bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seismological Data Warehousing and Mining
Authors: Marketos Gerasimos , Theodoridis Yannis , Kalogeras Ioannis S.
Published: February 2011

Earthquake data composes an ever increasing collection of earth science information for post-processing analysis. Earth scientists, local or national administration officers and so forth, are working with these data collections for scientific or planning purposes. In this article, we discuss the architecture of a so-called seismic data management and mining system (SDMMS) for quick and easy data collection, processing, and visualization. The SDMMS architecture includes, among others, a seismological database for efficient and effective querying and a seismological data warehouse for OLAP analysis and data mining. We provide template schemes for these two components as well as examples of their functionality towards the support of decision making. We also provide a comparative survey of existing operational or prototype SDMMS.
A Solution to the Cross-Selling Problem of PAKDD-2007
Authors: Wei Mingjun , Chai Lei , Wei Renying , Huo Wang
Published: February 2011

Our team has won the Grand Champion (Tie) of PAKDD-2007 data mining competition. The data mining task is to score credit card customers of a consumer finance company according to the likelihood that customers take up the home loans offered by the company. This report presents our solution for this business problem. TreeNet and logistic regression are the data mining algorithms used in this project. The final score is based on the cross-algorithm ensemble of two within-algorithm ensembles of TreeNet and logistic regression. Finally, some discussions from our solution are presented.
The Power of Sampling and Stacking for the PaKDD-2007 Cross-Selling Problem
Authors: Adeodato Paulo J.L. , Vasconcelos Germano C. , Arnaud Adrian L. , Cunha Rodrigo C.L.V. , Monteiro Domingos S.M.P. , Neto Rosalvo F.O.
Published: February 2011

This article presents an efficient solution for the PAKDD-2007 Competition cross-selling problem. The solution is based on a thorough approach which involves the creation of new input variables, efficient data preparation and transformation, adequate data sampling strategy and a combination of two of the most robust modeling techniques. Due to the complexity imposed by the very small amount of examples in the target class, the approach for model robustness was to produce the median score of the 11 models developed with an adapted version of the 11-fold cross-validation process and the use of a combination of two robust techniques via stacking, the MLP neural network and the n-tuple classifier. Despite the problem complexity, the performance on the prediction data set (unlabeled samples), measured through KS2 and ROC curves was shown to be very effective and finished as the first runner-up solution of the competition.
Using TreeNet to Cross-sell Home Loans to Credit Card Holders
Authors: Steinberg Dan , Cardell Nicholas C. , Ries John , Golovnya Mykhaylyo
Published: February 2011

Today’s credit card issuers are increasingly offering a broad range of products and services with separate lines of business responsible for different product groups. Too often, the separate lines of business operate independently and information available to one line of business may not be used productively by others. In this study, we examine the potential of using information from customers of multiple products to identify customers most likely to respond to cross-sell product offers. Specifically, we examine the potential for offering home loans to a population of credit card holders by studying individuals who do hold both a credit card and a mortgage with the card issuer. Using real world data provided to the 2007 PAKDD data mining competition, we employ Friedman’s stochastic gradient boosting (MART™, TreeNet® ) for the rapid development of a high performance cross-sell predictive model.
Ranking Potential Customers Based on Group-Ensemble
Authors: Zhang Zhi-Zhuo , Chen Qiong , Ke Shang-Fu , Wu Yi-Jun , Qi Fei , Zhang Ying-Peng
Published: February 2011

Ranking potential customers has become an effective tool for company decision makers to design marketing strategies. The task of PAKDD competition 2007 is a cross-selling problem between credit card and home loan, which can also be treated as a ranking potential customers problem. This article proposes a 3-level ranking model, namely Group-Ensemble, to handle such kinds of problems. In our model, Bagging, RankBoost and Expending Regression Tree are applied to solve crucial data mining problems like data imbalance, missing value and time-variant distribution. The article verifies the model with data provided by PAKDD Competition 2007 and shows that Group-Ensemble can make selling strategy much more efficient.
Sequential Patterns Postprocessing for Structural Relation Patterns Mining
Authors: Lu Jing , Chen Weiru , Adjei Osei , Keech Malcolm
Published: February 2011

Sequential patterns mining is an important data-mining technique used to identify frequently observed sequential occurrence of items across ordered transactions over time. It has been extensively studied in the literature, and there exists a diversity of algorithms. However, more complex structural patterns are often hidden behind sequences. This article begins with the introduction of a model for the representation of sequential patterns—Sequential Patterns Graph—which motivates the search for new structural relation patterns. An integrative framework for the discovery of these patterns–Postsequential Patterns Mining–is then described which underpins the postprocessing of sequential patterns. A corresponding data-mining method based on sequential patterns postprocessing is proposed and shown to be effective in the search for concurrent patterns. From experiments conducted on three component algorithms, it is demonstrated that sequential patterns-based concurrent patterns mining provides an efficient method for structural knowledge discovery.
Lossless Reduction of Datacubes using Partitions
Authors: Casali Alain , Nedjar Sébastien , Cicchetti Rosine , Lakhal Lotfi , Novelli Noël
Published: February 2011

Datacubes are especially useful for answering efficiently queries on data warehouses. Nevertheless the amount of generated aggregated data is huge with respect to the initial data which is itself very large. Recent research has addressed the issue of a summary of Datacubes in order to reduce their size. The approach presented in this paper fits in a similar trend. We propose a concise representation, called Partition Cube, based on the concept of partition and we give a new algorithm to compute it. We propose a Relational Partition Cube, a novel ROLAP cubing solution for managing Partition Cubes using the relational technology. Analytical evaluations show that the storage space of Partition Cubes is smaller than Datacubes. In order to confirm analytical comparison, experiments are performed in order to compare our approach with Datacubes and with two of the best reduction methods, the Quotient Cube and the Closed Cube.
Visual Mobility Analysis using T-Warehouse
Authors: Raffaetà A. , Leonardi L. , Marketos G. , Andrienko G. , Andrienko N. , Frentzos E. , Giatrakos N. , Orlando S. , Pelekis N. , Roncato A. , Silvestri C.
Published: February 2011

Technological advances in sensing technologies and wireless telecommunication devices enable research fields related to the management of trajectory data. The challenge after storing the data is the implementation of appropriate analytics for extracting useful knowledge. However, traditional data warehousing systems and techniques were not designed for analyzing trajectory data. In this paper, the authors demonstrate a framework that transforms the traditional data cube model into a trajectory warehouse. As a proof-of-concept, the authors implement T-Warehouse, a system that incorporates all the required steps for Visual Trajectory Data Warehousing, from trajectory reconstruction and ETL processing to Visual OLAP analysis on mobility data.
From "S" to "J"
Authors: Samuel Jeanne C.
Published: February 2011

This article proposes a hypothetical model for determining rate of diffusion of an innovation in a system. The model modifies Everett Rogers’ S-curve using an index created from Gartner’s hype cycle phases. Rogers’ model for technology innovation adoption demonstrates that cumulative technology diffusion in a system from zero through the late majority adopters’ phase forms a curve resembling the letter “S”. Hype cycles analyze the five emotional stages technology adopters go through from over-enthusiasm (hype) though disappointment until it plateaus (beginning of mainstream adoption). When numbers assigned to the phases of adoption from the hype cycle are used as multipliers and applied to the cumulative adoption data of an innovation (Rogers’ S-curve), the “S” becomes a “J”. With the J-curve you can determine the rate of innovation diffusion in an organization.
Knowledge Sharing Adoption Model Based on Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Folorunso Olusegun O. , Vincent Rebecca Opeoluwa , Ogunde Adewale Akintayo , Agboola Benjamin
Published: February 2011

Knowledge Sharing Adoption Model called (KSAM) was developed in this paper using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). It investigated students’ Perceived Usefulness and Benefits (PUB) of Knowledge Sharing among students of higher learning in Nigeria. The study was based on the definition as well as on the constucts related to technology acceptance model (TAM). A survey was conducted using structured questionnaire administered among students and analysed with SPSS statistical tool; the results were evaluated using ANN. The KSAM includes six constucts that include Perceived Ease Of Sharing (PEOS), Perceived Usefulness and Benefits (PUB), Perceived Barriers for Sharing (PBS), External Cues to Share (ECS), Attitude Towards Sharing (ATT), and Behavioral Intention to Share (BIS). The result showed that Students’ PUB must be raised in order to effectively increase the adoption of Knowledge Sharing in this domain. The paper also identified a myriad of limitations in knowledge sharing and discovered that the utilization of KSAM using ANN is feasible. Findings from this study may form the bedrock on which further studies can be built.
Two Basic Types of Business-to-Business Integration
Authors: Goethals Frank , Vandenbulcke Jacques , Lemahieu Wilfried , Snoech Monique , Cumps Bjorn
Published: February 2011

In this paper we argue that there exist two basic forms of business-to-business integration (B2Bi), namely, extended enterprise integration and market B2Bi. The paper at hand clarifies the meaning of both concepts, shows that the difference between both is fundamental, and discusses the consequences of the difference in the realm of Web services development. The importance of coordination and the role of standards are studied for both types of e-business. The authors hope this paper clearly shows the foundations of B2Bi, and that the paper as such brings clarity into B2Bi practices.
Effects of Perceived Risks on Adoption of Internet Banking Services
Authors: Jih Wen-Jang , Wong Shu-Yeng , Chang Tsung-Bin
Published: February 2011

Banking services primarily involve the creation, processing, storage, and distribution of financial information. Most of these services can be conveniently handled via Internet-based information technologies. This convenience, however, may be offset to a certain degree by customers’ perception of the risks associated with transacting in the wide-open cyber-world. A key challenge for online bankers is to maintain a secure information infrastructure that effectively manages the perceived risk factors. This research examines usages of Internet banking services, investigates the nature and sources of customers’ perceived risks, and tests hypotheses with regard to impacts of perceived risks on Internet banking adoption. Using primary data collected in Taiwan, the study finds significant relationships among involvement, familiarity, perceived risks, perception of measures for reducing perceived risks, and customer willingness to adopt Internet banking services. The findings have significant implications for the practice and research in Internet banking.
Adoption of Internet-Based Marketing Channels by Small- and Medium-Sized Manufacturers
Authors: Nielson Jørn Flohr , Host Viggo , Mols Niels Peter
Published: February 2011

This paper analyses factors influencing manufacturers’ adoption of Internet-based marketing channels using models based on marketing channel and organisational innovation theory. Survey data from 1,163 Danish, Finnish, and Swedish manufacturers form the empirical basis for testing the models using LISREL analysis. The results stress that adoption of Internet-based marketing is influenced by willingness to cannibalize, by management support, by market pressure, and by a firm’s knowledge of IT. A willingness to cannibalize mediates the effects of future market orientation, ownership, specialized investments, and management support. This is mainly the case in small firms, as the importance of the various drivers and the adoption pattern varies among size categories. Market-pull factors have relatively more explanatory power in medium-sized and large companies.
Gender Divide in the Use of Internet Applications
Authors: Banerjee S. , Kang H. , Bagchi-Sen S. , Rao H.R.
Published: February 2011

There is mounting evidence of an increasing gender gap in computer education, which translates into a similar gap in the information technology workforce in the United States. This study investigates whether gender difference in computer usage is carried over to Internet usage. This paper focuses on exploring gender differences in the use of the Internet and the types of application people pursue online. The study will examine if there are fewer females using the Internet than males and will explore how gender difference plays a role in using the Internet for information search, interpersonal communication, entertainment, education, shopping, and personal finance. In addition, we investigate the male-female difference in Internet use by race, age, and educational level. Data used in this study are based on the September 2001 U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey, a survey of approximately 50,000 households and more than 157,000 individuals across the United States. The analysis of data shows reverse trends regarding gender in the use of the Internet; furthermore, more females show Internet usage than males for e-mail or instant messaging, for taking an online course, for searching information about products and services, for purchasing products or services, for searching for health services or practices, for getting information about government, and for searching for jobs. However, more males use the Internet than females to play games; for chat rooms or listserv; to get news, weather, or sports; for viewing television, movies, or radio; for telephone calls; to trade stocks, bonds, and mutual funds; and for online banking. The implications of these results are also discussed.
Resource-Based Interdependencies in Value Networks for Mobile E-Services
Authors: Montalvo Uta When , van de Kar Els , Maitland Carleen
Published: February 2011

The advent of new electronic platforms, such as fixed and mobile Internet, is forcing firms from a range of industries to come together in so-called value networks for the provision of innovative e-services. Firms from different industries have widely varying resources. Our analysis is aimed at specific types of interdependencies, relating the actors’ own and others’ resource contributions to the value creation involved in bringing the service about. To better understand these interdependencies, we draw on theories about firm resources and interorganizational relations. We analyze the importance and relevance of different resources in a number of case studies of mobile information and entertainment services in terms of the actors’ resources and contributions to value in the provision of such mobile services. In the cross-case comparison, we contrast the power structures in the different value networks and identify similarities and differences in terms of the types of industrial players that assume positions of greater or lesser importance. We conclude with a discussion of the implications for value network research.
Finding e-Service Offerings by Computer-Supported Customer Need Reasoning
Authors: Baida Ziv , Gordijn Jaap , Akkermans Hans , Saele Hanne , Morch Andrei Z.
Published: February 2011

We outline a rigorous approach that models how companies can electronically offer packages of independent services (service bundles). Its objective is to support prospective Website visitors in defining and buying service bundles that fit their specific needs and demands. The various services in the bundle may be offered by different suppliers. To enable this scenario, it is necessary that software can reason about customer needs and available service offerings. Our approach for tackling this issue is based on recent advances in computer and information science, where information about a domain at hand is conceptualized and formalized using ontologies and subsequently represented in machine-interpretable form. The substantive part from our ontology derives from broadly accepted service management and marketing concepts from business studies literature. In earlier work, we concentrated on the service bundling process itself. In the present chapter, we discuss how to ensure that the created bundles indeed meet customer demands. Experience of Norwegian energy utilities shows that severe financial losses can be caused when companies offer service bundles without a solid foundation for the bundle-creation process and without an in-depth understanding of customer needs and demands. We use a running case example from the Norwegian energy sector to demonstrate how we put theory into practice.
Predicting the Initial Adoption of Upgrading of Electronic Communication Systems
Authors: Hunter Gary L. , Taylor Steven A.
Published: February 2011

This study examines the factors that make a firm more or less likely to adopt or upgrade an electronics communication program. Both the factors and their relative importance are hypothesized to differ, depending on whether initial adoption or upgrading is the predicted behavior. Such information is important to marketers, because it can be used to more effectively target and provide value to the electronic communications market. A survey of firms’ intentions to adopt customer relationship management software is used to test the hypotheses. The theoretical bases of the study are the Gatignon and Robertson (1989) model of diffusion and the behavioral delineation of continuous and discontinuous innovations (Rogers, 1983).
Spam, Spim, and User Perceptions of E-Mail and Instant Messaging Usefulness
Authors: Strader Troy J. , Houle Philip A. , Ramaswami Sridhar N.
Published: February 2011

This article investigates the effect of unsolicited electronic messages, also known as spam and spim, on perceptions of e-mail and instant messaging usefulness. It is hypothesized that spam and spim should have a negative effect on electronic communication system usefulness, but the survey findings do not support this. Users seem to have coped with spam and spim through a combination of technical and non-technical solutions. The implications of these findings are discussed from the perspective of researchers, marketers, electronic communication service providers, and public policy.
Insights into Web Service Orchestration and Choreography
Authors: Daniel Florian , Pernici Barbara
Published: February 2011

As the Web service domain is a fast growing and equally fast changing environment, this paper tries to provide a critical snapshot of currently available standards, particularly focusing on Web service orchestration and choreography. The trend over the last few years in the Web services area firmly points towards seamless business logic integration and inter-enterprise collaboration. In order to reach these business goals, both technological and conceptual advances are required; some already have proven their viability, others still have to be made. Among them, Web service orchestration and choreography are of crucial importance, but still lack a widely agreed on development framework comprising both technological and conceptual aspects. Besides discussing problems and solutions regarding orchestration and choreography of Web services, especially from a conceptual point of view, this paper further tries to highlight mutual dependencies existing among orchestration and choreography.
Which Move to the Middle
Authors: Sherer Susan A. , Yao Yuliang
Published: February 2011

The move-to-the-middle hypothesis has been used to predict firm structures, suggesting that firms will move to more outsourcing but from a reduced set of stable partners (Clemons et al., 1993). Extending this hypothesis to predict electronic marketplace structures, we suggest that both industry consortia and private exchanges represent a move to the middle by reducing transaction costs and risks. In industries with highly interdependent relationships, industry consortia may be more successful because of their reduction of coordination costs without corresponding increases in transaction risk. Within an industry, companies may choose to participate in both types of marketplaces. Product characteristics moderate the relationships between the transactions costs and risk and the type of marketplace.
Econometric Simulation for E-Business Strategy Evaluation
Authors: Ha Lidan , Forgionne Guisseppi
Published: February 2011

Effective and efficient e-business strategy development is crucial to achieve a competitive advantage in the electronic marketplace. However, e-business strategy evaluation constitutes complex and dynamic challenges for business management. This article offers assistance for the evaluation process by applying a computer simulation that uses an econometric model delivered through a decision-making support system. The major econometric simulation logic and methodology introduced here covers multidisciplinary areas and is among the first attempts to identify and establish a comprehensive, quantitative tool to support the strategy development processes of e-businesses. The authors hope to shed some lights on e-business strategy research through this article.
A Fuzzy Logic-Based Approach for Supporting Decision-Making Process in B2C Electronic Commerce Transaction
Authors: Akhter Fahim , Maamar Zakaria , Hobbs Dave
Published: February 2011

The purpose of this article is to present an application of fuzzy logic to human reasoning about electronic commerce (e-commerce) transactions. This article uncovers some of the hidden relationships between critical factors such as security, familiarity, design, and competitiveness. We analyze the effect of these factors on human decision process and how they affect the Business-to-Consumer (B2C) outcome when they are used collectively. This research provides a toolset for B2C vendors to access and evaluate a user’s transaction decision process and also an assisted reasoning tool for the online user.
Exploring the Roles of Intermediaries in Collective Memory-Supported Electronic Negotiation
Authors: Lertpittayapoom Nongkran , Paul Souren
Published: February 2011

Following the emergence of the Internet, electronic negotiation has become an alternative to face-to-face negotiation. The current forms of negotiation support systems (NSS) used to support many electronic negotiations offer very little support for historical negotiation data. In order to address this issue, the idea of a collective memory support in negotiations has been proposed in recent years. This article highlights the use of an online intermediary as an effective location from which collective memory support can be offered. The article proposes that an intermediary based collective memory support will increase confidence in negotiation, reduce overall negotiation time, and strengthen trust between negotiators.
EBBSC
Authors: Wang Fen , Forgionne Guisseppi
Published: February 2011

E-business is far more about strategy than technology, and the strategy of e-business is very important in today’s dynamic and competitive environment. In this article, we describe a balanced scorecard-based framework in detail and discuss its potential e-business uses. This framework enables e-business managers to plan and allocate resources more effectively and align strategic objectives with performance results. It also provides a stable point of reference for e-businesses to understand and manage the fundamental changes introduced by e-business initiatives.
Strategic Maneuvering in Healthcare Technology Markets
Authors: Yurov Kirill M. , Yurova Yuliya V. , Potter Richard E.
Published: February 2011

Healthcare technology markets have been recently identified as potential investment targets. Having survived a major environmental shock, the dot.com bust, firms in the healthcare technology industry are presently experiencing an impressive revenue growth. In this study, we investigate the strategies of Emdeon Corporation, a healthcare technology firm whose e-business model provides clues for achieving a sustained revenue growth and profitability. We trace the current sustainability of Emdeon’s e-business model to a related diversification strategy that the firm’s upper management has pursued via mergers and acquisitions (M&As). We also address the motivation behind current restructuring of Emdeon’s e-business model. We argue that maturation of diversified e-business models leads to the transformation of individual segments into distinct entities focusing on specific technology markets.
An Online Success Story
Authors: Kuivalainen Olli , Ellonen Hanna-Kaisa , Sainio Liisa-Maija
Published: February 2011

The aim of this article is to provide a holistic exploration of the development of the business model of a magazine Web site, and of the factors behind its success. The discussion is based on an explorative case study of a successful Finnish magazine publisher and its Web site. We use triangulated data (interviews, observation, statistical data, customer feedback, newspaper articles) to describe and analyze the development of the Web site and the subsequent changes in the e-business model of the magazine from the Web site foundation in 1998 to the situation in fall 2004. Our case illustrates that a magazine’s Web site is linked to all of its functions (editorial, circulation, and advertising), and to the business-model elements that are vital to its success. We suggest that the discussion forums in question, one type of virtual community, benefited from the positive feedback that resulted in positive network effects, and led to the adoption of the service. Moreover, community activities have enhanced customer loyalty and added a more lifelike dimension to the magazine concept. As such, the Web site now complements rather than substitutes the print magazine. Interestingly, although it does not independently fulfill the requirements of a successful business model (e.g., Magretta, 2002), it enhances the customer experience and adds new dimensions to the magazine’s business model.
Macro-Economic and Social Impacts of Offshore Outsourcing of Information Technology
Authors: Knapp Karl , Sharma Sushil , King Kevin
Published: February 2011

Offshore IT outsourcing has been gaining acceptance among corporations as a mainstream alternative to in-house operations. Various studies conducted over the last 10 years have shown that outsourcing allows firms to reduce high overhead costs and improve productivity, contribute flexibility, and thus improve overall performance of the firm. However, offshore IT outsourcing brings new challenges and risks. The skeptics believe that outsourcing may weaken the local business competitiveness of the region, investors’ confidence in investing in local businesses, and may create a spiral effect on economic indicators such as unemployment, enrollment in schools, living styles, housing, and construction, etc. Little deliberate research has been conducted to date. This study investigates the macro- and socio-economic consequences of offshore IT outsourcing in the United States using a system dynamics model. The research finds significant effects perceived and experienced by IS professionals. The research also finds significant differences in the perceptions of practitioners and the academy, especially students whose inflated expectations may cause disappointment with the reality of the current IS professions.
Exploring Decision Rules for Sellers in Business-to-Consumer(B2C) Internet Auctions
Authors: Baker Jeff , Song Jaeki
Published: February 2011

The recent growth of business-to-consumer (B2C) Internet auctions challenges researchers to develop empirically-sound explanations of critical factors that allow merchants to earn price premiums in these auctions. The absence of a comprehensive model of Internet auctions leads us to conduct an exploratory study to elucidate and rank critical factors that lead to price premiums in Internet auctions. We employ Classification and Regression Trees (CART), a decision-tree induction technique, to analyze data collected in a field study of eBay auctions. Our analysis yields decision trees that visually depict noteworthy factors that may lead to price premiums and that indicate the relative importance of these factors. We find shipping cost, reputation, initial bid price, and auction ending time as the factors most predictive of price premiums in B2C Internet auctions.
Knowledge-Based Intermediaries
Authors: Orman Levent V.
Published: February 2011

A new generation of intermediaries is predicted to flourish in the emerging electronic markets. They rely on new information technologies such as the semantic Web, rule-based triggers, and knowledge-based constraint maintenance systems. These technologies do not automate or reduce intermediation, but inspire new types of intermediaries that rely on the technologies and complement them with human organizations. An interorganizational architecture based on multiple levels of intermediation is described, and arguments are presented for its usefulness in emerging electronic markets.
An Implementation of a New Type of Online Auction
Authors: Otair M.A. , Hattab Ezz
Published: February 2011

In recent years, there has been an increased interest in the types of online auction. Yet many auctions with fixed-end times are experiencing “sniping” or submission of bids in the final minute of an auction. Late bidding deprives rivals of the ability of seeing one’s bid and undercutting it. Late bidding facilitates colludes or independent pricing well above that predicated by auction mechanism. This article aims to propose and implement a new type of online auction called Least and Unique Price (LUP). In the LUP auction, the winner will be the bidder who submits the least and unique price. Moreover, late bidding and specific closing time also be overcome by the LUP auction. In addition, this article presents the practical implementation of the proposed auction. In order to evaluate the proposed auction a comparative analysis of different auction types and the proposed one has been done.
Dynamics of Mobile Service Adoption
Authors: Verkasalo Hannu
Published: February 2011

This study utilized a newly developed handset-based mobile end-user research platform and obtained data from 548 Finnish smartphone users in 2006. In addition to descriptive adoption statistics, a path analysis model is developed that explains mobile service adoption contingent on a set of explanatory variables. The paper finds that user intentions have a strong impact on consequent adoption of the service. What is more, perceived hedonic benefits from the service are the strongest factor driving user intentions to use the service. The perceived technical capability to use the service and the role of the surrounding social network explain little why early-adopter users intend to use services. Interestingly multimedia services are strongly driven by newer more capable handsets and mobile Internet browsing benefits significantly from block or flat-rate (instead of usage-based) pricing plans for transmitted data. The paper develops several indices that measure time-varying characteristics of mobile services.
A Context-Based and Policy-Driven Method to Design and Develop Composite Web Services
Authors: Maamar Zakaria , Benslimane Djamal
Published: February 2011

Web services are nowadays attracting the attention of both academia and industry. However, a very little has so far been accomplished in terms of design and development methods that assist those who are responsible for specifying and running applications based on Web services. For this purpose, we developed CP4WS that stands for Context and Policy for Web Services. CP4WS is a context-based and policy-driven method for designing and developing composite Web services. Policies manage various aspects related to Web services like participation in composition and adjustment due to changes in the environment, and context provides the necessary information that enables for instance to trigger the appropriate policies and to regulate the interactions between Web services according to the current state of the environment. CP4WS consists of several steps such as user needs identification and Web services behavior specification. Each step has a specific graphical notation that facilitates the representation, description, and validation of the composition operations of Web services. A running scenario that illustrates the use of CP4WS is presented in the article as well.
Adoption of Mobile Technology in the Supply Chain
Authors: Doolin Bill , Al Haj Ali Eman
Published: February 2011

The increasing utilization of mobile commerce technologies in e-business raises the question of their use in supply chain integration and management. This article presents a multiple case study investigation of the adoption of mobile technology in the supply chain. A technology-organization-environment framework of the contextual influences on technological innovation adoption is used to inform an analysis of three companies’ adoption and use of mobile data solutions for sales automation, freight tracking, and service support. Analysis of the three case studies found that the relative advantage of the technological innovation and the information intensity of the company were the most important factors influencing adoption. Other factors that appeared to influence adoption included the compatibility of the technology with the company’s business approach, the presence of top management support, and the degree of organizational readiness. Environmental factors such as competition within the industry or business partner influence seemed less influential for these pioneers of mobile technology use in supply-side activities.
E-Business Decision Making by Agreement
Authors: Tastle William J. , Wierman Mark J.
Published: February 2011

Gathering customer data over the Internet is largely limited to collecting the responses to a set of easily answerable questions, such as Yes/No questions and Likert scale questions. These data are then analyzed to identify customer trends or other items of interest to management. The data can be useful, but key to their usage is the application of suitable mathematical tools. Traditionally little more than standard statistics has been used in the analysis of ordinal, or category, data. This can be inaccurate and in some cases, misleading. This paper introduces measures of agreement and dissent to the field of eBusiness analysis and shows how ordinal data can be analyzed in more meaningful ways.
How Well Do E-Commerce Web Sites Support Compensatory and Non-Compensatory Decision Strategies? An Exploratory Study
Authors: Gudigantala Naveen , Song Jaeki , Jones Donald R.
Published: February 2011

The burgeoning growth of online retailing is forcing businesses to provide better support for consumer decision making on e-commerce Web sites. Consequently, researchers in information systems and marketing have been focusing on investigating the effectiveness of Web-based decision support systems (WebDSS) in providing accurate and satisfying choices for customers. We consider WebDSS implementation based on compensatory, non-compensatory decision strategies and synthesize the existing literature. The results of synthesis show that compensatory WebDSS perform better than non-compensatory WebDSS in terms of decision quality, satisfaction, effort, and confidence. We then investigate the level of Web site support provided for consumers’ execution of compensatory and non-compensatory strategies. We examined 375 U.S.-based company Web sites and found that though moderate levels of support exists for consumers to implement non-compensatory choice strategies, virtually no support exists for executing multi-attributebased compensatory choice strategies.
The Human Face of E-Business
Authors: Aldiri Khalid , Hobbs Dave , Qahwaji Rami
Published: February 2011

Business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce suffers from consumers’ lack of trust. This may be partly attributable to the lack of face-to-face interpersonal exchanges that provide trust behavior in conventional commerce. It was proposed that initial trust may be built by simulating face-to-face interaction. To test this, an extensive laboratory-based experiment was conducted to assess the initial trust in consumers using four online vendors’ Web sites with a variety of still and video images of sales personnel, both Western and Saudi Arabian. Initial trust was found to be enhanced for Web sites employing photographs and video clips compared to control Web sites lacking such images; also the effect of culture was stronger in the Saudi Arabian setting when using Saudi photos rather than Western photos.
A Hybrid Ontology Mediation Approach for the Semantic Web
Authors: Muthaiyah Saravanan , Kerschberg Larry
Published: February 2011

This article introduces a hybrid ontology mediation approach for the Semantic Web. It combines both syntactic and semantic matching measures to provide better results for matching data labels. Although ontologies are meant to provide a shared conceptualization of the world, the development practices, lack of standards, and subjective naming conventions today, create data heterogeneity problems among ontologies. This is a significant problem particularly for ontologies of similar domains. Mediation techniques at present focus mainly on syntactic matching and our premise is that a hybrid approach would be a better solution to this problem. We provide empirical evidence with hypothesis tests and also provide several new measures such as relevance, reliability, and precision to validate our approach. We also introduce a detailed mapping algorithm.
Business Associates in the National Health Information Network
Authors: Szewczak Edward J. , Snodgrass Coral R.
Published: February 2011

This article examines the role of the business associate of healthcare providers (BAHP) in the National Health Information Network. Current Health Insurance Portability and Accountability legislation has little to say about BAHPs and their potential impact on medical information privacy. For the good of the business enterprise, managers who are BAHPs or who supervise BAHPs need to be aware of the potential pitfalls of ignoring medical information privacy and take a proactive stance in protecting medical information privacy within the National Health Information Network. Among the approaches that managers can adopt include creating legal contracts between a business and BAHPs, proactively adopting more effective transmission security technologies, and insuring that BAHPs properly dispose of medical information after their use. Such proactive approaches will help to insure that the business is protected against a serious data breach that may result in popular and/or legal challenges to the business.
Modeling Intention to Use Novel Mobile Peer-To-Peer Services
Authors: Heikkinen Mikko V.J. , Töyli Juuso
Published: February 2011

This study models the intention to use novel mobile peer-to-peer communications and content sharing services and determine their adoption potential. A sample of 155 Finnish customers with an advanced mobile handset was collected and analyzed. The Theory of Planned Behavior conceptual model for measuring behavioral intention was applied in the context of novel mobile services. The model was estimated by structural equation modeling. Mobile peer-to-peer communications and content sharing services have high adoption potential among the respondents with advanced handsets. The adoption potential of communications services was higher than that of content sharing services. User attitude was further identified as the main driver affecting intention to use a novel mobile service. The suggested operationalisation of the conceptual model was observed to measure the intention to use novel mobile services with an acceptable accuracy.
Regulating Mobile Services
Authors: Troshani Indrit , Hill Sally Rao
Published: February 2011

While the development of mobile services is experiencing a spectacular growth in many countries worldwide, existing regulatory regimes are ill equipped for dealing with them. In this paper, the authors use qualitative evidence to investigate the manner in which institutional regulatory factors, including legal, societal, and economic factors, can impact mobile services in the Australian mobile telecommunications industry. These factors are important as they shape both the nature of emerging mobile services and their diffusion trajectory. The investigation culminates with an innovative institutional regulatory framework that includes factors such as consumer and intellectual property protection, market and resources access. The authors argue that co-regulation, a mixture of direct monitoring and intervention of regulators through legislation and complete industry self-regulation, is an effective approach for regulating the mobile telecommunications industry. Given the complex and dynamic nature of this industry, co-regulation can minimize monitoring costs and enhance compliance.
Proposing a Hierarchical Utility Package with Reference to Mobile Advertising
Authors: Tripathi Shalini N. , Siddiqui Masood H.
Published: February 2011

Mobile advertising is a powerful tool for direct and interactive marketing. However effective marketing requires examining consumers’ psyche. This study proposes a hierarchical utility package (in the consumers’ perception) with reference to mobile advertising, thus enhancing its acceptance. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed four consolidated utility dimensions (with reference to mobile advertising). Binary logistic regression was used to create a hierarchical utility package with respondents giving the highest priority to Customization rather than Location based messaging, followed by Incentives and Session based messages. By incorporating the utility package in the mobile advertising format, mobile advertisers can ensure greater acceptance and develop competitive advantage.
A Meta-Analysis of Group Side Effects in Electronic Brainstorming
Authors: Dennis Alan R. , Williams Michael L.
Published: February 2011

Electronic brainstorming (EBS) has been a focus of academic research since the 1980s. The results suggest that in most – but not all – cases, groups using EBS produce more ideas than groups using verbal brainstorming. In contrast, the results comparing groups using EBS to groups using nominal group brainstorming have been mixed: sometimes EBS groups produce more ideas, while in other cases, nominal groups produce more. This article examines the effects of group size on EBS, verbal brainstorming and nominal group brainstorming. We found that group size is a significant factor in predicting the performance of EBS relative to verbal brainstorming and nominal group brainstorming. As group size increases, the relative benefit of EBS increases. EBS groups outperform verbal groups when group size reaches four people. EBS groups outperform nominal groups when group size reaches 10 people.
Virtual Group Strategic Decision Making Using Structured Conflict and Consensus Approaches
Authors: Fjermestad Jerry
Published: February 2011

Do procedures that improve face-to-face decision meetings also improve virtual “meetings”? Might the effectiveness of such procedures improve with practice? This longitudinal experiment investigated the efficiency, effectiveness and group member perceptions of dialectical inquiry (DI) and constructive consensus (CC) approaches to strategic decision making in a virtual (distributed) Computer-Mediated-Communications (CMC) environment. There were no differences between DI and CC groups in terms of decision effectiveness. However, this result has not been unusual in CMC research. DI groups had significantly higher perceived depth of evaluation than CC groups. CC groups reported greater decision acceptance and willingness to work together again than DI groups. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for Group Support Systems research and design in the era of the World Wide Web.
Listserv Implementation and Sense of Community
Authors: Blanchard Anita
Published: February 2011

This study examines how a listserv affects its members’ sense of community (SOC) with the sponsoring organization. It was expected that the listserv would increase members’ knowledge about and participation in the sponsoring organization department, which, in turn, would increase their SOC. The study examined listserv members and non-members before and after implementation of the listserv. As expected, listserv membership increased knowledge and face-to-face activity, and knowledge and face-to-face activity increased a sense of community. However, ironically, there was no effect of listserv membership on sense of community. These findings challenge previous theories about the development of sense of community while nonetheless demonstrating the positive effects of listserv membership.
A Case Study of Web-Based Collaborative Decision Support at NASA
Authors: Becerra-Fernandez Irma , Del Alto Martha , Stewart Helen
Published: February 2011

Today, organizations rely on decision makers to produce “mission critical” decisions that are based on inputs from multiple domains. The ideal decision maker has a profound understanding of specific domains, coupled with the experience that allows them to act quickly and decisively on the information. Daily they face problems and failures that are too difficult for any individual person to solve; therefore, teams are now required to share their knowledge in spontaneous collaborations. Since requisite expertise may not all reside in the same organization, nor be geographically colocated, virtual networked teams are needed. This paper presents a case study describing the development and use of Postdoc, NASA’s Web-based collaborative and knowledge management platform.
Government Funding of E-collaboration Research in the European Union
Authors: Kock Ned , Antunes Pedro
Published: February 2011

Government funding of e-collaboration research in both the US and EU seems to be growing. In the EU, a key initiative to promote governmental investment in e-collabo-ration research is the Collaboration@Work initiative. This initiative is one of the EU’s Information Society Technologies Directorate General’s main priorities. In the US, government investment in e-collaboration research is channeled through several gov-ernment branches and organizations, notably the National Science Foundation. There are key differences in the approaches used for government funding of e-collaboration research in the EU and US. Some of these differences are discussed here, as well as related implications.