bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lemon Problems in the Internet Transactions and Relative Strategies
Authors: Qi Li , Xianfeng Zhang
Published: May 2011

Based on some new traits of the Internet environment, this chapter discusses lemon problems in the Internet transactions. It points out that the information asymmetry does not disappear, but develops to be even worse under the new Internet environment. By virtue of mathematical tools, the authors analyze products and services’ lemon problems in the new environment. It is found that many new traits of digital products and services lead to new appearances of “lemon” problems. In the end, relative strategies are provided in order to lessen these problems. The authors further hope that through the discussion, some implications can be made to e-sellers and online service providers.
Transforming UML Class Diagrams into Relational Data Models
Authors: Shah Devang , Slaughter Sandra
Published: May 2011

The Entity-Relationship (ER) method is the most popular method for relational database design. On the other hand, the Unified Modeling Language (UML) is widely used in object- oriented analysis and design. Despite the increasing use of object-oriented techniques for software design and development, there is a large installed base of relational databases. Additionally, object-oriented databases are still not in widespread use. Thus, software designers and developers often turn to the relational databases to make their application objects persistent. Considering the fundamental differences between the two methods, the transformation from UML to a relational data model could be a non-trivial task. The purpose of this chapter is to describe a process that can be used to map a UML class diagram into an ER diagram, and to discuss the potential of using the UML notation to draw ER diagrams. An example of an actual systems design is used throughout to illustrate the mapping process, the associated problems encountered, and how they could be resolved.
A RUP-Based Software Process Supporting Progressive Implementation
Authors: Massoni Tiago L. , Sampaio Augusto C.A. , Borba Paulo H.M.
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces an extension of the Rational Unified Process (RUP) with a method that supports the progressive, and separate, implementation of three different aspects: persistence, distribution, and concurrence control. This complements RUP with a specific implementation method, called Progressive Implementation Method (Pim), and helps to tame the complexity of applications that are persistent, distributed, and concurrent. By gradually and separately implementing, testing, and validating such applications, we obtain two major benefits: the impact caused by the requirements changes during development is reduced and testing and debugging are simplified. In addition, the authors hope to contribute to solving the lack of a specific implementation method in RUP.
Implementation of the ASP Organizing Vision
Authors: Kishore Rajiv
Published: May 2011

A new breed of IT service providers, termed Application Service Providers (ASPs), has emerged during the last several years. While the ASP paradigm is opening new options for strategic governance of organizational IT infrastructures, implementation of this model is fraught with several uncertainties. This chapter describes a particular type of uncertainty, termed the “know-what” uncertainty, that firms generally face as they implement any techno-organizational innovation, and discusses some specific know-what uncertainties associated with the client adoption of the ASP paradigm. The chapter then discusses the role that participation and trust (in the ASP organizing vision) play in mitigating the client-side know-what uncertainties during the course of adoption and implementation of this new IT governance model. The chapter also provides some recommendations for clients and vendors for making this new IT services paradigm a successful reality.
Technology Trust in B2B Electronic Commerce
Authors: Pavlou Paul A. , Ratnasingam Pauline
Published: May 2011

A comprehensive conceptualization of trust in B2B electronic commerce should include trust in the infrastructure and the underlying control and support mechanisms. We refer to this new target of trust as “technology trust,” which is described as the subjective belief by which an organization assesses that the underlying technology infrastructure and support mechanisms are capable of supporting inter-organizational communications, transactions, and collaborations. We describe technology trust as a higher-order construct comprising of transaction (a) confidentiality, (b) integrity, (c) authentication, (d) non-repudiation, (e) access control, (f) availability, and (g) best business practices. We conceptualize technology trust drawing upon the notion of institutional trust, and particularly the dimension of situational normality. We describe how bi-lateral (dyadic) and third-party institutionalized technology-related practices can institute situational normality in B2B electronic commerce. This chapter contributes to the understanding of the conceptual foundations of technology trust by bridging the gap between technological solutions from an institutional trust perspective (technology trust), interorganizational trust, and value creation in B2B electronic commerce. We conclude by discussing the study’s theoretical and managerial implications toward instituting and making use of technology trust.
A Concept for the Evaluation of E-Commerce-Ability
Authors: Baumol Ulrike , Stiffel Thomas , Winter Robert
Published: May 2011

This chapter develops a concept to evaluate the e-commerce-ability of a corporation and applies the framework to basic roles of the e-commerce environment. The concept comprises two components. A four-dimensional framework is proposed which can be used to represent the degree of external coordination; the degree of alignment of business toward organizational and cultural rules of the networked economy; the degree of orientation toward customer needs; and the degree of systematic and integral use of information and communication technology (ICT). Based on this framework, an evaluation approach is presented that supports a maturity analysis.
Strategic Issues in Implementing Electronic-ID Services
Authors: Choudhary Bishwajit
Published: May 2011

During the past few years, e-security solutions (e.g., digital certificates, e-signatures, e-IDs) gained tremendous attention as they promised to plug security loopholes and create trusted electronic markets. Implementation of such critical, complex and costly security solutions demands thorough assessment at technical, as well as business levels. Based on the author’s experience at one of Scandinavia’s leading vendors of banking solutions and infrastructure, the paper develops basic concepts, discusses strategic (product, market and technical) concerns and, finally, summarizes the contemporary challenges facing the implementation of e-ID schemes.
Distributed Data Warehouse for Geo-spatial Services
Authors: Sikder Iftikhar U. , Gangopadhyay Aryya
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces the research issues on spatial decision-making in the context of distributed geo-spatial data warehouse. Spatial decision-making in a distributed environment involves access to data and models from heterogeneous sources and composing disparate services into a meaningful integration. The chapter reviews system integration and interoperability issues of spatial data and models in a distributed computing environment. We present a prototype system to illustrate the collaborative access to data and as a model for supporting spatial decision-making.
Data Mining for Business Process Reengineering
Authors: Lee Ted E. , Otondo Robert , Kim Bonn-Oh , Prasarnphanich Pattarawan , Nichols Jr. Ernest L.
Published: May 2011

Transitioning from a mining to meaning perspective in organization data mining can be a crucial step in the successful application of data mining technologies. The purpose of this paper is to examine more fully the implications of that shift. The use of data mining technology was part of our cycle time study of the Poplar County Criminal Justice System (a fictitious name). In this paper we will report on the use of data mining in the Poplar County Criminal Justice System (PCCJS) study in an attempt to speed up their case handling processes. Marketing and finance researchers are more involved with “simple” (i.e., direct) relationships, whereas BPR researchers are more concerned with long chains of interacting processes. This difference appears in the tools these researchers use: marketing and finance researchers are more interested in set-theoretic problems, BPR researchers, in graph-theoretic problems. Yet data mining technologies incorporate graph-theoretic algorithms. Consequently, they should be able to support hypothesis generation in BPR activities. We were able to come up with relevant and meaningful hypotheses for BPR in the PCCJS system by using data mining technology, specifically sequential pattern analysis: “Which areas we should look into in order to speed up the case handling process?” This valuable outcome would have not been possible without data mining technology, considering the large volume of data on hand. It is hoped that this study will contribute to broadening the scope of applicability of data mining technology.
A Framework to Study Knowledge Transfer During Information Systems Development (ISD) Process
Authors: Joshi K. D. , Sarker Saonee
Published: May 2011

The information systems development process (ISD) remains a topic of great interest for IS researchers, especially due to the increase in the number of ISD failures. The IS researchers suggest that one possible cause for the failure of ISD may be the lack of relevant knowledge transferred from the system users to system developers. However, IS researchers have not yet directed their attention toward examining the factors that impede the transfer of knowledge among the system users and developers. In order to understand the impediments to the knowledge transfer process during ISD, it is crucial to systematically study how the nature of knowledge transfer unfolds during this process. This chapter provides a framework that allows researchers to study this phenomenon in a systematic fashion. Specifically, it identifies a comprehensive set of factors that influence the knowledge transfer process and posits a set of propositions that future research should examine.
Solving Common Business Problems with Microsoft Office
Authors: Marold Kathryn , Larsen Gwynne
Published: May 2011

The authors traced the process of revising and updating a long-existing Micro-Based Software class at the undergraduate level at Metropolitan State College of Denver. The course was designed to allow students to become proficient in end user computing at the operational business level. The revisions were prompted by the increasing sophistication of horizontal microcomputer application programs, the increase in the level of computer literacy among undergraduate School of Business students, and the students’ need for experience in problem solving and applying the theory they learned using the Microsoft Office software suite. A pilot class was taught utilizing the revised curriculum in the Fall of 2001. The revised curriculum involved using Web-based material and regular presentation sessions for solutions to assigned problems. An efficacy survey was administered at the end of the class, to determine student satisfaction with the revised curriculum. The success of the pilot class resulted in implementing the revised content in all sections of the Micro-Based Software class as of Spring semester, 2002.
Training in Remote Database Server Administration
Authors: Slusky Ludwig , Partow-Navid Parviz
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces the development of a Unix Lab at the Department of Information Systems at California State University, Los Angeles. It also describes the lab’s impact on our curriculum and the future plans for the inclusion of remote access and wireless technology.
Metacognition in Information Systems Education
Authors: Benson Steve
Published: May 2011

My interest in producing this chapter arises from the fact that I am mildly afflicted with Asperger’s syndrome and have some medium-term memory degradation. The level of introspection that I have had to develop onto my own mental processes in order to function has been useful to me in my role as an academic, because I can understand many of the learning problems that students face. Conversations at international conferences and email interactions suggested that my personal insights would be useful to other academics. Here, I present data from a six-semester period that suggest that it would be beneficial to change Information Systems curricula to incorporate metacognitive education. I also describe the changes that I have made to my own teaching methods and the elements of a metacognitive teaching program.
Technology Literacy Issues for Freshmen Education Majors in a Leading Teacher Program
Authors: Carbonara David D.
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, the literacy issues of a preservice leading teacher education program are discussed. The leading teacher program is constructed on the foundation of the three major themes of leadership, diversity, and technology. The technology theme ensures that the preservice teacher is cognizant of information literacy issues and instructional technology principles and practices. The student is well-prepared to become a leading teacher in the nation’s schools, where he or she is entrusted to prepare a citizenry that will communicate and collaborate to solve complex problems in the new millennium.
Real Live Cases in Training Management of Information Resources During the Transition to Market Economy
Authors: Christozov Dimitar
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, the use of real live cases, based on students’ experience, in training for the Information Resources Management (IRM) course is discussed. IRM is a core-required course of a MIS MBA program. This approach is compared with one that explores cases drawn from textbooks. The objective of comparison is student’s learning outcome. Two groups of students, trained under the two paradigms, were selected, and their performances, after graduation, were compared. The students play key roles in their companies. Assessment shows that in given circumstances (transition from centrally planning to market-oriented economy, small enterprises, and underdeveloped information infrastructure), the use or real live cases offered by the students allows training to be kept relevant to the business practices.
Community Informatics - Enabling Emancipatory Learning
Authors: Taylor Wal , Dekkers John , Marshall Stewart
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, a philosophical framework used in the development of an online course is provided. This philosophical framework is largely based on sociological theory that argues the need for a student-centered approach to learning in the modern age. The authors argue that this is an appropriate approach for the present and the future, which they consider will increasingly need to address changing learner needs and demands. A learner-centered approach can provide for self-paced learning, peer assessment, and opportunities for interactions with fellow students, work colleagues, and other peers. To date, there have been few examples of the integration of information technologies with emerging trends in distance and lifelong learning.
Findings and Discussion
Authors: Ratnasingam Pauline
Published: May 2011

Chapter 4 provided a description and discussion of the research method chosen to test the conceptual model of inter-organizational trust in e-commerce participation. In this chapter, we report and discuss the findings of the bi-directional dyads by first providing the background information of each case followed by their findings based on the research propositions. Finally, we discuss the findings from a cross-case analysis leading to similarities and differences of the findings.
IT Development
Authors: Targowski Andrew
Published: May 2011

In this chapter trends of IT-driven enterprise development are presented. These trends compete among themselves for supremacy. They do not create a well integrated set of techniques; vice-versa, this set is very eclectic and contains techniques very old and still applicable, like the System Development Life Cycle, and new ones, like Web technologies. These trends are extended into issues of an IT vision for the 21st century, IT skills, and computer controversies that may influence IT developers’ awareness about how to pursue IT developmental projects.
Development and Evaluation of a New HTML Browser Method of Presenting Reading Material for Students with Low Vision
Authors: Ujima Kazuhito , Oda Koichi
Published: May 2011

Students with low vision or partial sight have a variety of vision needs and their needs are very different from student to student. Provision of suitable reading materials is still a difficult task. What we describe here is a novel method combining web-related technology and recent advancement in vision science. With reading tests by the MNREAD-J reading chart, we obtained parameters defining each student’s vision needs. A newly developed software package called the HTML viewer generated a CSS layout data for each student according to the parameters. With this individually adjusted CSS, any web browser displays HTML documents in appropriate way for each student. Textbooks were prepared in HTML format and used with the HTML viewer. Evaluation in real classroom setting showed students were able to use this new method of reading efficiently without a prior knowledge of PC operation.
Intelligent Agents and the World Wide Web
Authors: Ram Sudha
Published: May 2011

We are fortunate to be experiencing an explosive growth and advancement in the Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW). In 1999, the global online population was estimated to be 250 million WWW users worldwide, while the “/images/spacer_white.gif”number of pages on the Web was estimated at 800 million (http://www.internetindicators.com/facts.html). The bright side of this kind of growth is that information is available to almost anyone with access to a computer and a phone line. However, the dark side of this explosion is that we are now squarely in the midst of the “Age of Information Overload”!!! The staggering amount of information has made it extremely difficult for users to locate and retrieve information that is actually relevant to their task at hand. Given the bewildering array of resources being generated and posted on the WWW, the task of finding exactly what a user wants is rather daunting. Although many search engines currently exist to assist in information retrieval, much of the burden of searching is on the end-user. A typical search results in millions of hit, many of which are outdated, irrelevant, or duplicated. One promising approach to managing the information overload problem is to use “intelligent agents” for search and retrieval. This editorial explores the current status of intelligent agents and points out some challenges in the development of intelligent agents based systems.
Intelligent Agents in a Trust Environment
Authors: Singh Rahul , Gill Mark A.
Published: May 2011

Intelligent agents and multi-agent technologies are an emerging technology in computing and communications that hold much promise for a wide variety of applications in Information Technology. Agent-based systems range from the simple, single agent system performing tasks such as email filtering, to a very complex, distributed system of multiple agents each involved in individual and system wide goal-oriented activity. With the tremendous growth in the Internet and Internet-based computing and the explosion of commercial activity on the Internet in recent years, intelligent agent-based systems are being applied in a wide variety of electronic commerce applications. In order to be able to act autonomously in a market environment, agents must be able to establish and maintain trust relationships. Without trust, commerce will not take place. This research extends previous work in intelligent agents to include a mechanism for handling the trust relationship and shows how agents can be fully used as intermediaries in commerce.
A Study of Web Users' Waiting Time
Authors: Nah Fiona Fui-Hoon
Published: May 2011

The explosive expansion of the World Wide Web (WWW) is the biggest event in the Internet. Since its public introduction in 1991, the WWW has become an important channel for electronic commerce, information access, and publication. However, the long waiting time for accessing web pages has become a critical issue, especially with the popularity of multimedia technology and the exponential increase in the number of Web users. Although various technologies and techniques have been implemented to alleviate the situation and to comfort the impatient users, there is still the need to carry out fundamental research to investigate what constitutes an acceptable waiting time for a typical WWW user. This research not only evaluates Nielsen’s hypothesis of 15 seconds as the maximum waiting time of WWW users, but also provides approximate distributions of waiting time of WWW users.
Managing Knowledge for Strategic Advantage in the Virtual Organization
Authors: Burn Janice M. , Ash Colin
Published: May 2011

This chapter looks at the virtual organisation and suggests that the basic concepts of virtual management are so poorly understood that there are likely to be very few such organisations gaining strategic advantage from their virtuality. The authors begin by providing some clear definitions of virtual organisations and different models of virtuality which can exist within the electronic market. Degrees of virtuality can be seriously constrained by the extent to which organisations have preexisting linkages in the marketplace and the extent to which these can be substituted by virtual ones, but also by the intensity of virtual linkages which support the virtual model. Six virtual models are proposed within a dynamic framework of change . In order to realise strategic advantage, virtual organisations must align their virtual culture with the virtual model for structural alignment. This paper further proposes a model for virtual organisational change which identifies the factors internal to the virtual organisation that need to be managed . Critical to this is the role of knowledge management. The authors develop this concept within a framework of virtual organising and relate this to organisations using ERP in an Internet environment. Specific examples will be used relating such developments to organisations employing SAP and illustrating strategic advantage.
Strategies for Healthcare Information Systems
Authors: Spil Ton A.M. , Stegwee Robert A.
Published: May 2011

It is widely recognized that the healthcare industry does not use information technology to its full potential. This book uncovers many of the reasons why large-scale implementation of healthcare information systems has not come to fruition yet. The authors provide a broad coverage of the field, ranging from strategic analysis to real-life project implementation. Moreover the book provides strategies to avoid pitfalls and direct your healthcare organization to strategic use of healthcare information systems. This section of the book will introduce the five main themes of the book and will show that the healthcare organizations are realistic laboratories for the information and communication technology scientists to do research. The five main themes are: Strategy, Network Healthcare Chain, Process Management, Knowledge Management, Standardization.
What's in a Name? Exploring the Metaphysical Implications of Data Warehousing in Concept and Practice
Authors: Davidson Elizabeth J.
Published: May 2011

Data warehousing is an information technology (IT) innovation based on an evocative metaphor for physical materials management. This metaphor has implications not only for the design of corporate-wide databases but also for the meaning and utility of data used in business analysis and for relationships between IS staff and end-users. While acknowledging that data warehousing offers many benefits, this paper argues that the data warehousing approach has been applied without critical reflection on the cognitive mappings implied by the underlying metaphor and that possible consequences of its use as a guide for organizing IT practices have not been fully explored. The paper examines the metaphorical implications of data warehousing in concept and presents findings of an empirical study of a data warehousing project that illustrated limitations of metaphor in practice. Drawn from these conceptual and empirical analyses, a critique of the metaphor highlights inherent limitations in the data warehousing concept for conceptualizing key aspects of the organizational data management problem. Implications for theory and practice are considered.
A Survey of Spatial Data Mining Methods Databases and Statistics Point of Views
Authors: Zeitouni Karine
Published: May 2011

This chapter reviews the data mining methods that are combined with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for carrying out spatial analysis of geographic data. We will first look at data mining functions as applied to such data and then highlight their specificity compared with their application to classical data. We will go on to describe the research that is currently going on in this area, pointing out that there are two approaches: the first comes from learning on spatial databases, while the second is based on spatial statistics. We will conclude by discussing the main differences between these two approaches and the elements they have in common.
Geographic Information Systems in Developing Countries
Authors: Mennecke Brian E. , West Jr. Lawrence A.
Published: May 2011

Decision making at the national level in both developing and developed countries requires the integrated use of information from a multitude of sources. Both local and national governments in many developed countries have found geographic information systems (GIS) to be a critical tool in resource management, regional planning, and economic development. Unfortunately, the practical use of GIS in many developing countries is hampered by the lack of accurate and detailed spatial and demographic data, political considerations, and management issues. To highlight importance of these issues, we present a framework for GIS adoption in less developed countries and discuss these and other constraints in the context of this framework. We also offer ideas for technical, managerial, and policy initiatives that should be helpful in addressing impediments to GIS adoption. These ideas are summarized in a set of propositions and a related framework that shows our expectations about the impact of these initiatives on implementation success.
Out of Scandinavia - Facing Social Risks in IT Development in South Africa
Authors: Scheepers Helana , Mathiassen Lars
Published: May 2011

South Africa is undergoing a number of changes, which has an effect on every aspect of society from the workplace to everyday life. South Africans need to reflect on this situation and determine how to proceed. The purpose of this article is to consider the development and implementation of information technology, one particular problem area, in this broader context. The article draws an analogy between the trade unionist systems development tradition in Scandinavia and the possible application it might have in South Africa. The article describes the situation in South Africa, presents the trade unionist approach to systems development, and describes the underlying principles that have been identified by Scandinavian researchers. It then evaluates these principles from a South African perspective and discusses the possible uses they might have in the South African situation.
Requirements of IS Development Methodologies Towards the New Organizational Paradigm - A Brasilian Study Using Delphi Technique
Authors: de Abreu Aline Franca , Roque Rossi Ruth Ferreira
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this study was to identify through the Delphi Technique, important requirements of an information system development methodology. These requirements should satisfy the needs of actual organizations, regarding the strategic use of information technology. An initial listing of requirements was developed through a review of the related literature. The Delphi panel consisted of 31 brazilian specialists in information systems. Two rounds were employed to collect from this panel the most important requirements. The requirements were distributed in five basic areas: technical process, interaction between the end user and analysts, organizational structure, business strategies and quality of the information system. It is expected that methodologies will continue to be of great importance in the development of information systems and they will increase their focus on the social-technical approach.
An Overview of Agent Technology and Its Application to Subject Management
Authors: Darbyshire Paul , Lowry Glenn
Published: May 2011

Agent software is an emerging technology that has its roots firmly in AI research. With the recent proliferation of ‘agent’ applications in areas such as e-commerce and Internet marketing, much of the application of agents can now said to be in the domain of Information Systems. One of the possible applications of agent technology is that of web-based courseware, and in particular, subject management software. However, there is much confusion over just exactly what an agent is. This paper provides an overview of agent software and in particular that of autonomous agents. The application of autonomous agents to educational courseware and its benefits are discussed, and a project is described which is using autonomous agents to aid in web-based subject management tasks.
Who Benefits from WWW Presentation in the Basics of Informatics?
Authors: Makkonen Pekka
Published: May 2011

This paper describes the use of WWW-based guided tours as a complementary addition to conventional lectures in the basics of informatics. Learning can be promoted in the spirit of constructivism, situated action, and cognitive flexibility when organizing a WWW coursework. We analyze the benefit of an optional coursework, including the use of guided tours and the use of search engines and directories on the WWW. This paper presents who benefits and who does not benefit from our optional coursework. The analysis is based on the background information and prior computer experience of the students, as well as pre and post tests. The study found that our WWW-based coursework suits best for females and all students except the students of economics. The students who are not familiar with computers and the Internet benefit more from WWW-based learning. Age and the number of years studied at a university do not affect the effectiveness of the WWW coursework. The results show that our WWW coursework suits for basic course level students in informatics, regardless of age. However, in the continuing courses of informatics, the coursework is probably less effective.
The Place of Homework in an Information Systems Tutorials
Authors: Morgan Bill , Godfrey Bob
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents findings from a study of Information Systems tutorials. The study sought to discover if the use of prescribed homework improved the learning of the students. In addition to their regular tests, examinations and assignments, students were given homework to complete. Students were surveyed using the College and University Classroom Environment Inventory (CUCEI) instrument before and after the experiment and several components of the study showed significant improvement for those students in these tutorials.
Are Information Systems Students in their Right Minds?
Authors: Benson Steve , Standing Craig
Published: May 2011

The “IS skills debate” still persists in being a commonly researched area. In this paper we examine the related issue of fundamental thinking styles and the implications for IS course design and delivery. In recent decades Sperry’s work on “split brain”1 patients has been hijacked by popular psychology. 2 The underlying thesis of many of the publications we surveyed reduces to “find out whether you are right or left brained and learn to draw on your whole brain”. We decided that it would be interesting to carry out an initial investigation into the left-right brain orientation of our students and curriculum. Given the technical biases and associations of the Information Systems discipline, our initial expectation was to find a high degree of logical, left brained orientation in our student sample. We were surprised to find the contrary result in that right brained oriented students outnumbered left brained oriented students by 3:1, especially in view of the fact that our curriculum had a definite left brain bias. Our chapter outlines the left-right brain divide and questions the validity of this division from neurophysiological perspectives. We discuss the practical implications of the exercise; i.e. is it worthwhile trying to get student to change their mode of operation or is it more productive to have them control their own learning in an adaptive manner? Finally, we identify several areas for future research.
IS Program Issues
Authors: Leif Douglas
Published: May 2011

This chapter suggests the challenges of academic information systems programs are a product of origin and evolution. Based upon the literature and survey results, the chapter suggests issues concerning origin, perceptions, solutions, and accreditation.
Collaborative Ph.D. Examination
Authors: Metcalfe Mike , Grant Samantha
Published: May 2011

In many universities, there is either no requirement for an oral examination or for examiners to guide Ph.D. candidates prior to submission of their thesis. This policy is usually the result of the “tyranny of distance” and/or the positivism philosophy of “impartial observer.” This chapter argues for the Interpretivist approach of enriching the learning experience of examiner, candidate, supervisor and university by requiring the advantages of complex sustained interaction. Extensive evidence has shown that group learning is far more productive than individualistic learning. While individual universities need to make the resources argument for a more collaborative Ph.D. process, this chapter presents the management learning literature. It provides this literature in support of the argument that examiners need to be inter-actively involved with supervisors and examiners, especially in IS which changes rapidly and is experiencing a move from positive to interpretive methodologies.
The Challenge of Teaching Research Skills to Information Systems and Technology Students
Authors: Hope Beverly G. , Fergusson Mariam
Published: May 2011

As the information systems discipline grows, so do the number of programs offering graduate research degrees. These include one-year post-graduate (honors) programs, masters by research, and doctoral degrees. Graduate students entering their first research degree are faced with a quantum leap in expectations and required skills. The burden is significant: they need to find a referent discipline, select a research method and paradigm, defend the research relevance, and fulfill the requirements of adding to a body of knowledge. The purpose of this chapter is to inform discussion on the issue of teaching and learning graduate research skills. We identify the core research skills needed and present three pragmatic models for teaching them. This provides a basis for a shared knowledge and discourse based on lessons learned.
The Impact of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems on Organizational Effectiveness
Authors: Hedman Jonas , Borell Andreas
Published: May 2011

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have an organizational impact and are in most cases implemented to improve organizational effectiveness. Shortcomings in current research make it difficult to conclude how an organization may be affected. This paper presents an artifact evaluation of the functionality and perceived benefits of ERP systems. The evaluation is based on the competing values model. The evaluation shows that ERP systems support effectiveness criteria (such as control and productivity) related to internal process and rational goal models. The evaluation also points out weaknesses in ERP systems and especially in areas related to human relations and open systems models. The result of the evaluation is used to discuss the impact of ERP systems on organizations and is presented as a series of hypotheses.
A Framework for Assessing ERP Systems' Functionality for the SMEs in Australia
Authors: Hossain Liaquat , Rashid Mohammad A. , Patrick Jon David
Published: May 2011

Anticipating the use of ERP systems among small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to be the future area of growth, ERP vendors such as SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, J.D. Edwards and Bann are introducing ERP software that appeals to the market segment of the SMEs. Introduction of the ERP systems for SMEs includes compact packages, flexible pricing policies, new implementation methodologies, and more specialized functionalities. The strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats (SWOT) framework of the ERP software offered by the aforementioned vendors for the SMEs requires in-depth analysis based on real field data. The aim of this study is to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of ERP systems offered by the five leading vendors for the SMEs in Australia. Multiple case study design approach is used here for collecting the primary data from the ERP vendors. A SWOT framework is developed to study the functionality of the ERP systems offered by these vendors. This framework may guide the managers of SMEs in selecting and implementing ERP systems for their organizations.
Video Performance in Java
Authors: Claypool Mark , Coates Tom , Hooley Shawn , Shea Eric , Spellacy Chris
Published: May 2011

The tremendous growth in both Java and multimedia present an opportunity for cross-platform multimedia applications. However, little research has been done on Java multimedia performance. In this chapter, we present experiments that measure the multimedia performance of an MPEG-1 client in Java. We find Just-In-Time compilation, local media access and processor type significantly affect multimedia performance, while choice of operating system, Java virtual machine and garbage collection have a negligible effect on multimedia performance. Overall, Java still lags considerably behind multimedia performance in C++.
Social Issues in Electronic Commerce
Authors: Papazafeiropoulou Anastasia , Pouloudi Athanasia
Published: May 2011

The revolutionary development of network technologies launched electronic commerce as a global phenomenon. Consequently, the policy issues that arise from its use create new responsibilities for policy makers world-wide. Apart from the technical (e.g. fast and reliable networks) and regulatory (e.g. legal frameworks and standardization) challenges that need to be tackled there are a number of social concerns that also need consideration. It is important for policy makers to see Internet use and electronic commerce as a social as well as a technical phenomenon. In this paper we examine how social concerns such as trust and digital democracy pertain to all levels of Internet and electronic commerce policy, posing dilemmas and influencing the construction of an effective and socially responsible strategy for electronic commerce.
Trust in Internet Shopping
Authors: Cheung Christy M.K. , Lee Matthew K.O.
Published: May 2011

Despite the phenomenal growth of Internet users in recent years, the penetration rate of Internet shopping is still low and one of the most often cited reasons is the lack of consumers’ trust (e.g. Hoffman et al., 1999). Although trust is an important concept in Internet shopping, there is a paucity of theory-guided empirical research in this area. In this paper, a theoretical model is proposed for investigating the nature of trust in the specific context of Internet shopping. In this model, consumers’ trust in Internet shopping is affected by propensity to trust and two groups of antecedent factors, namely, “trustworthiness of Internet vendors” and “external environment”. Trust, in turn, reduces consumers’ perceived risk in Internet shopping. As an important step towards the rigorous testing of the model, the necessary measurement instrument has been developed with its reliability and validity empirically tested. The psychometric properties of the measurement instrument have been investigated using both a classical approach (based on Cronbach’s alpha and exploratory factor analysis) and a contemporary approach (based on structural equation modeling techniques), as a way of methods triangulation for validating instrument properties. The resulting instrument represents a rigorously developed and validated instrument for the measurement of various important trust related constructs. This research contributes to the development of trust theory in e-commerce and add to the repository of rigorous research instruments for IS survey researchers to use.
Internal Audit of Internet-Based Electronic Commerce Transactions
Authors: Madani Haider H.
Published: May 2011

The introduction of Internet-based electronic commerce (EC) has brought new risks to internal controls. Increased interdependencies among various parties in an EC transaction shifting organizational focus from an audit-risk to a business-risk exposure. This chapter addresses the nature of EC transactions and control considerations associated with them. The chapter also provides internal auditors with a Total Quality Management (TQM) framework for services performed within EC environment. The framework is developed and based on five principles: activity analysis, control analysis, evaluation analysis, risk assessment, and continuous improvement. This approach provides appropriate continuous monitoring of business practices and internal controls to ensure audit effectiveness and efficiency.
Mobile Agents, Mobile Computing and Mobile Users in Global E-Commerce
Authors: Vinaja Roberto
Published: May 2011

Mobile agents may reside in a host or client computer, and can also roam other computers, networks or the Internet to execute their tasks. In this chapter, we will examine the implications of mobility in three aspects: mobile code, mobile hardware and mobile users. The impact of mobility on electronic commerce in the areas of security issues; export controls, legal jurisdiction, taxation and international issues is also analyzed. Mobile agent technologies and mobile computers will play an important role in the new cyberspace economy, however many issues need to be addressed before the technology can be fully implemented.
Concept Acquisition Modeling for E-commerce Ontology
Authors: Lee Maria , Sim Kwang Mong , Kwok Paul
Published: May 2011

To bolster the interoperability of agent-based commerce systems, trading agents are expected to adopt a set of common ontologies. Although there are extant general-purpose ontologies and approaches of engineering them, there seem to be no ontology that is specific for e-commerce or the methodologies for constructing e-commerce ontology. This chapter presents a concept acquisition modeling approach to facilitate the acquisition, classification and representation of e-commerce concepts. It proposes a systematic way to make comparisons between concepts based upon some understanding of their semantics. The process is comprised of classification criteria, questions scheme, rules for classifying relations and optimization, and concept representation for the e-commerce based ontology. Of particular interest is the use of context-dependent and language-independent classification knowledge. The explicit representation nature of the approach enables the development of shared ontologies and its reuse in other ontologies and applications.
A Systemic Approach to Define Agents
Authors: Cheung Andy Y. , Chan Stephen L.
Published: May 2011

Software agent is a very popular topic in computer science in the past few years. One of the promising applications of agent technology is shown in web applications. A tool for understanding, structuring, and defining agents becomes very important in order to release the power of this revolutionizing concept. This article surveys the definitions of agents and proposes an agent definition framework in the light of the Soft Systems Methodology to understand, define and model agents systematically.
Enforcing Modeling Guidelines in an ORDBMS-based UML-Repository
Authors: Ritter N. , Steiert H.P.
Published: May 2011

Due to its rich set of modeling concepts and its broad application spectrum the Unified Modeling Language (UML) has become widely accepted for modeling many aspects of software systems. Since UML is not related to any particular design method, each software development project has to establish its own modeling guidelines. Hence, tool support is needed for guiding the developer throughout the modeling process and for enforcing project-related integrity of UML models. In this chapter, we present our approach for enforcing guidelines in UML-based software development processes. For managing UML models, we implemented a UML repository on top of an object-relational database management system (ORDBMS). Guidelines are expressed as OCL constraints and are enforced either automatically, i. e., by the UML repository, or on user demand. For this purpose, we take advantage of ORDBMS query facilities for checking guidelines by automated mapping of OCL constraints to SQL expressions.
EMC - A Modeling Method for Developing Web-based Applications
Authors: Rittgen Peter
Published: May 2011

Early information systems were mainly built around secondary, administrative processes of the value chain (e.g., accounting). But since the internet came into use, more and more primary processes have become accessible to automation: customer acquisition, ordering, billing and, in the case of intangible goods such as software, even delivery. Hence an increasing part of an enterprise has to be modeled and a substantial part thereof is implemented, usually in an object-oriented programming language like Java. To facilitate this complex task, the MEMO methodology (Multi-perspective Enterprise MOdeling) allows the description of the enterprise on three levels – strategy, organization and information system – and from four angles – process, structure, resources and goals. All partial models for the views are integrated via a common object-oriented core. In this framework we suggest a modeling method for the IS layer, the Event-driven Method Chain (EMC). It is based on the Event-driven Process Chain (EPC) by Scheer, which we adapt to fit both the MEMO methodology and the object-oriented paradigm thus making it suitable for the development of web-based applications. To illustrate this we use the example of a software trading company.
A Methodology for Adaptive Workflows
Authors: Shuzhou Liu , Soong Angela Goh Eck
Published: May 2011

A workflow methodology is required to analyze business logic and model workflow components. Current studies handle business process modeling and workflow modeling in an independent manner, making it hard to analyze the information system and organization requirements while modeling business logic. Moreover, current methodologies also lack support for modeling complex dynamic processes in adaptive workflows. In this chapter, a methodology is proposed to unify business process modeling and workflow automation. The information system and organization perspectives of workflow are identified in each development phase. An analysis of the domain and an object notation in the methodology can help to build a stable system.