bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Information System Outsourcin Decision
Authors: Lapiedra Rafael , Alegre Joaquin , Chiva Richardo , Smithson Steve
Published: May 2011

Outsourcing decisions in information technology (IT) research has yielded contradictory findings and recommendations. However, companies are increasingly outsourcing all or some of their information systems (IS) activities. This chapter examines the potential problems a company may face under this strategy. For this purpose, we conducted an empirical study in a European car manufacturing company that has followed the outsourcing alternative. The case analyzed offers insights about the outsourcing decision process and the difficulties the company faced when trying to adapt the software developed to the new business requirements. The problems that came out pushed the company to move back to the internalisation of the IS functions. The case shows a greater involvement of users on in-house developed projects. Our findings indicate that outsourcing is a good alternative when the IS activity is a technical one which does not require specific knowledge of the company.
Simulating Theory-of Constraint Problem with Novel Fuzzy Compromise Linear Programming Model
Authors: Bhattacharya Arijit , Vasant Pandian , Susanto Sani
Published: May 2011

This chapter demonstrates development of a novel compromise linear programming having fuzzy resources (CLPFR) model as well as its simulation for a theory-of-constraints’ (TOC) product mix problem using MATLAB® v. 7.04 R.14 SP.2 software. The product-mix problem considers multiple constraint resources. The developed CLPFR model helps in finding a robust solution with better profit and product mix solution in a non-bottleneck situation. The authors simulate the level of satisfaction of the decision maker (DM) as well as the degree of fuzziness of the solution found using the CLPFR model. Simulations have been carried out with MATLAB® v. 7.04 R.14 SP.2 software. In reality, the capacities available for some resources are not always precise. Some tolerances should be allowed on some constraints. This situation reflects the fuzziness in the availability of resources of the TOC product mix problem.
Introduction to the Objects Approach in Software
Authors: Shoval Peretz
Published: May 2011

The term “object oriented” spread in the last decade and a half, throughout many fields of computing, including the analysis and design of information systems (IS). The use of the OO approach began in the early 1970s in fields such as computers architecture, operating systems, and artificial intelligence. But the main field to which the approach penetrated was programming languages, beginning with Simula and then with Smalltalk. Some years passed by until the approach became popular in the programming field. Reasons for the vigorous penetration of the approach include the emergence of the windows-based graphical interfaces technology, the desire to economize development costs by reusing existing software, and the transition from centralized computing to distributed- and Internet-based computing. As aforesaid, the approach penetrated into other fields of computing due to its success in the field of programming, including the field of analysis and design of IS.
Combining the Functional and Object Oriented Approaches
Authors: Shoval Peretz
Published: May 2011

This chapter starts with a brief discussion on approaches to system development methodologies and the motivation for the development of the integrated methodology FOOM. Then it presents the stages and products of FOOM.
Information Systems Analysis with FOOM
Authors: Shoval Peretz
Published: May 2011

This chapter elaborates on the activities and products of the analysis stage with functional and object oriented methodology (FOOM). The products of this stage include a data/objects model in the form of an initial class diagram, and a functional model in the form of hierarchical object oriented Data flow diagram (OO-DFDs). The two diagram types are synchronized in order to guarantee the correctness and completeness of the two models. The chapter presents various examples of diagrams of both types.
Consumers' Preferences and Attitudes Toward Mobile Office Use
Authors: Luo Xin , Warkentin Merrill
Published: May 2011

Consumer preferences, attitudes, and behavior concerning product choice can be of vital importance in the development process and implementation of innovative products or services. The mobile office (MO) is becoming achievable in the business-to-employee (B2E) arena as more work is completed outside the office and the fixed office boundaries extend well beyond the spectrum of the desktop. Potential MO providers (e.g., employers) will encounter adoption resistance as users experience uncertainty. This paper investigates the critical factors in the decision models of consumers when evaluating the acceptance and intention to use MO. It will provide research guidelines for MO designers and developers, IT/IS managers, and IS researchers.
E-Business Risk Management in Firms
Authors: Vaidyanathan Ganesh
Published: May 2011

In order to understand the different types of e-business risks, this chapter uses a framework focusing on five dimensions of e-businesses. This chapter examines e-business risk management in a broader context by integrating various functions within firms. Primary consideration is given to characteristics of the integrated supply chain functionalities of a firm and their associations with information technology (IT), business models of firms, business processes that have become important to e-business, services that have been interlocked into e-business, the relative importance of partnerships, trust, and the necessity of adaptation in managing the supply chain in order to attain competitive advantage. The purpose of this chapter is to understand how to identify and manage various online risks.
A Survey of Trust Use and Modeling in Real Online Systems
Authors: Massa Paolo
Published: May 2011

This chapter discusses the concept of trust and how trust is used and modeled in online systems currently available on the Web or on the Internet. It starts by describing the concept of information overload and introducing trust as a possible and powerful way to deal with it. It then provides a classification of the systems that currently use trust and, for each category, presents the most representative examples. In these systems, trust is considered as the judgment expressed by one user about another user, often directly and explicitly, sometimes indirectly through an evaluation of the artifacts produced by that user or his/her activity on the system. We hence use the term “trust” to indicate different types of social relationships between two users, such as friendship, appreciation, and interest. These trust relationships are used by the systems in order to infer some measure of importance about the different users and influence their visibility on the system. We conclude with an overview of the open and interesting challenges for online systems that use and model trust information.
Legal Challenges of Online Reputation Systems
Authors: Chandler Jennifer , el-Khatib Khalil , Benyoucef Morad , Von Bochmann Gregor , Adams Carlisle
Published: May 2011

Online reputation systems have become important tools for supporting commercial as well as noncommercial online interactions. But as online users become more and more reliant on these systems, the question of whether the operators of online reputation systems may be legally liable for problems with these systems becomes both interesting and important. Indeed, lawsuits against the operators of online reputation systems have already emerged in the United States regarding errors in the information provided by such systems. In this chapter, we will take the example of eBay’s Feedback Forum to review the potential legal liabilities facing the operators of online reputation systems. In particular, the applicability of the Canadian law of negligent misrepresentation and of defamation will be covered. Similar issues may be expected to arise in the other common law jurisdictions
Volunteers in Large Libre Software Projects
Authors: Michlmayr Martin , Robles Gregorio , Gonzalez-Barahona Jesus M.
Published: May 2011

Most libre (free, open source) software projects rely on the work of volunteers. Therefore, attracting people who contribute their time and technical skills is of paramount importance, both in technical and economic terms. This reliance on volunteers leads to some fundamental management challenges: Volunteer contributions are inherently difficult to predict, plan, and manage, especially in the case of large projects. In this chapter we present an analysis of the evolution over time of the human resources in large libre software projects, using the Debian project, one of the largest and most complex libre software projects based mainly in voluntary work, as a case study. We have performed a quantitative investigation of data corresponding to roughly seven years, studying how volunteer involvement has affected the software released by the project, and the developer community itself.
Global Internet Usage, Web Site Design, and Cultural Communication Preferences
Authors: Hermeking M.
Published: May 2011

Though the Internet continuously gains much popularity on a global scale, marketing research reveals enormous national differences and disparities in the numbers of Internet users worldwide. To date, most users still live in North America, in the Asia Pacific Basin, and in Western Europe. In response, an increasing body of research on global Internet usage, interface design, and Web site usability has been undertaken by human-computer-interaction (HCI) and localization specialists during the past few years. Similarly, questions of global standardization vs. local adaptation are also central to international marketing, research on consumer behavior, and marketing communications. Since the Internet, including its most popular usage platform, the World Wide Web (WWW), is part of the media, its culture-specific potential and conditions for global usage—and respectively its culturally appropriate design for worldwide consumption—can be described in general by contributions from cross-cultural marketing and advertising research. This chapter presents a foundational examination of this situation and its implications for professional practices related to marketing and online consumers.
Precision, Flexibility, and Tool Support
Authors: Soundarajan Neelam , Hallstrom Jason O.
Published: May 2011

There are two important requirements that any approach to formalizing Design patterns must meet. First, the approach must enable the precise specification of the implementation requirements and behavioral guarantees associated with a wide range of patterns. Second, the formalization of each pattern must retain the pattern’s inherent flexibility. In this chapter, we present a novel approach to formalizing Design patterns that satisfies these seemingly conflicting requirements. For the formalism to be of practical value, we also need tools that can assist practitioners in determining whether the patterns used in designing their systems have been implemented correctly. Such tools are especially important during system maintenance and evolution to ensure that the design integrity of a system is not compromised. We show how our approach lends itself to the construction of such tools.
Introduction
Authors: Tse Phillip K.C.
Published: May 2011

This book explains the techniques to store and retrieve multimedia information in multimedia storage systems. It describes the internal architecture of storage systems. Readers will be able to learn the internal architectures of multimedia storage systems. Many techniques are described with details. Examples are provided to help readers understand the techniques. By understanding these techniques, we hope that readers may also apply similar techniques in the problems that they encounter in their everyday life.
Statistical Placement on Disks
Authors: Tse Phillip K.C.
Published: May 2011

The access pattern on each multimedia object can have very different characteristics. Some multimedia objects are more popular and they are more frequently accessed by more users. The user may concern the average access time on the objects. Thus, the storage systems can make use of the popularity of multimedia objects to optimize the average access time. Some objects need to be accessed at a higher data rate than the other objects. The users may concern the continuity of these objects. The storage systems may store the high data rate objects at the locations where data transfer rates are higher. The statistical placement methods place the multimedia objects according to the characteristics of their access patterns. We shall describe the frequency based placement or popularity based placement method which optimizes the mean access time as the performance metric in the next section. After that, we shall describe the bandwidth based placement which uses the object continuity as the performance metrics. When two placement methods are compared on the same storage system, each one of the methods may show better performance according to different metrics. System builder may choose the appropriate method according to the method that shows better performance in the preferred metrics. Thus, both placement methods have their significance.
Tertiary Storage Devices
Authors: Tse Phillip K.C.
Published: May 2011

The main objective of the tertiary storage level is to provide huge storage capacity at low cost. Several types of storage devices are available to be used at the tertiary storage level in Hierarchical Storage Systems (HSS). They include: • Magnetic tapes • Optical disks • Optical tapes These storage devices are composed of fixed storage drives and removable media units. The storage drives are fixed to the computer system. The removable media unit can be removed from the drives so that the storage capacity can be expanded with more media units. When data on a media are accessed, the media unit is accessed from their normal location. One of the storage drives on the computer system is chosen. If there is a media unit in the storage drive, the old media unit is unloaded and ejected. The new media unit is then loaded to the drive. Each type of storage drive may handle the storage drives and media units differently. The magnetic tapes are described below in the next section. Then, the optical tapes are presented. Afterwards, the optical disks are briefly described before this chapter is summarized.
Statistical Placement on Hierarchical Storage Systems
Authors: Tse Phillip K.C.
Published: May 2011

We have described the contiguous placement in the previous chapter and the statistical strategy to place objects on disks in Chapter IV. In this chapter, we describe the statistical strategy to place them on hierarchical storage systems. The objective of the data placement methods is to minimize the time to access object from the hierarchical storage system. The statistical strategy changes the statistical time to access objects so that the mean access time is optimal. The objective of the frequency based placement method is to differentiate objects according to their access frequencies. The objects that are more frequently accessed are placed in the more convenient locations. The objects that are less frequently accessed are placed in the less convenient locations. We will describe the frequency based placement method in the next section. Afterwards, we will analyze its performance. Last, we summarize this chapter.
Striping on Hierarchical Storage Systems
Authors: Tse Phillip K.C.
Published: May 2011

The data striping technique has been successfully applied on disks to reduce the time to access objects from the disks as shown in Chapter VI. Similarly, the striping technique has been investigated to reduce the time to access objects from the tape libraries. Similar to the striping on disks, the objective of the parallel striping method is to reduce the time to access objects from the tape libraries. The parallel tape striping directly applies the striping technique to place data stripes on tapes. The triangular placement method changes the order in which data stripes are stored on tapes to further enhance the performance. In the next section, the parallel tape striping method will be described. The performance of the parallel tape striping follows. After that, the triangular placement method is explained, and it is followed by the performance of the triangular placement method.
Segmented Pipelining
Authors: Tse Phillip K.C.
Published: May 2011

The robotic tape library and optical jukebox provide huge and cheap capacity for the storage of multimedia objects. The stored objects may be retrieved using staging, time slicing, or pipelining. The staging method retrieves the whole objects to the staging buffers prior to consumption at the cost of high start-up latency. The time slice method reduces the start-up latency at the cost of heavy switching overheads. The pipelining methods aim at minimizing the start-up latency. In the normal pipelining method, the sizes of the slices are minimized to maximize the overlapping between the displaying time and the retrieval time of the slices. In space efficient pipelining methods, the buffer size in accessing the slices is minimized. We have already described the normal pipelining and the space efficient pipelining methods in the two previous chapters. The segmented pipelining method to reduce the latency in serving interactive requests is presented in this chapter. Multimedia objects are usually displayed from the beginning to the end in video on demand systems. Interactive video-on-demand systems support VCR-like functions, including fast forward, rewind, pause, and resume functions. Large video systems store many objects. The video systems should allow some searching to allow users find the desired objects. When searching is required, the video-on-demand system would need to provide browsing, jump, keyword, and content based searching. Unless the staging method is used, the multimedia storage system cannot support any VCR-like operations. The segmented pipelining method is designed to provide efficient retrieval of multimedia objects with supporting of previews. In this chapter, the segmented pipelining method is first described in the next section. The performance of the segmented pipelining method is then described and analyzed before this chapter is summarized.
Caching on the Web
Authors: Mahdavi Mehregan , Bentallah Boualem
Published: May 2011

The World Wide Web provides a means for sharing data and applications among users. However, its performance and in particular providing fast response time is still an issue. Caching is a key technique that addresses some of the performance issues in today’s Web-enabled applications. Deploying dynamic data especially in an emerging class of Web applications, called Web Portals, makes caching even more interesting. In this chapter, we study Web caching techniques with focus on dynamic content. We also discuss the limitations of caching in Web portals and study a solution that addresses these limitations. The solution is based on the collaboration between the portal and its providers.
Integrating Heterogeneous Data Sources in the Web
Authors: Brayner Angelo , Meireles Macelo , de Aguiar Moraes Filho José
Published: May 2011

Integrating data sources published on the web requires an integration strategy that guarantees local data sources autonomy. Multidatabase System (MDBS) has been consolidated as an approach to integrate multiple heterogeneous and distributed data sources in flexible and dynamic environments such as the Web. A key property of MDBSs is to guarantee a higher degree of local autonomy. In order to adopt the MDBS strategy, it is necessary to use a query language, called multidatabase language (MDL), which provides the necessary constructs for jointly manipulating and accessing data in heterogeneous data sources. In other words, the MDL is responsible for solving integration conflicts. This chapter describes an extension to the XQuery language, called MXQuery, which supports queries over several data sources and solves integration problems as semantic heterogeneity and incomplete information.
Web Services
Authors: Aman Bernd , Benbernou Salima , Nguyen Benjamin
Published: May 2011

Unlike traditional applications, which depend upon a tight interconnection of all program elements, Web service applications are composed of loosely coupled, autonomous and independent services published on the Web. In this chapter, we first introduces the concept of service oriented computing (SOC) on the Web and the current standards enabling the definition and publication of Web services. This technology’s next evolution is to facilitate the creation and maintenance of Web applications. This can be achieved by exploiting the self-descriptive nature of Web services combined with more powerful models and languages for composing Web services. A second objective of this chapter is to illustrate the complexity of the Web service composition problem and to provide a representative overview of the existing approaches. The chapter concludes with a short presentation of two research projects exploiting and extending the Web service paradigm.
Access to the Living Room
Authors: Muller Eggo
Published: May 2011

Whereas the advent of interactive TV has been discussed as one of the key added values of digitization and convergence of “old” and “new media” for years, current marketing strategies of the big players in the Dutch telecommunications market avoid the term interactivity. Providers promise users “more fun” and increased ease of media consumption when connected digitally to the media world by offering broadband Internet, cable television, and telephone services in one package. They aim at another added quality of interactive media consumption: gaining access to the living room means gaining access to consumption patterns that can be traced back to the individual consumer. This article discusses media convergence and the current development of interactive television in the context of the reconfiguration of the relation between producers and consumers in the new online economy.
Bringing on the Next Billion Online
Authors: Coppock Karen
Published: May 2011

This chapter classifies the types of partnerships employed to increase Internet demand in emerging markets. This classification system, or taxonomy, is based on more than 60 in-depth interviews, about 32 partnerships, designed to create Internet demand in Mexico. The taxonomy first classifies the partnerships into three broad categories based on the number of barriers to Internet usage the partnership was designed to overcome: one, two, or three. The partnerships are then classified into six subcategories based on the specific barrier or combination of barriers to Internet usage the partnership sought to overcome. The six subcategories of the taxonomy are: (1) lack of funds; (2) lack of awareness; (3) lack of uses; (4) lack of funds and lack of uses; (5) lack of funds and lack of infrastructure; and (6) lack of funds, lack of uses, and lack of infrastructure. This taxonomy gives empirical meaning and enables further analysis of this unique and increasingly popular type of partnership.
Organizing Across Distances
Authors: Markman Kris M.
Published: May 2011

This chapter examines the use of computer chat technologies for virtual team meetings. The use of geographically dispersed (i.e., virtual) teams is a growing phenomenon in modern organizations. Although a variety of information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been used to conduct virtual team meetings, one technology, synchronous computer chat, has not been exploited to its fullest potential. This chapter discusses some of research findings related to effective virtual teams and examines some structural features of chat as they relate to virtual meetings. Based on these characteristics, I offer tips for using chat as an effective tool for distant collaboration.
Overview of the Networked Knowledge Economy
Authors: Wickramasinghe Nilmini , Von Lubitz Dag
Published: May 2011

This book provides comprehensive coverage of all areas (people, process, and technology) necessary to become a knowledge-based enterprise. It presents several frameworks facilitating the implementation of a KM initiative and its ongoing management so that pertinent knowledge and information are always available to the decision maker, and so the organization may always enjoy a sustainable competitive advantage
Understanding the Knowledge Construct
Authors: Wickramasinghe Nilmini , Von Lubitz Dag
Published: May 2011

This book provides comprehensive coverage of all areas (people, process, and technology) necessary to become a knowledge-based enterprise. It presents several frameworks facilitating the implementation of a KM initiative and its ongoing management so that pertinent knowledge and information are always available to the decision maker, and so the organization may always enjoy a sustainable competitive advantage
Conclusions and Future Directions
Authors: Xie Iris
Published: May 2011

The emergence of the Internet has allowed millions of people to use a variety of electronic information retrieval (IR) systems, such as digital libraries, Web search engines, online databases, and Online Public Access Catalogues (OPACs). The nature of IR is interaction. Interactive information retrieval is defined as the communication process between the users and the IR systems. However, the dynamics of interactive IR is not yet fully understood. Moreover, most of the existing IR systems do not support the full range of users’ interactions with IR systems. Instead, they only support one type of information-seeking strategy: how to specify queries by using terms to select relevant information. However, new digital environments require users to apply multiple information-seeking strategies and shift from one information- seeking strategy to another in the information retrieval process.
Leveraging What Your Company Really Knows
Authors: Marchand D.
Published: May 2011

Strategic intelligence is about having the right information in the hands of the right people at the right time so that those people are able to make informed business decisions about the future of the business. Thus, in order to improve a company’s strategic intelligence process, management must take a critical look at how effectively they manage information. Effective information management requires specific information-processing practices, employee behaviors and values, and technology. The information orientation (IO) framework is a tool that managers can use to determine the company’s level of effective information management and to identify areas where they can make improvements. By achieving IO maturity—aligning processes, people behaviors, and technology practices with business strategies—a company can derive a competitive advantage and future leadership. IO mature companies are most successful at collecting and openly sharing the strategic intelligence that their employees need in order to successfully monitor and proactively react to future market trends or events.
A Strategic Marketing Intelligence Framework Reinforced by Corporate Intelligence
Authors: Trim P.
Published: May 2011

The chapter examines how marketing strategists and corporate intelligence officers can work together in order to provide a high level, proactive strategic intelligence operation that enhances marketing strategy development and implementation. A variety of activities relating to marketing strategy, corporate intelligence and corporate security are highlighted. Aspects of corporate counterintelligence are addressed in the context of gathering intelligence, and guidance is provided as to how organizational strategists can develop a strategic marketing intelligence framework that incorporates a counterintelligence dimension. The main advantage of the strategic marketing intelligence framework is that it acts as a vehicle to integrate the organizational intelligence efforts and activities at the highest-level. It also facilitates the creation of an intelligence culture.
Managing Executive Information Systems for Strategic Intelligence in South Africa and Spain
Authors: Averweg U. , Roldán J.
Published: May 2011

Strategically important information for executive decision-making is often not readily available since it may be scattered in an organization’s internal and external environments. An executive information system (EIS) is a computer-based technology designed in response to specific needs of executives and for decision-making. Executives having the “right” information for strategic decision-making is considered critical for strategic intelligence (SQ). SQ is the ability to interpret cues and develop appropriate strategies for addressing the future impact of these cues. In order to gauge the current situation in respect of information in an EIS and for managing future EIS development, the authors research EIS in organizations in two selected countries: South Africa and Spain. From their EIS study, parallelisms and differences are identified and implications for SQ are discussed. Some practical implications for future EIS development are given. The authors suggest these should be considered so that SQ for executive decision-making is facilitated.
Using Grid for Data Sharing to Support Intelligence in Decision Making
Authors: Bessis N. , French T. , Burakova-Lorgnier M. , Huang W.
Published: May 2011

This chapter is about conceptualizing the applicability of grid related technologies for supporting intelligence in decision-making. It aims to discuss how the open grid service architecture—data, access integration (OGSA-DAI) can facilitate the discovery of and controlled access to vast data-sets, to assist intelligence in decision making. Trust is also identified as one of the main challenges for intelligence in decision-making. On this basis, the implications and challenges of using grid technologies to serve this purpose are also discussed. To further the explanation of the concepts and practices associated with the process of intelligence in decision-making using grid technologies, a minicase is employed incorporating a scenario. That is to say, “Synergy Financial Solutions Ltd” is presented as the minicase, so as to provide the reader with a central and continuous point of reference.
Intelligent Ant Colony System for Traveling Salesman Problem and Clustering
Authors: Chu Shu-Chuan , Pan Jeng-Shyang
Published: May 2011

Processes that simulate natural phenomena have successfully been applied to a number of problems for which no simple mathematical solution is known or is practicable. Such meta-heuristic algorithms include genetic algorithms, particle swarm optimization and ant colony systems and have received increasing attention in recent years. This work parallelizes the ant colony systems and introduces the communication strategies so as to reduce the computation time and reach the better solution for traveling salesman problem. We also extend ant colony systems and discuss a novel data clustering process using Constrained Ant Colony Optimization (CACO). The CACO algorithm extends the ant colony optimization algorithm by accommodating a quadratic distance metric, the Sum of K Nearest Neighbor Distances (SKNND) metric, constrained addition of pheromone and a shrinking range strategy to improve data clustering. We show that the CACO algorithm can resolve the problems of clusters with arbitrary shapes, clusters with outliers and bridges between clusters
Fuzzy Coach-Player Systems for Controlling a Robot Manipulator
Authors: Jayawardena Chandimal , Watanabe Keigo , Izumi Kiyotaka
Published: May 2011

Natural language commands are information rich and conscious because they are generated by intelligent human beings. Therefore, if it is possible to learn from such commands and reuse that knowledge, it will be very effective and useful. In this chapter, learning from information rich voice commands for controlling a robot is discussed. First, new concepts of fuzzy coach-player system and sub-coach for robot control with natural language commands are proposed. Then, the characteristics of subjective human decision making process and learning from such decisions are discussed. Finally, an experiment conducted with a PA-10 redundant manipulator in order to establish the proposed concept is described. In the experiment, a Probabilistic Neural Network (PNN) is used for learning.
Development of an Intelligent Information Systems for Object-Oriented Software Design
Authors: Moynihan Gary P. , Qiao Bin , Elam Matthew E. , Jones Joel
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this research was to apply an artificial intelligence approach to improve the efficiency of design pattern selection used in the development of object-oriented software. Design patterns provide a potential solution to the limitations occurring with traditional software design approaches. Current methods of design pattern selection tend to be intuitive, and based on the experience of the individual software engineer. This expertise is very specialized and frequently unavailable to many software development organizations. A prototype expert system was developed in order to automate this process of selecting suitable patterns to be applied to the design problem under consideration. It guides the designer through the pattern selection process through inquiry regarding the nature of the design problem. The prototype system also provides the capabilities to browse patterns, view the relationship between patterns, and generate code based on the pattern selected. The routine application of such a system is viewed as a means to improve the productivity of software development by increasing the use of accepted design patterns.
Procedure for Modeling and Improving E-SCM Processes
Authors: Boonyathan P. , Al-Hakim L.
Published: May 2011

Today’s managers are turning to the functions of the supply chain to improve margins and gain competitive advantage. The explosion of the Internet and other e-business technologies has made real-time, online communication throughout the entire supply chain a reality. Electronic supply chain management (e-SCM) is a reference to the supply chain that is structured via electronic technology-enabled relationships. This chapter concentrates on the development of a procedure referred to as eSCM-I for e-SCM process improvement. The procedure focuses on process mapping and relies on principles of coordination theory. It is based on SCOR to standardize the process and take advantage of this technique of benchmarking/best practices potential. The procedure employs IDEF0 technique for mapping the processes.
Service Value Networks
Authors: Hamilton J.
Published: May 2011

This chapter addresses service value networks as a key pathway to establishing and likely retaining future strong competitive positioning within a service industry sector. A service value network may be defined as “the flexible, dynamic delivery of a service, and/or product, by a business and its networked, coordinated value chains (supply chains and demand chains working in harmony); such that a value-adding and target-specific service and/or product solution is effectively, and efficiently, delivered to the individual customer in a timely, physical, or virtual manner.” The service value network offers a future pathway for a business to develop its e-supply chain systems. It captures the contacting customer, and integrates the customer’s (virtual e-customer, virtual e-business customer, or physical customer) demands via its virtual or Web site interface into its integrated downstream service networks, seeks solutions, and delivers the appropriate business solutions back to the customer. Value-enhanced business encounter solutions are readily deliverable for targeted customers. The procedure to research and develop a service value network is described.
Automated Data Capture Technologies
Authors: Potdar V.
Published: May 2011

In this chapter we provide an introduction to RFID technology. We discuss the main components of the RFID technology, which includes RFID transponders, RFID readers, RFID middleware, and RFID labels. A detailed classification and explanation for each of these components is provided, followed by the benefits and applications that can be achieved by adopting this technology. After discussing all possible applications, we describe the business benefits and how stakeholders can benefit. This is followed by a detailed outline of the adoption challenges, where we discuss issues like the security, privacy, cost, scalability, resilience, and deployment and some existing solutions. Once the issues are discussed, we divert our attention to some successful RFID deployment case studies to describe the adoption of RFID technology that has already begun and how many big organizations across the world are showing interest in this technology. Since this chapter takes into consideration a variety of audiences like researchers, business executives, business consultants, hobbyists, and general readers, we tried to cover material relevant to each target audience. For business executives and consultants interested in knowing who can offer complete RFID solutions, we allocated a dedicated section for RFID vendors where we provide a comprehensive list of RFID vendors across the globe. For researchers, we listed some open issues in the section of adoption challenges. For advanced users, in-depth technical details are provided in the section where we discuss security and privacy enhancing protocols.
Information Security Risk in the E-Supply Chain
Authors: Baker W. , Smith G. , Watson K.
Published: May 2011

Collaboration between supply chain partners, facilitated by integration of information flows, has created more efficient and effective networks. However, the benefits of interconnectivity are not gained without risk. Though essential to support collaboration, increased use of information technology has removed internal and external protective barriers around an organization’s assets and processes. Thus, supply chains are better able to satisfy the needs of customers while more vulnerable to an array of IT-specific risks. This chapter identifies the sources of IT threats in the supply chain, categorizes those threats, and validates them by means of a survey of 188 companies representing a range of supply chain functions. Analysis suggests that supply chain risk is affected by IT threats, and therefore the benefits of collaboration facilitated by IT integration must exceed the increase in risk due to IT security threats.
Learning IT
Authors: McGill Tanya , Bax Samantha
Published: May 2011

Lectures are the traditional method of content delivery in undergraduate information technology degrees, yet concerns have been raised about their effectiveness. This chapter addresses the role of lectures within information technology degree programs from a student perspective; it examines the factors that influence lecture attendance, and student perceptions of the usefulness of a variety of possible lecture activities. Overall, the results suggest that students see the lecturer as contributing significant value to their learning experience through the lecture setting. Students appear to value the expertise of the lecturer and find activities that can best make use of the lecturer’s expertise the most useful. The results also suggest that students recognize the importance of active learning within the constraints of traditional learning settings.
Information Technology Certification
Authors: McGill Tanya , Dixon Michael
Published: May 2011

Certification has become a popular adjunct to traditional means of acquiring information technology skills and employers increasingly specify a preference for those holding certifications. This paper reports on a study designed to investigate student perceptions of both the benefits and risks of certification and its importance in obtaining employment. Certification was perceived as an important factor in achieving employment and students undertaking it anticipate that it will lead to substantial financial benefits. Yet higher salaries are not seen as the most important benefit of certification. The potential benefits that students believe are most important relate to ‘real world’ experience. The respondents were aware of the possible risks of certification but did not appear to be overly concerned about them.
A Birds-Eye View of Knowledge Management
Authors: Schwartz David G.
Published: May 2011

Knowledge management is a fragmented field, whether of necessity or of design. In this chapter, we present and discuss data that maps out a number of the characteristics of the field. We then discuss trends that indicate how knowledge management is evolving into a discipline in its own right and present some thoughts on what the dominant characteristics of that discipline need to be.
The Influence of Organizational Trust on the Use of KM Systems and on the Success of KM Initiatives
Authors: Ribière Vincent , Tuggle Francis
Published: May 2011

While the discipline of knowledge management (KM) is no longer emerging, some organizations are still struggling to find the right approach that will allow them to fully take advantage of their intellectual assets. Having the proper organizational culture remains an important barrier to knowledge management success. This empirical research project, conducted with data from 97 organizations involved in KM, explores relationships between the level of organizational trust and the use of KM methodologies, in particular the use of codification KM methodologies and personalization KM methodologies. The presence of trust also can be used as an indicator of KM initiative success. The contribution of this research may help organizations seeking to launch or adapt a KM initiative to choose which KM tools and technologies to deploy in order to maximize their chances of success. Finally, a rank-ordered list of KM methodologies in descending order of usefulness is reported.
Toward the Multidimensional Conceptualization of Knowledge
Authors: Nissen Mark , Jennex Murray E.
Published: May 2011

Many taxonomies and definitions of knowledge have been published in the KM literature. This chapter defines knowledge as something that is multidimensional and existent on a continuum. Four dimensions describing knowledge are proposed—explicitness, reach, life cycle, and flow time—and a modeling method is discussed. The chapter concludes with a call for research in the dimensionality of knowledge.
Adopting Knowledge-Centred Principles in Innovation Pursuits
Authors: Goh Andrew
Published: May 2011

With the emergence of the knowledge economy, organizations are beginning to see a need to apply knowledge management (KM) practices to their business activities. While knowledge management (KM) has gathered considerable momentum to be a vital source of competitive advantage, how its role could harvest knowledge assets for innovation has yet to be firmly established. This chapter aims to address this issue by examining how innovation can be fostered through knowledge-centered principles. It first describes the globalization of economies and the coming of the new knowledge age as the backdrop to Singapore’s vision of transiting into a knowledge economy. Then it discusses how knowledge management (KM) practices can be harnessed better for innovation management and explains why organizations should foster innovation by adopting an evolving set of knowledge-centered principles. Next, based on the case of Singapore Airlines (SIA), it provides a theoretical review of these principles. Finally, it outlines the future challenges of exploiting knowledge for innovation.
21st Century Religious Communities
Authors: George Susan E.
Published: May 2011

This paper examines the development of 21st century virtual communities, focusing upon those communities that have emerged for virtual religion. It aims to (i) raise awareness of the way that technology is being used for religious purposes; (ii) explain the ways that human interaction in religious communities is influenced by technology, in both supporting traditional modes of interaction and in enabling new, and the main criticisms; and (iii) provide evidence to support the benefit of such communities to religious bodies themselves by turning to the question of technological determinism - and the crucial question of just how humanity is influenced by technology.
USE IT to Create Patient Relation Management for Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Authors: Michel-Verke Margreet B. , Schuring Roel W. , Spil Ton A.M.
Published: May 2011

Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) visit various healthcare providers during the course of their disease. It was suggested that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) might help to orchestrate their care provision. We have applied the USE IT-tool to get insight in the relevant problems, solutions and constraints of the MS-care both in the organizational and the information technological area. There is hardly a chain of healthcare, but rather, a network in which informal communication plays an important role. This informal network worked reasonably effective, but inefficient and slow. MS patients-count is only small for most care providers. Patients thought that lack of experience caused their major problems: insufficient and inadequate care. To improve care, we proposed a solution that combines an “MS-protocol”, the introduction of a central coordinator of care and a Patient Relation Management (PRM) system. This is a simple web-based application based on agreement by the caregivers that supports routing, tracking and tracing for an MS patient and supplies the caregivers with professional guidelines. It is likely that we would have suggested a far more complicated ICT-solution if we had only analyzed the MS-care process as such, without specific consideration of the dimensions in the USE IT-tool.
Mining Frequent Patterns Using Self-Organizing Map
Authors: Hadzic Fedja , Dillon Tharam , Tan Henry , Feng Ling. , Chang Elizabeth
Published: May 2011

Association rule mining is one of the most popular pattern discovery methods used in data mining. Frequent pattern extraction is an essential step in association rule mining. Most of the proposed algorithms for extracting frequent patterns are based on the downward closure lemma concept utilizing the support and confidence framework. In this chapter we investigate an alternative method for mining frequent patterns in a transactional database. Self-Organizing Map (SOM) is an unsupervised neural network that effectively creates spatially organized internal representations of the features and abstractions detected in the input space. It is one of the most popular clustering techniques, and it reveals existing similarities in the input space by performing a topology-preserving mapping. These promising properties indicate that such a clustering technique can be used to detect frequent patterns in a top-down manner as opposed to the traditional approach that employs a bottom-up lattice search. Issues that are frequently raised when using clustering technique for the purpose of finding association rules are: (i) the completeness of association rule set, (ii) the support level for the rules generated, and (iii) the confidence level for the rules generated. We present some case studies analyzing the relationships between the SOM approach and the traditional association rule framework, and propose a way to constrain the clustering technique so that the traditional support constraint can be approximated. Throughout our experiments, we have demonstrated how a clustering approach can be used for discovering frequent patterns.