bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing a Learning Environment
Authors: Adrian C. Mitchell
Published: May 2011

It is known that good classroom management techniques help promote a suitable learning environment, an environment in which students are interested and participate as a community of learners (Brophy & Alleman, 1998). In this type of environment, learning occurs when faculty develop and encourage discussion through the use of social interaction (Brophy & Alleman, 1998). The problem in applying these concepts to a distance education program is “how to develop or maintain an environment of social interaction?” To contribute to the learning environment in a distance education program, a combination of new and readily available electronic communication technologies can be combined with concepts taken from Total Quality Management (TQM). The term “distance education” covers a wide range of educational practices, ranging from the traditional correspondence course to synchronous teleconferencing via multiple classrooms. The techniques discussed here are designed primarily for a distance environment that allows for some degree of student-faculty interaction.
The Consequences of e-Learning
Authors: Emurian Henry H.
Published: May 2011

It is time for realism regarding the applications of information technology to education and training2 . People learn; electrons do not. Accordingly, the dust will eventually settle from the flurry of activity related to “e-Learning,” in all of its manifestations, and the foregone conclusion will stand out: learning is hard work. There is value in remembering this conclusion because in this Internet era, there is sometimes the impression gained that all the human effort involved in learning and in the achievement of excellence has been removed by information technology and knowledge management.
Development of a Distance Education Internet-Based Foundation Course for the MBA Program
Authors: LaBarre James E. , Wilson E. Vance
Published: May 2011

Course development is a task that requires a methodology if it is to result in a cohesive, well organized unit. This paper details the procedures to develop a distant education foundation course for the MBA program. All MBA courses using this methodology are delivered to students enrolled in several universities within the Wisconsin System.
Web-Based Learning
Authors: Marold Kathryn A. , Larsen Gwynne , Moreno Abel
Published: May 2011

In an in-depth study of Internet and classroom students’ test grades and assignment grades spanning three semesters, it was found that there is a significant difference in achievement and performance for these two types of course delivery. Although there were not significant differences in the final grades for two of the three levels of computer information systems students in CMS 1010, CMS 2010, and CMS 3270 at Metropolitan State College of Denver, there were significant differences between classroom students and Internet students when the authors examined performance—as measured by eight homework assignments and achievement—as measured by test scores. Reinforcing what many studies have found, the distribution of final grades among eighteen classes (nine Internet delivered and nine classroom delivered) did not differ significantly, but how those grades were earned did differ for two of the three sets. Internet students did better on the exams, with significant differences at all three levels. When performance was compared, there was a significant difference for the junior set of data. Classroom students performed better on the hands-on homework assignments for this level. The upper level course student averages differed significantly in both achievement and performance measures. The three courses examined all had the same instructor for Internet and classroom sections; all had exactly the same tests and assignments for their particular course; all three courses had a hands-on skills component. The authors caution against generalizing about all Internet-delivered courses from the results of this study. It appears that there are significant differences in online learning experiences when one delves more deeply into how mastery of material is obtained. The sample size of 302 students provided a rich data set which showed variances according to gender, class level, past experience with Internet delivered courses, and even age. T tests were performed on three sets of matched pairs of students. The authors believe the findings support the theory that Internet delivered distance education courses require different design. More importantly, however, this research demonstrates that Web courses are working. As more research is done on achievement and performance in Internet-delivered classes, and as our instructional design for Web courses is refined, we will find the best way to design these distance education course
Learning with Multimedia Cases in the Information Systems Area
Authors: Orngreen Rikke , Bielli Paola
Published: May 2011

The entrance of interactive multimedia systems into the arena of education and training has meant that in only a couple of years, a number of multimedia case studies for educational and training purposes in the Management of Information Systems area have emerged, and the tendency seems to be increasing. Use of such Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is often claimed to be both valuable and effective for conveying the intended learning. However, because of the novelty of this area, very little is written about the role that a multimedia case study can play and how to apply such cases in a learning environment. Through the BUSINES-LINC project, sponsored by the European Commission, eighteen multimedia cases have been developed, with the objective to support innovative business solutions, especially in the e-commerce area.1 The research study presented in this paper is currently rigorously investigating possible learning scenarios for three Italian and three Danish cases through the collection of qualitative and quantitative empirical data. Our objective is to gain experience in and knowledge about how the chosen learning objectives from a multimedia case are best transferred to the users. The results of the research study will guide instructors and developers of different types of multimedia cases to better contemplate their learning objectives and course structure according to their target group. The paper first presents a short introduction to the field and the theoretical foundation of the research study. Then the methodological aspects are described, and finally, our current experiences and preliminary results are conveyed, together with a short overview of the issues, which we are currently investigating further by means of our empirical material.
Towards an Automatic Massive Course Generation System
Authors: Kandil Ahmed H. , El-Bialy Ahmed , Wahba Khaled
Published: May 2011

This paper considers a system for massive course generation. The output of this system is a course arranged in a hierarchical structure of chapters and pages. Each page consists of multimedia components such as text, sound, music, image, video, animation, and graphics. The system has a hypermedia capability that is built on top of open Internet standards such as HTML. This enables the generated hypermedia courses to be broadcast on the Web and be navigated using any web browser. Students can evaluate their study and get a quantitative measure score for their study. Furthermore, the system is equipped with an automatic system for final exams generation. Finally, six courses of the senior year in the biomedical engineering department, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, were implemented using this generation system.
A Case Study of One-to-One Video-Conferencing Education over the Internet
Authors: Chan Hock C. , Tan Bernard C.Y. , Tan Wei-Ping
Published: May 2011

In a traditional classroom, students learn from the physical delivery of classes, which to a great extent depends on the teaching techniques employed by the instructor. In a virtual classroom, the physical delivery of classes depends not only on the teaching techniques chosen but also very much on the technologies used to deliver the teaching materials (Cyrs, 1994). With the increasing use of virtual classrooms, technologies have become a critical component affecting teaching and learning effectiveness (Alavi, 1994). Advances in information and communication technologies have significantly changed the ways students learn, the ways instructors teach and the means with which both parties access information (Leidner and Jarvenpaa, 1993). Virtual classrooms have been investigated in the context of tele-learning (e.g., Alavi et al., 1995; Wheeler et al., 1995) and video-conferencing (e.g., Kydd and Ferry, 1994; Webster, 1998). While such technologies have allowed an instructor to deliver formal classes to students from another geographical location, these classes can be supplemented by informal computer-mediated interaction among the instructor and students through electronic mail or bulletin boards (Leidner and Jarvenpaa, 1995). Advances in internet technologies have opened up new ways for interaction among the instructor and students. For example, the instructor can now place the course materials on the World Wide Web for students to access.
Web-Delivered Education
Authors: Banks David A.
Published: May 2011

There is a growing emphasis upon the provision of education through web delivery services that will allow universities and other educational providers to reach out to a global audience. The benefits for the learner include the prospect of flexible systems that provide greater consumer choice in terms of subject, times and patterns of study, and choice of institution. The availability of such a diverse, rich and accessible opportunity for learners, combined with the larger market place would seem to offer established educational institutions many advantages and benefits. This chapter suggests, however, that the growth of such a new and dynamic educational marketplace, populated by a wide range of education providers, will bring with it significant new problems, or rather new incarnations of older problems, that may challenge existence of some current educational providers. These threats are not technical, instead being driven by market related perceptions that may alter provider/student relationships as the web-enabled client-led learning paradigm develops.
Establishing a Telecommunications and Networking Technology B. S. Degree
Authors: Mariga Julie R.
Published: May 2011

As distributed computing architectures have increased, the need for technology professionals that are skilled in telecommunications and networking has dramatically increased. Employers are looking for students that not only have conceptual knowledge but also hands-on practical experience when hiring graduates into telecomm and networking related positions. This chapter will discuss how a telecommunications and networking bachelor’s degree option was established at Purdue University. The chapter will discuss why the program started and discuss how it has evolved. Other areas discussed include: the curriculum, facilities, faculty, and the industrial advisory board. The paper will conclude with where the program is going to grow.
A Personalized System of Instruction for Teaching Java
Authors: Emurian Henry H. , Durham Ashley G.
Published: May 2011

This chapter addresses the challenge of how to structure a learning environment to teach object-oriented computer programming to students who may need an introductory course in that discipline but who may lack the experiences to use symbol manipulations with confidence. In contrast to computer science students, information systems students sometimes exhibit these latter attributes, but they would nonetheless benefit professionally from acquiring rudimentary programming language knowledge and skill. To accomplish that objective, the Personalized System of Instruction (PSI), originally developed by Keller (1968), is described here to foster equivalent competence among students in an initial Java‰ coding assignment in an introductory programming course. The intent of integrating a Java tutoring system into the PSI framework as the first laboratory exercise is to ensure that all students in the class have at least this background experience in common prior to the introduction of advanced features of interface implementation that are taught during the remainder of the semester. Self-report and performance data are presented to support the use of this pedagogical approach in the classroom.
Data Modeling
Authors: Atkins Clare
Published: May 2011

Despite extensive changes in technology and methodology, anecdotal and empirical evidence (e.g., Davis et al., 1997) consistently suggests that communication and problem-solving skills are fundamental to the success of an IT professional. As two of the most valued skills in an IT graduate, they should be essential components of an effective education program, regardless of changes in student population or delivery mechanisms. While most educators would concur with this view, significantly more emphasis is generally placed on teaching the tools and techniques that students will require in their future careers, and a corresponding amount of energy is expended in attempting to identify what those tools and techniques might be. In contrast, successful problem solving is often seen either as an inherent capability that some students already possess or as a skill that some will magically acquire during the course of their studies. Data modeling as an activity, by which we mean the gathering and analysis of users’ information needs and their representation in an implementable design, is largely one of communication and problem solving and, consequently, provides an excellent opportunity for explicitly teaching these skills. Data modeling is generally considered to be one of the more difficult skills to teach (e.g., Hitchman, 1995; Pletch, 1989), particularly if the student has no previous understanding of physical data structures (de Carteret & Vidgen, 1995). The essential constructs, such as entities, attributes or objects, may be elegant in their powerful simplicity, but their combination into a useful design is a complex process of categorization in which there is “considerable room for choice and creativity in selecting the most useful classification” (Simsion, 1994 p.82). Data modeling requires not only the ability to communicate about and to solve a problem, but also to create possible solutions and then choose between them. Herein lies the difficulty. It is not enough to learn what the different constructs are, or even to study simple textbook examples of how to put them together. The student must really understand the problem, be able to create and recognize a number of possible ways in which the problem can be solved, and then exercise considerable critical skills in choosing between them. This chapter examines these issues and describes various ways in which final-year undergraduate students, taking a specialist module in data modeling, have been encouraged to develop, and have confidence in, their creative and critical ability to solve problems in a disciplined and systematic way.
The Myth of Integration
Authors: Alvarez Rosio
Published: May 2011

This research examines the implementation process of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and shows that implementation cannot be viewed solely in instrumental terms–that is, organizations do not simply select systems based on information requirements so that proper “fit” can be achieved. Instead, this research suggests that the activities of selecting and implementing a new ERP become the medium for (re-)constructing or (re-)constituting the organization’s values. Theorists have described such activities as a “mythmaking” process. A case study of an implementation at a large nonprofit organization is presented to demonstrate how myth-making served to construct an ERP system as an “integrated” system and at the same time served to elaborate existing organizational values. The myth functioned as a vehicle of consensual organizational reality, serving to align the acquisition of an ERP system with the organizational values, thereby garnering widespread support for a complex, expensive and relatively unknown technology.
Assessing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Adoption in the Philippines
Authors: Roldan Maria Divina Grazia Z. , Zamora Antonio R. , Amores Frederick D.
Published: May 2011

The Philippines has already embraced today’s fast-paced global economy. The worldwide advent of e-commerce has driven the Philippine business community to deal with changes in the way business is conducted–extending its reach, working to provide better services for customers, working more closely with suppliers and partners, and tapping new markets. Developments characterized by the new global economy require a shift in the management paradigm of enterprises which gives premium on competitiveness, multifunctionality, and flexibility. This requires managing the technological factors of the enterprise (managing technology and managing with technology) and managing the enterprise for controlled change and stability (Khalil, 2000).
A Study of the ERP Selection Process in New Zealand
Authors: Shakir Maha , Hossain Liaquat
Published: May 2011

This study provides an exploratory investigation of the enterprise resource planning (ERP) software selection process in New Zealand. A brief background together with the main features of ERP is provided. It is conferred in this study that the selection and implementation of ERP deserves equal importance. Findings of exploratory case studies on the ERP selection process in New Zealand (NZ) suggest that the selection of ERP guides the implementation process. It is also evident from the study findings that most New Zealand organizations select their consultants and let them guide the ERP selection, implementation, as well as post-implementation process.
Media Content Management
Authors: Dimitrova Nevenka , Rui Yong , Sethi Ishwar K.
Published: May 2011

The production of multimedia content has grown overwhelmingly in recent years due to decreasing hardware costs, inexpensive storage and ubiquitous high-bandwidth networks. In addition, the introduction of digital video is completely changing the landscape of the entire video value chain. The easy access and increased availability of multimedia is posing new challenges to manage the data. Image and video archives in broadcast studios, corporate archives of multimedia collaborative sessions, video conferencing sessions and educational videos all require tools for quickly locating video segments of desired content with transparent access. The market for such tools, known as media asset-management tools, has been growing rapidly. In this chapter we will discuss the general architecture and the tools for media content management. We will survey some of the techniques that employ methods of data management beyond traditional databases. We will discuss existing research prototypes and some commercially available systems. These systems enable applications that facilitate effective access, interaction, browsing and display of complex and inhomogeneous information consisting of images, video and audio.
Educational Multimedia and Teacher Competencies
Authors: Witfelt Claus
Published: May 2011

This chapter is a step on the way to establishing a multimedia didactics for compulsory school. In the chapter we review findings from the European PEDACTICE project, which deals with these issues. It focuses on describing central teachers’ competencies, related to the use of educational multimedia in compulsory school.
A Flexible Framework for the Knowledge-Based Generation of Multimedia Presentations
Authors: Reinhardt Katja , Schumann Heidrun , Urban Bodo
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents an approach for the knowledge-based multimedia presentation generation. The basic idea is to clearly separate the information to be presented from its presentation and from the context in which presentation generation takes place. Therefore, we introduce an approach for modeling information and its characteristics. We describe how these characteristics can be used for presentation generation. To control the basic steps of multimedia presentation generation (content selection, media selection, media realization and layout realization) , we use a context model which considers a wide range of influencing factors. Finally, we present a multimedia information system based on the ideas described in this chapter.
Design by a CBIR System Supporting High Level Concepts
Authors: Ramakrishna M. V. , Nepal S. , Sumanasekara S. , Tahaghoghi S. M.M.
Published: May 2011

Content Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) systems that are able to “retrieve images of Clinton with Lewinsky” are unrealistic at present. However, this area has seen much research and development activity since IBM’s QBIC announcement in 1994. The CHITRA CBIR system under development at the RMIT and Monash Universities, addresses the need for a test bed system. Users can dynamically incorporate new features and similarity measures in to the system, enabling it to act as a testbed for CBIR research. The system uses a 4-level data model we have developed and supports definition and querying of high level concepts such as MOUNTAIN and SUNSET. These advanced capabilities are supported by a powerful graphical query mechanism and a high-dimensional indexing structure based on linear mapping. In this paper we describe the design of the system, our contributions to the state of the art and provide some implementation details.
Modelling Molecular Biological Information
Authors: Reich Jacqueline Renee
Published: May 2011

The amount of available information in molecular biology is vast due to genome sequencing and gene expression chips. Nowadays, the challenge is to represent and manage the static and dynamic properties of DNA sequence data or annotated information to decipher the structural, functional and evolutionary clues encoded in biological sequences. Therefore, molecular biologists build and use ontologies to represent parts of the molecular biological terminology and to provide a model of biological concepts. Ontological Design Patterns (ODPs) provide a technique to increase the flexibility and reusability of these biological ontologies. There are many useful features of ODPs: 1) they describe simple, flexible and reusable solutions to specific design problems, 2) they can be defined and applied within informal or formal ontologies, 3) they make design approaches transferable, clarify the architecture, and improve the documentation of ontology-based knowledge systems, and 4) they form a framework to deal with different bio-informatics tasks, such as accessing and managing heterogeneous molecular biological databases, analysing scientific texts, or annotating sequence databases. Most of the ODPs are informally described in (Reich, 1999). All ODPs with code examples are available from the author.
Modelling Business Rules Using Defeasible Logic
Authors: Antoniou G. , Arief M.
Published: May 2011

We can define business rules as statements that are used by a body or an organization to run their activities. Some of these rules are drafted by the body itself, others are rules that have been drafted by external body but it will have an effect on the organization. Some business rules are documented explicitly, others are used implicitly. Globalization of business and increased competition cause frequent changes in business rules. New rules are added, old rules are modified or retracted. For example, to compete with its rivals, a bank should adjust its interest rate, launch new services etc. In this situation that is very hard to keep the rules consistency, there is the chance that some rule violate the other. Dealing with conflicting business rules is an important aim of our work. In addition there are also situations where a manager should take a decision although not all relevant information is known. He/she must be able to draw conclusions even if the available evidence is insufficient to guarantee their correctness. Obviously, such conclusions are risky and may be invalidated in the light of new, more accurate information. This situation is referred to as reasoning with incomplete information.
EE-Cat
Authors: Jung Jihye , Kim Dongkyu , Lee Sang-goo , Wu Chisu , Kim Kapsoo
Published: May 2011

Providing quick and easy access to electronic catalogs of products is one of the most essential parts in the electronic catalog environment. Proposed in this paper are data and query model for electronic catalogs which offer effective searching and management facilities to customize the electronic catalog system. The proposed model separates the management of product information and the visual presentation. Product information is represented as a graph. The model extends the range of electronic catalogs from product information to the whole web documents and their structure. The proposed query language makes the extended catalog more dynamic, flexible, and easy to maintain.
Human-Centred Methods in Information Systems
Authors: Clarke Steve , Lehaney Brian
Published: May 2011

This paper is about determining the context and scope of an information systems study and choosing an intervention strategy based on the findings. At the core of this is a process of boundary setting, for which an approach which enables boundaries to be determined through critical participant analysis is recommended and described. Alternative potential intervention strategies are then discussed, and a description of how the choice of strategy was informed within a recent intervention is given. The paper concludes with a discussion of the findings, and a summary and critique, both theoretical and practical, of the approaches available to enhance such studies in the future.
Personal Information Privacy and Internet Technology
Authors: Szewczak Edward J.
Published: May 2011

Personal information privacy is arguably the most important issue facing the growth and prosperity of the Internet, especially of e-commerce. Protecting personal information privacy has ignited a debate that pits privacy advocates against technology growth enthusiasts. This paper explores personal information privacy on the Internet in terms of the technological challenges to personal information privacy facing individuals, businesses, and government regulators.
Hiring in the Post-Reengineering Environment
Authors: Lally Laura , Garbushian Brian
Published: May 2011

In today’s post-reengineering environment, jobs are often more complex on both operational and managerial levels. Employees must possess a greater range of skills and are often given more autonomy in decision making. Employers seeking to address the increased risks in hiring for these positions may seek more information about job candidates. Information technology can be used to create an infrastructure that supports greater access to employee information. Attitudes on the part of employers and job candidates must be studied before building infrastructures to support the hiring process. Hypotheses are presented to support exploration of these issues. A study using situationally conditioned belief (SCB) was conducted. Results indicate that employers are seeking more sensitive information about job candidates, especially for managerial jobs, that managerial candidates are willing to provide more sensitive information, and that a significant gap exists for both operational and managerial candidates between the amount of information candidates are willing to reveal and the amount of information desired by employers.
Ethics, Authenticity and Emancipation in Information Systems Development
Authors: Probert Stephen K.
Published: May 2011

This paper describes research in progress on the philosophical concept of authenticity–used as a framing device for providing an interpretation of aspects of both ethical and practical action on the part of information systems (IS) professionals. Ethical codes and prescriptive IS development methods for IS professionals can be found in most developed countries in the world. Here it is argued that ethical codes and IS methods may be of limited value in IS work. One key problem here is that IS analysts and designers have to intervene in organisations (and thereby intervene in the lives of the members of those organisations). It is argued that an important issue for IS research is whether they choose to do so in (what will be characterised as) an authentic manner, rather than doing so in sincere adherence with either a code of professional ethics or with a series of methodological precepts.
Undergraduate Global IT Education - An Experiential Approach Using the Concept of Fit
Authors: Mann Joan
Published: May 2011

There are special considerations which are important when developing and teaching a course on information systems for international business, especially when the course is designed for undergraduates. This chapter demonstrates how to position and organize a global information systems course for undergraduates which will 1) be appropriate to the way undergraduates learn, 2) include the skills they need at this stage in their career and 3) create an affective change in their perspective. The primary approach used to produce these results is to demonstrate the importance of alignment between global strategies, organizational structures, the configuration of IS departmental areas, organizational information infrastructures, and national/organizational culture, as well as, alignment between national concerns, national information infrastructures and national information policy.
Anxiety and Involvement
Authors: Harris Roger , Davison Robert
Published: May 2011

Information systems (IS) are implemented within a social context consisting of economic, political, cultural and behavioural factors which differ greatly between societies and countries. Failure to take account of such differences can inhibit adoption of information technology (IT) and increase the risks of failure for system implementations. Developing societies are particularly vulnerable to such risk as their social contexts exhibit considerable differences, not only from the developed nations but also among themselves. This study examined the computer anxiety and involvement with personal computers (PCs) of six groups of computer-using students from China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Tanzania and Thailand. Differences in comuter anxiety were found to exist between some of the groups, which was probably attributable to demographic factors. Differences were found to exist between the PC involvement of some of the groups which could be attributed to cultural factors. Implications for research and practice are drawn.
The Impact of Information Sharing on Order Fulfillment in Divergent Differentiation Supply Chains
Authors: Strader Troy J. , Lin Fu-Ren , Shaw Michael J.
Published: May 2011

Current information technology (IT), such as extended intranets (extranets) utilizing the components of the World Wide Web (WWW), makes information sharing between global supply chain partners feasible. Given this, an important issue is: What impact does efficient information sharing have on supply chain order fulfillment performance (specifically cycle time and inventory costs)? In this study, we focus on divergent differentiation supply chains (commonly associated with industries such as fashion apparel). We identify the impact of information sharing by simulating order fulfillment in this supply chain type and find inventory costs can be reduced while maintaining acceptable order fulfillment cycle times. This is true because information, which provides the basis for enhanced coordination and reduced uncertainty, can substitute for inventory.
Constructive Design Environments
Authors: Gammack John G.
Published: May 2011

The philosophy of end user design proposes an approach to information systems provision where those involved in the human activity context are central to establishing the relevant requirements for their information systems. In this paper we develop the case for centering definitions and process flows on end users in their active situations. We examine the potential for basing integrated IS development upon the constructive and evolutionary processes in the client context. Provision of enterprise-wise IS design environments in which this approach becomes realistic implies a systemic reappraisal of the role of software engineering methods and their place in IS design. With reference to case studies we consider some organisational characteristics in which evolution of specific information systems can be achieved through provision of such design environments. Representative situations at the level of full application design and customisation, workflow definition and enterprise-wide development are considered.
Usability
Authors: Potter Leigh Ellen
Published: May 2011

System Usability is becoming increasingly important in situations where assistance in the operation of a system is not readily available for the user. Traditionally, usability measures have consisted of post development testing in a usability lab. Usability practitioners are recognising the need for innovative procedures to incorporate usability in system development at an earlier stage than traditional testing allows and User Centred Design is an approach that meets this need. The objective of this chapter is to examine traditional usability testing and compare it to user centred design practices focusing on the resultant quality of the information system. An examination of literature concerning the two approaches is presented and comparisons made to a case study of a large Australian organisation utilising both measures. The experiences of developers and users within the organisation are presented, and the perceived quality of systems developed using both approaches is examined.
Conceptual Linkages
Authors: Neilson Robert
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this chapter is threefold. First, it seeks to establish a conceptual link between three distinct bodies of literature dealing with: (1) learning organizations, (2) collaborative technologies also referred to as groupware, and (3) intellectual capital.
Promoting Collaboration among Trainers in the National Weather Service
Authors: Johnson Victoria C. , Wang Sherwood R.
Published: May 2011

In the last several years, the National Weather Service (NWS) has undergone a massive modernization and reorganization effort, substantially changing the organization’s structure and the technologies used to produce forecasts. When the reorganization is completed in the year 2000, the NWS will have approximately 120 local weather forecast offices throughout the country (plus Puerto Rico and Guam), with over 1000 forecasters. The new technological systems (such as Doppler radars and upgraded satellites) have produced a flood of data that requires forecasters to have up—to—date scientific knowledge, computer skills, and cognitive tools for synthesizing the vast amount of information available. Early in the modernization process, the NWS recognized the need for a strong training program to help its forecasters effectively use the new technologies and data to better predict deadly weather events. Toward that end, the NWS developed a unique peer training system and created a new position, the Science Operations Officer (SOO), in each forecast office to lead it.
Requirements Engineering During Virtual Software Development
Authors: Hanisch Jo
Published: May 2011

There has been growing interest in virtual teams, and more specifically in virtual software development. Requirements engineering, which is seen as a crucial phase in software development provides another dimension when software development occurs in a virtual setting. While formal software development methods are the obvious first choice for project managers to ensure a virtual information system project team remains on track, the social aspects of requirements engineering cannot be ignored. These social aspects are especially important across different cultures, and have been shown to affect the success of an information system. This chapter proposes a framework indicating that project managers need to encourage a balance between formal methods and social aspects in requirements engineering to suit the virtual team members.
EMS Records and Information Management of Environmental Aspects and Their Associated Impacts with Metadata
Authors: Arndt Hans-Knud , Christ Mario , Gunther Oliver
Published: May 2011

Metadata in environmental management systems support searching and browsing operations. XML-based metadata systems can store metadata in a flexible manner that is suitable also for small and medium size organizations. Our EcoExplorer software package consists of three closely cooperating programs for the management of XML-based environmental metadata. It is implemented in Java and therefore platform-independent. The EcoExplorer is able to collaborate with online components of an environmental management system, as demonstrated by our eco-balancing and environmental accounting system ACCOUNT.
Three Problems of Organizational Memory Information Systems Development
Authors: Wijnhoven Fons , van Slooten Kees
Published: May 2011

Organizational memory information systems have a diversity of contents and may need a variety of information technologies. To cope with this diversity, OMIS requires specific development methodological guidelines. First the OMIS’s objectives have to be stated in organizational functional requirements. Second, the conceptual OMIS model has to be defined at a high level in terms of organizational memory subsystems, and a diversity of modelling techniques are required to develop these subsystems. An OMIS also may profit more from a description of its technological and organizational infrastructure than from a business-led architecture definition. An OMIS needs clear role definitions of its stakeholders, an organizational (improvisational) change scenario, and a non-linear systems procurement scenario. Much of OMIS development happens in its use-stage. Consequently OMIS development has to cope with high levels of complexity, diversity and organizational and IT developments. Several suggestions for further research complete the paper.
An Informational Perspective Towards Knowledge Work
Authors: Detlor Brian
Published: May 2011

This paper presents an informational orientation towards knowledge work and draws implications of such a perspective on the functionality offered by knowledge management technologies. Discussion ensues on the nature of organizational knowledge and its strong association with information. In light of this discussion, knowledge work is defined as the application of comprehended information and viewed as a set of knowledge creation, distribution, and use processes. Implications are drawn based on this perspective for knowledge management technologies to provide organizational participants with access to information content, the ability to communicate this information with others, and the means by which to utilize this information in work practice. It is argued that by doing so, these technologies can better support organizational knowledge work.
Argumentation and Knowledge-Sharing
Authors: Metcalfe Mike , Grant Samantha
Published: May 2011

This paper discusses the conceptual basis for a social-technical system aimed at assisting geographically separate companies to use the Internet to achieve the economic benefits of clustering. The knowledge sharing literature, and the evolutionary economics literature, is used to focus on tacit knowledge sharing and learning through verbal interaction. The first section looks at the evidence for “structured talk,” which includes the role of argumentation systems on research, problem solving, communication and decision-making. The chapter goes on to argue that rural regions have the core competencies needed to cluster but not the interaction. Ensuring appropriate arguments between appropriate people may provide a policy around which to design Internet conferencing infrastructure aimed at enabling the benefits of clustering.
Supporting Organizational Knowledge Management with Agents
Authors: Pai Prashant , Miller L. L. , Honavar Vasant , Wong Johnny , Nilakanta Sree
Published: May 2011

Organizations are looking at ways to manage their information resources. Both the capture and the use of data created by the organization have come under scrutiny. Part of the concern comes from their desire to enhance the business process and part comes from the explosion of data available to any organization. In this context, the role of committees is being examined both as consumers and producers of information. The present work is focused on making the vast amount of unstructured text more useful to committees. An agent environment has been designed and implemented.
A Benefits Realization Approach to IT Investments
Authors: Thorp John
Published: May 2011

Information technology is today transforming all aspects of our lives — how we work, shop, play and learn. It is transforming our economic infrastructure — revolutionizing methods of supply, production, distribution, marketing, service, and management. This represents nothing less than a fundamental redesign of the entire supply chains of most industries and indeed a fundamental restructuring of many industries themselves. The potential long-term impact of information technology represents an economic and social transition as fundamental as the shift from rural agriculture to urban industry 200 years ago, during the first Industrial Revolution. Yet today we have a problem — a big problem! Chief information officers (CIOs) are finding themselves increasingly under fire for the perceived lack of value from ever-growing investments in information technology (IT) — investments that in the U.S. now represent close to 50% of companies’ new capital investment and a significant portion of their operating expense. Our investments in technology are not being consistently translated into business value. The link to business results is not clear. It is hard to demonstrate how investments in IT, or in producing information translate into economic value.
Genesis Pipeline Crawlers: Pigging the Unpiggable
Authors: Kenney Andy
Published: May 2011

Description

The paper reviews the work of SIG Ltd. to deploy appropriate sensor systems for inspections in pipelines hitherto considered unpiggable.

Application

Many pipelines cannot be internally inspected because of reductions/changes in ID, extreme angles, 90-degree mitre bends, T- and Y-junctions or simply having access for pigs without a recovery point. They may be empty, gas filled, without flow or flow in the "wrong" direction and so large sections are unpiggable.

SIG's range of high-powered, tethered, brush-tractor crawlers are delivery systems for applications including internal inspection, cleaning and, later, repair. The first 16" and 10" units of this game-changing technology start operations in Q3/4 2010 but this innovative drive-system can be configured to power units from 4-6" and to 42" or beyond.

The brush-drive system copes with internal pipeline irregularities caused by corrosion, sedimentation and changes in ID. Articulated propulsion and sensor-carrying modules allow the vehicle to negotiate 90 deg bends. Only one access point is needed for both insertion and recovery as crawlers can reverse.

Crawlers are designed as internal pipeline cleaning and delivery systems with extremely high traction (5-20 tonne pull) and long-range capability (4 -8 miles, depending on pipeline geometry). They operate independently of pipeline flow; with the flow (at the vehicle's own speed), against it and also with no flow in empty pipelines.

High traction power allows them to work in vertical pipelines, allowing examination of risers, and to remain stationary for extended periods in any attitude to monitor regions of high stress, such as pipeline touchdown points, over time.

Integrated operational payloads carried are designed to best address clients' requirements; multiple sensor packages can include MFL, UT, electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMAT) or other pulsed EM and acoustic systems plus optical/laser systems and so reduce operational time and cost by performing several tests in one single pass.

Results

Full scale field trials/operations start October/November 2010; results will be incorporated into the final paper for OTC 2011.

Significance

Full operational capabilities of these vehicles will be detailed in the final paper confirming their usefulness in inspecting hitherto unpiggable pipelines.
The Safety and Environmental Management System Rule
Authors: Sutton Ian S.
Published: May 2011

In October 2011 the United States Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) introduced its Safety and Environmental Management System (SEMS) rule. It became effective November 15th 2010; companies operating on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) under the jurisdiction of BOEMRE must be in compliance with its requirements by November 15th 2011. The rule is based on the Safety and Environmental Program (SEMP), which is part of the API (American Petroleum Institute) Recommended Practice (RP) 75 (API 2004). RP 75 was first published in 1994; the most recent edition is from the year 2004.

The SEMS rule is lengthy and its requirements are demanding. Not only has BOEMRE incorporated SEMP into law, the agency has added many additional requirements, some of which are quite substantial. (Hence, the statement " SEMS is SEMP?? is somewhat misleading — there is a lot more in SEMS than there is in SEMP.) The timing of the rule is particularly demanding — particularly for those companies and facilities that do not currently have an up to date SEMP in place.

The manner in which the new rule will be enforced is also important. It is likely that BOEMRE will be considerably more assertive in enforcing rules and standards than was its predecessor, the Minerals Management Service (MMS). For example, although the moratorium over new deepwater drilling that was put in place following the Deepwater Horizon event has been lifted, the agency has continued to make it very difficult for companies to actually obtain permits.

This paper provides a brief historical background as to how SEMS came to be. It goes on to discuss the requirements of the rule, and then provides some guidance as to how its requirements can be addressed in an expedient and defensible manner, particularly by those companies who do not already have a complete SEMP in place.

Finally, it should be noted that, when the original Abstract for this paper was being written, the SEMS rule had not been promulgated. Some of the assumptions made at that time — such as a requirement for Production Safety Cases — did not materialize. It is likely that the SEMS rule, along with some of its associated standards, will change some more over the course of 2011 and 2012. Therefore, it is very important that anyone who is implementing or running a SEMS program check to see if the rule has been updated, or if any material changes have been made to the pertinent API standards.

Historical Background

The development of Formal Safety Management systems for offshore facilities can be said to have started with the Piper Alpha catastrophe that occurred in 1988. Of course, companies working offshore had had safety programs before that time, but Piper Alpha is often viewed as being the starting point for the development of formal Safety Management Systems for offshore operations — world wide. This development is illustrated in Figure 1.