bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intelligent Tutoring Systems for Distributed Learning
Authors: Ally Mohamed
Published: May 2011

This chapter provides information on how to design intelligent tutoring systems for distributed learning to cater to individual learner needs and styles. It argues that intelligent tutoring systems must use the expertise that tutors use in a one-to-one teaching situation to build intelligent tutoring systems for distributed learning. Also, the appropriate psychological and educational theories must be used to build the domain module, student model, and pedagogical module. The components of intelligent tutoring systems are described, and the author makes the case that to build effective intelligent tutoring systems, a multidisciplinary team should be involved. Finally, the author identifies trends that are influencing the development of intelligent tutoring systems and suggests areas for future research and development.
From Knowledge Management System to E-Learning Tool
Authors: Lê Tang-Ho , Moghrabi Chadia , Tivendell John , Hachey Johanne , Roy Jean
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, we try to bridge the gap between e-learning, knowledge management (KM), and the Semantic Web (SW) by identifying the principle properties and techniques that characterize each domain. We first note that although there is a major difference in the knowledge nature of each domain, however, there is a knowledge evolution and an interrelation throughout the three domains. Consequently, we should research methods of combining the strong techniques applied within each of them in order to satisfy the need of a particular work. In this perspective, we examine the similarities and differences, from a theoretical point of view, between the knowledge management systems (KMS) and the intelligent tutoring systems (ITS). We specifically focus on the knowledge transfer techniques in both systems such as the knowledge analysis needed to determine the knowledge content for both cases, the pedagogical planning for ITS, and the teaching model for KMS. Later, we examine the common task of ontology construction in the KM and SW domains and our recommendations. Next, we tackle the experimental issues by presenting our dynamic knowledge network system (DKNS), a general purpose KMS tool that is also used as self-learning software in several projects. This system is an appropriate tool for teaching procedural knowledge. Its functionality and simple implementation make it a user-friendly tool for both the lesson designer and the learner. We shall discuss and illustrate the didactic approach of DKNS in e-learning. Our goal is to teach laboratory users how to use the available equipment and software to create new-media artwork. Finally, we highlight some emerging trends in the three above-mentioned domains.
Case Study
Authors: Shneier Lesley
Published: May 2011

In October 1996, the president of World Bank Group, Mr. James Wolfensohn, announced that the Bank would become a “knowledge bank” to make development knowledge available and accessible to everyone. What happened after this public statement? How did people respond and react? This chapter provides an overview of the way this vision was put into effect in order to give readers a sense of how to carry out knowledge programs. The chapter focuses on the organizational change implications of knowledge programs and especially the role played by communities of practice (which we call” therapeutic groups” or “TGs” in changing the organizational culture. The journal describes the evolution from building a knowledge management system for collecting development know-how, to realizing the greater importance of connecting the people who know with those who need to know. The challenge facing the Bank is to continue improving the knowledge and learning programs, resolve issues involved in bringing these two sides together, and importantly, work deliberately to embed knowledge sharing behaviors in the business processes.
Requirements Elicitation for Complex Systems
Authors: Coulin Chad , Zowghi Didar
Published: May 2011

This chapter examines requirements elicitation for complex systems from a theoretical and practical perspective. System stakeholders, requirements sources, and the quality of requirements are presented with respect to the process, including an investigation into the roles of requirements engineers during elicitation. The main focus of the chapter is a review of existing requirements elicitation techniques and a survey of current trends and challenges. It is concluded with some views on the future direction of requirements elicitation in terms of research, practice and education. It is the intention of the authors that readers of this chapter will be sufficiently informed on the concepts, techniques, trends, and challenges of requirements elicitation to then apply this knowledge to system development projects in both industrial and academic environments.
Requirements Engineering for Courseware Development
Authors: Grützner Ines , Paech Barbara
Published: May 2011

Technology-enabled learning using the Web and the computer and courseware, in particular, is becoming more and more important as an addition, extension, or replacement of traditional further education measures. This chapter introduces the challenges and possible solutions for requirements engineering (RE) in courseware development projects. First the state-of-the-art in courseware requirements engineering is analyzed and confronted with the most important challenges. Then the IntView methodology is described as one solution for these challenges. The main features of IntView RE are: support of all roles from all views on courseware RE; focus on the audience supported by active involvement of audience representatives in all activities; comprehensive analysis of the sociotechnical environment of the audience and the courseware as well as of the courseware learning context; coverage of all software RE activities; and development of an explicit requirements specification documentation.
Using Scenarios and Drama Improvisation for Identifying and Analysing Requirements for Mobile Electronic Patient Records
Authors: Sørby Inger Dybdahl , Melby Line , Seland Gry
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents two different techniques for elicitation and analysis of requirements for a mobile electronic patient record (EPR) to be used in hospital wards. Both techniques are based on human-centred and participatory design principles. The first technique uses observational studies as a basis for identifying and analysing requirements for a mobile EPR. The observations are structured and systematised through a framework. The second technique is named “Creative system development through drama improvisation”, and it enables users (in this case healthcare professionals) to contribute to the requirements engineering (RE) process by acting out everyday work situations in one-day workshops. Both techniques presented in this chapter focus on user requirements elicitation, and we believe that they are promising and complementary contributions to more traditional requirements elicitation and analysis methods, not only for hospital information systems but for a wide variety of complex, sociotechnical systems.
Elicitation and Documentation of Non-Functional Requirements for Sociotechnical Systems
Authors: Kerkow Daniel , Dörr Jörg , Paech Barbara , Olsson Thomas , Koenig Tom
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes how non-functional requirements (NFR) can be elicited and documented in the context of sociotechnical systems. An approach is presented based on use cases and on quality models derived from ISO 9126, as well as general problems and challenges when working with NFR. Requirements in general and NFR in particular are subjective, have many stakeholders and are often conflicting. The approach presented includes processes for prioritizing quality attributes that are important to a specific context, eliciting NFR, and identification and analysis of dependencies among the NFR. The aim is to provide an experience-based approach that facilitates efficient and effective elicitation and documentation of NFR. Having a structured method that aims at providing measurable, traceable, and focused requirements rather than having ad-hoc and ambiguous ones achieves this. The approach uses use cases as the main technique, though the general principle of having a structured and experience-based process is applicable to other techniques as well.
Capture of Software Requirements and Rationale through Collaborative Software Development
Authors: McCall Raymond , Mistrik Ivan
Published: May 2011

This chapter explains how natural language processing (NLP) and participatory design can aid in identifying system requirements. It argues that getting a complete list of requirements is often an iterative process in which some requirements are elicited only when users react to the system’s design. Costs of iterative requirements identification can be reduced by discovering new requirements during the design process, before implementation begins. This is facilitated when users participate in design, reacting to features as they are proposed. As users evaluate proposals, they often mention requirements not previously documented. Transcripts of participatory design sessions thus provide a rich source of new requirements for developers. The chapter explains how semantic grammars can be used to simplify the extraction of requirements from such transcripts. The authors hope that an understanding of the value of participatory design and NLP will aid in the creation of better tools for support of software development.
Toward Technological Bload and Academic Technocracy
Authors: McClellan George S. , Cruz Gary A. , Metcalfe Amy Scott , Wagoner Richard L.
Published: May 2011

While the strategic goals of Knowledge Management might seem new to the academy, higher education has been central to the growing Knowledge Economy and the Information Age for some time. As electronic communications and information systems have been widely adopted in colleges and universities, little scholarship has reflected upon the organizational and social changes that these technologies bring to the academic workplace. This chapter provides the theoretical groundworkfor understanding three key transformations in higher education: the digital restructuring of academic labor; the use of technology as basis for efficiency arguments; and the unintended consequences of IT accretion, which we call “technological bloat.” As a consequence of these transformations, a new organizational structure may be emerging in higher education.
Wiring Watkins University
Authors: Borchers Andy
Published: May 2011

This case describes the “wiring” of Watkins University (a fictional name for a real Midwestern university) between 1997 and 2003 as the university responded to competitive pressures in the higher education market. After describing the University and the competitive challenges it faced, the case takes the student into a strategy session between the organization’s CFO, CTO and Provost as they review progress on four key initiatives: Web based teaching, student laptop program, a Web based ERP implementation and a proposed “one card” system. Questions are raised as to acceptance of the technology, the impact of these initiatives on the organization’s strategic posture and competitiveness, IT budget planning, and future steps for the organization to take.
Frameworks for CMS Design and Evaluation
Authors: Britto Marwin
Published: May 2011

In recent years, institutions of higher education have been migrating to the Web for instruction in record numbers. While Web-based course management systems (CMS) offer many exciting possibilities for instructors and students, their efficacy in terms of teaching and learning has not been thoroughly evaluated. This chapter explores the inherent capabilities and limitations of five models of conceptual frameworks for the design of CMS. The chapter concludes with a discussion of CMS evaluation instruments, advice for instructors transitioning to CMS, and a call for more research in this growing area.
Over the Rainbow
Authors: McGee Patricia , Suter Vicki , Gurrie Jennifer
Published: May 2011

Next generation course management systems must represent a convergence of the needs and perspectives of all of those who are engaged in the teaching and learning experience. To represent these points of view, we imagine one scenario in which four roles are enacted: instructional designer, traditional student, non-traditional student, and faculty member. This chapter draws on research and theory to illustrate the convergence between content-, learning-, and knowledge- management systems as well as processes managed by both learner and instructor.
The Missing Link to Enhanced Course Management Systems
Authors: Shaw Steven , Venkatesh Vivek
Published: May 2011

The capabilities of the current generation of course management systems (CMS) are limited; even market-leading platforms are arguably inadequate for the needs of learners, instructors, and educational administrators. This chapter reviews the shortcomings of CMS and identifies problems associated with content capture, content re-use, search and retrieval, document management, IP management, connectivity, support for open standards, and support for learning strategies. We argue that the future lies in the adoption and adaptation of existing learning content management systems (LCMS). LCMS have evolved primarily in the corporate market and are rapidly developing into highly flexible applications that can implement a wide variety of learning and knowledge management strategies.
Conceptualizing a New CMS Design
Authors: Jafari Ali
Published: May 2011

This chapter discusses the characteristics and requirements for the Next Generation of Course Management System (CMS). The chapter begins with a survey of the current CMS systems elaborating on understanding the current CMS user interface design, understanding the next generation of CMS users, and understanding the forthcoming models for future courses and degree programs. The chapter concludes with painting a picture of the next generation of CMS software environment being characterized as offering smart services, featuring advanced controls, and offering comprehensive software environment.
Optimizing IT Skills Management Initiatives
Authors: Strauss Ken
Published: May 2011

This chapter identifies the essential information required in effective IT skills management initiatives. It argues that foremost among this information is in-depth insight into an individual’s specific areas of strength/weakness. In a logical step-by-step discussion, the chapter builds upon a simple assessment to finally arrive at the complexities of an assessment required to deliver this detailed insight for effective skills management programs. It then goes on to discuss reporting and analysis of detailed assessment results to maximize the benefits of skill assessments in hiring, training, and overall skills management programs.
Digital Watermarking for Multimedia Transaction Tracking
Authors: Yu Dan , Sattar Farook
Published: May 2011

This chapter focuses on the issue of transaction tracking in multimedia distribution applications through digital watermarking terminology. The existing watermarking schemes are summarized and their assumptions as well as the limitations for tracking are analyzed. In particular, an Independent Component Analysis (ICA)-based watermarking scheme is proposed, which can overcome the problems of the existing watermarking schemes. Multiple watermarking technique is exploited—one watermark to identify the rightful owner of the work and the other one to identify the legal user of a copy of the work. In the absence of original data, watermark, embedding locations and strengths, the ICA-based watermarking scheme is introduced for efficient watermark extraction with some side information. The robustness of the proposed scheme against some common signal-processing attacks as well as the related future work are also presented. Finally, some challenging issues in multimedia transaction tracking through digital watermarking are discussed.
Audio Watermarking
Authors: Cvejic Nedeljko , Seppänen Tapio
Published: May 2011

This chapter provides an overview of digital audio watermarking systems, including a description of recently developed watermarking algorithms and insights into effective attack strategies against audio watermarking methods. Audio watermarking algorithms are characterized by a number of defining properties, ranging from robustness requirements to computational complexity and cost of implementation. This chapter provides a comprehensive list of signal modifications that are usually used by adversaries in order to distort the embedded watermark and prevent detection of the hidden data. At the end, application areas that have recently been developed and possible future applications areas are listed.
Active Watermarking System
Authors: Pons Alexander P. , Aljifri Hassan
Published: May 2011

In the past decade, the business community has embraced the capabilities of the Internet to provide a multitude of services that involve access to data and information. Of particular concern to these businesses has been the protection and authentication of digital data as they are distributed electronically. We propose a novel approach that combines the reactive rule-based scheme of an active database management system (ADBMS) with the technology of digital watermarking to automatically protect digital data. The ADBMS technology facilitates the establishment of event-condition-action (ECA) rules that define the actions to be triggered by events under certain conditions. These actions are the generation of unique watermarks and the tagging of digital data with unique signatures. Watermarking is a technology that embeds, within the digital data’s context, information identifying its owner. The integration of these two technologies provides a powerful mechanism for protecting digital data in a consistent and formal manner.
Virtual Networks
Authors: Bowdon Melody
Published: May 2011

Today small businesses, public schools, local governments, universities, international conglomerates, and nonprofit agencies all feel the pressure to have informative and interactive presences on the Web. This new Web-based information economy has helped to significantly narrow the gap between the technical writing needs of profit and nonprofit workplaces. As local, regional, national, and international groups now compete for attention, business, and participation in the vast arena of the Internet, academic and workplace writers must develop theoretical and practical strategies for identifying and accommodating the varied needs of multiple organizations and audiences. Our technical writing students need to be cross-trained to face profit and nonprofit writing challenges, and our contact people in the community need to be aware of the benefits they can realize through working with students on major projects. In this chapter, I will offer some suggestions for making this collaboration work.
Developing a Web-Based Course for the Conventional English Grammar Classroom
Authors: Lavid Julia
Published: May 2011

Currently, there are three possible teaching scenarios: conventional, lecture-based teaching; Web-managed teaching where lectures have been removed altogether and all learning is online; and supplemental (Web-based) teaching, which combines the previous two. This chapter describes the first phase of a project on the integration of Web-based technologies into the conventional lecture-based scenario of English grammar teaching at a large public university in Spain. It focuses on issues of planning and design of Web-based tools and materials which can potentially support the Seven Good Teaching Principles. It also describes a tentative plan to introduce the Web-based tools progressively into the lecture-based classroom so that both students and instructors become familiar with the new learning environment as the course proceeds. The author hopes that the work reported here will encourage instructors to keep abreast of innovative methods that extend the students’ learning environment beyond the traditional face-to-face meetings.
Telework
Authors: Wiencek Nancy A.
Published: May 2011

This chapter discusses the emergence of telework or telecommuting and the need to rethink professional communication practices for this remote working arrangement. The chapter conceptualizes variations of telework and discusses distinctions within the telework arrangement in light of its impact on communication. Furthermore, the chapter lays the groundwork for effective employment of telework by discussing the importance of communication during design of the system, as well as the importance of communication while engaged in telework from both task-oriented and personal interactions perspectives. Case scenarios are used to illustrate key considerations and to begin a dialogue between teleworkers and those who manage them.
Model Transformations in Designing the ASSO Methodology
Authors: Locuratolo Elvira
Published: May 2011

ASSO, an innovative conceptual methodology which combines features of database design with the formal method B, has been defined in order to ensure the flexibility of semantic data models, the efficiency of object models and design correctness. Starting from a directed acyclic graph of classes supported by semantic data models, a formal mapping generates classes supported by object models. The classes supported by semantic data models are then extended with aspects of behavioural modelling: a relationship with the B model is established and the consistency proofs of the whole schema are reduced to small obligations of B. This chapter evidences how ASSO is based on model transformations. These have been introduced with various purposes: to map semantic data models to object models, to integrate static and dynamic modelling, to link formal and informal notations and to relate the conceptual schema and the logical schema of the methodology.
Fluid Interaction in Mobile Work Practices
Authors: Kakihara Masao , Sorensen Carsten , Wiberg Mikael
Published: May 2011

This chapter discusses the increasing fluidity of interaction that workers perform in contemporary work settings. Everyday working life is increasingly constituted of a heterogeneous mélange where people, work objects and symbols, as well as their interactions, are distributed in time, space and across contexts. When considering interaction where participants, work, and interactional objects are mobile, the challenges of supporting the fluidity of interaction in collocated settings are immense. This chapter outlines mobile interaction in terms of the fluid topological metaphor and analyses the dimensions of struggling with fluid mobile interaction based on a framework characterising interactional asymmetries.
Spectator Information Support
Authors: Nilsson Andreas , Nulden Urban , Olsson Daniel
Published: May 2011

In the context of temporary, distributed events such as music festivals and sports, the event is divided in several parts held at different geographical locations at the same time or in a sequence. Thus, the conventional technology used can only provide limited support at portions of the event. This research focuses on the challenges for design concerning information support in the context of distributed events. The chapter reports from three empirical studies and applies two perspectives on context as a background to the fieldwork findings. Within the results, three main contextual requirements are presented that need to be considered when designing information support for spectators in situ. The chapter contributes to existing research in terms of providing descriptions of the interplay between actors, context and the event itself. Among the conclusions regarding design, we find that technology should be shaped to behave and act according to how, where and with whom spectators are situated.
Seamless Talk
Authors: Henfridsson Ola , Wiberg Mikael , Lindgren Rikard , Ljungberg Fredrik
Published: May 2011

This chapter approaches sustained car conversations across mobile phones and in-car phone resources as a session management problem. Addressing this problem, the chapter outlines a session management model for user-controlled media switches during ongoing phone conversations. The model makes a distinction between the user and the infrastructure levels of session management. To illustrate and validate the rationale of the model, the chapter presents an in-car mobile phone hands-free system, SeamlessTalk, developed to support sustained car conversations. The user-controlled session management model contributes to current research on session management by addressing the explicit/implicit session management dichotomy in multiple media situations.
Actor-Network Theory in Information Systems Research
Authors: Tatnall Arthur
Published: May 2011

Building an information system is a difficult task, partly due to the problem of ascertaining the requirements of the intended users, but also because of the complexity of the large number of human-machine interactions (Banville, 1991). This complexity is reflected in the difficulty of building these systems to operate free from error and to perform as intended. The dictionary defines innovation as “the alteration of what is established; something newly introduced”. As the introduction or improvement of an information system in an organisation necessarily involves change, information systems research often involves research into technological innovation.
Applying a Metadata Framework to Improve Data Quality
Authors: Yoon Victoria Youngohc , Aiken Peter , Guimaraes Tor
Published: May 2011

The importance of a company-wide framework for managing data resources has been recognized (Gunter, 2001; Lee, 2003, 2004; Madnick, Wang & Xian, 2003, 2004; Sawhney, 2001; Shankaranarayan, Ziad & Wang, 2003). It is considered a major component of information resources management (Guimaraes, 1988). Many organizations are discovering that imperfect data in information systems negatively affect their business operations and can be extremely costly (Brown, 2001; Keizer, 2004). The expanded data life cycle model proposed here enables us to identify links between cycle phases and data quality engineering dimensions. Expanding the data life cycle model and the dimensions of data quality will enable organizations to more effectively implement the inter- as well as intra-system use of their data resources, as well as better coordinate the development and application of their data quality engineering methods.
Autopoietic Approach for Information System Development
Authors: Abou-Zeid El-Sayed
Published: May 2011

In the last decade a new generation of information systems (IS), such as enterprise resource planning, Web-based information systems and knowledge management support systems, have emerged in response to ever-changing organizational needs. As these systems are socio-technical phenomena in which social and technical factors interweave the ways in which people work, the issue of “how to integrate the work activity and social context of users into the IS which is being designed” becomes one of the principal problems of IS development (Bai et al., 1999). Therefore, the need for new information system design theories is recognized. According to Walls et al. (1992), an “IS design theory” must have two aspects—one dealing with the description of the system and one dealing with the prescription, that is, the process of developing of the system. The prescription aspect includes a description of procedures and guidelines for system development. In addition, these two aspects have to be grounded on theories from natural or social sciences, that is, kernel theories. Therefore, the development of new IS design theories requires a closer look at the system theories that go beyond the traditional system theory that is based, among other things, on Cartesian dualism, that is, mind/body or cognition/action, and on a model of cognition as the processing of representational information (Mingers, 2001). One of the candidate theories is the theory of autopoiesis, which can be best viewed as a system-grounded way of thinking with biological foundations, together with its extension into social domain.
Behavioral Perspective of Groupware Adoption
Authors: Chen Yining , Lou Hao
Published: May 2011

Over the past decade, groupware technologies, such as e-mail, electronic bulletin boards, and group support systems, have become an important part of the business-computing infrastructure in many organizations. This evolving software category has captured the attention and imagination of information technology professionals, line of business managers and end users, not to mention software suppliers. Organizations adopt groupware applications to enhance communication, collaboration, and coordination among group members and thus improve group performance (“Lotus Development,” 1995). While some groupware applications, for example, e-mail, have been commonly accepted, many other applications, especially those that require significant collaboration and cooperation among users, are not widely used in organizations and their potential benefits are far from being fully realized (Orlikowski, 1993). Although many laboratory and field studies have consistently shown the relevance and positive impact of group support systems on group work, more research is needed in understanding how to increase the rate of diffusion and adoption of the technology (Nunamaker, 1997).
Better Executive Information with the Dashboard Approach
Authors: Adam Frédéric , Pomerol Jean-Charles
Published: May 2011

After more than 30 years of research on how the work of managers can be supported by computers, the observation that developing computer systems that are truly useful for top management is a highly complex and uncertain task is still as valid as ever. Information systems for executives raise specific problems, which have primarily to do with the nature of managerial work itself (Mintzberg, 1973), as they are intended to tackle the needs of users whose most important role is “to create a vision of the future of the company and to lead the company towards it” (King, 1985, p. xi).
Business Model Innovation in the Digital Economy
Authors: Lee Chung-Shing
Published: May 2011

Most Internet ventures failed because they did not have viable business models and sustainable long-term strategies. Their business models failed to satisfy the two fundamental questions associated with the characteristics of the Digital Economy (Lee & Vonortas, 2004).
Cluster Analysis Using Rough Clustering and k-Means Clustering
Authors: Voges Kevin E.
Published: May 2011

Cluster analysis is a fundamental data reduction technique used in the physical and social sciences. The technique is of interest to managers in information science because of its potential use in identifying user needs though segmenting users such as Web site visitors. In addition, the theory of rough sets is the subject of intense interest in computational intelligence research. The extension of this theory into rough clustering provides an important and potentially useful addition to the range of cluster analysis techniques available to the manager.
Collaborative Learning On-Demand
Authors: Fortino Giancarlo
Published: May 2011

Advances in communications and software technology are leading the Internet to become an open and distributed computing platform able to provide diversified services which can be ubiquitously accessed by many users.
Database Integrity
Authors: Doorn Jorge H.
Published: May 2011

One of the factors that stimulated the development of database technology was the need to guarantee the consistency of the stored data. On the other hand, the demand to process more complex data with more semantic content have also lead to a better understanding of the properties of the data and motivated the evolution of the Data Base Management Systems (DBMS) toward the inclusion of facilities to handle such properties. The handling of data properties within the context of a database engine faces two main difficulties: 1) Properties are hard to identify, especially those obvious in the actual world; 2) Data property presentation varies during the process of design of the software.
Digital Government and Individual Privacy
Authors: Mullen Patrick R.
Published: May 2011

Individual privacy is freedom from excessive intrusion by those seeking personal information about the individual. This allows the individual to choose the extent and circumstances under which personal information will be shared with others. A related concept, confidentiality, is a status accorded to information based on a decision, agreement, obligation, or duty. This status requires that the recipient of personal information must control disclosure. While privacy and confidentiality are concepts that can be applied to people in all societies, this article discusses them in relation to their treatment by the United States government, in particular with the advent of digital government. The concepts associated with digital government can also apply to non-Americans as well, but the discussion in this article is based on U.S. laws, documents, and relevant literature.
Educating the Business Information Technologist
Authors: Mendonca John
Published: May 2011

The ways in which computers have been applied to business have evolved over the past 40 years. In the commonly accepted three-era model of applied computing, the first era focused on automating processes, and the second on providing management information. The current era embraces information technology (IT) as a strategic resource and critical asset of the organization (Jessup & Velacich, 1999; Ward & Griffiths, 1996; and others). IT is a transformation enabler or driver that allows organizations to meet both their short-term and long-term objectives. Under this latter model, organizations expect IT to create new ways to compete, new products, new processes, new marketing channels, and even new organizational forms that promote “better-faster-cheaper.” Strategic IT thus provides an anchor for competitive advantage—enabling the efficiencies, innovation, market expansion, speed, and alliances that differentiate one company from another.
Electronic Government Strategies and Research in the U.S.
Authors: Hinnant Charles C. , Sawyer Steve
Published: May 2011

Since the mid-1990s, adoption of wide-area computer networks, such as the Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW), by the public, educational institutions and private sector organizations has helped spur an interest in using these new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) as a means to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of organizational processes. Private sector firms have focused on using Internet-based technologies, especially the browser-based technologies of the WWW, as a means to conduct business transactions. The use of such electronic transmission technologies in carrying out business activities has generally been dubbed electronic commerce, or e-commerce (Schneider, 2003). Attempts to reinvent public organizations in the United States during the 1990s were heavily grounded in the belief that the adoption of new forms of ICT will streamline both service generation and delivery (Osborne & Gaebler, 1993; Gore, 1993). Some government actors and observers, such as the National Science Foundation, have more recently referred to the overall use of ICT to carry out the activities of government institutions as digital government. The term digital government has in many respects grown to refer to the development, adoption or use of ICT as a key component of a public organization’s internal information and control systems, as well as any use of ICT to facilitate interaction with external stakeholders. Some scholars have attempted to examine how governments have used ICT systems, such as the Internet and WWW, as a means to facilitate interactions with citizens and other stakeholders in an attempt to foster democratic processes via electronic media. These activities have been called electronic democracy, or e-democracy. This broad concept is then usually subdivided into two subsets of activities, electronic politics and electronic government. Electronic politics, or e-politics, centers on activities that facilitate civic awareness of political processes, as well as the ability of citizens to participate in those processes. Electronic government, or e-government, includes the use of ICT by government agencies to provide programmatic information and services to citizens and other stakeholders (Watson & Mundy, 2001).
E-Mail as a Strategic Tool in Organizations
Authors: McManus Denise Johnson , Carr Houston Hume
Published: May 2011

During the past decade, strategic information technology (IT) applications, such as electronic mail (e-mail), have been used to gain competitive advantage over rivals or prevent rivals from gaining a competitive advantage. The use of e-mail has been considered a component of overall business strategy, and its application depends more on understanding unique business opportunities than on competitive benefits from technological features that are easily duplicated. Since the first message was sent in 1971 by Ray Tomlinson, e-mail has emerged as an important technological requirement in business. E-mail is as common as the U.S. postal mail in the twentieth century. Businesses, schools, and universities are insisting that employees and students have an e-mail account to check updates or download information concerning business tasks or class activities. Given the widespread acceptance and use of this technology, the strategic value of e-mail within an organization should be apparent.
Facial and Body Feature Extraction for Emotionally-Rich HCI
Authors: Karpouzis Kostas , Drosopoulos Athanasios , Ioannou Spiros , Raouzaiou Amaryllis , Tsapatsoulis Nicolas , Kollias Stefanos
Published: May 2011

Emotionally-aware Man-Machine Interaction (MMI) systems are presently at the forefront of interest of the computer vision and artificial intelligence communities, since they give the opportunity to less technology-aware people to use computers more efficiently, overcoming fears and preconceptions. Most emotion-related facial and body gestures are considered to be universal, in the sense that they are recognized along different cultures; therefore, the introduction of an “emotional dictionary” that includes descriptions and perceived meanings of facial expressions and body gestures, so as to help infer the likely emotional state of a specific user, can enhance the affective nature of MMI applications (Picard, 2000).
Governance Structures for IT in the Health Care Industry
Authors: Suomi Reima
Published: May 2011

The pressures for the health care industry are well known and very similar in all developed countries (i.e., altering population, shortage of resources for staff and from taxpayers, higher sensitivity of the population for health issues, new and emerging diseases, etc.). Underdeveloped countries experience different problems, but they have the advantage of learning from the lessons and actions that developed countries underwent perhaps decades ago. On the other hand, many solutions also exist, but they all make the environment even more difficult to manage (i.e., possibilities of networking, booming medical and health-related research and knowledge produced by it, alternative caretaking solutions, new and expensive treatments and medicines, promises of biotechnology, etc.).
History and Future Development of Group Support Systems
Authors: Chuang Ta-Tao , Huang Wayne W. , Zhang Yue Jeff
Published: May 2011

A group support system (GSS) is created with information technology (IT) and decision support techniques for assisting problem formulation and evaluation of alternative solutions in a group meeting (DeSanctis & Gallupe, 1987). The idea of GSS dated back to the 1970s; however, not until late 1980s did GSS take the form as we know it now. In 1987, two GSS systems were developed by researchers in different universities: Software Aided Meeting Management system at University of Minnesota, and GroupSystems at University of Arizona (Wagner, Wynne, & Mennecke, 1993). Since then, much research on GSS has been conducted and many organizations such as IBM, the Department of Defense, and the Internal Revenue Services, have used SAMM and GroupSystems in solving organizational problems.
Human Body Part Classification and Activity Recognition for Real-Time Systems
Authors: Ozer Burak , Lv Tiehan , Wolf Wayne
Published: May 2011

Recent advances in camera and storage systems along with increased algorithmic and computational power of 3D graphics hardware are main factors driving the increased popularity of multicamera applications. Since prices continue to drop on components, cost-effective systems can be developed for a wide range of applications such as teleimmersion, humanoid robots systems, automated video surveillance, and interactive video games.
Interoperability in Geospatial Information Systems
Authors: Karimi Hassan A. , Peachavanish Ratchata
Published: May 2011

Geospatial information systems (GIS) are an important sector of the information industry, as well as an essential component of the information technology infrastructure (Lo & Yeung, 2002). They are a type of computerized information system specifically designed and used to solve geospatial problems, those which are related to locations on the surface of the earth (Longley, Goodchild, Maguire, & Rhind, 2001). The extent of usefulness of GIS has been proven across many diverse applications in many disciplines. They have long been used in traditional application settings, such as land management and natural resources, and have recently become an important element in emerging applications, for example, in ubiquitous mobile computing environments.
IT Productivity Impacts in Manufacturing Contexts
Authors: Setzekorn Kristina , Rai Arun , Melcher Arlyn J.
Published: May 2011

The fundamental questions of whether and how information technology (IT) contributes to firm performance have been answered in different ways. IT value research findings have been equivocal, with some studies finding negative performance impacts (Berndt & Morrison, 1995; Johansen, Karmarkar, Nanda & Seidmann, 1996), some finding no overall effect (Barua, Kriebel & Mukhopadhyay, 1995; Dos Santos, Peffers & Mauer, 1993; Loveman, 1994; Strassman, 1985, 1990), and some finding positive impacts (Brynjolfsson & Hitt, 1996; Brynjolfsson & Yang, 1997; Hitt & Brynjolfsson, 1996; Mukhopadhyay, Kekre & Kalathur, 1995).
Java 2 Micro Edition for Wireless Enterprise
Authors: Yow Kin Choong , Moertiyoso Nadia N.
Published: May 2011

For the last couple of years, the wireless industry has been experiencing tremendous growth. Wireless devices have become more intelligent and are providing a new notion of communication. It is now possible to conduct business using the wireless network that will greatly improve the speed and quality of the business.
Knowledge Discovery Solutions for Intelligent Enterprises
Authors: Wickramasinghe Nilmini , Sharma Sushil K.
Published: May 2011

The exponential increase in information—primarily due to the electronic capture of data and its storage in vast data warehouses—has created a demand for analyzing the vast amount of data generated by today’s organizations so that enterprises can respond quickly to fast changing markets. These applications not only involve the analysis of the data but also require sophisticated tools for analysis. Knowledge discovery technologies are the new technologies that help to analyze data and find relationships from data to finding reasons behind observable patterns. Such new discoveries can have profound impact on designing business strategies. With the massive increase in data being collected and the demands of a new breed of intelligent applications like customer relationship management, demand planning and predictive forecasting, the knowledge discovery technologies have become necessities to providing high performance and feature rich intelligent application servers for intelligent enterprises. The new knowledge based economy entirely depends upon information technology, knowledge sharing, as well as intellectual capital and knowledge management.
Leapfrogging an IT Sector
Authors: Trauth Eileen M.
Published: May 2011

How do virtual team leaders assess and respond to boundary crossing issues when building relationships with virtual team members? Virtual teams are a new phenomenon, defined as groups of people working on a common task or project from distributed locations using information and communications technology (ICT). With rapid advances in ICT allowing alternatives to face-to-face communication, virtual teams are playing an increasingly important role in organizations. Due to their global coverage, virtual teams are often assigned critical organizational tasks such as multi-national product launches, negotiating global mergers and acquisitions, and managing strategic alliances (Maznevski & Chudoba, 2000). Their use, however, has outpaced the understanding of their unique dynamics and characteristics (Cramton & Webber, 2000).
Learnability
Authors: Duchastel Philip
Published: May 2011

Accompanying the global spread of the post-industrial society (Bell, 1973) are nations who see economic opportunity deriving from the development of an information economy to support it (Porat, 1977). But while advanced industrialized nations moved gradually from industrial to post-industrial work over a period of decades, newly industrializing countries are “leapfrogging” directly from agrarian to information-intensive work in a matter of years. Given this rapid labor force transformation, a critical consideration in the development of a global information sector is the development and management of information technology (IT) workers.
Learning Systems Engineering
Authors: Plekhanova Valentina
Published: May 2011

Traditionally multi-agent learning is considered as the intersection of two subfields of artificial intelligence: multi-agent systems and machine learning. Conventional machine learning involves a single agent that is trying to maximise some utility function without any awareness of existence of other agents in the environment (Mitchell, 1997). Meanwhile, multi-agent systems consider mechanisms for the interaction of autonomous agents. Learning system is defined as a system where an agent learns to interact with other agents (e.g., Clouse, 1996; Crites & Barto, 1998; Parsons, Wooldridge & Amgoud, 2003). There are two problems that agents need to overcome in order to interact with each other to reach their individual or shared goals: since agents can be available/unavailable (i.e., they might appear and/or disappear at any time), they must be able to find each other, and they must be able to interact (Jennings, Sycara & Wooldridge, 1998).
Managing Strategic IT Investment Decisions
Authors: Chou Tzu-Chuan , Dyson Robert G. , Powell Philip L.
Published: May 2011

IT can have a significant impact on organizational performance, but it can also be a major inhibitor of change and can be a resource-hungry investment that often disappoints. Organizations can best influence the success of IT projects at the decision stage by rejecting poor ones and accepting beneficial ones. However, little is known about IT decision processes. Research demonstrates the importance of managing strategic IT investment decisions (SITIDs) effectively. SITIDs form part of the wider range of corporate strategic investment decisions (SIDs) that cover all aspects that the organization might wish to invest in. SIDs will then have different degrees of IT intensity that may impact on outcome. IT investment intensity is the degree to which IT is present in an investment decision. Here, IT investment intensity is defined as the ratio of IT spending to total investment. The higher IT investment intensity, the more important IT is to the whole investment. For example, Chou et al. (1997) find IT investment intensity to be negatively associated with SID effectiveness. The concept of IT intensity is similar to, but also somewhat different from, the concept of information intensity. Information intensity may be defined as the degree to which information is present in the product or service of a business (Porter & Millar, 1985).