Further, the research found no evidence to support the belief that certain product types are more likely to be successful on the Web.
Roles of Computer Self-Efficacy and Outcome Expectancy in Influencing the Computer End-User's Organizational Commitment
Authors: Stone Robert W. , Henry John W.
Published: April 2011

Consumer purchasing online is considered, with interactivity highlighted as a critical end-user issue. Levels of user interactivity up to and including virtual reality environments are now realistic in e-tailing. Conceptualizing interactivity to recognize the relevance of perceptions to consumer engagement motivates a focus on the user interface. Aspects relating to trust, usability and involvement are identified, and examined in a series of linked studies focusing on hedonic and high-involvement products, particularly surfboards. Preliminary studies across a range of businesses and products indicated consumer willingness to purchase hedonic products online, but many businesses imposed a high workload on online purchasers. Despite successful web marketing of hedonic products such as CDs, we found that no contemporary providers of customized surfboards offered finished product e-tailing, nor used virtual reality technology to demonstrate performance. A real case study of online swimwear purchase demonstrated an improved purchase process. “Beachtown”, a virtual reality e-tailing environment related to a coastal tourism economy allowed further examination of apparel, surfboard and holiday purchase. Results indicate that an enhanced interactive virtual environment increases end user involvement and willingness to purchase.
Understanding the Hidden Dissatisfaction of Users Towards End User Computing
Authors: Shaw Nancy C. , Lee-Partridge JJoo-Eng , Ang James S.K.
Published: April 2011

The objective of this research is to examine satisfied and dissatisfied end users in an organization to determine if they hold different technological frames of reference towards end user computing (EUC). This research examines the effectiveness of the computer systems at the organization, while at the same time measuring the level of end user satisfaction with the EUC environment. Grounded theory techniques for qualitative analysis of interviews were used to assess the technological frames of reference of selected highly satisfied and highly dissatisfied users. While analysis of the satisfaction surveys alone indicated that the user population was generally satisfied with their EUC environment, follow-up interviews and service quality gap analysis highlighted several individual support areas that required remedial action. In addition, satisfied and dissatisfied users held different views or technological frames of reference towards the technology they used. Their frames of reference affected their expectations of the technology, their interactions with the MIS support staff, and their utilization of the technology on a day-to-day basis.
Internet Shopping Model and Customer Perceptions
Authors: Xu Xianzhong Mark , Roberts Martyn
Published: April 2011

A major growth area in electronic commerce (EC) is organisations that directly interact with their customers (Business to Consumer EC). The supermarket sector is at the forefront of this development. However, it has been widely reported that e-tailing for grocery shopping, e.g., Webvan, particularly in the U.S., has not been successful. Little empirical evidence is documented to reveal whether customers’ shopping patterns have significantly changed toward Internet shopping. By using a case study approach and a questionnaire survey, this study reports the Internet shopping models adopted by the major U.K. supermarkets, and examines consumer shopping behaviour and their attitudes toward the Internet for grocery shopping.
Testing a Self-Directed Model of Organizational Learning in an IT Planning Context
Authors: Sahraoui Sofiane
Published: April 2011

This study postulates that an empowered workforce can rally the organization to the objective of achieving IT planning effectiveness within the premises of a planning culture geared to empowerment. The planning culture is a powerful lever to empower knowledge workers and establish a learning environment conducive to planning effectiveness. A sample of 101 IT professionals was used to look at the indirect effects of the planning culture on IT planning effectiveness through the empowerment of knowledge workers. Strong support was garnered for the three hypotheses of the study, namely: (1) empowered knowledge workers make a significant impact on the quality of planning outcomes; (2) planning cultures empower knowledge workers; hence, (3) improving the quality of planning through the motivational path of knowledge workers empowerment. Implications of the findings for organizational learning are discussed at the end.
Unlocking E-Customer Loyalty
Authors: Yeo Alvin Y.C. , Chiam Michael K.M.
Published: April 2011

Marketers are working to improve loyalty apace. This chapter introduces an integrative framework for examining the relative impacts of corporate image, customer trust, and customer value on e-customer loyalty. Importantly, the authors hope that the accompanying suggested strategies would enable marketing managers to craft more compelling value propositions and effective marketing-mix strategies.
Drivers and Barriers to Online Shopping
Authors: Riley Francesca D. , Scarpi Daniele , Manaresi Angelo
Published: April 2011

Through a review of the literature, this chapter focuses on three key influences on purchase behavior on the Internet: product, consumer, and retailer factors. Product characteristics and branding not only influence many consumer-related factors (e.g., the need to handle the product and risk perceptions), but also affect retailers’ strategic and tactical online decisions (e.g., the balance between off-line and online retail provision and the breadth and depth of products and brands selection). This chapter also examines how consumer-related factors (e.g., consumers’ expertise, attitudes toward the Internet, and shopping orientation) affect online purchasing and the implications for e-retailers. Finally, the chapter discusses how e-retailers marketing efforts (retailer factors) can be used to overcome the barriers to Web purchasing resulting from specific product and consumer related characteristics. Clear and easy to implement recommendations to managers are offered.
eCRM
Authors: Daugherty Terry , Eastin Matthew , Gangadharbatla Harsha
Published: April 2011

As we enter the 21st century many firms implementing Customer Relationship Management strategies have turned to the Internet as a primary means for collecting consumer data. Consequently, understanding when consumers are willing to comply with data requests has become increasingly important to e-marketers. However, current research has failed to explore how self-confidence with using the Internet impacts a consumer’s willingness to provide personal information online. Therefore, this chapter reports findings from an online consumer panel survey designed to investigate how perceived Internet confidence influences consumer attitudes toward divulging personal information and their willingness to comply with data requests online (n=500). The results largely support the notion that enhancing Internet confidence can lead to more favorable attitudes toward information requests and increased willingness to provide information.
Viral Marketing
Authors: Lindgreen Adam , Vanhamme Joëlle
Published: April 2011

Viral marketing involves consumers passing along a company’s marketing message to their friends, family, and colleagues. This chapter reviews viral marketing campaigns and argues that the emotion of surprise often is at work and that this mechanism resembles that of word-of-mouth marketing. Examining the literature on the emotion of surprise, the chapter next explains how a surprise is created and shared. Overall, the chapter shows how surprise can be a useful tool in a viral marketing campaign. Lastly, conclusions of interest to managers are drawn.
Retailer Use of Permission-Based Mobile Advertising
Authors: Salo Jari , Tähtinen Jaana
Published: April 2011

This chapter shows how retailers – without any previous experience or education – utilize a new mobile advertising channel. The chapter focuses on permission-based mobile advertising and the specific features that should be considered when designing and targeting mobile advertising. The empirical part of the chapter analyzes data from a field trial where Finnish retailers were able to use mobile advertising. The empirical data is obtained through the use of content analysis. Data analysis explores whether the retailers positioned the m-adverts to target either individuals or groups and whether the content of the m-adverts reflected and utilized the medium’s specific features. The results of this analysis suggest that both retailers and advertising agencies have to learn how to use m-advertising as a new media. Conclusions of the chapter suggest ways to fully utilize the potential of mobile advertising.
Developing Brand Assets with Wireless Devices
Authors: Helenius Jari H. , Liljander Veronica
Published: April 2011

Advancements of the wired Internet and mobile telecommunications offer companies new opportunities for branding but also create a need to develop the literature to incorporate the new communication channels. This chapter focuses on the mobile channel and how mobile phones can be used in branding activities. Based on a literature review and practical examples, the chapter discusses how brand managers can utilize the mobile channel to strengthen brand assets. Four mobile branding (m-branding) techniques are proposed and their impact on brand assets discussed. Managerial implications and suggestions for further research are provided.
Virtual Community
Authors: Flavian Carlos , Guinaliu Miguel
Published: April 2011

The development of commerce on the Internet based on virtual communities has become one of the most successful business models in the world today. In this chapter, we analyze the concept of the virtual community, describe marketing strategy implications and guidelines for its management, and suggest some alternative strategies and technologies which could be used in running a virtual community. Thus, we attempt to discover the potential of virtual communities for an Internet entrepreneur, from a basically practical perspective, without losing sight of the conceptual aspects defining the strategies explained.
An Online Consumer Purchase Decision Cycle
Authors: Markellou Penelope , Rigou Maria , Sirmakessis Spiros
Published: April 2011

This chapter presents the overall consumer purchase decision cycle and investigates the issues that affect Web users from e-shop selection to product delivery and final assessment of the shopping experience. This process has been divided into three successive stages: outside the e-shop, inside the e-shop, and after sales. Each stage is analyzed on the basis of customer states and transition conditions, while special focus is set on abandonment factors. The chapter aims to provide a thorough insight to e-shop features that ensure customer satisfaction and those that may result in further enhancement of online shopping. The ultimate objective is to provide guidelines for designing successful e-shops and clarify success and failure factors.
Mobile Commerce Security and Payment Methods
Authors: Xiong Li , Liu Ling
Published: April 2011

This chapter introduces reputation systems as a means of facilitating trust and minimizing risks in m-commerce and e-commerce in general. It first illustrates the importance of reputation systems in m-commerce by analyzing a list of risks through example scenarios and discusses a number of challenges of building an effective and robust reputation system in e-commerce applications. It then describes PeerTrust, an adaptive and dynamic reputation based trust model that helps participants or peers to evaluate the trustworthiness of each other based on the community feedback about participants’ past behavior. It also presents some initial experiments showing the effectiveness, benefit and vulnerabilities of the reputation systems. Finally it discusses a few interesting open issues.
A Secure Authentication Infrastructure for Mobile Users
Authors: Bochmann Gregor V. , Zhang Eric Zhen
Published: April 2011

The requirements for an authentication infrastructure for electronic commerce are explained by identifying the partners involved in e-commerce transactions and the trust relationships required. Related security requirements are also explained, such as authentication, access rights, payment credentials, anonymity (in certain cases), and privacy and integrity of message exchanges. Then several general authentication schemes and specific protocols are reviewed and their suitability for mobile users is discussed. Finally, an improved authentication protocol is presented which can provide trust relationships for mobile e-commerce users. Its analysis and comparison with other proposed authentication protocols indicate that it is a good candidate for use in the context of mobile e-commerce.
Policy-Based Access Control for Context-Aware Services over the Wireless Internet
Authors: Bellavista Paolo , Corradi Antonio , Stefanelli Cesare
Published: April 2011

The spreading wireless accessibility to the Internet stimulates the provisioning of mobile commercial services to a wide set of heterogeneous and limited client terminals. This requires novel programming methodologies to support and simplify the development of innovative service classes. In these novel services, results and offered quality levels should depend on both client location and locally available resources (context). In addition, it is crucial to manage the frequent modifications of resource availability due to wireless client movements during service provisioning. Within this perspective, the chapter motivates the need for novel access control solutions to flexibly control the resource access of mobile clients depending on the currently applicable context. In particular, it discusses and exemplifies how innovative middleware for access control should support the determination of the client context on the basis of high-level declarative directives (profiles and policies) and distributed online monitoring.
Secure Multicast for Mobile Commerce Applications
Authors: Eltoweissy Mohamed , Jajodia Sushil , Mukkamala Ravi
Published: April 2011

With the rapid growth in mobile commerce (m-commerce) applications, the need for providing suitable infrastructure to support these applications has become critical. Secure multicast is a key element of this infrastructure, in particular, to support group m-commerce applications such as mobile auctions, product recommendation systems, and financial services. Despite considerable attention to m-commerce security, most existing security solutions focus on unicast communications. On the other hand, numerous solutions for secure multicast exist that are not specifically designed with m-commerce as a target environment. Clearly, to address secure multicast in m-commerce, we must start by forming a comprehensive picture of the different facets of the problem and its solutions. In this chapter, we identify system parameters and subsequent security requirements for secure multicast in m-commerce. Attacks on m-commerce environments may undermine satisfying these security requirements resulting, at most times, in major losses. We present a taxonomy of common attacks and identify core services needed to mitigate these attacks and provide efficient solutions for secure multicast in m-commerce. Among these services, authentication and key management play a major role. Given the varying requirements of m-commerce applications and the large number of current key management schemes, we provide a taxonomy and a set of performance metrics to aid m-commerce system designers in the evaluation and selection of key management schemes.
M-Payment Solutions and M-Commerce Fraud Management
Authors: Nambiar Seema , Lu Chang-Tien
Published: April 2011

Mobile security and payment are central to m-commerce. The shift from physical to virtual payments has brought enormous benefits to consumers and merchants. For consumers it means ease of use. For mobile operators, mobile payment presents a unique opportunity to consolidate their central role in the m-commerce value chain. Financial organizations view mobile payment and mobile banking as a way of providing added convenience to their customers along with an opportunity to reduce their operating costs. The chapter starts by giving a general introduction to m-payment by providing an overview of the m-payment value chain, lifecycle and characteristics. In the second section, we will review competing mobile payment solutions that are found in the marketplace. The third section will review different types of mobile frauds in the m-commerce environment and solutions to prevent such frauds.
Multi-Party Micro-Payment for Mobile Commerce
Authors: Zhu Jianming , Ma Jianfeng
Published: April 2011

This chapter introduces a new micro-payment scheme that is able to apply to multi-party for mobile commerce, which allows a mobile user to pay every party involved in providing services. The micro-payment, which refers to low-value financial transactions ranging from several cents to a few dollars, is an important technique in m-commerce. Our scheme is based on the hash function and without any additional communication and expensive public key cryptography in order to achieve good efficiency and low transaction costs. In the scheme, the mobile user releases an ongoing stream of low-valued micro-payment tokens into the network in exchange for the requested services. The scheme that is put forward satisfies the requirements for security, anonymity, efficiency and lightweight.
Remote Digital Signing for Mobile Commerce
Authors: Onbilger Oguz Kaan , Chow Randy , Newman Richard
Published: April 2011

Mobile agents (MAs) are a promising technology which directly address physical limitations of mobile devices such as limited battery life, intermittent and low-bandwidth connections, with their capability of providing disconnected operation. This chapter addresses the problem of digital contract signing with MAs, which is an important part of any mobile commerce activity and one special challenging case of computing with secrets remotely in public. The authors use a multi-agent model together with simple secret splitting schemes for signing with shares of a secret key carried by MAs, cooperating to accomplish a trading task. In addition to known key splitting techniques of RSA, authors introduce similar techniques for El Gamal and DSS public key cryptosystems. The objective is to achieve a simple and ubiquitous solution by using the well-known public-key cryptosystem implementations, which conform to the established standards.
A Mobile Coalition Key-Evolving Digital Signature Scheme for Wireless/Mobile Networks
Authors: Zhang Quanxing , Wu Chwan-Hwa , Irwin J. David
Published: April 2011

A scheme is proposed in this chapter to apply a secure digital signature scheme in a mobile-IP environment and treats the three entities in a dynamic path as either foreign agents (FA), home agents (HA) or mobile agents (MA), such that a coalition is formed containing each of the individual agents. Each agent has a pair of keys: one private and one public. The private key is evolving with time, and the public key is signed by a certification authority (CA). All the private keys of the three agents in the coalition are needed to sign a signature. Furthermore, all the messages are signed and verified. The signature is verified against a public key, computed as the product of the public keys of all three agents, and readily generated when a new dynamic path is formed. In addition, the key-evolving scheme prevents an adversary from forging past signatures under any circumstances. As a result of the schemes’ proactive refresh capability, an adversary must simultaneously compromise each MA, FA and HA in order to forge future signatures. When a new dynamic path is formed or private keys evolve to new states, an interactive, proactive synchronization scheme is employed among the agents. Thus, the loss of a mobile device, or its information, will cause minimal information damage.
Fuzzy and Probabilistic Object Bases
Authors: Cao Tru Hoang , Nguyen Hoa
Published: April 2011

Database systems have evolved from relational databases to those integrating different modeling and computing paradigms, in particular, object orientation and probabilistic reasoning. This chapter introduces an extension of the probabilistic object base model by Eiter et al. (2001), using fuzzy sets for representing and handling vague and imprecise values of object attributes. A probabilistic interpretation of relations on fuzzy set values is proposed to integrate them into that probability-based framework. Then, the definitions of fuzzy-probabilistic object base schemas, instances, and selection operation are presented. Other algebraic operations, namely, projection, renaming, Cartesian product, join, intersection, union, and difference of the probabilistic object base model are also adapted for its fuzzy extension.
Generalization Data Mining in Fuzzy Object-Oriented Databases
Authors: Angryk Rafal , Ladner Roy , Petry Frederick E.
Published: April 2011

In this chapter, we consider the application of generalization-based data mining to fuzzy similarity-based object-oriented databases (OODBs). Attribute generalization algorithms have been most commonly applied to relational databases, and we extend these approaches. A key aspect of generalization data mining is the use of a concept hierarchy. The objects of the database are generalized by replacing specific attribute values by the next higher-level term in the hierarchy. This will then eventually result in generalizations that represent a summarization of the information in the database. We focus on the generalization of similarity-based simple fuzzy attributes for an OODB using approaches to the fuzzy concept hierarchy developed from the given similarity relation of the database. Then consideration is given to applying this approach to complex structure-valued data in the fuzzy OODB.
Introducing Fuzziness in Existing Orthogonal Persistence Interfaces and Systems
Authors: Sicilia Miguel Ángel , Garcia-Barriocanal Elena , Gutierrez José A.
Published: April 2011

Previous research has resulted in generalizations of the capabilities of OODB models and query languages to cope with imprecise and uncertain information in several ways, informed by previous research in fuzzy relational databases. As a result, a number of models and techniques to integrate fuzziness in its various facets in object data stores are available for researchers and practitioners, and even extensions to commercial systems have been implemented. Nonetheless, for those models and techniques to become widespread in industrial contexts, more attention should be paid to their integration with current database design and programming practices, so that the benefits of fuzzy extensions could be easily adopted and seamlessly integrated in current applications. This chapter attempts to provide some criteria to select the fuzzy extensions that more seamlessly integrate in the current object storage paradigm known as orthogonal persistence, in which programming-language object models are directly stored, so that database design becomes mainly a matter of object design. Concrete examples and case studies are provided as practical illustrations of the introduction of fuzziness both at the conceptual and the physical levels of this kind of persistent system.
An Object-Oriented Approach to Managing Fuzziness in Spatially Explicit Models Coupled to a Geographic Database
Authors: Robinson Vincent B. , Graniero Phil A.
Published: April 2011

This chapter uses a spatially explicit, individual-based ecological modeling problem to illustrate an approach to managing fuzziness in spatial databases that accommodates the use of nonfuzzy as well as fuzzy representations of geographic databases. The approach taken here uses the Extensible Component Objects for Constructing Observable Simulation Models (ECO-COSM) system loosely coupled with geographic information systems. ECO-COSM Probe objects flexibly express the contents of a spatial database within the context of an individualized fuzzy schema. It affords the ability to transform traditional nonfuzzy spatial data into fuzzy sets that capture the uncertainty inherent in the data and model’s semantic structure. The ecological modeling problem was used to illustrate how combining Probes and ProbeWrappers with Agent objects affords a flexible means of handling semantic variation and is an effective approach to utilizing heterogeneous sources of spatial data.
Object-Oriented Publish/Subscribe for Modeling and Processing Imperfect Information
Authors: Liu Haifeng , Jacobsen Hans Arno
Published: April 2011

In the publish/subscribe paradigm, information providers disseminate publications to all consumers who expressed interest by registering subscriptions with the publish/subscribe system. This paradigm has found widespread applications, ranging from selective information dissemination to network management. In all existing publish/subscribe systems, neither subscriptions nor publications can capture uncertainty inherent to the information underlying the application domain. However, in many situations, knowledge of either specific subscriptions or publications is not available. To address this problem, this chapter proposes a new object-oriented publish/subscribe model based on possibility theory and fuzzy set theory to process imperfect information for expressing subscriptions, publications, or both combined. Furthermore, the approximate publish/subscribe matching problem based on fuzzy measures is defined, and the real-world A-ToPSS™ system is described.
Inter-Firm Collaboration and Electronic Business
Authors: Tsupari Pekka , Rouvinen Petri
Published: April 2011

This chapter studies the joint effects of inter-firm collaboration and electronic business on firm profitability primarily in Finnish manufacturing. It is found that deeper forms of inter-firm collaboration boost financial performance but that high e-business intensity might even strain profitability. Firms that simultaneously have high inter-firm collaboration and e-business intensities as well as use electronic networks for conducting their collaboration are also more profitable. Based on this, two conclusions are drawn. First, suitable e-business practices facilitate inter-firm collaboration. Once in place, inter-firm collaboration tends to be immensely more productive with supporting electronic means. Second, e-business investment has to be accompanied by complementary organizational innovations, in this case a new form of external (and also internal, although not observed directly in the data used) organization of the firm, that is, inter-firm collaboration.
Pay Now or Later? The Impact of Temporal Separation of Payments and Consumption on Consumer Payment Preferences
Authors: Dutta Ranjan , Koehler Jonathan J.
Published: April 2011

In this chapter, we draw on the behavioral economics literature to identify the conditions under which consumers would prefer one of three pricing schemes (pre-payment, pay-as-you-go, and post-payment). We suggest that consumer preferences for particular pricing schemes are likely to be determined by systematic relationships that exist among a variety of psychological variables. We offer nine empirical propositions that identify when consumers will prefer different pricing schemes.
An Object-Oriented Architecture Model for International Information Systems?
Authors: Lehmann Hans
Published: April 2011

Analysing four case vignettes in a grounded theory approach, this exploratory paper investigates the architecture and design principles of international information systems. A two-dimensional topology for international information systems—suggested in previous research—was confirmed as a useful architecture paradigm. In its terms, international information systems are configured from two elements: ‘Core’ systems (common for the whole enterprise) on the one hand and ‘Local’ systems (different for each site) on the other. The interface between the two is a third component. One case vignette in particular highlights the logical and organisational difficulties in defining these systems elements. Object orientation as the fundamental design principle is investigated as an approach to provide a solution for this problem. Because it enables implementation differentiation and flexibility for future functional changes, it is conjectured that object technology is an optimal—technical—development strategy for international information systems. Directions for further research are outlined.
Lessons Learned Crossing Boundaries in an ICT-Supported Distributed Team
Authors: Pauleen David J.
Published: April 2011

Most so-called virtual teams are virtual by degree only. The dichotomy of face-to-face versus virtual teams is a research-led phenomenon. Many teams are using combinations of face-to-face communication and ICT, and can be considered transitional or semi-virtual teams. Many of these teams cross multiple boundaries, including those of time, distance, organization and culture. This paper takes an in-depth look at one such ICT-supported distributed team and investigates some of the key issues that arose as it operated across multiple boundaries, in particular ethnic cultural boundaries. This paper answers recent calls for more in-depth and creative cross-culturally framed information systems research, and the findings suggest that while traditional notions of culture are still valuable for lending insight into team member behavior, team culture may also be seen as emergent and negotiated based on a wide range of contextual elements. The paper concludes with an analysis of the important practical lessons learned in this case. The implications for cross-cultural IS research are briefly discussed.
Culture-Free of Culture-Bound? A Boundary Spanning Perspective on Learning in Knowledge Management Systems
Authors: Mason Robert M.
Published: April 2011

Knowledge management systems (KMSs) have been criticized as having a North American bias. The cultural dimension of KMSs, particularly the relationship of learning and culture in KM projects, are rarely discussed. This paper addresses these concerns in a review of the conceptual foundations for KM and by examining implementations of KM projects. Despite the evolutionary changes in how KM is viewed, KMSs, as they have been designed, implemented, and reported, do not appear to provide for cultural diversity among users. Instead, the reports of KMSs indicate that such systems seek to create and maintain a homogeneous organizational culture, and the adoption of such a shared culture appears to be a prerequisite for success. The paper discusses KMSs as systems that exhibit boundary spanning objects and processes in three different categories, and an analysis of reported projects reveals that boundary spanning across national and ethnic boundaries is rare.
Managing Distributed Projects Across Cultures
Authors: Evaristo Roberto
Published: April 2011

A model of cross-cultural distributed project management is proposed. The model is based on recent theoretical developments regarding trust and team processes and suggests that trust relates to cultural differences between distributed members. Trust affects project performance in two key ways: through the traditional view of main effects on performance, and via moderating effects on other determinants of performance in distributed projects. We also use a task characteristics categorization, together with several mini-case studies, to create a set of guidelines for best practices for management of cross-cultural distributed projects.
The Role of Power Distance and Explanation Facility in Online Bargaining Utilizing Software Agents
Authors: Lim John
Published: April 2011

Online transactions have become increasingly popular and deserve greater attention from a research perspective. Whereas there are various aspects of online transactions, this study specifically examined an online bargaining scenario utilizing software agents. User’s performance and attitudes were studied in a 2x2 factorial-design experiment. The independent variables were power distance (a dimension of culture)-for reasons associated with increasing and irresistible globalization, and explanation facility-for its conjecturable benefits in helping users to better understand and work with their software agents. Results showed these factors to have an interaction effect on task performance; as well, explanation facility exhibited main effects on trust and satisfaction. The findings have implications for system designers and builders; they also help managers in tailoring their expectations on what technology can deliver-under which conditions.
Adaptive Strategies of Firms in High-Velocity Environments
Authors: Ganesh Jai , Madanmohan T. R. , Jose P. D. , Seshadri Sudhi
Published: April 2011

The adaptation-evolution strategies of firms have been a major area of interest. Internet based businesses operate in highly unstable environments witnessing shakeouts and changes in the industry structure. In this paper, we focus on the adaptive strategies and paths of adaptation of independent B2B marketplaces. The independent B2B marketplaces have undergone tremendous change with regard to their business models and products/services. Since their inception as pure market makers, these marketplaces have morphed into integration service providers with market making being one of the functions. What makes the adaptive strategies of B2B marketplaces interesting is the extremely short time period within which these changes happened. The research uses the case study methodology to identify the adaptive strategies of B2B marketplaces in terms of their product/service class evolution. The results based on the case studies suggest a three-stage adaptation model wherein the marketplaces progress through stages such as aggregation, transactions and integration.
Development Attributes of Quality for E-Supply Chain System
Authors: Chow Wing S.
Published: April 2011

E-supply chain system is an enabler/system that enriches the information service quality in supply chains. This chapter uses factor analysis to determine four extranet success factors: system quality, information quality, service quality, and work performance quality. A critical analysis of areas using discriminant analyses that require improvement is also conducted.
Information Technology Professional Career Development
Authors: Koh Seokha , Lee Sooun , Yen David C. , Havelka Douglas
Published: April 2011

No industry seems to change as much or as quickly as the information technology (IT) marketplace. The skills necessary to be a successful professional in this industry change as the technology changes and as one advances through a career. The results of prior research are used to develop a field study of IT professionals’ skill sets throughout their careers. Our findings suggest that IT professionals need to have different technical skills as their careers progress, and that; in fact, they do have different technical skills at different stages in their careers.
Perceptions of IS Risks and Failure Types
Authors: Peterson Dane K. , Kim Chung
Published: April 2011

Information systems (IS) designers from the United States, Japan, and Korea were surveyed to explore potential similarities and differences in their views on two IS risk factors, various types of IS failure and the overall failure rate on IS projects. While there were only a few differences between the U.S. and Japan, there were a number of differences in the views of designers from the U.S. and Korea. The results revealed that a lack of user involvement and a lack of experienced IS personnel were perceived as greater risk factors in Korea than in the U.S. and Japan. The data also revealed that unmet project goals and missed deadlines were perceived by designers from Korea as more likely to contribute to IS failure than did the designers from Japan and the U.S. Finally, the designers from Korea perceived a higher overall failure rate on IS projects than did the designers from the U.S. The findings were discussed in terms of the importance of national differences in technology development and national culture.
Cultural Adaptation on the Web
Authors: Singh Nitish , Zhao Hongxin , Hu Xiaorui
Published: April 2011

In the academic literature and the business press, there seems to be a lack of guidance and lack of cross-cultural models to support companies localization strategies on the Web. To address this deficit in literature and to provide marketers and Web designers with insights into website localization, this paper conducted a comparative analysis of the U.S. based international companies’ domestic websites and their Chinese websites. A framework to measure cultural adaptation on the Web is presented. Forty U.S.-based Fortune 500 companies are surveyed to investigate the cultural adaptation of their Chinese websites. Content analysis of the 80 U.S. domestic and Chinese websites reveals that the web is not a culturally neutral medium, but it is full of cultural markers that give country-specific websites a look and feel unique to the local culture.