bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Training
Authors: Fioravanti Fabrizio
Published: May 2011

Training activities are related strictly to presentations, since each time you have to train someone, you need to present a set of topics to a group of people. Of course, training is a very different type of presentation for several reasons: The people that are listening to you usually are not skilled in the argument and, therefore, are not inclined to destroy your presentation with negative comments; the number of persons that are listening to you usually are few in the worst case (apart from academic lessons that are out of the scope of this book); and the duration of the training session is at least half a day and also can be several days, so that you can have time to socialize with all the people. Social aspects are very important during training, since interaction with people is not limited to the presentation time but also extends to all the coffee breaks and, in the case of a long training, to lunch or dinner, especially when you are training a partner or a customer at his or her site. Several of the tricks reported for presentations also are valid for training, especially the suggestions related to the speech, and therefore, such suggestions will not be discussed again in this section. For presentation, the main value that must be considered and addressed is communication, but in the training activity, some other values must be taken into account, such as simplicity and feedback. During a training session, simplicity and feedback are important as the communication capability, since simplicity usually improves and meliorates communication, and feedback aids in the dynamic revision of the presentation contents, improving simplicity and then communication. In order to have a clearer view of their influence, a short overview of these values follows.
People Management
Authors: Fioravanti Fabrizio
Published: May 2011

People management is a really complex activity that is focused mainly on problem solving and team motivation. Problem solving is a typical daily activity of each manager that has responsibility over a group of people, since people often have problems that also can impact daily work activities. Often, the solution of a problem can solve a cascaded set of problems that are related to the solved one, increasing the quality of life and the chances of success of the project. Sometimes, problems are not real problems but are related to a person’s low level of satisfaction. These problems can be solved quite easily by motivating people. In this chapter, different manners of motivating people are presented. The success of people management is bounded also to the instrument you use to face work organization and task assignment. The last part of the chapter is dedicated to such instruments.
Agile and Defined Project Development
Authors: Fioravanti Fabrizio
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, the ADPD methodology will be presented and discussed. The name and the consequent acronym are due to the fact that I would like to create a methodology that is agile and, therefore, compliant to the Agile Manifesto, but that at the same time can be widely accepted and then also deployed in organizations that are not inclined to accept Agile development. The ADPD’s main aim is to eliminate the criticisms that often bound Agile methodologies with hacking or unstructured development. To obtain such results, the methodology must be compliant at least with the Software Capability Maturity Model, commonly known as CMM-SW (Paulk, 1993, 1993a) Level 3: the defined level. It also explains the second term of the acronym. Third and fourth terms are quite obvious and do not necessitate any further investigation. The compliance with CMM-SW Level 3 allows me to successfully apply this methodology in an environment where a standardization in terms of software or product quality is a must, since the Defined Level of CMM-SW allows you to match the requirements of most of the companies that usually do not agree with Agile methodologies and management. These are the main reasons for which I started to define a new methodology, mainly based on the concept of the first Agile methodology I have applied in real projects; that is, XP (Beck, 1999, 2000). I have inserted in ADPD all the positive aspects and techniques that are part of XP and that I was able to apply successfully in daily project management. I modified all the improvable aspects, inserting some new hints to the project manager and guaranteeing at least the compliance with CMM-SW Level 3.
Software Measurement
Authors: Fioravanti Fabrizio
Published: May 2011

The problem of measurement in software engineering has been addressed by many authors, and one of the most common questions is, “Can we learn from measurement in physics and can we transform this to software engineering measurement?” (Zuse, 1997, 1998). An engineering measure, from the physical point of view, is relevant if it can quantify the object under measurement, since qualitative measures usually are considered too coarse. The problem arises when we shift this concept in software engineering, where nearly all the possible measurements are qualitative ones. All of the characteristics defined by ISO9126 (1991) are qualitative and not directly related to precise physical or tangible phenomena. On the other hand, a wide skepticism of using numerical values is diffused, because it can be hard to give the requested semantic to the number. Metrics, that are the measures performed on code, can be split into two categories: metrics for software complexity/size measurement and effort estimation, and metrics for qualitative characteristics evaluation. In the first part of the chapter, the former type of metrics is discussed, while in the second part, a general overview of quality in use by metrics will be performed. Apart from this general distinction, a more accurate taxonomy of the software metrics is reported in order to classify them on the basis of the applicability field in which they can be adopted.
Team Working
Authors: Fioravanti Fabrizio
Published: May 2011

This chapter is based mainly on my experiences as a development member of industrial and research projects in which I have participated in the first years of my career. Team working is very different from acting as a single developer or consultant who has the entire responsibility and control of the assigned work. The main difference is that in individual work, you have to develop a single part of a project that matches your skills and knowledge, while in team working, the collective effort of different individuals with different knowledge and backgrounds can be mixed together in order to increase the mean value of the cultural level of the components. The knowledge and understanding of a team is greater than the mean calculated on all the individuals of the team, since each member benefits from the cultural level, skills, and suggestions of the other members.
From ASP to Web Services
Authors: Guah Matthew W. , Currie Wendy L.
Published: May 2011

Value creation from e-business for customers in healthcare is an important topic in academic and practitioner circles. This chapter reports the findings from a two-year research study, which found that disappointing results from the much-hyped application service provider (ASP) business model is currently being replaced by perceived new opportunities from Web services. Yet past failings from ASP do not guarantee future success with Web services models, particularly as evidence shows that accruing value-added benefits from e-business initiatives is often fraught with difficulty. Healthcare is no exception, and is likely to pose more problems given the complexity of the organizational structures, processes, procedures, and activities within this vertical sector. This research studycalls for a more rigorous approach in identifying and evaluating key performance areas and indicators from new e-business initiatives involving emerging technologies and platforms such as Web services. Yet the measures and metrics used for healthcare may differ from those adopted in other sectors. Healthcare professionals will therefore need to develop context specific key performance areas (KPAs) and KPIs, and caution against accepting at “face value” the value proposition devised by Web service providers.
A 21st-Century Tool for Intelligent Enterprises
Authors: Guah Matthew W.
Published: May 2011

This chapter suitably summarizes all the points covered in this book by applying them to 21st-century intelligent enterprises. By addressing the business issues and management concerns of a 21st-century intelligent enterprise, we hope this chapter points medium- and large-sized businesses in the proper direction, to manage application service provider (ASP) resources and strategies to their competitive advantage. With the phenomenon of ASP in its infancy, we draw from works of IS pioneers Markus, Porter, Checkland, and others. Their intellectual contributions, plus findings from research work at CSIS, provide a framework for discussion. ASP delivers personal productivity software and professional support systems, assisting an intelligent enterprise in processing information, solving business problems, developing new products, and creating new knowledge. The need to exploit ASP capabilities to preserve and enhance organizational knowledge is clearly defined by this chapter.
On a Personalized System for Device Independent and Position Aware Communication
Authors: Kao Odej , Lietsch Stefan
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces a personalized system for device independent and position aware communication. It combines the advantages of mobile universal messaging and location aware architectures, and supports its users by providing additional and helpful information. One focus is the integration into the well-known session initiation protocol to ease the implementation into existing applications. We think the combination of both approaches can support the user and help him to get more information. The chapter also focuses on how to design a modular, secure, and scalable communication system that could easily be ported to other fields of application and gives an outlook on future trends in this field.
Security of Mobile Devices for Multimedia Applications
Authors: Pulkkis Goran , Grahn Kaj J. , Karlsson Jonny , Tran Nhat Dai
Published: May 2011

This chapter surveys security of mobile computing devices with focus on multimedia applications. Mobile computing devices are handheld devices such as PDAs (personal digital assistants) and smartphones with smaller size, processing, storage, and memory capacity compared to PCs (personal computers). The portability and various wireless network connection interfaces of the handheld devices greatly increase the risks of loss and theft of the device, exposure of confidential data, as well as the opportunities for unauthorized device, network, and network service access. The initial part of the chapter concentrates on discussing these basic security issues. Security requirements for wired and mobile multimedia network applications are outlined and network protocols (SIP, SRTP) for secure multimedia streaming services are presented. Mobile device security can be based on IPSec VPN technology and secure mobility is especially important in videoconferencing. Current research on roaming security and testbeds for mobile multimedia are also presented. In an appendix, commercially available mobile security solutions, mostly for basic mobile security requirements, are listed.
Fundamentals of Mobile Commerce Systems
Authors: Hu Wen-Chen
Published: May 2011

With the introduction of the World Wide Web, electronic commerce revolutionized traditional commerce, boosting sales and facilitating exchanges of merchandise and information. The emergence of wireless and mobile networks has now made it possible to extend electronic commerce to a new application and research area: mobile commerce, defined as the exchange or buying and selling of commodities, services, or information on the Internet through the use of mobile handheld devices. In just a few years, mobile commerce has become the hottest new trend in business transactions. The future of mobile commerce is bright.
Application Cases in Government
Authors: Nissen Mark E.
Published: May 2011

This chapter concentrates on knowledge-flow visualization and analysis in the public sector. We look first at a military organization involved with maritime warfare. The discussion turns then to examine a federal government agency involved with a knowledge management program. The third case examines a public service organization involved with large-scale IT integration. In each case, we draw from secondary data sources for background. This should prove helpful to the reader who is interested in following up to consider more details than presented in this volume. We also draw from our own research and professional experience to fill in missing information, and we apply principles and techniques of this book to contribute new insights through examination of knowledge flows in the cases. Each application case concludes with exercises to stimulate critical thought, learning, and discussion.
Management Issues in Implementing ERP Systems
Authors: Sankar Chetan , Rau Karl-Heinz
Published: May 2011

• Understand the need for change and the role of ERP systems in change management • Identify phases in the change management life cycle • Obtain a broad understanding of the issues involved in implementing ERP systems in each phase of the change management life cycle • Identify the phases in implementing an ERP system
Unrest Produces Creativity
Authors: Sankar Chetan , Rau Karl-Heinz
Published: May 2011

• Understand in detail how an ERP system can be implemented in differing ways in a company, with resulting benefits and problems • To show with a detailed industry example how if an ERP software is not implemented correctly, it may lead to multiple ERP systems existing within an organization that cannot communicate with each other • Understand decisions that were made at Robert Bosch GmbH and RBUS regarding SAP R/3 implementation between 1992-1999
New Directions in SAP R/3
Authors: Sankar Chetan , Rau Karl-Heinz
Published: May 2011

• Be able to provide an analysis of the case study regarding process design changes and integration with other software systems in the future • Understand how to simplify the design and implementation of cross-component processes • Be able to utilize SAP NetWeaver as an IT toolset for realizing service-oriented architecture • Be able to identify basic ideas for enhancing the given architecture at Robert Bosch Group based on the NetWeaver components
Privacy and Security
Authors: Schultz Robert A.
Published: May 2011

Privacy and security are the first topics involving the interface of the individual with information technology. The two topics of privacy and security are connected, because security is required to make privacy possible in an online world and privacy needs drive security requirements. I will first discuss ethical issues connected with privacy and then with security. The questions raised concerning privacy are these: First, what is the ethical basis for the right to privacy? Second, in what way does IT impact or change the right to privacy? Some concerns about security are these: First, what are the ethical implications for security of the answers to these questions about privacy? At a minimum, we are surely ethically required to maintain security to meet the individual’s right to privacy. Additionally, there are ethical requirements involving security that have bases other than privacy, for example, protection of underage children against exploitation on the Internet.1
The Ultimate Value of Information Technology
Authors: Schultz Robert A.
Published: May 2011

In order to conclude our discussion of the value of information technology, we need to answer these questions: What characteristics does IT share with modern technology generally? What is its place with respect to the rest of technology and with respect to the rest of the world? The goal of this chapter is to formulate how information technology might interact with ethical principles required at the species level, ecosystem level, and the level of being as a whole. I also want to consider the impact of these ethical principles on our responsibilities as IT professionals. The most positive feature of information technology is its potential to contribute to the increase in human consciousness by making more knowledge more widely available. Yet it can just as easily enable questionable applications of technology that further our extinction as a species or the destruction of the ecosystem. Let us begin by asking of information technology the questions we asked about technology generally: Is information technology a neutral means? Does it have its own ends and point of view?
Test Preparation Phase I
Authors: Subraya B. M.
Published: May 2011

The core theme of the previous chapters is that a methodical and structured approach to PT is rather necessary right from the early phases of the development cycle. This will ensure predictability and controllability of application performance in practice. The preparatory activities associated with PT (Figure 4.1) are of great importance and are distributed over the life cycle phases of requirement elicitation and analysis, High Level Design (HLD), Detail Level Design (DLD), and several sets of system builds. These activities help define and provide continuity between the high level requirements for application performance, strategies for testing, a framework for designing the tests (see Barber, 2004), and artifacts used to plan and carry out tests. This chapter contains a detailed consideration of the definition phase while Chapters 5 and 6 highlight issues related to the design and build phases associated with the preparatory activities as shown in Figure 4.1.
Performance Test Automation
Authors: Subraya B. M.
Published: May 2011

This chapter delves on the automation aspects connected with performance issues. Adopting a manual method of testing the performance is neither desirable nor feasible. Automating the testing mode is an inevitable necessity. The strategy lies in choosing not only the best of the available tools but also to blend their productivity with human analytical skills. In this regard, it is important to bear in mind that use of tools as such does not amount to automating the entire testing process. This chapter addresses the task of setting up a process for automating the tests and highlights various issues involved in it. It also discusses some of the strategies for success in the automation of performance testing and concludes with a survey on tools currently available for testing in automation mode.
Accessibility of E-Government Web Sites
Authors: Huang C. J.
Published: May 2011

The Internet has emerged as one of the most prevalent forms of communication. The gathering and sharing of electronic information are becoming essential elements of modern life. Therefore, it is important to ensure that people, especially those with disabilities, have equal opportunities to benefit from the Web, especially from online public services. While many people describe the Web as a low cost, all encompassing, and far-reaching medium (Parker, 1997), it is really not accessible to everyone. The proportion of people with disabilities in society has been increasing due to the demographic trends long documented by many researchers (Barth, McNaught, & Rizzi, 1993; West, 1998). Nevertheless, government leaders have paid little attention to the needs of people with disabilities when planning and implementing Web projects, and hence many critical online public activities and customer services are not readily available to the disabled. In short, a critical challenge facing all governmental agencies is how to make the massive volume of information being published on public sector Web sites accessible to every citizen they serve.
Bavarian Secondary Modern Schools
Authors: Oberle C.
Published: May 2011

Since the late 1990s, commercial use of the Internet has increased. Many schools have started to use this new technology for presentations and have been sponsored by several initiatives like “Schulen ans Netz.” The eight ministerial service centres (Ministerialbeauftragte, MB) for the Bavarian secondary modern schools started to think about the use of the Internet, too. To get the best profit out of the Internet it was decided to combine the existing homepages of the MBs together on one platform for the Realschulen. The Bavarian Realschulen have a long tradition on IT as a subject, so a team of 24 teachers with special knowledge in creating websites and open source technologies (php, MySQL) was formed in 1999 to work out a concept for the Internet platform. In September 2000 the Bayerisches Realschulnetz (BRN) (www.realschule.bayer.de) went online for the first time. During the following 5 years, the project has developed into a one-stop-shop for all parties concerning the Bavarian Realschule.
A Conceptual Framework for Considering the Value of E-Government
Authors: Downey E.
Published: May 2011

E-government implementation requires public administrators to respond to stakeholder value. While there are many concepts of value in the field of public administration, an integrated framework that public administrators can use to consider the value of e-government to stakeholders is lacking. The new public management suggests that public administrators can best produce value by becoming entrepreneurial and more responsive to stakeholder needs (Barzelay, 1998; Denhardt & Denhardt, 2000; Frederickson, 1980; Goodsell, 1993; Kettl, 1993; Kettl & Milward, 1996; Moe, 1994; Osborne & Gaebler, 1992; Osborne & Plastrik, 1997; Stillman, 1995). Certainly e-government applications hold the promise of strengthening the relationship between public administrators and stakeholders in ways that better respond to needs and thus provide more value to stakeholders and to society in general. Current e-government classification methodologies tend to focus more on the stages of development of e-government applications (Layne & Lee, 2001; Moon, 2002; UN & ASPA, 2001; West, 2004) than on the different kinds of value that can result from meeting stakeholder needs. There is an emerging emphasis on stakeholder needs and value in the e-government literature rather than on classification methodologies that focus on stages of development (Grant & Chau, 2005; Reffat, 2005; Savoie, 2004; Schware & Deane, 2003; Tan, Pan, & Lim, 2005; Welch, Hinnant, & Moon, 2005). This article responds to these ideas by focusing on stakeholder value to develop a conceptual framework that public administrators can apply to e-government. Such a framework will provide insight into: whether or not an e-government application is worthwhile; and if worthwhile, what political management strategies might be employed to support it. The framework will also facilitate the comparison of e-government alternatives.
Digital Information Kiosks
Authors: Ni A. Y. , Ho A. T.
Published: May 2011

The word “kiosk” is derived from the Turkish word “kösk,” meaning an open summerhouse or pavilion. Before the arrival of computer technologies, a kiosk was a small, rugged standalone structure often used as a newsstand or bandstand in public places. As early as the 1870s, kiosks could be found in the streets of Paris for displaying theater and gallery advertisements. The advancement of information technologies in the 20th century gave information kiosks a new meaning. Instead of being simple post-boards for printed materials, digital information kiosks now provide not only easy and convenient access to information, but also transactional services that traditional kiosks could not perform. As the scope of digital government continues to expand, digital kiosks are becoming an important platform to support a wide range of e-government strategies.
Ecuador's Experience in E-Governance
Authors: Mena S. R.
Published: May 2011

Countries in Latin America, nongovernmental organisms, private corporations, and international organisms are working on a preliminary phase to develop information communication technology (ICT) as well as national strategies to convert current weaknesses into opportunities for an information society (IS). There are numerous initiatives which have promoted the introduction of IS and demonstrated significant progress and development in several countries. Latin American governments have begun elaborating a regional action plan, based upon the action plan resulting from the first World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), in Geneva during 2003. They have also participated on the second phase of the WSIS. Currently, these governments are defining an integrated strategy for Latin America, taking inventory of the different activities carried out and monitoring progress. Latin American governments are working to form a unified agreement which allows for social progress and sustained development in the Latin American and Caribbean regions.
E-Government and the Risk Society
Authors: Blakemore M.
Published: May 2011

The modern “risk society” does not necessarily focus on an increase in overall risk to citizens. It is more focused on trying to predict and reduce risk in the context of the speed and complexity of globalisation. Anthony Giddens observes that society is organising itself increasingly around the mitigation of risk, and Ulrich Beck notes that the assessment and mitigation of risk is undertaken in a systematic way (as cited in “Risk Society,” 2005). While society has always been confronted by external risks (floods, earthquakes, etc.), the risks within e-government are primarily manufactured risks, produced by largely uncertain outcomes of the integration of information and by the ways in which information technologies are used within government. For example, CCTV (closed-circuit television) can be used in a planned manner to monitor and deter crime in public spaces, but an uncertain outcome can be the risk of all citizens being proactively monitored by government.
E-Government at Supranational Level in the European Union
Authors: Amoretti F.
Published: May 2011

The term “e-government” became part of the political vocabulary toward the end of the 1990s. Previously, with the onset of new technologies, it found its place in the wider “semantic container,” the information society. To respond to the United States and Japan’s economic challenge, the European Commission drew up a “White Paper on Growth, Competitiveness, and Employment: Challenges and Ways Forward to the 21st Century” (the so-called Delors’ White Paper). The construction of the IS is considered one of the five fundamental priorities of the Union to create a “common information area” based on ICTs and telematic infrastructure. E-government was the key element of significant community programmes (i.e., IDA [Interchange of Data between Administrations] and TEN-TELECOM [from 2002 renamed eTen]). A decisive step toward the development of EU policies for e-government came with the approval, in June 2000, of the Action Plan “eEurope 2002: An Information Society for All.” Guidelines were fixed for greater use of the Internet, and the initiative “Government online: electronic access to public services, [which] aims to ensure that citizens have easy access to essential public data, [...] [and, in order to improve] efficiency in the public sector, will require a re-thinking of internal organisation and of electronic exchanges between institutions” (Council of the European Union & Commission of the European Communities, 2000, p. 22). A few months previously, based on numerous EC documents, the Council of Europe of Lisbon indicated an ambitious objective for the European Union: “to become the most competitive and dynamic economy based on knowledge in the world, capable of achieving sustainable economic growth, creating new and better jobs and more social cohesion.” The so-called “Lisbon strategy” to permit Europe to recover the delay accumulated compared to the U.S., was intended to guide community policies up to 2010. It is in this context, interwoven with different and often conflicting pressures (economic competition and social cohesion, market logics, and the language of rights) that action plans are formulated and policies for e-government implemented in Europe.
E-Government in the UK
Authors: Hudson J.
Published: May 2011

Like many of its western counterparts, the United Kingdom (UK) government has a long history of using IT in the administration and delivery of public services. Indeed, as early as 1959 mainframe computers were introduced in order to automate some routine aspects of public administration (Margetts & Willcocks, 1992, p. 329). However, it was not until the late 1970s and early 1980s—as the UK rose to the forefront of the emerging microcomputer industry—that IT featured in policy discourse in anything other than an extremely minor fashion. Even then—despite the appointment of Kenneth Baker as the government’s first Information Technology Minister in 1981—the issue did not feature prominently and there was nothing approaching the equivalence of the neighbouring French government’s review of the long-term social and economic policy implications of L’Informatisation d’Societe commissioned in 1976 by President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing (Nora & Minc, 1980). In fact, one former government minister claimed in his diaries that Baker’s appointment to the government had more to do with finding a minor role for a politician piqued at his omission from the Cabinet than with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s belief in the importance of IT related issues (Lawson, 1992). However, the agenda began to gather some pace following Thatcher’s departure in 1990. Under the helm of Prime Minister John Major, the Conservatives introduced a number of important policies—including a series of industrially focused information society initiatives aimed at boosting the use of ICTs by business. In addition, prompted perhaps by the popular emergence of the Internet, other branches of government began to show a greatly increased interest in the issue. For instance, a Parliamentary committee—the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee (1996)—produced a major report on the implications of the information society for government. In addition, the publication of a major study on the same issue by the European Union (1994) added weight to the emerging agenda. Shortly before losing power in 1997, the Major government produced what was arguably the UK government’s first systematic consideration of the implications of ICTs for government when it published an exploratory Green Paper titled Government.Direct (CITU, 1996). Though it came too late in the life of the government to advance its ideas any further than the discussion stage, it at least served to heighten the prominence of the agenda (Hudson, 2002).
Electronic Government at the American Grassroots
Authors: Norris D. F.
Published: May 2011

During the past 10 years or so, governments in the United States have rushed to adopt and implement electronic government or e-government (defined as the electronic delivery of governmental information and services 24 hours per day, seven days per week, see Norris, Fletcher, & Holden, 2001). Today, the federal government, all 50 state governments (and probably all departments within them), and the great majority of general purpose local governments of any size have official presences on the World Wide Web through which they deliver information and services and, increasingly, offer transactions. In this article, I examine the current state of the practice of e-government at the grassroots in the U.S.—that is, e-government among American local governments. In particular, I address the extent of local adoption of e-government, including the reasons for adoption, the relative sophistication of local e-government, and barriers to and initial impacts of e-government.
E-Moderation in Public Discussion Forums
Authors: Carson L.
Published: May 2011

Very little has been written about the crucial role of the moderator in public discussion forums or discursive communities. Group theory tends to draw upon group experiences from non-moderated groups such as criminal juries or groups convened for the purpose of observation. Therefore group theory is concerned with group members’ behaviour that is not affected by intervention by someone with the overall process in mind. Practicing moderators and process designers understand the importance of this role in face-to-face consultation. The translation of these skills into an online environment is the subject of this article. Unfortunately those who write about e-democracy rarely mention this important function, focusing instead on the technology, even though the moderator role is increasingly employed, for example in online collaboration or decision-making. The role of the e-moderator or e-convenor has attracted some attention, both in public deliberation circles (for example, National Issues Forums in the U.S.) and tertiary education (Salmon, 2002). Understanding e-moderation requires an appreciation of moderation per se. This article draws on input from a network of professional facilitators (in Australia, Canada, the United States, and the UK) who were asked by the author (in November 2004) to describe the qualities of an effective facilitator/moderator in a face-to-face (F2F) environment. Their combined responses, previously unpublished data, are used in this article. This primary data is combined with the author’s own critical reflections based on 20 years of experience as a group facilitator and is integrated with the writings of theorists and practitioners.
Enabling Federated Identity for E-Government
Authors: Candia T. , Madsen P.
Published: May 2011

Today’s administrative and business environment calls for information sharing on an unprecedented scale, from government to business to citizen. Sharing and interoperating among agencies, businesses, and governments around the world create opportunities to simplify processes and unify work, as well as improve the overall performance of government. Secure interoperability, based on identity management solutions, enables substantial cost savings, streamlined processes and faster communication of vital information to the benefit of governments and citizens of all nations. At the core of this revolution is the concept of federated identity management and the need for standards that are open, interoperable and decentralized. In addition, such standards must allow for privacy safeguard across all sectors. The Liberty Alliance Project (Liberty Alliance, n.d.) was established to address this need and tackle the twin issues of standards and trust.
Ethical Dilemmas in Online Research
Authors: Melville R.
Published: May 2011

Online research raises unique ethical concerns (Ess & AoIR, 2002), including the treatment and recruitment of participants, gaining consent, accessing electronic forms of data, privacy, and responsibility to the participants of online mediums (e.g., discussion lists and groups). Until the mid-1990s, very little attention was paid to ethical issues in online research for the following reasons: • This communication medium was a very recent phenomenon (Ess & AoIR, 2002; Mann & Steward, 2000) • Internet research posed different ethical challenges for researchers in comparison to conventional face-to-face settings • Existing ethical regulations and ethics review boards did not cover the new ethical issues raised by Internet research • It was too difficult to develop a uniform code of ethical conduct for Internet research given the diverse disciplines, countries, and cultural groups using the Internet (Ess & AoIR, 2002) • The complexity of Internet technology itself, which made adapting conventional ethical practices and processes problematic (Anders cited in Mann & Stewart, 2000; Mann & Stewart, 2000; Thomas, 1996; Whittaker, 2002)
Extending E-Government and Citizen Participation in Australia through the Internet
Authors: Walsh L.
Published: May 2011

This article seeks to provide a brief overview of the current development of digital democracy in Australia, with emphasis on the use of the Internet to extend and enhance citizen participation. Use of the Internet within the definition of digital democracy proposed is categorized into three overlapping groups: (1) e-government services and administration; (2) participatory technologies; and (3) informal modes of participation.
ICT Considerations for a Municipality in South Africa
Authors: Averweg U. , Manyanga S.
Published: May 2011

The availability of publicly accessible Internet networks and services are the first prerequisite in ensuring that all citizens and nations can benefit from information on the World Wide Web (UNESCO, 2003). Information and communication technologies (ICT) are playing an increasingly important role in the daily lives of citizens, revolutionising work and leisure and changing the rules of doing business. ICT encompass all technologies that facilitate the processing and transfer of information and communication services (United Nations, 2002). In the realm of government, ICT applications are promising to enhance the delivery of public goods and services to citizens not only by improving the process and management of government but also by redefining the traditional concepts of citizenship and democracy (Pascual, 2003). The spread of ICT brings hope that governments can transform (Pacific Council on International Policy, 2002). This article is organised as follows: • Background to the research is given • ICT adoption in the eThekwini Municipality in South Africa is described • The research goals, method, data gathering, and results are discussed • Management implications towards implementing a successful e-government strategy are given • Future trends are then suggested and a conclusion is given
ICT, Work Organisations, and Society
Authors: Bradley G.
Published: May 2011

The present fourth period, the network period, is characterised by a convergence of three main technologies (computer technology, telecommunication technology, and media technology) into information and communication technology (ICT). ICT are embedded in many things and the invisible microcomputerisation that once took off with the chips is enhanced through nanotechnology, biotechnology, and wireless technology—often entitled ubiquitous computing. The author presents ongoing changes in work life and presents a rtheoretical model: The convergence theory on ICT and psychosocial life environment. The convergence model reflects some main ongoing processes in the network society encompassing various spheres of life (professional, private, and public). Sociological theories on the Information Society are discussed in this context as well as theories from the information systems (IS) community. In the Future Trends section the new international collaboration is addressed where research and policy (including politics) develop goals and strategies to deal with societal and psychosocial changes related to the development, introduction, and use of ICT.
Implementing Enterprise Systems in the Public Sector
Authors: Ehrenhard M. L.
Published: May 2011

Modernizing public administration requires a new approach to technology. You can no longer rely on rigid, monolithic service systems. You need technology that can increase efficiency, improve economic viability, enhance process transparency, and help you communicate with the public. You need a public sector solution that supports integrated processes, simplifies service-oriented administration and cost management, and distributes the information needed for judicious planning and decision making. (SAP, 2003)
IT Management Issues in Digital Government
Authors: Freeman R. J.
Published: May 2011

A common thread among municipal governments is that they harbor a variety of enterprises under one roof. For example, police, fire, public works, social services, assessor, recorder, health services, human resources, and so forth. may all be constituent parts. They all provide services to the public, and many of these services are rapidly acquiring an online orientation (i.e., they are becoming e-services). Since they are all part of a single governmental entity, there is a need to review these online offerings to assure that the level of service provided is satisfactory and that there is a common look reflective of the parent political entity. This is discussed in the section titled “E-Government Services Review”. The common look or adherence to standards on Web sites can be facilitated by having appropriate IT governance for the disparate departments in the form of a chief information officer (CIO) who represents the interests of the parent political entity on an overall basis. One mechanism the CIO can use to invoke an IT vision for the County is to develop a strategic IT plan that the operating departments can then use as a guideline to plan their IT actions. This is discussed in the section of the article titled IT Governance and Strategic Planning. In the development of e-government services, as well as other systems projects, care needs to be taken regarding a number of important factors in order to assure that development work is done within time, cost, and quality constraints. This is discussed in the section of the article titled “System Development Guidelines”. Los Angeles County has an annual budget of close to $17 billion, encompasses about 30 major operating departments, and expends more than $700 million each year on information technology operations. Providing review and counsel to this effort is a 10-member Information Systems Commission, of which the author has been Chairman for the past 10 years. The Commission has concerned itself with such topics as e-government services, IT governance and strategic planning, and systems development. This article presents managerial insights drawn from this experience that should be applicable to large public agencies across the country.
Managing IT Outsourcing for Digital Government
Authors: Chen Y.
Published: May 2011

IT outsourcing has become an increasingly important strategy in meeting the demand for digital government services in many developed countries. In the United States, government IT outsourcing is expected to become the fastest-growing segment of the overall federal IT market.1 In 2002, the federal government spent US$55 billion on IT service contracts (Harris, 2003). The European Union also witnessed mega government IT outsourcing deals. One of the most visible deals is the British government’s National Health Service modernization plan, which features a host of multi-year IT outsourcing contracts whose total exceeds £5 billion (Collins, 2004). Government interest in IT outsourcing will likely be sustained by growing interest in creating value for citizens (Accenture, 2002). The confluence of many factors has made IT outsourcing an appealing option for governments around the world. Governments around the world are facing the challenge of delivering more services with fewer resources to meet the demands of their citizens and businesses. Information technology is able to increase efficiency in service production and delivery. However, alone, governments find it difficult to provide the financial resources and competitive wages which attract needed IT talent to deploy e-government services (National Academy of Public Administration, 2001). Against this background, outsourcing becomes a value proposition for government. With outsourcing, government can gain access to IT expertise while gaining efficiency derived from private-sector economies of scale. Nevertheless, good management is needed to realize IT outsourcing’s potential for creating value. This article focuses on IT outsourcing in the public sector, analyzing management issues, and offering practical solutions. The background section defines IT outsourcing as well as its associated benefits and risks. The next section offers a process-oriented practical methodology as a tool for public managers to navigate the entire life cycle of IT outsourcing projects. More importantly, this process provides a structured way to maximize benefits and minimize costs associated with IT outsourcing. Then, a discussion of future trends examines IT outsourcing issues on the horizon. This article concludes with a general set of recommendations.
Mechanism of E-Government Undertaking in Japan
Authors: Kaneko Y.
Published: May 2011

According to the report submitted by the Evaluation Committee of Experts, Government ICT Strategy Headquarters in December 2005 (ECE, 2005), Japan has already established the globally advanced e-government infrastructures for such services as online application and filing. The report also acknowledged that the quantity and quality of information, guidance and search engine at the government portal, “e-Gov”, and individual government Web sites have reached almost the same level as those of the government Web sites of the other world-famous ICT nations. These achievements have resulted from the continuous undertaking of introducing information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the government operations from 1960s (ECHMCA, 2001). In this article, the successful accomplishments of e-government initiative are described followed by the analysis of institutional arrangements and mechanisms concerning e-government initiatives. Lastly, the future challenges will be suggested.
Modern Drought Monitoring Tool for Decision Support System
Authors: Tadesse T. , Wilhite D. A.
Published: May 2011

Drought is a natural disaster that influences many aspects of society. Since the demand for water is increasing along with the population in many parts of the world, water supply interruptions caused by drought can be expected to produce greater impacts. This is because the impacts of drought are determined not only by the frequency and intensity of meteorological drought but also by the number of people at risk and their degree of risk (Wilhite, 2000). For example, the increase in population in Africa and Asia increases drought vulnerability significantly. Thus, policies that promote the development and implementation of appropriate drought mitigation measures today will help to reduce the economic, social, and environmental impacts associated with future droughts and the need for government intervention. To monitor drought, different types of indicators (e.g., drought indices) have been used in many parts of the world. Because there is no single definition for drought, determining which indicators to use poses more difficulties for planners. Decision makers use different policies and strategies based on the historical records of their countries. For example, in Australia, when meteorological drought (annual rainfalls in the lowest 10% of recorded values) occurred over at least 10% of the continent, it coincided with damaging agricultural droughts resulting significant losses of crops and livestock (Heathcote, 2000). Because of the varied and potentially catastrophic losses resulting from drought in many parts of the world, both governmental and non-governmental decision makers need better predictive and monitoring tools to assist them in dealing more effectively with drought. Better early warning and prediction is the foundation of a new drought management paradigm based on risk management. In South Africa, the Weather Bureau issues extended outlooks for short and long periods using numerical modeling and statistical methods (Vogel, Lang, & Monnik, 2000). In United States, recent advances in science and technology are enhancing drought monitoring capabilities and the availability of such information, which allows decision makers to make more knowledge-based decisions to lessen the impacts of drought. In this article, we highlight the role of government in drought planning and mitigation, the potential of data mining techniques and their outputs (e.g., maps and tables) for improving informed decision making, and also present a newly developed drought monitoring tool, the Vegetation Drought Response Index (VegDRI) as an example over the central United States.