bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Products and Services Ontologies
Authors: Hepp Martin
Published: February 2011

Using Semantic Web technologies for e-business tasks, like product search or content integration, requires ontologies for products and services. Their manual creation is problematic due to (1) the high specificity, resulting in a large number of concepts, and (2) the need for timely ontology maintenance due to product innovation; and due to cost, since building such ontologies from scratch requires significant resources. At the same time, industrial categorization standards, like UNSPSC, eCl@ss, eOTD, or the RosettaNet Technical Dictionary, reflect some degree of consensus and contain a wealth of concept definitions plus a hierarchy. They can thus be valuable input for creating domain ontologies. However, the transformation of existing standards, originally developed for some purpose other than ontology engineering, into useful ontologies is not as straightforward as it appears. In this paper, (1) we argue that deriving products and services ontologies from industrial taxonomies is more feasible than manual ontology engineering; (2) show that the representation of the original semantics of the input standard, especially the taxonomic relationship, is an important modeling decision that determines the usefulness of the resulting ontology; (3) illustrate the problem by analyzing existing ontologies derived from UNSPCS and eCl@ss; (4) present a methodology for creating ontologies in OWL based on the reuse of existing standards; and (5) demonstrate this approach by transforming eCl@ss 5.1 into a practically useful products and services ontology.
R-DEVICE
Authors: Bassiliades Nick , Vlahavas Ioannis
Published: February 2011

In this paper we present R-DEVICE, a deductive object-oriented knowledge base system for reasoning over RDF metadata. R-DEVICE imports RDF documents into the CLIPS production rule system by transforming RDF triples into COOL objects and uses a deductive rule language for reasoning about them. R-DEVICE is based on an OO RDF data model, different than the established triple-based model, which maps resources to objects and encapsulates properties inside resource objects, as traditional OO attributes. In this way, fewer joins are required to access the properties of a single resource resulting in better inferencing/querying performance, as it is experimentally shown in the paper. Furthermore, RDF can interoperate seamlessly with other Web data models and languages. The descriptive semantics of RDF may call for dynamic redefinitions of resource classes, which are handled by R-DEVICE effectively. Furthermore, R-DEVICE features a powerful deductive rule language for reasoning on top of RDF metadata. The rule language includes features such as normal and generalized path expressions, stratified negation, aggregate, grouping, and sorting functions. The rule language supports a second-order syntax, which is efficiently translated into sets of first-order logic rules using metadata, where variables can range over classes and properties, so that reasoning over the RDF schema can be made. Users can define views that are materialized and incrementally maintained by translating deductive rules into CLIPS production rules that preserve truth. Users can choose between an OPS5/CLIPS-like and a RuleML-like syntax. Finally, users can define and use functions through the CLIPS host language.
Knowledge-Assisted Image Analysis Based on Context and Spatial Optimization
Authors: Papadopoulos G. Th. , Mylonas Ph. , Mezaris V. , Avrithis Y. , Kompatsiaris I.
Published: February 2011

In this article, an approach to semantic image analysis is presented. Under the proposed approach, ontologies are used to capture general, spatial, and contextual knowledge of a domain, and a genetic algorithm is applied to realize the final annotation. The employed domain knowledge considers high-level information in terms of the concepts of interest of the examined domain, contextual information in the form of fuzzy ontological relations, as well as low-level information in terms of prototypical low-level visual descriptors. To account for the inherent ambiguity in visual information, uncertainty has been introduced in the spatial relations definition. First, an initial hypothesis set of graded annotations is produced for each image region, and then context is exploited to update appropriately the estimated degrees of confidence. Finally, a genetic algorithm is applied to decide the most plausible annotation by utilizing the visual and the spatial concepts definitions included in the domain ontology. Experiments with a collection of photographs belonging to two different domains demonstrate the performance of the proposed approach.
Ontology of Folksonomy
Authors: Gruber Thomas
Published: February 2011

Ontologies are enabling technology for the Semantic Web. They are a means for people to state what they mean by the terms used in data that they might generate, share, or consume. Folksonomies are an emergent phenomenon of the social Web. They arise from data about how people associate terms with content that they generate, share, or consume. Recently the two ideas have been put into opposition, as if they were right and left poles of a political spectrum. This is a false dichotomy; they are more like apples and oranges. In fact, as the Semantic Web matures and the social Web grows, there is increasing value in applying Semantic Web technologies to the data of the social Web. This article is an attempt to clarify the distinct roles for ontologies and folksonomies, and preview some new work that applies the two ideas together—an ontology of folk-sonomy.
Exploring the Value of Folksonomies for Creating Semantic Metadata
Authors: Al-Khalifa Hend S. , Davis Hugh C.
Published: February 2011

Finding good keywords to describe resources is an on-going problem. Typically, we select such words manually from a thesaurus of terms, or they are created using auto-matic keyword extraction techniques. Folksonomies are an increasingly well-populated source of unstructured tags describing Web resources. This article explores the value of the folksonomy tags as a potential source of keyword metadata by examining the relationship between folksonomies, community produced annotations, and keywords extracted by machines. The experiment has been carried out in two ways: subjectively, by asking two human indexers to evaluate the quality of the generated keywords from both systems; and automatically, by measuring the percentage of overlap between the folksonomy set and machine generated keywords set. The results of this experiment show that the folksonomy tags agree more closely with the human generated keywords than those automatically generated. The results also showed that the trained indexers pre-ferred the semantics of folksonomy tags compared to keywords extracted automatically. These results can be considered as evidence for the strong relationship of folksonomies to the human indexer’s mindset, demonstrating that folksonomies used in the del.icio.us bookmarking service are a potential source for generating semantic metadata to annotate Web resources.
Association Rule Ontology Matching Approach
Authors: David Jérôme
Published: February 2011

This article presents a hybrid, extensional and asymmetric matching approach designed to find out relations (equivalence and subsumption) between two textual hierarchies. By using the as-sociation rule paradigm and a statistical measure, this method relies on the following idea: ``An entity A will be more specific than or equivalent to an entity B if the vocabulary used to describe A and its instances tends to be included in that of B and its instances’’. This approach is divided into two parts: (1) The representation of each entity by a set of relevant terms and data; (2) The discovery of binary association rules between entities. The selection of rules uses two criteria for assessing the implication quality and reducing redundancy. The method is evaluated on two benchmarks. The first contains two hierarchies indexing textual documents and the second one is composed of OWL ontologies.
A Formal Foundation for Ontology-Alignment Interaction Models
Authors: Schorlemmer Marco , Kalfoglou Yannis , Atencia Manuel
Published: February 2011

Ontology alignment foundations are hard to find in the literature. The abstract nature of the topic and the diverse means of practice make it difficult to capture it in a universal formal foundation. We argue that such a lack of formality hinders further development and convergence of practices, and in particular, prevents us from achieving greater levels of automation. In this article we present a formal foundation for ontology alignment that is based on interaction models between heterogeneous agents on the Semantic Web. We use the mathematical notion of information flow in a distributed system to ground our three hypotheses of enabling semantic interoperability and we use a motivating example throughout the article: how to progressively align two ontologies of research quality assessment through meaning coordination. We conclude the article with the presentation—in an executable specification language—of such an ontology-alignment interac-tion model.
An Ontology-Based Data Mediation Framework for Semantic Environments
Authors: Mocan Adrian , Cimpian Emilia
Published: February 2011

In a semantic environment data is described by ontologies and ontology mapping has become a crucial aspect in solving the heterogeneity problems of semantically described data. This means that alignments between ontologies have to be created, most probably during design-time, and used in various run-time processes. Such alignments describe a set of mappings between the source and target ontologies, where the mappings show how instance data from one ontology can be expressed in terms of another ontology. In this article we propose a formal model for creation of mappings and we explore how such a model maps onto a design-time graphical tool that can be used in creating alignments between ontologies. In the other direction, we investigate how such a model helps in expressing the mappings in a logical language, based on the semantic relationships identified using the graphical tool.
Semantic Labeling of Online Information Sources
Authors: Lerman Kristina , Plangprasopchock Anon , Knoblock Craig A.
Published: February 2011

In order to combine data from various heterogeneous sources, software agents must first understand the semantics of the sources, expressed in the source model. Currently, source modeling is manual, but as large numbers of sources come online, it is impractical to expect users to continue modeling them by hand. We describe two machine learning techniques for automatically modeling information sources: one that uses source’s metadata, contained in a Web Service Definition file, and one that uses the source’s content, to classify the semantics of the data it uses. We go beyond previous works and verify predictions by invoking the source with sample data of the predicted type. We provide performance results of both methods and validate our approach on several live Web sources. In addition, we describe the application of semantic modeling within the CALO project.
An Incremental Method for the Lexical Annotation of Domain Ontologies
Authors: Bergamaschi Sonia , Bouquet Paolo , Giazomuzzi Daniel , Guerra Francesco , Po Laura , Vincini Maurizio
Published: February 2011

In this article, we present MELIS (Meaning Elicitation and Lexical Integration System), a method and a software tool for enabling an incremental process of automatic annotation of local schemas (e.g. relational database schemas, directory trees) with lexical information. The distinguishing and original feature of MELIS is the incremental process: the higher the number of schemas which are processed, the more background/ domain knowledge is cumulated in the system (a portion of domain ontology is learned at every step), the better the performance of the systems on annotating new schemas. MELIS has been tested as a component of the MOMIS-Ontology Builder, a framework able to create a domain ontology representing a set of selected data sources, described with a standard W3C language wherein concepts and attributes are annotated according to the lexical reference database. We describe the MELIS component within the MOMIS-Ontology Builder framework and provide some experimental results of MELIS as a standalone tool and as a component integrated in MOMIS.
Ontology-Based Conceptual Design of ETL Processes for Both Structured and Semi-Structured Data
Authors: Skoutas Dimitrios , Simitsis Alkis
Published: February 2011

One of the main tasks in the early stages of a data warehouse project is the identification of the appropriate transformations and the specification of inter-schema mappings from the data sources to the data warehouse. In this article, we propose an ontology-based approach to facilitate the conceptual design of the back stage of a data warehouse. A graph-based representation is used as a conceptual model for the datastores, so that both structured and semi-structured data are supported and handled in a uniform way. The proposed approach is based on the use of Semantic Web technologies to semantically annotate the data sources and the data warehouse, so that mappings between them can be inferred, thereby resolving the issue of heterogeneity. Specifically, a suitable application ontology is created and used to annotate the datastores. The language used for describing the ontology is OWL-DL. Based on the provided annotations, a DL reasoner is employed to infer semantic correspondences and conflicts among the datastores, and to propose a set of conceptual operations for transforming data from the source datastores to the data warehouse.
Ontologies with Semantic Web/Grid in Data Integration for OLAP
Authors: Niemi Tapio , Toivonen Santtu , Niinimaki Marko , Nummenmaa Jyrki
Published: February 2011

Traditionally, data used in OLAP (online analytical processing) have been limited to the contents of the data warehouse of a company. However, the needs for analysis are often more demanding and data are needed from different sources. In this article, we study how the semantics of data sources can be described to allow combining data from several sources into an OLAP cube. We apply Semantic Web technologies for defining an OWL/RDF ontology for OLAP data sources and OLAP cubes. These definitions are then utilised in OLAP cube formation by posing an OWL/RDF ontology-based query against them. We use Grid technologies to enhance the efficiency of processing and ensuring security. Our primary interest is in the cube construction (i.e., ETL process), and we assume that standard OLAP methods can be used for the actual analysis. Our tests show that the proposed approach can speed up the construction of an OLAP cube for ad hoc queries by supporting a high-level query language and reducing the amount of required data.
Semantic-Based Bluetooth-RFID Interaction for Advanced Resource Discovery in Pervasive Contexts
Authors: Di Noia Tommaso , Di Sciascio Eugenio , Donini Francesco Maria , Ruta Michele , Scioscia Floriano , Tinelli Eufemia
Published: February 2011

We propose a novel object discovery framework integrating the application layer of Bluetooth and RFID standards. The approach is motivated and illustrated in an innovative u-commerce setting. Given a request, it allows an advanced discovery process, exploiting semantically annotated descriptions of goods available in the u-marketplace. The RFID data exchange protocol and the Bluetooth service discovery protocol have been modified and enhanced to enable support for such semantic annotation of products. Modifications to the standards have been conceived to be backward compatible, thus allowing the smooth coexistence of the legacy discovery and/or identification features. Also noteworthy is the introduction of a dedicated compression tool to reduce storage/transmission problems due to the verbosity of XML-based semantic languages.
Identity of Resources and Entities on the Web
Authors: Presutti Valentina , Gangemi Aldo
Published: February 2011

One of the main strengths of the Web is that it allows any party of its global community to share information with any other party. This goal has been achieved by making use of a unique and uniform mechanism of identification, the uniform resource identifiers (URI). Although URIs succeed when used for retrieving resources on the Web, their suitability for identifying any kind of thing, for example, resources that are not on the Web, is not guaranteed. In this article we investigate the meaning of the identity of a Web resource, and how the current situation, as well as existing and possible future improvements, can be modeled and implemented on the Web. In particular, we propose an ontology, IRE, that provides a formal way to model both the problem and the solution spaces. IRE describes the concept of resource from the viewpoint of the Web, by reusing an ontology of information objects, built on top of DOLCE+ and its extensions. In particular, we formalize the concept of Web resource, as distinguished from the concept of a generic entity, and how those and other concepts are related, for example, by different proxy for relations. Based on the analysis formalized in IRE, we propose a formal pattern for modeling and comparing different solutions to the problems of the identity of resources.
A Fuzzy Ontology Generation Framework from Fuzzy Relational Databases
Authors: Ma Z.M. , Lv Yanhui , Yan Li
Published: February 2011

Ontology is an important part of the W3C standards for the Semantic Web used to specify standard conceptual vocabularies to exchange data among systems, provide reusable knowledge bases, and facilitate interoperability across multiple heterogeneous systems and databases. However, current ontology is not sufficient for handling vague information that is commonly found in many application domains. A feasible solution is to import the fuzzy ability to extend the classical ontology. In this article, we propose a fuzzy ontology generation framework from the fuzzy relational databases, in which the fuzzy ontology consists of fuzzy ontology structure and instances. We simultaneously consider the schema and instances of the fuzzy relational databases, and respectively transform them to fuzzy ontology structure and fuzzy RDF data model. This can ensure the integrality of the original structure as well as the completeness and consistency of the original instances in the fuzzy relational databases.
Evolutionary Conceptual Clustering Based on Induced Pseudo-Metrics
Authors: Fanizzi Nicola , d’Amato Claudia , Esposito Floriana
Published: February 2011

We present a method based on clustering techniques to detect possible/probable novel concepts or concept drift in a Description Logics knowledge base. The method exploits a semi-distance measure defined for individuals, that is based on a finite number of dimensions corresponding to a committee of discriminating features (concept descriptions). A maximally discriminating group of features is obtained with a randomized optimization method. In the algorithm, the possible clusterings are represented as medoids (w.r.t. the given metric) of variable length. The number of clusters is not required as a parameter, the method is able to find an optimal choice by means of evolutionary operators and a proper fitness function. An experimentation proves the feasibility of our method and its effectiveness in terms of clustering validity indices. With a supervised learning phase, each cluster can be assigned with a refined or newly constructed intensional definition expressed in the adopted language.
On the Evaluation of Semantic Web Service Frameworks
Authors: Küster Ulrich , König-Ries Birgitta , Petrie Charles , Klusch Matthias
Published: February 2011

In recent years, a huge amount of research effort and funding has been devoted to the area of Semantic Web services (SWS). This has resulted in the proposal of numerous competing approaches to facilitate the automation of mediation, choreography, and discovery for Web services using semantic annotations. However, despite a wealth of theoretical work, too little effort has been spent toward the comparative experimental evaluation of the competing approaches so far. Progress in scientific development and industrial adoption is thereby hindered. An established evaluation methodology and standard benchmarks that allow the comparative evaluation of different frameworks are thus needed for the further advancement of the field. To this end, a criteria model for SWS evaluation is presented, and the existing approaches toward SWS evaluation are comprehensively analyzed. Their shortcomings are discussed in order to identify the fundamental issues of SWS evaluation. Based on this discussion, a research agenda toward agreed upon evaluation methodologies is proposed.
Solving Semantic Interoperability Conflicts in Cross-Border E-Government Services
Authors: Mocan Adrian , Facca Federico M. , Loutas Nikolaos , Peristeras Vassilios , Goudos Sotirios K.
Published: February 2011

Interoperability is one of the most challenging problems in modern cross-organizational information systems, which rely on heterogeneous information and process models. Interoperability becomes very important for e-Government information systems that support cross-organizational communication especially in a cross-border setting. The main goal in this context is to seamlessly provide integrated services to the user (citizen). In this paper we focus on Pan European e-Services and issues related with their integration. Our analysis uses basic concepts of the generic public service model of the Governance Enterprise Architecture (GEA) and of the Web Service Modeling Ontology (WSMO), to express the semantic description of the e-services. Based on the above, we present a mediation infrastructure capable of resolving semantic interoperability conflicts at a pan-European level. We provide several examples to illustrate both the need to solve such semantic conflicts and the actual solutions we propose.
A New Similarity Measure for Automatic Construction of the Unknown Word Lexical Dictionary
Authors: Hwang Myunggwon , Kim Pankoo
Published: February 2011

This article deals with research that automatically constructs a lexical dictionary of unknown words. The lexical dictionary has been usefully applied to various fields for semantic information processing. It has limitations in which it only processes terms defined in the dictionary. Under this circumstance, the concept of “Unknown Word (UW)” is defined. UW, in this research, is considered a word not defined in WordNet. Here is where a new method to construct UW lexical dictionary through inputting various document collections scattered on the web is proposed. We grasp related terms of UW and measure semantic relatedness (similarity) between an UW and a related term(s). The relatedness is obtained by calculating both probabilistic relationship and semantic relationship. This research can extend UW lexical dictionary with an abundant number of UW. It is also possible to prepare a foundation for semantic retrieval by simultaneously using the UW lexical dictionary and WordNet.
Enabling Scalable Semantic Reasoning for Mobile Services
Authors: Steller Luke Albert , Krishnaswamy Shonali , Gaber Mohamed Methat
Published: February 2011

With the emergence of high-end smart phones/PDAs there is a growing opportunity to enrich mobile/pervasive services with semantic reasoning. This article presents novel strategies for optimising semantic reasoning for realizing semantic applications and services on mobile devices. We have developed the mTableaux algorithm which optimizes the reasoning process to facilitate service selection. We present comparative experimental results which show that mTableaux improves the performance and scalability of semantic reasoning for mobile devices.
Building Chemical Ontology for Semantic Web Using Substructures Created by Chem-BLAST
Authors: Bhat Talapady N.
Published: February 2011

Efficient and user friendly ontologies are crucial for the effective use of chemical structural data on compounds. This paper describes an automated technique to create a structural ontology for compounds like ligands, co-factors and inhibitors of protein and DNA molecules using a technique developed from Perl scripts, which use a relational database for input and output, called Chem-BLAST (Chemical Block Layered Alignment of Substructure Technique). This technique recursively identifies substructures using rules that operate on the atomic connectivity of compounds. Substructures obtained from the compounds are compared to generate a data model expressed as triples. A chemical ontology of the substructures is made up of numerous interconnected ‘hubs-and-spokes’ is generated in the form of a data tree. This data-tree is used in a Web interface to allow users to zoom into compounds of interest by stepping through the hubs from the top to the bottom of the data-tree. The technique has been applied for (a) 2-D and 3-D structural data for AIDS1; (b) ~60,000 structures from the PDB 2,3. Recently, this technique has been applied to approximately 3,000,000 compounds from PubChem4,5,6. Plausible ways to use this data model for the Semantic Web are also discussed.
Adaptive Hybrid Semantic Selection of SAWSDL Services with SAWSDL-MX2
Authors: Klusch Matthias , Kapahnke Patrick , Zinnikus Ingo
Published: February 2011

In this paper, the authors present an adaptive, hybrid semantic matchmaker for SAWSDL services, called SAWSDL-MX2. It determines three types of semantic matching of an advertised service with a requested one, which are described in standard SAWSDL: logic-based, text-similarity-based and XML-tree edit-based structural similarity. Before selection, SAWSDL-MX2 learns the optimal aggregation of these different matching degrees off-line over a random subset of a given SAWSDL service retrieval test collection by exploiting a binary support vector machine-based classifier with ranking. The authors present a comparative evaluation of the retrieval performance of SAWSDL-MX2.
A Study on the Internet Security and its Implication for E-Commerce in Yemen
Authors: Zolait Ali Hussein Saleh , Ibrahim Abdul Razak , Farooq Ahmad
Published: February 2011

This study examines the use of the Internet for business purposes in Yemen, where main sectors of banking and private trade organizations are observed. Through interviews, a thorough study is performed concerning the Internet facilities available in Yemen, the literacy and use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in organizations, the level of e-commerce adopted, the main hurdles in the adoption of e-commerce, and measures required to increase the adoption of e-commerce. The study finds that both organizations realize the importance of e-commerce for their business. The main causes in the delay of e-commerce adoption by some are the discrepancies in the infrastructure, high costing of the Internet facilities, bureaucratic hurdles in obtaining the facilities, and the non-availability of a secure environment. Beyond concerns about Internet security, their awareness of security hazards and protection measures is minimal. In light of the data collected, the study has come up with certain recommendations for the interested authorities to improve e-commerce in Yemen.
Supply Chain Management Practices and Firm Performance
Authors: Ibrahim Abdul Razak , Zolait Ali Hussein , Pandiyan Sundram Veera
Published: February 2011

Supply chain management (SCM) is the integration and strategic alliance involving all the value-creating elements in the supply, manufacturing, and distribution processes from raw material extraction, the transformation process, and end user consumption. This paper explores the SCM activities carried out by electronic manufacturing organizations in Malaysia and determines the correlation between SCM practices and firm performance. A self-administrated questionnaire based survey technique was employed to ascertain the status of SCM adoption and the practices in SCM that are significant for Malaysian electronics manufacturers. The findings suggest that the adoption of SCM activities is reasonably moderate.
Computing Gamma Calculus on Computer Cluster
Authors: Lin Hong , Kemp Jeremy , Gilbert Padraic
Published: February 2011

Gamma Calculus is an inherently parallel, high-level programming model, which allows simple programming molecules to interact, creating a complex system with minimum of coding. Gamma calculus modeled programs were written on top of IBM’s TSpaces middleware, which is Java-based and uses a “Tuple Space” based model for communication, similar to that in Gamma. A parser was written in C++ to translate the Gamma syntax. This was implemented on UHD’s grid cluster (grid.uhd.edu), and in an effort to increase performance and scalability, existing Gamma programs are being transferred to Nvidia’s CUDA architecture. General Purpose GPU computing is well suited to run Gamma programs, as GPU’s excel at running the same operation on a large data set, potentially offering a large speedup.
Determinants of the Use of Knowledge Sources in the Adoption of Open Source Server Software
Authors: Ven Kris , Verelst Jan
Published: February 2011

Previous research suggests that the adoption of open source server software (OSSS) may be subject to knowledge barriers. In order to overcome these barriers, organizations should engage in a process of organizational learning. This learning process is facilitated by exposure to external knowledge sources. Unfortunately, this leaves open the question of which factors determine which knowledge sources are used by organizations. In this study, the authors have performed an exploratory study on the determinants of the use of knowledge sources in the adoption of OSSS. The conceptual model developed in this study was based on the absorptive capacity theory. Data was gathered from 95 organizations to empirically investigate this model. Results provide a quite consistent view on how external knowledge sources are used by organizations in the adoption of OSSS. Moreover, results provide more insight into the context in which the adoption of OSSS takes place.
Cyber-Terrorism and Ethical Journalism
Authors: Eid Mahmoud
Published: February 2011

Terrorism has been a constant threat in traditional and contemporary societies. Recently, it has been converged with new media technology and cyberspace, resulting in the modern tactic, cyber-terrorism, which has become most effective in achieving terrorist goals. Among the countless cyber-terrorist cases and scenarios of only this last decade, the paper discusses four cyber-terrorism cases that represent the most recent severe cyber-terrorist attacks on infrastructure and network systems—Internet Black Tigers, MafiaBoy, Solo, and Irhabi 007. Regardless of the nature of actors and their motivations, cyber-terrorists hit very aggressively causing serious damages. Cyber-terrorists are rational actors who use the most advanced technology; hence, the critical need for the use of counter-threat swords by actors on the other side. Given that terrorist goals are mostly dependent on the media’s reactions, journalistic practices are significant and need to be most effective. A major tool that can help journalists in their anti- and counter-terrorist strategies with cyber-terrorists is rationalism, merged with the expected socially responsible conduct. Rational behaviour, founded in game theory, along with major journalistic ethical principles are fundamental components of effective media decision-making during times of terrorism.
Giving Voice to Feminist Projects in MIS Research
Authors: Kvasny Lynette , Greenhill Anita , Trauth Eileen M.
Published: February 2011

In this paper, we explore the methodological and epistemological implications of conducting feminist projects in management information systems (MIS) research. These implications revolve around four core themes: that feminist research is situated in the margins, that current gender and MIS research is not adequately problematized, that feminist research questions the legitimacy and appropriateness of positivist research, and that reflection on the personal characteristics of the researcher such as race, gender, sexuality, and class can inform feminist research. We propose three criteria for giving voice to feminist projects in MIS research: (a) challenging the hegemonic dominance, legitimacy, and appropriateness of positivist epistemologies, (b) theorizing from the margins, and (c) problematizing gender.
The Sociotechnical Nature of Mobile Computing Work
Authors: Sawyer Steve , Tapia Andrea
Published: February 2011

In this article we discuss the sociotechnical nature of mobile computing as used by three policing agencies within the United States. Mobile devices, access, and service was provided via a third-generation wireless network to a focal application, Pennsylvania’s Justice NETwork (JNET), a secure Web-based portal connecting authorized users to a set of 23 federated criminal justice and law enforcement databases via a query-based interface. In this study we conceptualize mobility and policing as a sociotechnical ensemble that builds on the social-shaping of technology perspective and the tradition of sociotechnical theorizing, focusing on the co-design of work practices and technologies to support work. Drawing from the social informatics tradition, we turn a critical, empirical, and contextual lens on the practices of mobility and work. Our analysis of the data leads us to observing that the social and the technical are still considered separately in the context of mobile work. This simple view of social and technical as related, but distinct, often leads to problems with collecting and interpreting evidence of ICT-based systems’ design and use. We further note that this over-simplification of sociotechnical action is likely to continue unless more viable analytic approaches are developed and the assumptions of the current techno-determinist approaches are challenged more explicitly.
Misunderstandings Around the Artifact
Authors: Pellegrino Giuseppina
Published: February 2011

The article analyzes sociotechnical action starting from the implementation of an intranet-based knowledge management system in a 100-staff British firm. Categories of “interpretative flexibility” and “inscription” are reviewed and used in this account. The objective is to show how interpretations performed by different actors can rise misunderstanding, failure, and innovation in processes of negotiation concerning a specific technology. The shaping role of rhetoric and public discourse about new technology is argued to be performative in framing expectations and courses of action in technology implementation and appropriation. Discursive practices are analyzed as constituting ambiguity and multiplicity of a knowledge management system. The article argues that the mutual constitution of the social and the technical emerges as interaction of socio-material and linguistic issues situated in specific organizational contexts.
IT Artifacts as Socio-Pragmatic Instruments
Authors: Goldkuhl Göran , Agerfalk Pär J.
Published: February 2011

There are many attempts to explain success and failure in information systems. Many of these refer to a purported sociotechnical gap. In this article we develop an alternative approach that does not impose such a strong dichotomy, but regards social and technical rather as dimensions along which to study workpractices. The developed theory involves not only the “social” and “technical” constructs, but also other generic ones, namely “instrumental,” “semiotic,” and “pragmatic.” We call this theory socio-instrumental pragmatism. To illustrate the theoretical concepts introduced, we use an example brought from an extensive action research study including the development of an information system in eldercare, developed through a participatory design approach.
Concerns with "Mutual Constitution"
Authors: Mutch Alistair
Published: February 2011

The case for “analytical dualism” as a means of approaching sociotechnical action is presented as an alternative to accounts which tend to conflate agency, structure, and technology. This is based on the work of Margaret Archer, whose work is in turn located in the traditions of critical realism. Her commitment to analytical dualism, which stresses both the importance of time in analysis and the emergent properties of structure, is argued to give a firmer purchase on the notion of context than the alternatives based on, for example, the work of Giddens and Latour.
Monitoring User Involvement and Participation in ERP Projects
Authors: Esteves José , Pastor Joan , Casanovas Josep
Published: February 2011

ERP implementation success is influenced by a large number of factors, which most of the time are difficult to measure objectively. User involvement and participation is one of the most cited critical success factors in ERP implementation projects, and one of the most critical ones for their satisfactory outcome. This study attempts to define a set of metrics for monitoring user involvement and participation within ERP implementation projects by using the goals/questions/metrics method. The results of this work are threefold. First, a literature review is presented on the user involvement and participation topic as related to ERP implementation projects. Second, a framework for monitoring user involvement and participation in ERP implementation projects is proposed. And third, a goals/questions/metrics preliminary plan is proposed to monitor and control user involvement and participation within ERP implementation projects.
Toward Improved Community-Supporting Systems Design
Authors: Geib Malte , Braum Christian , Kolbe Lutz , Brenner Walter
Published: February 2011

In this article, we analyze the design factors of community systems in two real-world professional communities — a learning network and an expert network — that employ a mix of communication modes, that is, face-to-face communication and computer-mediated communication. Our objectives are to determine which design factors influence community activity and therefore community output. We furthermore intend to make recommendations to improve the design of community systems that support professional communities using a mix of communication modes. Our study is exploratory and based on action research given the lack of studies on the design of community-supporting systems in professional communities that employ a mix of communication modes. To illustrate similarities and to enhance the generalizability of our findings, we analyzed two real-world professional communities in-depth, namely, a learning network and an interorganizational expert network. Our study shows that face-to-face communication is the primary mode of communication in these communities; the community systems that they employ only have a supporting function. This leads us to a few design guidelines for the systems that support such communities. Generally, community systems have to support professional communities’ work processes and relationship development. Important functions for work-process support are those that support face-to-face meetings (for the preparation and wrap-up of meetings) and that explicitly support specific work processes. Important functions for relationship development are functions that enable or facilitate face-to-face meetings, for example, member profiles.
Organisational Creativity in Context
Authors: Stenmark Dick
Published: February 2011

As a much-needed quality in today’s businesses, creativity is an important area of research. While implementing and evaluating computer support for electronic brainstorming (EBS), it was noticed that the sheer presence of technology guarantees neither usage nor success. Contextual factors such as organisational culture and attitudes seem to have an equally important role, and this observation called for a more focused analysis of the motivational aspects of creativity management. Based on the empirical data from the electronic brainstorming system evaluation and literature on organisational creativity, three general pieces of managerial advice to promote corporate creativity are suggested: reconsider the use of extrinsic rewards, recognise creative initiatives, and allow redundancy.
Developing Software in Bicultural Context
Authors: Gotterbarn Don
Published: February 2011

This article introduces the SoDIS process to identify ethical and social risks from software development in the context of designing software for the New Zealand Maori culture. In reviewing the SoDIS analysis for this project, the tensions between two cultures are explored with emphasis on the (in)compatibility between a Maori worldview and the values embedded in the SoDIS process. The article concludes with some reflections upon the key principles informing the professional development of software and ways in which cultural values are embedded in supposedly neutral technologies, and reviews the lessons learned about avoiding colonization while working on a bicultural project.
Different Levels of Information Systems Designers' Forms of Thought and Potential for Human-Centered Design
Authors: Isomäki Hannakaisa
Published: February 2011

This article describes a study clarifying information systems (IS) designers’ conceptions of human users of IS by drawing on in-depth interviews with 20 designers. The designers’ lived experiences in their work build up a continuum of levels of thought from more limited conceptions to more comprehensive ones reflecting variations of the designers’ situated knowledge related to human-centred design. The resulting forms of thought indicate three different but associated levels in conceptualising users. The separatist form of thought provides designers predominantly with technical perspectives and a capability for objectifying things. The functional form of thought focuses on external task information and task productivity, nevertheless, with the help of positive emotions. The holistic form of thought provides designers with competence of human-centred information systems development (ISD). Furthermore, the author hopes that understanding the IS designers’ tendencies to conceptualise human users facilitates the mutual communication between users and designers.
Tacit Knowledge in Rapidly Evolving Organisational Environments
Authors: Jones Barbara , Failla Angelo , Miller Bob
Published: February 2011

Constant renewal of the self-image and self-knowledge of the organisation becomes part of the day-to-day knowledge-in-use of front-line practitioners. The Network Enterprise is a model of business conducted by shifting alliances of partners developing innovative products and processes in close collaboration with their clients. Organisations abandon the concept of a central product, redefining themselves as providers of solutions. We draw on the experience of two ‘solution-providers’, one for-profit and one not-for-profit. The concept of a solution or transition requires practitioners to consider each individual case drawing on personal knowledge of the organisation’s accessible competencies and capacities. Choices among the possible solutions to the client’s problems can have unpredictable effects on the dynamics of the wider organisation. The necessarily personal use of heuristics magnifies the inescapable element of ‘drift’ inherent in the network enterprise. The dynamics generated by this will require the wider organisation to develop new standards and solution bundles.
Collaboration Challenges in Community Telecommunication Networks
Authors: Albert Sylvie , LeBrasseur Rolland
Published: February 2011

This article reviews the literature on networks and, more specifically, on the development of community telecommunication networks. It strives to understand the collaboration needed for innovative projects such as intelligent networks. Guided by a change management framework, collaboration within a community network is explored in terms of the formation and performance phases of its development. The context, content, and process of each phase is analyzed, as well as the interaction of the two phases. User involvement and technology appropriation are discussed. Collaboration challenges are identified and linked to the sustainability of the community network. Policy makers are presented with a model that gives some insight into planning and managing a community network over time.
A De-Construction of Wireless Device Usage
Authors: Lind Mary R.
Published: February 2011

In this article, wireless technology use is addressed with a focus on the factors that underlie wireless interaction. A de-construction of the information processing theories of user/technol-ogy interaction is presented. While commercial and useful applications of wireless devices are numerous, wireless interaction is emerging as a means of social interaction—an extension of the user’s personal image—and as an object of amusement and play. The technology/user in-teraction theories that have driven the discussions of computer assisted communication media are information richness, communicative action, and social influence modeling. This article will extend this theoretical view of wireless devices by using flow theory to address elements of fun, control, and focus. Then, these technology/user interaction theories are used with respect to wireless devices to propose areas for future research.
Is Information Ethics Culture-Relative?
Authors: Brey Philip
Published: February 2011

In this article, I examine whether information ethics is culture relative. If it is, different approaches to information ethics are required in different cultures and societies. This would have major implications for the current, predominantly Western approach to information ethics. If it is not, there must be concepts and principles of information ethics that have universal validity. What would they be? The descriptive evidence is for the cultural relativity of information ethics will be studied by examining cultural differences between ethical attitudes towards privacy, freedom of information, and intellectual property rights in Western and non-Western cultures. I then analyze what the implications of these findings are for the metaethical question of whether moral claims must be justified differently in different cultures. Finally, I evaluate what the implications are for the practice of information ethics in a cross-cultural context.
GSM-Based SMS Time Reservation System for Dental Care
Authors: Suomi Reima , Serkkola Ari , Mikkonen Markku
Published: February 2011

In this article we focus on the application of a mobile time reservation system for dental care. The specific application allocates cancelled dentist times to new customers and new customers are searched from a waiting list with Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) Short Message System (SMS) messages. This article shows how standard, widely used technology—when used innovatively—can bring many benefits to many stakeholders with reasonable costs and changes in business processes. We present and analyze the function of an SMS message-based dental service appointment reservation system that has been implemented in Lahti, Finland. The analysis contains a description of the system’s function, as well as some assessment of the success from the service provider and customer point of view.