bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Learners' Value Index of Satisfaction (LeVIS)
Authors: Levy Yair
Published: May 2011

The previous chapter provided a review of the first tool (Value-Satisfaction grid of e-learning systems) to assess the effectiveness of e-learning systems using learners’ perceived value of e-learning systems and learners’ perceived satisfaction with such systems. The second tool, which is proposed in this chapter, is the Learners’ Value Index of Satisfaction (LeVIS) that is developed in order to provide a precise numeric score for the learners’ perceived effectiveness of e-learning systems. The Value-Satisfaction grid proposed in the previous chapter provides a key tool to indicate action and improvement priorities for e-learning systems as well as an overall map to indicate the learners’ perceived effectiveness of e-learning systems. However, the Value-Satisfaction grid cannot provide a precise indication of the level or specific score of the learners’ perceived effectiveness of such systems. Consequently, an index (i.e., the LeVIS index) would be useful to provide a measure of the magnitude of the learners’ perceived effectiveness of e-learning systems utilizing the aggregated value and satisfaction scores. By the definition of the LeVIS index, it provides the ability to look at constant levels of the learners’ perceived effectiveness within the Value-Satisfaction grid that are called effectiveness curves. The combination of such effectiveness curves and the Value-Satisfaction grid yields the development of the third tool suggested by this framework. The third tool is called the effectiveness grid which will be defined and proposed in this chapter. The effectiveness grid provides an overall map and an indication of the specific effectiveness level under one tool; in essence, it combines both the Value-Satisfaction grid as well as the LeVIS index into one tool. The four quadrants of the Value-Satisfaction grid proposed in the previous chapter are divided by the effectiveness curves resulting in two segments per quadrant or a total of eight segments indicating various levels of effectiveness proposed in the effectiveness grid. Clearly, prior to the review of the effectiveness grid, a clear understanding of the LeVIS index is needed in conjunction with the understanding of the Value-Satisfaction grid proposed in the previous chapter.
Automatic Authoring of Adaptive Educational Hypermedia
Authors: Cristea Alexandra I. , Stewart Craig
Published: May 2011

Adaptive Hypermedia (AH) can be considered the solution to the problems arising from the “one-size-fits-all” approach to information delivery prevalent throughout the WWW today. Adaptive Educational Hypermedia (AEH) aims to deliver educational content appropriate to each learner, adapted to his or her preference and educational background. The development of AEH authoring tools has lagged behind that of delivery systems. Recently, AEH authoring has come to the fore, with the aim of automating the complex task of AEH authoring, not only within a system but also porting material between different AEHs. Advances in intra-system automation are described using the LAOS framework, whereby an author is only required to create a small amount of educational material that then automatically propagates throughout the system. Advances in inter-system conversions are also described; the aim is to move away from a “create once, use once” authoring paradigm currently in force with most AEH systems, towards a “create once, use many” paradigm. The goal is to allow authors to use their content in the AEH delivery system of their choice, irrespective of the original authoring environment. As a step along this road, we describe the usage of a single authoring environment (MOT) to deliver content in three independently-designed Educational Hypermedia systems—AHA!, WHURLE and SCORM-compliant Blackboard. Therefore, this chapter describes advances in automatic authoring and conversion towards a simple and flexible AEH authoring paradigm.
Action Research with Internet Communications Tools
Authors: Mann Bruce L.
Published: May 2011

This chapter will present some examples of Internet communication tools, instructional methods used with the tools, and implications for Internet-supported action research as a progressively deeper examination of teaching and learning.
Designing Effective Online Educational Literature Searches
Authors: Sandieson Robert , Hourcade Jack , Sharpe Val
Published: May 2011

Knowing the existing research literature has become important for anyone involved with education, informed research, policy, and practice rests on an understanding of unfiltered original source material. Although there has been a proliferation of research studies which are now easily accessible through online resources, being able to find information on specific topics is proving to be a challenge even for experienced researchers. This chapter describes a procedure which first identified field-specific terminology associated with original source material. The parallel terms used in the ERIC database to code the same material was then found. The resulting parallel list of ERIC keywords was tested and validated for preciseness. The finding was that each term’s precision could be established. The general methodology developed here is presented as a way of enhancing peoples’ use of online resources.
Proposal to Conduct Experimental Research on the Effects of Language Style and Voice Type of a Pedagogical Agent on Fifth Grade Learning and Motivation
Authors: Wirth Paul
Published: May 2011

The proposed research will further explore the effects of language style and speech type on student learning and motivation in agent-based multimedia settings. Inspired by several recent studies on post-secondary student learning in agent-based multimedia settings, this research will compare the effects of language style (conversational or formal) and speech type (human or machine-synthesized) on elementary students’ learning retention, transfer and motivation. It is expected that instruction with human speech in a conversational language style will promote better learning retention, transfer, and motivation than will instruction with machine-synthesized speech in a formal language style.
Alternative Approaches to Assessment with Online Technologies
Authors: McLoughlin Catherine , Luca Joe
Published: May 2011

There is now a new wave of pedagogy advocating “alternative assessment” in which forms of student assessment are integrated into learning through engagement in real life contexts facilitated by online technologies. The use of the WWW in tertiary learning environments offers greater adaptability and flexibility than traditional assessment procedures as it enables the planning and design of tasks that monitor both learning processes and learning outcomes. This chapter proposes that the move towards alternative assessment paradigms has been accelerated by technology with its capacity to offer learners a broad array of authentic activities, and tasks and forums for engaging in constructivist learning.
Introduction to Computer Networking and Hardware Concepts
Authors: Sarkar Nurul I.
Published: May 2011

This chapter provides an introduction to computer networking and hardware concepts and highlights the use of software and hardware tools as an aid to enhance teaching and learning computer networking and hardware fundamentals. A basic knowledge of network topology, channel access protocol, network traffic, and networking devices is needed when designing and implementing a LAN. The term computer hardware refers to the physical components of a computer system — those that one can see and touch. The CPU, memory, and input and output devices are the main components of a computer. To understand the operation of a modern processor, it is important that the student grasp the basic concepts of computer hardware.
Enhancing Teaching and Learning Wireless Communication Networks Using Wireless Projects
Authors: Craig Trevor , Sarkar Nurul I.
Published: May 2011

Due to the rapid developments in wireless communication and networking technologies and the high demand for wireless networking skills in the industry worldwide, wireless communication and networking courses are becoming increasingly popular in universities, polytechnics, and private training institutions around the globe. Unfortunately, wireless communication and networking is a challenging subject to teach in a meaningful way because many students appear to find the subject technical, dry, and rather boring. To overcome this problem, the authors introduce a set of new projects in order to provide the students of wireless communication and networking with a hands-on learning experience. The projects are suitable for classroom use in introductory wireless networking courses.
A Practical Introduction to Serial Protocals
Authors: Tarnoff David L.
Published: May 2011

This chapter discusses how addressing information, control information, and data are encapsulated in a serial packet or frame. It shows the bit-level detail of an IEEE 802.3 Ethernet frame, an IP packet, and a TCP packet and shows how these protocols are used to create a sample protocol stack. The GNU-licensed and Windows-based application Packetyzer is used to explore a sample TCP/IP packet contained in an Ethernet frame. Once the student has studied the material of this chapter and has completed the hands-on experiment, he or she will have the skills to examine any packet or frame and, using the description of its protocol, extract the details of the message.
The Revenue Cycle
Authors: Deshmukh Ashutosh
Published: May 2011

The revenue cycle deals with the delivery of products or services to customers and consequent collection of cash from customers. The standard transaction flow in the revenue cycle can be characterized as follows: sales order comes in from the customer; credit department approves credit; warehouse assesses the inventory and releases goods; shipping department ships the goods; the customer is billed based on the sales order and shipping documents; and eventually cash is collected from the customer. Traditionally, the sales department received sales orders by paper, fax, EDI and, sometimes, even verbally. The incoming sales order is in fact a purchase order from the customer, often times in the customer company document format. The purchase order then gets converted to the standard sales order and processed. If an order arrives through EDI, then purchase and sales order formats are pre-approved and based on partner agreements. The majority of companies will input the sales order in their accounting system. It will be routed to the credit department for credit approval. The credit will be approved based on prior history of the customer or, if the customer is new, by obtaining relevant credit information. The approved sales order will be forwarded to the warehouse. Here, inventory availability will be checked, goods will be released and stock release documents will be generated. The shipping department will ship goods when those arrive on the shipping docks. The documents involved are a shipping notice and bill of lading.
The Expenditure Cycle
Authors: Deshmukh Ashutosh
Published: May 2011

The expenditure cycle consists of the ordering of goods and services from suppliers and consequent payments to the suppliers. The generic transaction flow in the expenditure cycle can be described as follows: inventory control reviews inventory records to determine order requirements. A purchase requisition(s) is created and forwarded to the purchase department. The requisition contains details of items and quantities required. The purchase department selects suppliers by using the approved list of suppliers or any other standard operating procedure established by the organization. The supplier is selected and a purchase order is created and forwarded to that supplier. Another copy of the purchase order goes to the inventory control department to notify it that goods are on order. The supplier ships goods to the warehouse, and a receiving report is created. The receiving report is forwarded to inventory control and accounts payable. Inventory control updates inventory records based on the receiving report.
Financial Management, Strategic Management and Digital Accounting
Authors: Deshmukh Ashutosh
Published: May 2011

A dominant trend in information technology is the convergence of different software functionalities. Even after the dot-com bust or, perhaps because of it, the convergence has gathered steam. Different tools and techniques get concentrated in one solution or software in a short duration. Distinct techniques and technologies, such as accounting software, Web-based businesses, supply chain management, data warehouses and artificial intelligence, are converging as the organizations move from ERP to ERP II, integration of internal functions to integration across supply chain, and the Internet to Internet 2. Today’s ERP software packs all applications into one monster package and offers tremendous functionalities.
Assessing Diversity Issues in Instructional Technology
Authors: Anderson Virginia J.
Published: May 2011

Assessment is a major focus is higher education; IT faculties and departments are being asked to document quantitatively what students have learned in relation to goal-oriented expectations. Although “students will value diversity in the academy and the workplace” is a common course, general education or institutional goal, we often know little about how well students achieve this goal because we do not assess it. This chapter describes how to construct Student Learning Outcomes consistent with valuing diversity, how to design tests/assignments to see if student have achieved those outcomes and how to use that information to inform and enhance student learning in our IT courses, departments or institutions. The chapter reviews key assessment principles and practices. Then, we examine four strategies to document how students’ cognitive perceptions, attitudes, values and social actions in regard to diversity issues may be impacted and assessed. Assessment action scenarios elucidate the effective use of rubrics, Primary Trait Analysis, portfolios and affective behavioral checklists.
Adaptive Technology in a Computing Curriculum
Authors: Liffick Blaise W.
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes how adaptive technology (AT) for the disabled can enhance a computing curriculum. It argues that computer professionals will naturally have an increasing role in the support of AT, as a result of economic, legal and social pressures, and that as a consequence AT topics should be covered within a standard computing curriculum. Ideas for integrating AT topics into computing courses are presented, along with an outline of an advanced course on AT from a computer science perspective. A model AT laboratory for supporting these efforts is described. The author hopes that this chapter will encourage computing educators to use AT topics as examples within their courses, ultimately leading to a computing workforce that is ready, willing and able to provide fundamental AT services to those with disabilities.
Training Faculty for Diversity Infusion in the IT Curriculum
Authors: Trajkovski Goran
Published: May 2011

In this chapter we offer a flexible training environment and strategies for diversity infusion in the Information Technology curriculum. The chapter overviews “My First Diversity Workbook,” and the ways in which it may be used in diversity training for faculty. The major part of such workshops consists of four parts. In the first part, the trainer talks about his or her positive experiences of diversity infusion in the curriculum, and serves as a motivational component of the training. The second and third components explain how to get inspired for micro and macro infusion of topics in the curriculum from the outside and the inside. By using external examples and facts, or internal experiences and introspections, the instructors may successfully diversify a unit lesson or the whole curriculum. In the fourth component, the trainer talks about continuing to share classroom experiences after the workshop is done—usually online, within the framework of an e-group. We describe fitting these four components into two different contexts, and outline in detail the schedule and experiences of participants from those two workshops, custom-tailored to the needs of the institution that the training was designed for. These workshop patterns are fully replicable. The chapter not only describes the author’s strategies in covering the topics, but also provides a selection of sources that the trainer and the participants may use when replicating or modifying these trainings.
Assessment and College Progress
Authors: Holtz Jennifer K. , Radner Barbara
Published: May 2011

This chapter clarifies opportunities that colleges have to build teaching and assessment capacity. Development of assessments measuring true student ability requires multidimensional approaches that account for performance variation over time, within and between a discipline’s core principles, patterns, and relationships. Quality online assessment also actively develops a student voice, addressing the issues of passivity and academic dishonesty, by requiring students to both prepare for courses and participate differently. Building faculty capacity for assessment design is facilitated by the introduction of rubrics that are easy to use, but that are thoroughly grounded in theory and that reflect the realities of practice.
EOI Online Ingles
Authors: Gomez Pascual Cantos , Iborra Juan García
Published: May 2011

This chapter outlines the rationale and design of an online English language courseas an alternative to the traditional attendance language course and distance-learningcourse offered by theEscuelas Oficiales de Idiomas(EOI) in Spain. It describes the goalsof the EOIs, and explains how these vocational language courses are organized andstructured. The authors offer a full description of the unit structure and course materialsdesigned and developed: topics, communicative functions and situations, linguisticskills (reading, speaking, reading and writing) and language levels (phonology,morphology, syntax, semantics and basic pragmatic features) dealt with. The chapterthen presents some preliminary conclusions highlighting the benefits of the project aswell as drawbacks, focusing on how to profit from this experience in ongoing work.
Presentation
Authors: Fioravanti Fabrizio
Published: May 2011

Presentation is a common activity for a project or team manager, since often the need arises to present the ideas, the work performed, or the work that your team has to perform, or you have to justify the work that has not been performed. In this chapter, I will address such presentations, while presentation made for training purposes will be discussed in detail in the chapter on training (Chapter IV). A presentation is a three-step process. In the first phase, the material presentation is produced (online presentation, slide presentation, paper presentation). Each presentation type is different and will be analyzed, since it is important to know how to prepare a presentation for each different format. The second phase is the preparation of the speech for the presentation. Again, a different way to present the speech is needed to deal with different people attending the presentation (i.e., top management, customer, your team, etc.). The third phase is the real speech by which you have to transfer to the audience the knowledge or messages in the presentation. In all the phases, and especially in the third, the value of communication must be present in order to have a chance of success, as reported in the values section.
Delegation
Authors: Fioravanti Fabrizio
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, delegation is introduced, and the difference between delegation and assignment is reported and evidenced. The chapter proceeds by defining exactly what delegation means, presenting the WH (what and how) of the delegation process, since it is impossible to delegate each task, and the way in which you delegate must be carefully considered.
eXtreme Programming
Authors: Fioravanti Fabrizio
Published: May 2011

One of the emerging techniques that is becoming increasingly popular for managing software project is eXtreme Programming (XP) (Beck, 1999, 2000; Williams, 2000). XP surely changes the way in which we develop and manage software, as all the other methodologies related to the Agile Manifesto do (Agile Alliance, 2001; Boehm, 2002; Cockburn, 2001; Highsmith, 2001; Rakitin, 2001). XP has been the methodology that I have adopted in recent years to develop and manage software projects — before modifying it in order to create my own methodology, ADPD (Agile and Defined Project Development), which is described in Chapter XI. In order to understand ADPD, it is necessary to acquire all the possible knowledge about XP, since ADPD is XP 80% and recognizes quite all the values of this revolutionary technique for developing and managing software projects. The most interesting feature of XP consists in the fact that it is human oriented (Brooks, 1995). XP considers the human factor as the main component for steering a project toward a success story. On the other hand, it is important to notice that XP is guided by programming rules, even if its more interesting aspects deal with the values that are the real guides for the design, development, and management processes.
Project Maintenance
Authors: Fioravanti Fabrizio
Published: May 2011

Maintenance is a phase that is usually placed after project completion when problems start to arise. Agile development changes this approach in depth, since maintenance is always the current status of the project. In this section, after a short introduction about maintenance model, the application of these models in classical and Agile methodologies will be discussed in order to highlight differences and focus the reader on the different approaches to this activity that can cost a lot if not well realized. The last part of this section is dedicated to metrics for the estimation of maintenance effort and on metrics for the prediction of faults in order to guide the reader in this very complex environment. All of you can select the metrics that seem to be well suited for approaching the problem of effort measurement or fault proneness detection.
Mobile Handheld Devices
Authors: Hu Wen-Chen
Published: May 2011

Mobile users interact with mobile commerce applications by using small wireless Internet-enabled devices, which come with several aliases such as handhelds, palms, PDAs, pocket PCs, and smartphones. To avoid any ambiguity, a general term, mobile handheld devices, is used in this book. A mobile handheld device is small enough to be held in one hand and is a general-purpose, programmable, battery-powered computer, but it is different from a desktop PC or notebook due to the following three special features: • Limited network bandwidth: This limitation prevents the display of most multimedia on a microbrowser. Though the Wi-Fi and 3G networks go some way toward addressing this problem, the wireless bandwidth is always far below the bandwidth of wired networks. • Small screen/body size: This feature restricts most handheld devices to using a stylus for input. • Mobility: The high mobility of handheld devices is an obvious feature that separates handheld devices from PCs. This feature also makes possible many new applications such as mobile recommendations that normally cannot be done by PCs. Short battery life and limited memory, processing power, and functionality are additional features that impose limitations on handheld devices, but these problems are gradually being solved as the technologies improve and new methods are constantly being introduced. Figure 3.1 shows a typical system structure for handheld devices, which includes six major components: (i) a mobile operating system, (ii) a mobile central processing unit, (iii) a microbrowser, (iv) input and output devices and methods, (v) memory and storage, and (vi) batteries. Brief descriptions of each of these components are given below, followed by a more detailed description in the main body of the chapter.
WML (Wireless Markup Language)
Authors: Hu Wen-Chen
Published: May 2011

Wireless application protocol (WAP) (Open Mobile Alliance, 2003) is a suite of network protocols that specifies ways of sending data across the airwaves. A wireless device is said to be WAP-compatible if, and only if, it has software that is fully capable of handling all WML 1.1 DTD entities. WML (Wireless Markup Language) (Open Mobile Alliance, 2001) is the XML-based language that is used in conjunction with WAP to format documents. As with all such protocol suites, WAP is organized hierarchically. At the bottom there are low-level protocols that are used for basic operations such as establishing connections, coding alphanumeric characters, and so on. At the top are the high-level protocols such as WML, which passes on page information. For more information on other WAP protocols, please visit http://www.wapforum.org/. WML script writing and applications will be discussed in Chapters VI through IX: • Chapter VI: The current chapter introduces fundamental WML components such as tables and images. • Chapter VII: Advanced WML, especially dynamic WML pages using CGI (Common Gateway Interface), will be introduced. • Chapter VIII: WMLScript, a lightweight JavaScript language used in conjunction with WML, is explained. • Chapter IX: The construction of a database-driven mobile web site using WML is explained step-by-step.
Advanced WML
Authors: Hu Wen-Chen
Published: May 2011

Chapter VI discusses the creation of static web pages, which have a fixed content at all times. In order to change static web pages to dynamic ones, it is necessary to implement advanced WML, the subject of this chapter, which requires support from external programs containing procedural languages. There are several methods available for calling external programs the two most common being: • PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor): PHP is a server-side, cross-platform, HTML embedded scripting language that allows programmers to create dynamic web pages. In an HTML document, PHP script (with a similar syntax to that of Perl or C) is enclosed within special PHP tags. Because PHP is embedded within tags, it is possible to jump between HTML and PHP (as in ASP and Cold Fusion) rather than relying on heavy amounts of code to output HTML. PHP is executed on the server, so the client cannot view the PHP code. PHP can perform any task that a CGI program can, and PHP-enabled Web pages can be created and edited just like regular HTML pages. • ASP.NET (Active Server Pages): ASP.NET is a free technology from Microsoft that allows programmers to create dynamic web applications. An ASP.NET file can contain text, HTML tags and scripts. Scripts in an ASP.NET file are executed on the server. ASP can be used to create web applications ranging from small, personal websites through to large, enterprise-class web applications. This chapter will focus on applications that use CGI because of its simplicity.
Client-Side Handheld Computing and Programming
Authors: Hu Wen-Chen
Published: May 2011

There are two kinds of handheld computing and programming, namely client- and server- side handheld computing and programming. The most popular applications of the latter are used with database-driven mobile web content, whose construction steps were described in the previous section. The remainder of this book will be devoted to client-side handheld computing and programming, whose applications do not need the support of server-side programs. Client-side handheld applications are varied and numerous, covering a wide range of everyday activities. Popular application examples include: • address books, which store personal information such as addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses in an accessible format, • appointments, which allow users to edit, save, and view times reserved for business meetings and visits to the doctor, • calculators, which may be a standard 4-function pocket calculator or a multifunction scientific calculator, • datebooks/calendars, which allow users to enter hourly activities and show a daily or weekly schedule, or a simple monthly view, • expenses, which allow users to track and record common business expenses such as car mileage, per diems, air fees, and hotel bills, • mobile office functions, which include viewing and processing documents, spread sheets, presentations, and inventory. • multimedia, which includes playing music and videos, photography, and personal albums. • note pads, which allow users to save, view, and edit text notes, • to-do lists, which allow users to enter a list of tasks to be performed, and • video games, in addition to those on-line video games that require the support of server-side programs.
Application Cases in Business
Authors: Nissen Mark E.
Published: May 2011

This chapter concentrates on knowledge-flow visualization and analysis in the for-profit business sector. We look first at an advanced-technology company involved with new-product development. The discussion turns then to examine an independent production company involved with a feature film. The third case involves a technology-transfer project between a university and a microelectronics company. In each case, we draw from secondary data sources for background. This should prove helpful to the reader who is interested in following up to consider more details than presented in this volume. We draw also from our own research and professional experience to fill in missing information, and we apply principles and techniques of this book to contribute new insights through examination of knowledge flows in the cases. Each application case concludes with exercises to stimulate critical thought, learning, and discussion.
Technical Issues in Implementing ERP Systems
Authors: Sankar Chetan , Rau Karl-Heinz
Published: May 2011

• Understand the fundamentals of relational database management systems • Be able to define technical terms such as single instance and normalization • Be aware of how database considerations impact ERP implementations • Have a general overview of the technical issues in implementing ERP systems • Become familiar with implementation issues and strategies for ERP systems
Multiple Information Systems for Coping with a Growing and Changing Business
Authors: Sankar Chetan , Rau Karl-Heinz
Published: May 2011

• Understand the importance of aligning the business and IT strategies in a company at both corporate level and country level • Identify the issues faced by RBUS in moving to a standardized corporate-wide information system such as SAP R/3 during 1992-1999
Web-Based Systems and Performance Testing
Authors: Subraya B. M.
Published: May 2011

For many years, the World Wide Web (Web) functioned quite well without any concern about the quality of performance. The designers of the Web page, as well as the users were not much worried about the performance attributes. The Web, in the initial stages of development, was primarily meant to be an information provider rather than a medium to transact business, into which it has grown. The expectations from the users were also limited only to seek the information available on the Web. Thanks to the ever growing population of Web surfers (now in the millions), information found on the Web underwent a dimensional change in terms of nature, content, and depth.
Test Preparation Phase III
Authors: Subraya B. M.
Published: May 2011

The next phase, that is, the build phase, commences after the completion of the design phase. Design provides the guidelines, but the build phase really implements the design so that execution of the test can be carried out later. The first activity in the build phase is to plan the various activities for testing. However, building a comprehensive test plan is as important as executing the test itself. Apart from the test plan, testing the build phase also focuses on setting up a proper test environment, test schedule, and testing processes.
Performance Test Execution Phase
Authors: Subraya B. M.
Published: May 2011

The focus of this chapter is toward the factors needing attention while conducting the tests of performance. Chapters 5 and 6 discuss in detail the test plan as well as the test scripts required for conducting the performance tests. The successful execution of PT calls for coordination of a complex set of activities such as management of personnel, scheduling the tests at an appropriate time, configuring tools for various performance parameters, verification of application readiness for the test, and, above all, management of multiple test runs versus cost of resources. Conducting the tests may spread over a number of days, and it may also warrant customization of the operating system. The team responsible for carrying out the tests must be well aware of these factors. Typical test execution (see Test execution, 2004) phases are shown in Figure 7.1. Each phase must be planned carefully. If these phases are followed in sequence, the probability of test execution errors could be reduced. The main reason behind introducing these phases is to reduce the cost. To illustrate, if we directly run tests without passing through initial phases like elaboration test (say) and an error creeps in later, it will result in unnecessary investment of effort on test runs, which is very expensive. Specialized skills are required to run tests. Sometimes, the test environment (including tools) has to be taken on hire during the test runs. All these involve effort and time, which will go to waste if the tests are not executed properly. Each phase is explained in Figure 7.1.
American E-Government Service Sectors and Applications
Authors: Evans D.
Published: May 2011

Citizens routinely use technology to increase the efficiency of their transactions in every area of their lives. It is, therefore, logical that citizens expect technology to be used to improve the efficiency of their transactions with their government. In response, the United States government has developed electronic interfaces combined with the Internet called electronic government or e-government. E-government is the communication between the government and its citizens, businesses or itself by the use of computers and a Web-enabled presence.
An Assessment of the Open Government Web Site in Mongolia
Authors: Ariunaa L.
Published: May 2011

The open government Web site was initiated and developed under the direct guidance and support of the prime minister of Mongolia in 2002. The project was initially supported by USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and The Asia Foundation from 2004. The main purpose of the Web site is to strengthen the linkage between the private sector and government and to facilitate public contribution of opinions to state policies and laws. The Web site has four major sections namely: legislation (draft laws, Parliament agenda, and links to laws); discussion (forum, online conference, questions, and answers); links; and search engine. Moreover, there is an opportunity to subscribe to the Open Government newsletter. This article describes the current status of the open-government Web site in Mongolia, its strengths and weaknesses and provides a framework for future action in order to improve service delivery
Assisting Users Seeking Medical Information through Government Portals
Authors: Moon J.
Published: May 2011

There has been an explosion in the number of different types of portals in the last decade, and at the same time there has been a lot of confusion with them, especially in relation to the enormous number of portals and their differences from Web sites or Web-pages. This coincides with increased use by consumers seeking medical information on the Internet, and with the important role played by medical portals for evidence based medicine. This article explores current portal technology available from an evaluation of market leaders in the industry and identifies important functional components that are necessary in building an intelligent portal to assist users seeking information on the Internet. The emphasis will be on government to consumer portals (G2C) and uses two reputable government portals Betterhealth and Healthinsite as examples to discuss issues involved with those.
Benchmarking Electonic Democracy
Authors: Amoretti F.
Published: May 2011

Electronic democracy refers to the use of information technology (IT) to expedite or transform the idea and practice of democracy. (Street, 2001, p. 4397) From the beginning, a common assumption in many discussions of e-democracy is that ICTs have the power to augur in a new political order. There are of course different ideas about what constitutes as an e-democracy, but it appears to be taken for granted that ICTs have this constructive power regardless of the conditions and environment in which they are used (Barber, 1984). Whilst the most significant experiences in the field of ICTs have been generated by bottom-up processes rooted in civil society, a great deal of e-democracy projects are characterised by the political action of national and supranational institutions. The enormous resources spent on e-democracy initiatives and the institutional structure of democratic societies that place pressure on politicians and decision makers to justify their decisions in relation to those they represent both generate a need for public evaluation tools and shared instruments of analysis. Moreover, as information technology tends to create spaces of interaction that are easily accessible and interconnected on a global scale, the need for standardised empirical definitions and indicators is attracting more and more attention (Gibson, Ward, & Rommele, 2004; Trechsel, Kies, Mendez, & Schmitter, 2004). Benchmarking, in this context, is a method of analysis that comprises the identification of significant factors that influence the perceived quality of an interactive virtual space and that facilitates a constant process of comparative monitoring and evaluation of experiences. Many institutions and research centres are currently committed to this task, deducing empirical frameworks of analysis from theoretical reflections about computer-mediated communication (CMC) and democracy, whilst simultaneously seeking to improve theories regarding electronic democracy—and democracy tout court—by the observation and comparison of diverse projects. The output of this kind of research is often a set of best practices, intended to export successful approaches from one country to another.
Community Networks
Authors: Cropf R. A.
Published: May 2011

Since the emergence of community networks in the 1980s, several authors have put forth a number of different definitions of the concept. The definitions included below emphasize certain key elements of community networks and comprise a representative sample of views regarding this phenomenon. The Association for Community Networking (AFCN), for instance, defines community networks as “projects that bring local people together to discuss their community’s issues and opportunities, learn about Internet technology, and decide upon and create services to address these community needs and opportunities” (AFCN, n.d.). Furthermore, according to the AFCN, there is a “special focus on including those who are traditionally left out of community decision making in general, and technology decision making in particular (e.g., low-income, minorities, senior citizens).” Broadly speaking, community networks are designed, created, and implemented with the purpose of “improving communities—in the social, political and economic realms” (O’Neil, 2002). Indeed, “networks are sometimes defined as communities themselves.” A common theme among the various definitions is the belief that networks should create a little self-contained part of cyberspace. Thus, a community network could be construed “as a mini-Internet, only open to members of the community” (Vazquez, 2003). Another important aspect of community networking is the capacity of the Internet and e-mail to aid in community development, in that they “provide access to a new mode of social interaction, one that virtualizes community development processes” (Graham, 1996). Ultimately, community networks and the relationships that develop among the participants make up what has been called an “electronic greenbelt to reinforce and add value to the community” (Cisler, 1993).Schuler (1996) defines community networks as “community-based computer networks … intended to help revitalize, strengthen and expand existing people-based community networks (p. 25). Based on the previous definitions, we postulate our own definition of community networks as organizations that help to strengthen real communities through the creation of virtual communities, not as a substitute for but as a complement to real communities. Typically these community networks are created to address specific local needs involving expansion of Web access to underserved segments of the community but often end up embracing the enhancement of other forms of social, political and economic access as well. Furthermore, as we discuss in some of the sections below, governments can have an important role in sponsoring community networks but, in general, these networks are the offshoots of community activists-volunteers serving in a nonofficial capacity. This allows them to take positions contrary to those of the government(s) serving the jurisdictions that the community networks are in.
Cyber Attacks
Authors: Rowe N. C.
Published: May 2011

Information systems (computers and networks) are increasingly the targets of attacks ranging from vandalism to serious crimes (Richardson, 2003). Since government systems are valuable resources for a society, it is important to protect them from such attacks. Unfortunately, however, government systems can be especially vulnerable (Lucasik, Goodman, & Longhurst, 2003). This is in part because government is distributed over many locations, and therefore, it is hard to protect all of its information systems well. Second, many government systems must be accessible to a wide range of people (even if through a government intermediary), unlike the specialized systems used in other settings, and users will include a few fools and criminals. Third, governments often use popular business software, and the more popular that software is, the more attacks are known against it. Finally, there are many people with antipathy or grudges against governments for one reason or another, and they may seek revenge by attacking a government’s information system and data. With the global Internet, attackers need not be in the same country as the government they attack. Therefore, it is important to become familiar with the kinds of possible attackers, attacks, and countermeasures that governments could encounter on their computer systems and computer networks (Boswoth & Kabay, 2002; Schwartau, 2001).
Deconstructing the South African Government's ICT for Development Discourse
Authors: Moodley S.
Published: May 2011

The post-apartheid South African government has placed ICTs at the centre of the national agenda for social and economic development (Mbeki, 1996, 2002b; Presidential National Commission on the Information Society and Development (PNC on ISAD), 2003a). The question of whether the application of technologies to improve information and communication access can increase the capabilities of disadvantaged and poor people is central to whether the new ICTs (particularly the Internet) will support or undermine real development. Technology appears in the South African government’s ICT for development discourse as a politically neutral force with the power to develop, and without which people are classified as information-poor. As Wajcman (2002) cogently argues, “governments everywhere legitimate much of their policy in terms of a technological imperative” (p. 348). One effect of this discourse is to render poor people passive and dependent, as objects to be developed, rather than as active agents of development. Failure to address these assumptions may lead social scientists to become complacent in distracting attention away from the very real global economic, social, and cultural inequalities, to virtual inequalities, which merely hide an unwillingness to address the core failings of the development paradigm. The paper attempts to meet the challenge put forth by Robert Wade (2002): The current campaign to promote the uptake of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in developing countries and to get aid donors to redirect their aid budgets needs devil’s advocates to challenge what John Stuart Mill once called ‘the deep slumber of a decided opinion.’ (p. 443)
Development and Use of the World Wide Web by U.S. Local Governments
Authors: Scavo C.
Published: May 2011

San Carlos, California (www.cityofsancarlos.org) claims to have developed one of the earliest local government Web sites in the world, posted on May 10, 1994 (San Carlos, 2006). From this early effort, United States (U.S.) cities moved rapidly onto the Web. Norris and Moon (2002), for example, report that some 4.4% of U.S. cities in a 2000 survey by the International City Management Association (ICMA) reported developing Web sites before 1995; 27.1% reported developing their Web sites in the 1995-’96 time period, and 68.5% reported their Web site developed after 1997. San Carlos’ original Web site comprised one page; its current Web site now contains some 8,000 pages and uses some of the Web’s most modern technology available, such as really simple syndication (RSS) and Flash Paper.1 This article uses the example of San Carlos’ Web site, along with two surveys of local government Web sites in the U.S., to illustrate the experience that U.S. local governments have had in developing and using Web sites in the pursuit of bettering governance. The article examines four local government Web applications—bulletin boards, promotions, service delivery and citizen input—and assesses their use by U.S. local governments. The article then addresses current issues of outsourcing Web site design and maintenance, and future issues of privacy, security, the digital divide and the possible effects of increased local government Web sites on U.S. civil society.
Digital Government and Democratic Legitimacy
Authors: Shane P. M.
Published: May 2011

The current flush of worldwide interest in digital government coincides with considerable anxiety, even discontent, with the performance of predigital democratic governments, including democratic governments in what seem to be highly functional societies. Primary causes for this malaise involve an interlocking set of complex phenomena. These include globalization, the marketization or privatization of ever-larger aspects of our social and economic life, challenges to the vitality of national political identities that are supportive of democracy, a pervasive sense that government is increasingly driven by special interests rather than a genuinely public interest, and the alienation of the ordinary citizen from governments that seem increasingly remote and indifferent (Castells, 1997). Although few still tout the Internet and universal interconnection as promising by themselves to cure all political ills, the fact is that hopes for digital government run high across the developed world. This enthusiasm seems linked to a yearning for improvements not just in government efficiency, but also in democratic legitimacy. It is the potential linkage between digital government and democratic legitimacy that this article will explore. My thesis is twofold: first, that digital government has enormous potential for enhancing democratic legitimacy, but second, it can realize that potential only if implemented with democratic principles in mind and if designed to fulfill multiple models of democratic legitimacy.1