bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Requirements Engineering
Authors: Flores Fernando , Mora Manuel , Alvarez Francisco , O’Connor Rory , Macias-Luevano Jorge
Published: May 2011

Requirements engineering is the process of discovering the purpose and implicit needs of a software system that will be developed and making explicit, complete, and non ambiguous their specification. Its relevance is based in that omission or mistakes generated during this phase and corrected in later phases of a system development lifecycle, will cause cost overruns and delays to the project, as well as incomplete software. This chapter, by using a conceptual research approach, reviews the literature for developing a review of types of requirements, and the processes, activities, and techniques used. Analysis and synthesis of such findings permit to posit a generic requirements engineering process. Implications, trends, and challenges are then reported. While its execution is being mandatory in most SDLCs, it is done partially. Furthermore, the emergence of advanced services-oriented technologies suggests further research for identifying what of the present knowledge is useful and what is needed. This research is an initial effort to synthesize accumulated knowledge.
Security Considerations in the Development Life Cycle
Authors: Knapp Kenneth J.
Published: May 2011

To promote the development of inherently secure software, this chapter describes various strategies and techniques for integrating security requirements into the systems development life cycle (SDLC). For each major phase of the SDLC, recommendations are made to promote the development of secure information systems. In brief, developers should identify risks, document initial requirements early, and stress the importance of security during each phase of the SDLC. Security concerns are then offered for less traditional models of systems analysis and development. Before concluding, future trends are discussed. Practitioners who read this chapter will be better equipped to improve their methodological processes by addressing security requirements in their development efforts.
Achieving Effective Health Information Systems
Authors: Warren Jim , Day Karen , Orr Martin
Published: May 2011

In this chapter we aim to promote an understanding of the complexity of healthcare as a setting for information systems and how this complexity influences the achievement of successful implementations. We define health informatics and examine its role as an enabler in the delivery of healthcare. Then we look at the knowledge commodity culture of healthcare, with the gold standard of systematic reviews and its hierarchy of evidence. We examine the different forms of quantitative and qualitative research that are most commonly found in healthcare and how they influence the requirements for health information systems. We also examine some domain-specific issues that must be considered by health information systems developers, including those around clinical decision support systems and clinical classification and coding systems. We conclude with a discussion of the challenges that must be balanced by the health systems implementer in delivering robust systems that support evidence-based healthcare processes.
Knowledge-Based Characterization of Test Questions
Authors: Khan Javed , Hardas Manas
Published: May 2011

The recent advances in knowledge engineering entail us to represent knowledge associated with a course in an expressive yet computable format as a hierarchical prerequisite relation-based weighted ontology. A schema called the course concept dependency schema written in Web ontology language (OWL) is designed to represent the prerequisite concept dependency. The knowledge associated with educational resources, like the knowledge required for answering a particular test question correctly, can be mapped to subgraphs in the course ontology. A novel approach for selectively extracting these subgraphs is given and some interesting inferences are made by observing the clustering of knowledge associated with test questions. We argue that the difficulty of a question is not only dependent on the knowledge it tests but also the structure of the knowledge it tests. Some assessment parameters are defined to quantify these properties of the knowledge associated with a test question. It is observed that the parameters are very good indicators of question difficulty.
The Current State of Bionanotechnology
Authors: Choudhary Shivani , Geisler Eliezer , Wickramasinghe Nilmini
Published: May 2011

Bionanotechnology is a combination of three terms: “bios” meaning “life,” “nano” (origin in Greek) meaning “dwarf,” and “technologia” (origin in Greek—comprised of “techne” meaning “craft,” and “logia” meaning “saying”), which is a broad term dealing with the use and knowledge of humanity’s tools and crafts. Biomolecular Nanotechnology—or Bionanotechnology— is a term coined for the area of study where nanotechnology has applications in the field of biology and medical sciences. One can also say that “Bionanotechnology” is derived by the combination of two terms: “nanotechnology,” and “biotechnology.”
Using Consistent Naming Conventions for Library Electronic Resources
Authors: Kichuk Diana
Published: May 2011

There are no accepted standards governing naming electronic resources in A to Z lists or electronic resource management (ERM) systems. Current practice superficially resembles cataloging standards and guidelines, but is substantially ad hoc, and reliant on local adaptation and innovation. A little more predictability is needed to make finding and using electronic resources easier. This chapter describes issues related to naming electronic resources and concludes with a draft set of principles and conventions for designating names or titles in the context of A to Z lists and ERM systems. It will also examine the unique issue of electronic resource volatility and its impact on maintenance. The focus will be on integrated or continuously updated electronic resources, such as bibliographic and full text databases, and reference works.
Successful Communication in Virtual Teams and the Role of the Virtual Team Leader
Authors: Switzer Jamie S.
Published: May 2011

The world now lives and works in cyberspace. Often, organizations have their people perform functional tasks by working in virtual teams, where members use technology to cooperate across geographic and organizational boundaries. As the use of virtual teams in the workforce becomes more prevalent, those involved must have the knowledge to communicate efficiently and effectively, especially the virtual team leaders. This chapter provides a general overview of virtual teams and virtual team leadership, and discusses specific communication strategies and competencies necessary for virtual team leaders to be effective and successful communicators.
Digital Divide Redux
Authors: Rodino-Colocino Michelle
Published: May 2011

Although the debate on the digital divide has evolved from an analysis of access to skill, scholars have largely neglected the significance of inequalities in the high-tech labor force. Overlooking such discrepancies undercuts the practical application of such analyses; if the most technically skilled workers face eroding job security and dwindling wages, digital divide research is missing a key source of disparity among today’s workers. This chapter examines the latest developments in digital divide research and the high-tech labor market. The concluding section of this chapter discusses what steps workers are taking to close the digital labor force divide and how scholars and managers can meaningfully intervene. By leveraging their unique position as workers who manage other workers, managers can play an important role in creating more equitable working conditions for high-tech labor.
Video Technology for Academic Integrity in Online Courses
Authors: Szerdahelyi Judith
Published: May 2011

In addition to their traditional low-tech repertoire of cheating methods, students are now compromising academic integrity by utilizing sophisticated high-tech innovations to improve their grades. The inexperience of online faculty can also contribute to students’ academic misconduct when instructors employ a course design and/or assessment measures that are more appropriate for face-to-face courses. This chapter discusses how easy it is for students to “fake a course” and earn a grade in an online class without acquiring knowledge if a combination of two factors are present: 1) Using pedagogical tools unsuitable for measuring online performance, and 2) Violations of academic integrity. The purpose of the chapter is to present new methods of utilizing multimedia technology, more specifically student video production, to reduce the possibility of academic dishonesty and to improve the quality of teaching and learning.
New Media and the Virtual Workplace
Authors: Barton Matt
Published: May 2011

There are few terms in the past decade that have excited the popular imagination more than “New Media,” even though few self-described “New Media” scholars agree about precisely what it means or what makes it so new. Nonetheless, New Media has valuable lessons for modern business. The purpose of this chapter is to explore some various definitions of the term “New Media,” unlock the key concepts, and discuss how these theories and practices can facilitate professional communication in new virtual workplaces (with a particular focus on 3-D virtual environments). The goal of this chapter is to show how New Media conversations about Play, Space, Identity, Simulation, and Collaboration can help foster more effective virtual workplaces. While there is no magical template for building productive virtual workplaces, this chapter will help readers understand and apply some of the principles of New Media to better understand the obstacles and affordances they offer modern business.
Virtual Writing as Actual Leadership
Authors: Zimmerman James R.
Published: May 2011

This chapter applies the evolving principles of electronic communication rhetoric and recent leadership theory to the daily practice of e-mail composition by leaders in large organizations. It articulates principles and techniques for new and midlevel leaders who most need to use e-mail. This analysis specifies opportunities and pitfalls and recommends that e-mail be a planned, significant part of an overall strategy to communicate the leader’s vision while offering support and information to peers and superiors. The discussion addresses rhetorical principles and practices as they apply to the advantages and disadvantages of leadership via e-mail, and it advocates a composition process to increase effectiveness and reduce inefficiency for all levels of leadership in large organizations.
Plagiarism, Ghostwriting, Boilerplate, and Open Content
Authors: Warren Austin Wendy
Published: May 2011

This chapter explains to business people, administrators, and educator/trainers what plagiarism is and is not, and explores authorship ambiguities such as ghostwriting, templates, boilerplate language, collaborative/ team writing, and open content. It argues that two key features of plagiarism are the intent to deceive and lack of consent from the original author(s). Furthermore, whether the environment is an academic or work environment plays an important part in determining whether plagiarism has occurred, because academic settings impose stricter standards on borrowing. However, if both the original author and the borrowing author are aware of the origination of words and consent to their re-use, and the issue involves template or boilerplate language, or incorporates acknowledgement of influences, help, or collaborative contributions, it does not constitute plagiarism. Clarifying differences in standards and expectations of the academic and workplace environment will help business people better understand the ethical boundaries for practices of acknowledgement and attribution.
Usability and User-Centered Theory for 21st Century OWLs
Authors: Driscoll Dana Lynn , Brizee H. Allen , Salvo Michael , Sousa Morgan
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes results of usability research conducted on the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL). The Purdue OWL is an information-rich educational Web site that provides free writing resources to users worldwide. Researchers conducted two generations of usability tests. In the first test, participants were asked to navigate the OWL and answer questions. Results of the first test and user-centered scholarship indicated that a more user-centered focus would improve usability. The second test asked participants to answer writing-related questions using both the OWL Web site and a user-centered OWL prototype. Participants took significantly less time to find information using the prototype and reported a more positive response to the user-centered prototype than the original OWL. Researchers conclude that a user-centered Web site is more effective and can be a model for information-rich online resources. Researchers also conclude that usability research can be a productive source of ideas, underscoring the need for participatory invention.
Reconsidering the Lay-Expert Audience Divide
Authors: Klein Michael J.
Published: May 2011

This chapter provides educators instructional methods for teaching audience analysis to students in professional writing courses. It argues that a rhetorical approach to the teaching of professional writing, focused on audience analysis, allows students to learn how to engage and become members of their audience’s discourse community. This engagement allows the writer to better conceptualize the audience and their needs, facilitating improved communication practices. The author hopes that such an approach will prepare professional writers for their future careers, be it in a traditional or virtual workplace, by gaining a recognition of the different levels of expertise of audience members.
Assessing the Benefit of Prewriting Conferences on Drafts
Authors: Fitze Michael
Published: May 2011

This chapter reports on a comparative study of face-to-face (FTF) and written electronic (WE) conferences as pre-writing activities in the English as a Second Language (ESL) classroom. Twenty-seven intermediate to advanced students participated in the study over a 4 week period. Latent semantic analysis and corpus linguistics measures were used to compare the extent to which the first drafts incorporated the terms and ideas introduced during the 2 types of conferences. Although no difference was found in the length, or semantic or lexical complexity of first drafts, the results indicated greater lexical and semantic similarity between FTF pre-writing conferences and subsequent drafts. In other words, students made better use of the terms and ideas introduced during the FTF conferences when individually writing first drafts. Reasons why this may have been the case are suggested, and directions for further research are offered.
ICT and Language Learning at Secondary School
Authors: Huot Diane , Lemonnier France H. , Hamers Josiane
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents the key findings of a longitudinal study conducted with secondary school students over a period of five years to determine whether the use of ICT has an influence on the learning of L1 French and L2 English, on students’ motivation and attitudes, and on the quality of their written work. Three research questions were framed to provide (i) a description of the process of integrating ICT; (ii) measurements of student attitudes and motivation in relation to school, to learning and to ICT; and (iii) a systematic assessment of written work in French and English. Students in four learning environments were observed. Results include indications that, for students in the experimental environment, ICT use is closely linked to the pedagogical context; motivation and attitudes remain more stable than in the control groups; the texts they produce are significantly longer and contain more complex clauses.
Supporting the Reflective Language Learner with Computer Keystroke Logging
Authors: Lindgren Eva , Stevenson Marie , Sullivan Kirk P.H.
Published: May 2011

In this chapter an instructional format, Peer-Based Intervention (PBI) using computer keystroke logging is investigated as a computer technology to enhance language acquisition. In PBI, a process-oriented approach is taken, in which noticing, reflection and language awareness are central concepts of language learning. The method aims to promote learning through individualized reflection and social interaction. A retrospective focus on the evolution of a foreign language text is used as a basis for reflection and discussion. This period of reflection and discussion opens up paths for both individual and peer-based noticing and learning.
Emerging Feedback in Two Asynchronous ESL Writing Forums
Authors: Hadjistassou Stella K.
Published: May 2011

This study reports on a culturally-transforming group activity using asynchronously-mediated forums on the “discussion board” of Blackboard Academic Suite. Seventeen English as a second language (ESL) learners enrolled in a university-level writing course used the discussion board to engage in asynchronous collaborative forums where they presented and shared their paper topics and personal experiences, offered suggestions to their peers, and raised critical questions that were meant to help their peers think more critically about the assigned writing genres and their selected paper topic. The data suggest that participation in asynchronous computer-mediated communication (ACMC) forums can help students develop a deeper understanding of the writing assignments and encourage them to implement describing and narrating strategies to provide feedback to their peers. Students can also gradually produce feedback that is more complex, constructive, and challenging to their peers and begin improving their writing skills by developing more formal, sophisticated and complex language.
Using an Audio-Video Chat Program in Language Learning
Authors: Kinoshita Yuko
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents a descriptive report on a video chat project undertaken in early 2006 at the University of Canberra, Australia using iChat. Video chat enables two or more people with personal computers and broadband Internet connections to ‘chat’ with audio and video so they are visible to each other, in real time, almost as though in face to face communication. This project aimed to provide L2 learners opportunities to practice speaking with and listening to native speakers of the target language and experience real-life communication in the target language. The report contains a detailed account of the methodology and observations made on student behaviour and motivation during the project. Students participated enthusiastically in the project and seemed to be highly motivated to use iChat to communicate with native speakers of Japanese in Japan. The project showed that there is great potential for video chat as a language learning tool.
A Novel Recurrent Polynomial Neural Network for Financial Time Series Prediction
Authors: Hussain Abir , Liatsis Panos
Published: May 2011

The research described in this chapter is concerned with the development of a novel artificial higherorder neural networks architecture called the recurrent Pi-sigma neural network. The proposed artificial neural network combines the advantages of both higher-order architectures in terms of the multi-linear interactions between inputs, as well as the temporal dynamics of recurrent neural networks, and produces highly accurate one-step ahead predictions of the foreign currency exchange rates, as compared to other feedforward and recurrent structures.
Dynamics in Artificial Higher Order Neural Networks with Delays
Authors: Cao Jinde , Ren Fengli , Liang Jinling
Published: May 2011

This chapter concentrates on studying the dynamics of artificial higher order neural networks (HONNs) with delays. Both stability analysis and periodic oscillation are discussed here for a class of delayed HONNs with (or without) impulses. Most of the sufficient conditions obtained in this chapter are presented in linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), and so can be easily computed and checked in practice using the Matlab LMI Toolbox. In reality, stability is a necessary feature when applying artificial neural networks. Also periodic solution plays an important role in the dynamical behavior of all solutions though other dynamics such as bifurcation and chaos do coexist. So here we mainly focus on questions of the stability and periodic solutions of artificial HONNs with (or without) impulses. Firstly, stability analysis and periodic oscillation are analyzed for higher order bidirectional associative memory (BAM) neural networks without impulses. Secondly, global exponential stability and exponential convergence are studied for a class of impulsive higher order bidirectional associative memory neural networks with time-varying delays. The main methods and tools used in this chapter are linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), Lyapunov stability theory and coincidence degree theory.
Secure Service Discovery
Authors: Ahamed Sheikh I. , Buford John F. , Sharmin Moushumi , Haque Munirul M. , Talukder Nilothpal
Published: May 2011

In broadband wireless networks, mobile devices will be equipped to directly share resources using service discovery mechanisms without relying upon centralized servers or infrastructure support. The network environment will frequently be ad hoc or will cross administrative boundaries. There are many challenges to enabling secure and private service discovery in these environments including the dynamic population of participants, the lack of a universal trust mechanism, and the limited capabilities of the devices. To ensure secure service discovery while addressing privacy issues, trust-based models are inevitable. We survey secure service discovery in the broadband wireless environment. We include case studies of two protocols that include a trust mechanism, and we summarize future research directions.
Identity Management
Authors: Sandrasegaran Kumbesan , Li Mo
Published: May 2011

The broad aim of identity management (IdM) is to manage the resources of an organization (such as files, records, data, and communication infrastructure and services) and to control and manage access to those resources in an efficient and accurate way. Consequently, identity management is both a technical and process-orientated concept. The concept of IdM has begun to be applied in identities-related applications in enterprises, governments, and Web services since 2002. As the integration of heterogeneous wireless networks becomes a key issue in towards the next generation (NG) networks, IdM will be crucial to the success of NG wireless networks. A number of issues, such as mobility management, multi-provider and securities require the corresponding solutions in terms of user authentication, access control, and so forth. IdM in NG wireless networks is about managing the digital identity of a user and ensuring that users have fast, reliable, and secure access to distributed resources and services of an next generation network (NGN) and the associated service providers, across multiple systems and business contexts.
Trustworthy Networks, Authentication, Privacy, and Security Models
Authors: Djemaiel Yacine , Rekhis Slim , Boudriga Noureddine
Published: May 2011

Wireless networks are gaining popularity that comes with the occurrence of several networking technologies raising from personal to wide area, from centralized to distributed, and from infrastructure-based to infrastructure-less. Wireless data link characteristics such as openness of transmission media, makes these networks vulnerable to a novel set of security attacks, despite those that they inherit from wired networks. In order to ensure the protection of mobile nodes that are interconnected using wireless protocols and standards, it is essential to provide a depth study of a set of mechanisms and security models. In this chapter, we present the research studies and proposed solutions related to the authentication, privacy, trust establishment, and management in wireless networks. Moreover, we introduce and discuss the major security models used in a wireless environment.
The Provably Secure Formal Methods for Authentication and Key Agreement Protocols
Authors: Ma Jianfeng , Li Xinghua
Published: May 2011

In the design and analysis of authentication and key agreement protocols, provably secure formal methods play a very important role, among which the Canetti-Krawczyk (CK) model and universal composable (UC) security model are very popular at present. This chapter focuses on these two models and consists mainly of three parts: (1) an introduction to CK model and UC models; (2) A study of these two models, which includes an analysis of CK model and an extension of UC security model. The analysis of CK model presents its security analysis, advantages, and disadvantages, and a bridge between this formal method and the informal method (heuristic method) is established; an extension of UC security model gives a universally composable anonymous hash certification model. (3) The applications of these two models. With these two models, the four-way handshake protocols in 802.11i and Chinese wireless LAN (WLAN) security standard WLAN authentication and privacy infrastructure (WAPI) are analyzed.
Multimedia Encryption and Watermarking in Wireless Environment
Authors: Lian Shiguo
Published: May 2011

In a wireless environment, multimedia transmission is often affected by the error rate; delaying; terminal’s power or bandwidth; and so forth, which brings difficulties to multimedia content protection. In the past decade, wireless multimedia protection technologies have been attracting more and more researchers. Among them, wireless multimedia encryption and watermarking are two typical topics. Wireless multimedia encryption protects multimedia content’s confidentiality in wireless networks, which emphasizes on improving the encryption efficiency and channel friendliness. Some means have been proposed, such as the format-independent encryption algorithms that are time efficient compared with traditional ciphers; the partial encryption algorithms that reduce the encrypted data volumes by leaving some information unchanged; the hardware-implemented algorithms that are more efficient than software based ones; the scalable encryption algorithms that are compliant with bandwidth changes; and the robust encryption algorithms that are compliant with error channels. Compared with wireless multimedia encryption, wireless multimedia watermarking is widely used in ownership protection, traitor tracing, content authentication, and so forth. To keep low cost, a mobile agent is used to partitioning some of the watermarking tasks. To counter transmission errors, some channel encoding methods are proposed to encode the watermark. To keep robust, some means are proposed to embed a watermark into media data of low bit rate. Based on both watermarking and encryption algorithms, some applications arise, such as secure multimedia sharing or secure multimedia distribution. In this chapter, the existing wireless multimedia encryption and watermarking algorithms are summarized according to the functionality and multimedia type; their performances are analyzed and compared; the related applications are presented; and some open issues are proposed.
Fault Tolerant Topology Design for Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks
Authors: Wang Yu
Published: May 2011

Fault tolerance is one of the premier system design desiderata in wireless ad hoc and sensor networks. It is crucial to have a certain level of fault tolerance in most of ad hoc and sensor applications, especially for those used in surveillance, security, and disaster relief. In addition, several network security schemes require the underlying topology provide fault tolerance. In this chapter, we will review various fault tolerant techniques used in topology design for ad hoc and sensor networks, including those for power control, topology control, and sensor coverage.
Bluetooth Devices Effect on Radiated EMS of Vehicle Wiring
Authors: Ruiz Miguel A. , Espinosa Felipe , Sanguino David , Awawdeh AbdelBaset
Published: May 2011

The electromagnetic energy source used by wireless communication devices in a vehicle can cause electromagnetic compatibility problems with the electrical and electronic equipment on board. This work is focused on the radiated susceptibility (electromagnetic susceptibility [EMS]) issue and proposes a method for quantifying the electromagnetic influence of wireless radio frequency (RF) transmitters on board vehicles. The key to the analysis is the evaluation of the relation between the electrical field emitted by a typical Bluetooth device operating close to the automobile’s electrical and electronic systems and the field level specified by the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) directive 2004/104/EC for radiated susceptibility tests. The chapter includes the model of a closed circuit structure emulating an automobile electric wire system and the simulation of its behaviour under electromagnetic fields’ action. According to this a physical structure is designed and implemented, which is used for laboratory tests. Finally, simulated and experimental results are compared and the conclusions obtained are discussed.
Security and Privacy Approaches for Wireless Local and Metropolitan Area Networks (LANs & MANs)
Authors: Kostopoulos Giorgos , Sklavos Nicolas , Koufopavlou Odysseas
Published: May 2011

Wireless communications are becoming ubiquitous in homes, offices, and enterprises with the popular IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network (LAN) technology and the up-and-coming IEEE 802.16 wireless metropolitan area networks (MAN) technology. The wireless nature of communications defined in these standards makes it possible for an attacker to snoop on confidential communications or modify them to gain access to home or enterprise networks much more easily than with wired networks. Wireless devices generally try to reduce computation overhead to conserve power and communication overhead to conserve spectrum and battery power. Due to these considerations, the original security designs in wireless LANs and MANs used smaller keys, weak message integrity protocols, weak or one-way authentication protocols, and so forth. As wireless networks became popular, the security threats were also highlighted to caution users. A security protocol redesign followed first in wireless LANs and then in wireless MANs. This chapter discusses the security threats and requirements in wireless LANs and wireless MANs, with a discussion on what the original designs missed and how they were corrected in the new protocols. It highlights the features of the current wireless LAN and MAN security protocols and explains the caveats and discusses open issues. Our aim is to provide the reader with a single source of information on security threats and requirements, authentication technologies, security encapsulation, and key management protocols relevant to wireless LANs and MANs.
Evaluation of Security Architectures for Mobile Broadband Access
Authors: Chatzinotas Symeon , Karlsson Jonny , Pulkkis Göran , Grahn Kaj
Published: May 2011

During the last few years, mobile broadband access has been a popular concept in the context of fourth generation (4G) cellular systems. After the wide acceptance and deployment of the wired broadband connections, such as DSL, the research community in conjunction with the industry have tried to develop and deploy viable mobile architectures for broadband connectivity. The dominant architectures which have already been proposed are Wi-Fi, universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), WiMax, and flash-orthogonal frequency division modulation (OFDM). In this chapter, we analyze these protocols with respect to their security mechanisms. First, a detailed description of the authentication, confidentiality, and integrity mechanisms is provided in order to highlight the major security gaps and threats. Subsequently, each threat is evaluated based on three factors: likelihood, impact, and risk. The technologies are then compared taking their security evaluation into account. Flash-OFDM is not included in this comparison since its security specifications have not been released in public. Finally, future trends of mobile broadband access, such as the evolution of WiMax, mobile broadband wireless access (MBWA), and 4G are discussed.
Performance Measurement in the SMEs in the Information Industry
Authors: Wu Donglin , Zhao Fang
Published: May 2011

This chapter identifies the challenges, features, and drivers of performance measurement (PM) in the SMEs in the IT industry and introduces a PM framework based on the system theory and business excellence model for SMEs. This study finds that a dynamic and flexible PM framework is more suitable to SMEs than a mechanized PM model. By examining the PM features and key success factors in SMEs in the IT industry, this study concludes that traditional PM theories and tools are not suitable for SMEs, which is supported by many recent studies on PM in SMEs.
Integrating E-Supply Networks
Authors: Tassabehji Rana , Wallace James , Tsoularis Anastasios
Published: May 2011

The Internet has reached a stage of maturity where its innovative adoption and implementation can be a source of competitive advantage. Supply chains are one of the areas that has reportedly benefited greatly, achieving optimisation through low cost, high efficiency use of the Internet, almost seamlessly linking global supply chains into e-supply networks. This field is still in its academic and practical infancy, and there is a need for more empirical research to build a robust theoretical foundation, which advances our knowledge and understanding. Here, the main aims and objectives are to highlight the importance of information flows in e-supply chains/networks, and the need for their standardisation to facilitate integration, legality, security, and efficiency of operations. This chapter contributes to the field by recommending a three-stage framework enabling this process through the development of standardised Internet technology platforms (e-platforms), integration requirements and classification of information flows.
Virtual Teams in Health Care
Authors: DeGori Mary , Zhao Fang
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes an in-depth analysis of the methods to increase the effectiveness of virtual teams in health care using the Northern Alliance Hospital Admission Risk Program (HARP) Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Program as the test case. A conceptual framework of the specific components required for virtual team effectiveness and a survey tool to examine a team’s performance (based on virtual team member perception) with each of these components is presented. The proposed conceptual framework of virtual team effectiveness categorises the determinants influencing the effectiveness of virtual teams into four key frames of leadership, team components, organisational culture, and technology. An empirical survey of 38 virtual team members within the Northern Alliance HARP CDM Program demonstrates high levels of agreement with leadership and some team components, however, limited agreement with the organisational culture and technology components.
International Dimensions of Innovation in Technology
Authors: Perotti Valerie S.
Published: May 2011

This chapter develops a set of seven dimensions, which may be applied to each sovereign nation as a guide to allow for systematic consideration and comparison of opportunities and challenges across borders. Under the assumption that innovation itself requires a unique set of skills or opportunistic settings, the chapter then explores each dimension’s applicability to situations particularly associated with innovation in technology. Using current research and examples from world business, the chapter moves to a brief discussion of projected future developments in the field and related research needs.
Disruptions in Global Industries Caused by Controversial Technologies
Authors: Boutellier Roman , Biedermann Andreas
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, the raise of a business phenomenon is introduced and illustrated with the case of the ban of lead-bearing solders in electronics manufacturing: The disruptions caused by controversial technologies. Technologies are praised initially as problem solvers and frequently evolve into problem causers themselves. Affected companies are facing the threat of technological obsolescence and fundamental change processes. A framework of the social environment and the value chain helps the management to better understand the relevant mechanisms. Using the case of lead-bearing solders, the chapter illustrates the far-reaching consequences of the forced phase-out of these alloys, which have been used since the beginning of industrial electronics production. Lead bearing solders are one example of many technologies, which are candidates to become controversial. Increased awareness of side effects, globalization, and intensified use of single technologies indicate that this management task will gain momentum in the electronics industry and others.
Computer Security in Cybercafés
Authors: Adogbeji Oghenevwogaga Benson
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this chapter is to address the security breaches in cybercafés and also suggest measures of securing the unsecured computers. In order that cybercafés operate breach free Internet services, there is need for measures to be put in place to secure their network. This chapter of the book therefore unveils the security situation in cybercafés with the view to address network security, network breaches, and methods of protecting cybercafés’ systems. The chapter reveals some ways through which cybercafés encountered breaches such as Trojan horse programs, back door and remote administration programs, unauthorized access, denial of service, and so forth, and equally suggests measures of protecting the computers or networks such as installation of firewalls, use of antivirus, avoidance of opening unknown attachments, disabling of hidden filename extensions, keeping all applications parched, disconnecting from the net when not in use, regular backup of data, virtual private networks, and so forth.
Managing Cybercafés
Authors: Onojaefe Darlington , Leaning Marcus
Published: May 2011

This chapter offers an alternate perspective upon issues of management and security in cybercafés. Here attention is placed upon the wider social environment in which the cybercafé operates and the development of ‘soft’ skills in cybercafé management in order to mitigate security risks. Three key arguments are made: first, it is noted that cybercafés offer a key means by which small business may access ICT. Second, that the relationships that cybercafés may foster are beneficial to all parties and that such relationships bring additional benefits in terms of trust and social capital. Third, that in order to develop such partnerships, new skill sets may be required.
Cybercafé Management Software
Authors: Obuh Alex Ozoemelem
Published: May 2011

This chapter is intended to provide an insight into cybercafé management software. Specifically, it gives the meaning of cybercafé management software, features of cybercafé management software, cybercafé management software systems requirement, criteria for selecting cybercafé management software, some examples of cybercafé management software, the role of cybercafé management software in enhancing Internet security, limitations of cybercafé software, future trends, and future research direction. It is argued that cybercafé management software has the capability of keeping a large client database with which it draws its strength for asset tracking, calculating client’s bonus on patronage, and in keeping an audit trail thus securing financial transactions.
Cybercafés of Nepal
Authors: Rauniar Deepak
Published: May 2011

The chapter introduces the cybercafés of Nepal and explores the prospect of someone (persons, criminals) exploiting them to commit global cyber crimes. Cybercafés are public places of Internet and are considered important tools of society for access to information and e-services of all kinds. However, by the virtue of being public places, they also stand vulnerable to misuse in terms of cyber crimes. The chapter discusses cybercafés and cyber crimes and introduces them with specific reference to Nepal—a country in south Asia nestled between two information technology giants, India and China. The chapter also discusses the cyber law of the country. Based on research carried out with the objectives of assessing the scenario in which the cybercafés operate in Nepal, it has been argued that they can be easily exploited to commit cyber crimes. Further, in terms of the facts that have emerged from the research, appropriate recommendations have also been derived and presented.
Realizability Analysis of Top-Down Web Service Composition Specifications
Authors: Fu Xiang , Bultan Tevfik , Su Jianwen
Published: May 2011

A conversation protocol specifies the desired global behaviors of a Web service composition in a top-down fashion. Before implementing a conversation protocol, its realizability has to be determined—that is, can a bottom-up Web service composition be synthesized so that it generates exactly the same set of conversations as specified by the protocol? This chapter presents three sufficient conditions to restrict control flows of a conversation protocol for achieving realizability. The model is further extended to include data semantics of Web services into consideration. To overcome the state-space explosion problem, symbolic analysis techniques are used for improving the accuracy of analysis. The realizability analysis can effectively reduce the complexity of verifying Web services with asynchronous communication.
CMM FastTrack
Authors: Leung Hareton , Lui Yvette
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents the Capability Maturity Model Fast-track Toolkit (CMMFT) programme which aims to provide a faster and cheaper method of obtaining Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) capability with the end goals of increasing quality of software products and gaining competitive advantage as software development practices are recognised internationally. The programme is specifically designed for helping software SMEs (small- to medium-sized enterprises) in Hong Kong to “fast track” their quality and process improvement effort. We first present an overview of the CMMFT programme, including its expected benefits, project deliverables, and project plan. Then, the results of our project are summarised. Finally, we outline the key lessons learned and future work. It is hoped that others can learn from our experience in assisting SMEs to enhance their development capability and become more competitive.
SPI Long-Term Benefits
Authors: Cater-Steel Aileen , Rout Terry
Published: May 2011

The contribution of small enterprises to the software industry is marked, but the level of understanding of the ways in which they can survive, grow, and improve is limited. In particular, there has been a lack of information on the long-term outcomes of process improvement initiatives in small firms. Building on the basis of a study of assessment-based improvement in 23 small and medium size organizations, we have undertaken a follow-up meeting with each company approximately five years following the original assessment. The results show that changes made in an organisation, driven by a framework of model-based improvement, can have long-term impacts even in small organisations; it appears, however, that there is no necessary link between success in implementing improvement and survival of the organisation. The results provide insight into the extent to which improvement actions can reinforce overall success for the small business.
A Model to Classify Knowledge Assets of a Process-Oriented Development
Authors: Anaya Raquel , Cechich Alejandra , Henoa Mónica
Published: May 2011

Knowledge assets are knowledge regarding markets, products, technologies and organizations, that a business needs to own and that enable its business processes to generate profits. Today, how to model knowledge assets is a concern of the organizational modeling community; mostly because consensus on a knowledge asset model is far from achieved. This chapter is aiming at identifying a model to characterize knowledgeable assets and their relationships in a software organization. Generally speaking, knowledge assets represent intellectual capital for a software organization and support the whole organizational process. The model proposed here is an initial step towards defining knowledge management as a transversal process at the organization. An instantiation of the model is illustrated through a case study in a real software company that recognizes the value of knowledge as a tool to support and improve the organizational strategies.
Repeated Use of E-Gov Websites
Authors: Chai Sangmi , Herath T. C. , Park I. , Rao H. R.
Published: May 2011

The potential success of e-government depends on its citizens’ adopting on-line services and the security of those services. However, despite the development and diffusion of a variety of government services on the Internet, little research has been carried out regarding; (1) the impact of perceived confidentiality of a user’s information on his/her intention to use the service, and (2) the relationship between intention towards repeated use and satisfaction derived from service performance of government. (3) The moderating effect of demographic characteristics (gender and race difference) on the relationship between a user’s satisfaction, confidentiality and repeated use intention. This paper develops an integrated framework of intentions towards repeated use with a level of confidential information shared by a user as one factor and e-government satisfaction derived from service performance as another factor. The results suggest that a user’s intention to continue using government websites is related to the user’s satisfaction, perceived performance of the website and the requirement for confidential information. This research also confirms that gender difference does moderate the relationship between users’ satisfaction levels and repeated use intention. Race difference has an effect on the strength of the relationship between the user’s perceived confidentiality and repeated use intention.
A Model of Knowledge Management Success
Authors: Jennex Murray E. , Olfman Lorne
Published: May 2011

This paper describes a knowledge management, KM, Success Model that is derived from observations generated through a longitudinal study of KM in an engineering organization, KM success factors found in the literature, and modified by the application of these observations and success factors in various projects. The DeLone and McLean (1992, 2003) IS Success Model was used as a framework for the model as it was found to fit the observed success criteria and it provided an accepted theoretical basis for the proposed model.
A Case-Classification-Conclusion 3Cs Approach to Knowledge Acquisition
Authors: Richards Debbie , Vazey Megan
Published: May 2011

This chapter postulates that the problem solving process in many domains involves identifying the class of problem on hand, identifying an appropriate solution, and recognising opportunities for its reuse. A solution is suggested that builds up knowledge of a given domain by recording observations, diagnoses and actions in a ‘3Cs form’ of Cases, Classifications and Conclusions. This solution allows knowledge workers in any domain where heuristics are relied on to form classifications, and then apply generalised conclusions on the basis of the given classification, to collaboratively refine and expand a topic by consistently asking users to confirm, add to, or refine the presented knowledge in the context of the current case being classified. The solution is presented in the context of the Corporate Call Centre and is a significant extension of the Multiple Classification Ripple Down Rules algorithm. A 3Cs Logic Wiki is presented that takes the best features of current collaborative knowledge exchange mechanisms, and captures a logic structure on top of that which provides for rapid indexing of acquired knowledge.