bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Instrument to Classify End-Users Based On the User Cube
Authors: Govindarajulu Chittibabu
Published: October 2017

End-user computing (EUC) has led to increased end-user productivity and satisfaction. In order to reduce the risks inherent to EUC, organizations should better manage EUC. As a first step different groups of end-users must be identified. Existing classification schemes have weaknesses and fail to capture the different roles contemporary end users play. Cotterman and Kumar (1989) proposed a user cube based on the three main dimensions of EUC -development, operation, and control. Even though this is rational approach to end user classification, it has been largely ignored by researchers. This may be due to the lack of an instrument to implement the cube. Hence, in this paper, a 10-item instrument is presented and data collected from 292 end users show that the instrument has strong construct validity. Practitioners can find this instrument very useful in determining the characteristics of EUC in their firms which in turn would be beneficial to devise strategies for EUC management.
Weaving a Web Development Curriculum
Authors: Haga Wayne , Fustos Janos
Published: October 2017

Faculty in the Computer Information Systems department at the authors’ institution is in the process of developing a new Computer Information Systems degree with several areas of emphasis. One of the proposed areas of emphasis will be to prepare students for a career as a web developer. As part of the curriculum development process, the authors collected data regarding the current demand for web developers, the education level requested, salaries, and the specific skills employers are demanding. The research process included reading and recording the education level, experience, and specific skills employers are requesting for hundreds of jobs that have been posted on the Internet within the last few months. Additionally, data was gathered from other sources including courses and programs offered at other institutions of higher education. Using this data, a model curriculum for a degree leading to a career in the field of web development is proposed.
An Applied Approach to Teaching HR Concepts Using an ERP System
Authors: Hawking Paul , Foster Susan , Bassett Penny
Published: October 2017

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems offer a software-based system that handles an enterprise’s total information system needs in an integrated fashion. These systems are purported to incorporate “best business practice”. Many universities have realized the potential of these systems as educational tools and have developed curriculum accordingly. Many companies in recent times have identified the benefits of the Human Resources functionality offered by ERP systems. However universities in Australia have not realized the potential of this functionality as a teaching tool to reinforce many of the concepts covered in a Human Resource Management curriculum. This paper outlines the experiences at Victoria University where SAP Human Resources functionality was incorporated for the first time. It also describes a number of student projects under development that will enhance this curriculum development. The paper will provide a model to other universities who are considering developing similar type of curriculum. .
PANEL on: Using CITIDEL as a Portal for IT Education
Authors: Impagliazzo John , Cassel Lillian , A.N. Lee John
Published: October 2017

The National Science Foundation has recently funded a variety of projects through the National Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology (SMET) Digital Library initiative, coined NSDL. One such project is the Computing and Information Technology Interactive Digital Educational Library project, also known as CITIDEL, which is part of NSDL’s Collection Track activities. CITIDEL is a consortium of five universities that includes Virginia Tech (the lead institution), Hofstra University, Penn State University, The College of New Jersey, and Villanova University.
Data Communications and Networking in IS Curriculum: Framework for the Class Project
Authors: Tomasz Jarmoszko Andrzej , Gendron Michael
Published: October 2017

Both practitioners and academics have recognized the importance of Data Communications and Networking (DCN) in undergraduate and graduate Information Systems education. This is confirmed, in particular, by the content of IS’97 and MSIS 2000 model curricula for degree programs in Information Systems (note IS’97.6 and MSIS2000.3). Experience shows that one of the most effective ways to teach Information Systems concepts is via the juxtaposition of theory and practice in the setting of a group class project. Yet, in contrast to other IS courses, there appears to be no established way to conduct the class project in a DCN course, particularly in relation to the methods of logical and physical network design, and cost/benefit evaluation of network implementation. Our research addresses this shortcoming through an attempt to synthesize the experience of IS programs, and through an effort to take that experience a step forward.
Comprendiendo Nuestras Politicas: The Need of an Effective C&IT Policy for a Nation’s Development, The Venezuelan Case
Authors: Joham Carmen
Published: October 2017

This research explores the argument that developing countries (DC) need effective and good quality C&IT policies as a strategy for socio-economic growth. It focuses on Venezuela and attempts to gain an understanding of the current and potential impact of national C&IT policies and strategies in the C&IT diffusion process and globalisation arena. It is suggested that a shift is needed towards a wider concept of policy design. The traditional design reflects a rather ‘prescriptive’ approach, while I propose that a ‘participatory’ approach, which encompasses social, political, technical, ethical and other issues, is both necessary and desirable for effective policies to exist. A multiple perspective interpretative methodology is used in order to understand the complexities of effective C&IT policies in Venezuela to attract C&IT investment and achieve socio-economic growth. Consequently, the study of C&IT policy is based on an approach that emphasises a multiple level of analysis encompassing the levels of the individual, society, organisation, and technology.
ICT Industry Certification: Integration Issues for Post-Secondary Educational Institutions in Australia
Authors: W. Koziniec Terry , W. Dixon Michael
Published: October 2017

Driven by the incredible pace of technological change the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) vendors have led the charge in promoting industry based technical certifications. Today, there are a plethora of instructor led, intensive, short courses that provide training in an ICT vendor’s product and prepare participants to sit a certification exam. Increasingly, vendors are developing expanded certification programs suitable for inclusion in high school, college and university courses. Although these programs are attractive to students and educational institutions, there are obstacles to be overcome and risks to be evaluated when attempting to integrate a certification program within a traditional offering. This paper examines these issues in detail.
Information and Communication Technology: Gender Issues in Developing Nations
Authors: Betz Leahy Kimberly , Yermish Ira
Published: October 2017

As Developing Nations seek to leverage scarce resources toward the goal of achieving a developed status they must reevaluate past practices and explore available and affordable technologies. Where information and communication infrastructures are weak, use of low-cost, easily distributed technologies have proven effective. Still, many developing nations have failed to incorporate a resource in great abundance, their women, to use these new technologies to greatest advantage. This paper will address the implications of women’s lack of economic and educational parity, and offer examples of how the education of women through the use of information and communication technology can enhance a nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).
TAL Rules Versus ECA Rules: an Attempt for Comparison in the Credit Management Context
Authors: Mach Maria
Published: October 2017

Credits are the one of the most important functions in bank management, because, from one side, thanks to a good credit policy a bank can earn money, but from the other side, in the case of weak or wrong credit policy the bank can make substantial losses. Therefore in the field of credit policy management, intelligent information systems can be very helpful, as it is a complex and heterogeneous field, needing complex management and decision-making procedures. There exist many technical solutions aimed at helping the decision-makers in this field, from “traditional” ones, as databases, to more sophisticated tools, as for example expert systems, the main aim of which is to perform the analysis of applications for a credit, thus helping to make proper credit decisions. Credit management is closely related to time, in other words, the temporal aspect of credit management can be very clearly seen. Therefore while building intelligent systems in this area, it would be recommended to take this temporal aspect into account. The article concentrates on the question of searching and choosing an intelligent computer tool which would fulfil the above mentioned requirements, the toll which would help to make necessary credit analyses, to make proper credit decisions, taking into account the temporal aspect of credit management. Two solutions are discussed: TAL language and active databases. Some exemplary credit management rules are encoded both in the TAL language and in the form of ECA rules. Both kinds of rules are analysed and discussed, as well as their advantages and disadvantages.
Designing a Tool To Know Invisible Resources: the Hyperguide Project, an XML Storyboard for Digital Collections Access
Authors: Maria Paci Augusta , Canali Daniela
Published: October 2017

In this paper, we describe the Hyperguide project, an interactive push XML application for digital collection access, designed as a tool to know invisible resources in the web. Hyperguide enhances the accessibility of cultural and scientific webs for all users, overcoming present barriers in information seeking, addressing the need of improving web access, selection and filtering and usability of information resources in specific domains. The tool will be an interactive push application which provides the template to build a storyboard in XML to facilitate identification of selected web sites of heterogeneous nature.
Automated Essay Grading System Applied to a First Year University Subject - How Can We Do It Better?
Authors: Palmer John , Williams Robert , Dreher Heinz
Published: October 2017

Automated marking of assignments consisting of written text would doubtless be of advantage to teachers and education administrators alike. When large numbers of assignments are submitted at once, teachers find themselves bogged down in their attempt to provide consistent evaluations and high quality feedback to students within as short a timeframe as is reasonable, usually a matter of days rather than weeks. Educational administrators are also concerned with quality and timely feedback, but in addition must manage the cost of doing this work. Clearly an automated system would be a highly desirable addition to the educational tool-kit, particularly if it can provide less costly and more effective outcome. In this paper we present a description and evaluation of four automated essay grading systems. We then report on our trial of one of these systems which was undertaken at Curtin University of Technology in the first half of 2001. The purpose of the trial was to assess whether automated essay grading was feasible, economically viable and as accurate as manually grading the essays. Within the Curtin Business School we have not previously used automated grading systems but the benefit could be enormous given the very large numbers of students in some first year subjects. As we evaluate the results of our trial, a research and development direction is indicated which we believe will result in improvement over existing systems.
Organising Information And Procedures For Effective Communication Across Multinational Campuses
Authors: Parr Sharon
Published: October 2017

The Faculty of Informatics and Communication at Central Queensland University (CQU) is well known for providing a quality product and service to its customers. CQU’s central campus is located in Rockhampton. CQU operates within a complex tertiary environment, and offers its programs and courses from a multitude of campuses around the world. The organization of information and procedures that define the way in which the Faculty does business is a complicated process that requires a high level of interaction between staff and associated partners. Communicating through email is convenient; however, it can be ineffective if it is not understood correctly and completely at the receiving end. This paper presents an overview of how the Faculty of Informatics and Communication operates in a complicated tertiary environment and how it uses different communication tools to effectively coordinate the delivery of its educational product and is able to build relationships with remote campuses.
Internet Addiction Disorder and Identity on line: the Educational Relationship
Authors: Pinnelli Stefania
Published: October 2017

In the mid 1990s people became fascinated with the Internet, a fact which has not only redesigned the geographic borders of communication within a totally new dimension, but has also created new profiles of personal identities. This paper aims to describe how identities are constructed in cyberspace and outline the risks and the opportunities of such an evolution of human identity. Moving from the identity concept from the theories of Goffman, Erikson and other authors, this paper intends to answer these questions and to discuss the problem of personal identity in the age of the Internet. The aim is to introduce and to discuss through a pedagogical point of view, a specific type of mental disturbance of the Internet age called Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD), a disturbance classified through the criteria of DSM IV as a new form of dependency.
The Virtual Organization from the Viewpoint of Informing
Authors: Potocan Vojko , Dabic Marina
Published: October 2017

The conditions of globalization require companies to transform from the traditional industrial enterprises into the modern post-industrial ones, which are becoming open, flexible and innovative. The focus on knowledge has lead to increase attention towards information technology (IT) as one of the main source of competitive advantages. Organizational starting points for their functioning lead to a specific organizational structure, e.g. virtual organization. Virtual organizations enable organizational and/or individual core competencies to be brought together when needed, and disbanded when no longer required on one hand. On the other hand, competitive pressure over the modern conditions of business requires a high quality of business functioning. Business functioning of virtual organizations car be significantly improved mainly in the field of its management, which is its least developed and investigated area. An important viewpoint of management presents a holistic information support to management, which, to a great extent, determines the quality of the entire management and has also a major impact on the results of business operation.
Environmental Visualisation as an Informing System
Authors: Quinn Brian , D Bishop Ian
Published: October 2017

The aim of this research was to produce interactive, dynamic, collaborative, engaging, realistic scenes that could be used for educational or community purposes. The visualisations were based on the Macedon Ranges, a scenic area 80 km to the north west of Melbourne. The pedagogical foundations of good practice for on-line leaning and cooperative work were examined. Informing Science provided a framework for describing, evaluating and improving the products of the research. Conclusions from the research are that Informing Science provides an excellent framework for studying Visualisation types of Informing Systems. Editable games such as Sacrifice, Tribes2 and Unreal have promise as visualisation environments and some examples are presented.
Collaborative Virtual Environments to Support Communication and Community in Internet-Based Distance Education
Authors: Redfern Sam , Naughton Niall
Published: October 2017

In this paper we discuss the use of modern information and communication technologies for distance education (DE) purposes. We argue that current technologies and implementations do not adequately support the key concepts of communication and community that many practitioners believe to be important, particularly if modern pedagogies such as constructivism are to be supported. We propose that collaborative virtual environments (CVEs) are appropriate tools for improving DE, and we discuss the current developments in the areas of CVEs in particular and in computer supported co-operative work (CSCW) in general. We also note those areas in which the majority of CVEs implemented to date have not reached their full potential for DE support, discuss current thought regarding online community, and outline a proposed CVE-based system for DE.
Reflections on a Course in Emerging Information Technologies
Authors: Frederick Sencindiver J. , Money William
Published: October 2017

The purpose of this paper is to serve as a departure point for a discussion on the design of a course in Advanced Information Technologies, with a special emphasis upon providing students with the tools to identify new, emerging technologies. The paper also shares the experience of offering such a course to graduate students in Information Systems during the Spring of 1999, the Spring of 2001, and the Spring of 2002. The course was designed to engage the students in participatory learning exercises in order to give them experience differentiating emerging from simply new information technologies, using principles described early in the course.
Information Technology Applications in the Material Handling Equipment Industry
Authors: Anne Taylor Virginia
Published: October 2017

This study is an exploratory review of the determinants and extent of information technology’s influence on the operations of material handling dealerships in the USA. The goal is to develop an analysis framework specifying which factors contribute to the transformation of the material handling industry’s practices in relation to using information technology to optimize transactions in goods, knowledge, and services. Knowledge management, sales force automation, customer relationship management, demand chain management, customer service automation, inventory management, and enterprise resource planning, will be investigated. A survey instrument will be used to elicit both information technology ideas that have already changed operations and those that are expected to impact future approaches to informing clients effectively and efficiently. The primary objectives of this research are to identify relevant issues, develop a pilot case study, and provide an analysis of the participant’s responses to an initial survey questionnaire about these topics.
Transition From A Microfinance Institution to Regulated Bank: Technology Infrastructure Planning in a Developing Country
Authors: Tellis Winston , Seymour Aaron
Published: October 2017

In this paper, the authors describe the process of converting from a microfinance organization to a regulated bank in Haiti. The literature was helpful as far as some of the procedures were concerned, and the organization was able to use the recommendations. However the researchers found some major omissions in those recommendations as far as infrastructure was concerned. In some developing countries, it is impossible to install PCs because there is no electricity. Similarly network connections and access to the Internet without telephone service would be impossible. A comparison is made between the recommendations and the realities of the environment in Haiti. Future implementations could benefit from the findings of the authors.
The Evolution of a B.S. Internet/Web Program at Purdue University Calumet
Authors: Winer Charles , Maniotes John
Published: October 2017

The growth of the Internet and the impact of the Community College system in Indiana have had a profound impact or the traditional two and four year programs in Computer Information Systems (CIS). Purdue University Calumet has recognized this impact and has revised and implemented an innovative Internet/Web B.S. program and related courses to support it. The B.S. program was developed and refined with input from the University’s local business/industry advisory committee. This paper presents the new four year Internet/Web B.S. program, which gives students a strong foundation in basic concepts and a high degree of employability.
Using UML in Software Requirements Analysis - Experiences from Practical Student Project Work
Authors: Frosch-Wilke Dirk
Published: October 2017

Currently the Unified Modeling Language (UML) is an industry standard for object-oriented analysis and design of software systems. Accordingly, teaching UML is part of curricula in many universities engaged in the field of software engineering. Yet not much has been reported in the literature on how efficiently such courses enable students to use UML in software development projects. In this paper we present the initial results of our ongoing study into the capabilities of students to use the UML in system design projects after having undergone “traditional” and alternative teaching methods in UML classes. In this paper we investigate students’ motivation to follow a use-case driven approach in requirement analysis. We furthermore explore specific problems students are confronted with when using the UML. These findings were gathered during continuous evaluation of a project, in which students were exposed to the real world of systems design, by making the requirement analysis for a customer relationship system. With our study we attempt to optimize our methods of teaching UML in university courses and o f-fer recommendations to this end on the basis of our findings.
Case and Real-Life Problem-Based Experiential Learning with Information System Projects
Authors: J. Gackowski Zbigniew
Published: October 2017

The focus of this paper is case and real-life problem-based (Ewell, 1997) experiential learning with computer information system projects at California State University Stanislaus. The experiential learning occurs within a four- stage cycle: concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experime n-tation. The four principles and strategies applied to bring knowing and doing together are: concreteness, involvement, dissonance, and reflection. The paper shows how the four types of learning environments (affective, perceptually oriented, symbolic, behavioral) are implemented, and student teams guided. Multi-disciplinary aspects of experiential education, and drawbacks specific to the academic environment in assessing students’ performance in team projects are discussed.
A Project Designed to Assess Overall Programming Skills
Authors: Whittington Keith
Published: October 2017

This paper examines the process and outcomes of a final project given to students at the end of their third course in Java programming. The purpose of the project was to assess the students' knowledge of program design and the various Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) concepts covered throughout the three-course sequence. This project required the students to work in teams of two then interact with all the other teams in the class. A communication protocol was specified to ensure that each team’s program could work with every other team's program. At the end of the course each team had to present their results and experiences to the class. Every team's response was positive, but the surprising result was the overwhelming response from the students extolling the benefits and strengths of preliminary design, following established protocols, the use of core OOP concepts, and how it helped them create good, stable programs. This project surpassed our expectations and this paper discusses the details of the assignment, the student's progress throughout the project, and the final results.
Students' Peer-Review in Modelling Exercises
Authors: Sindre Guttorm , Moody Daniel , Brasethvik Terje , Solvberg Arne
Published: October 2017

This paper reports on the 2002 experiences with students’ peer-review of modeling exercises in a third year Information Systems course. While the peer-reviews did yield some positive and promising results, there were also some problems, and the goals set when introducing peer reviews were not fully achieved. Based on an analysis of student performance and perceptions, main causes for the problems were found to be lacking student motivation combined with unclear demands from teaching staff. For the 2003 offering of the course, the peer review process has been changed to remedy these problems, and this seems to have improved the learning experience for the students.
An Agent System to Support Student Teams Working Online
Authors: E. Whatley Janice
Published: October 2017

In this paper an application of software agents is described, aimed at supporting students working on team projects in the online situation. Online teamwork is problematical for a number of reasons, such as getting acquainted with team members, communications between members and knowing what progress has been made on the project. Software agents have the ability to monitor progress and offer advice by operating in the background to act autonomously when the need arises. An agent prototype has been developed to perform a limited set of functions to support students, and the results of a trial carried out using teams working on projects are discussed.
The Effectiveness of Online Synchronous Discussion
Authors: A. Schultz Robert
Published: October 2017

I have been exploring ways to incorporate online techniques into my MBA course in Management of Information Technology. The course uses small-group discussion of case studies, so online synchronous discussion seemed appropriate. After a small-scale successful experiment, I offered most of the spring 2001 course offering online. Although the students were enthusiastic, I got the disturbing feeling students were not really learning from the online discussions. So I administered a short multiple-choice post-test to the class. I gave the same test to a later class with virtually identical material delivered traditionally. Scores were about 20% higher for the traditional group, and statistical analysis verifies that this difference is not due to chance. So synchronous online discussion seems less effective than classroom instruction in this context. I suggest possible reasons for the lesser effectiveness of this online technique and consider what other online techniques might be more effective for this material.
How Prepared are Malaysian Nurses for Online Distance Learning?
Authors: Wati Abas Zoraini , Shamsuddin Nafsiah , Lit Phua Kai
Published: October 2017

Malaysia is moving towards a developed country status and it is imperative that the healthcare provided be at a higher standard than it is today. As members of the healthcare team, nurses play an essential role in the provision of healthcare. As such it is timely that nurses’ education be upgraded. As most of them only have a certificate or diploma in nursing, one way to upgrade the nurses is by providing opportunities for a baccalaureate degree. However, due to the shortage of nurses, nurses find it a challenge to enroll in a full-time on-campus programme. One way to help nurses meet the challenge is by providing an online distance learning programme to Malaysian nurses. And, to ensure the success of the online distance learning programme, it was realized that the nursing students need to be adequately prepared for an online learning environment. How much preparation will be determined, among other things, by their prior experience and skill in using technology as well as by their belief and attitude towards online distance learning. A survey was conducted on a cohort group of students during a face-to-face precourse orientation, that is, prior to the start of the online program. The findings of the survey are presented and discussed in the paper and implications for the future are highlighted.
Using a Case Method Approach in an IT Project Management Curriculum: A Long Look over the Shoulder of a Practitioner at Work
Authors: Jewels Tony , Bruce Christine
Published: October 2017

Modern IT project managers require a range of multi-disciplinary skill-sets in order to increase the likelihood of project success. Delivery of a single course unit, which attempts to prepare students for the rigours demanded from this role, demands a delicate blend of topics from curricula administrators and a pedagogy that best suits its environmental constraints. The Faculty of Information Technology of one university is using an integrated case method approach in an attempt to link theoretical constructs of IT project management (ITPM) with a real-world, practical implementation example. An analysis of student post-unit feedback indicates a variation in understanding of what had been learnt, providing an opportunity to advance the teaching model.
Developing Real World/Virtual World Hands-on Experiments for IT Students
Authors: Schmitt Lawrence , Aflaki James
Published: October 2017

This paper outlines the design and development of an interactive virtual laboratory toolset, TelcSim, designed to enhance students’ learning of basic telecommunication principles. This study establishes the increasing demand for technically competent IT professionals throughout this decade. Next, the mix, motivation, and background of students entering the university environment to obtain the skills necessary to meet this demand are explored. Based on the result of this analysis and the examination of current learning theories, their use and applications, a virtual laboratory toolset (TelcSim) was developed. A preliminary evaluation of TelcSim shows great promise and meets the goals set forth during its design. Recommendations for further development and enhancements are explored in conclusion of this article. Included are screen prints showing a sample of TelcSim features.
Technology Transfer - The Human Side of IT
Authors: P. Holden Edward
Published: October 2017

Information Technology (IT) is fundamentally a people business that involves integrating technology into human processes in order to solve problems and create new capacities. These integration skills are not often taught in undergraduate computing curricula. The Galisano College of Computing and Information Sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) has been offering a course in the diffusion of innovations for several years now and considers the communication needed to diffuse an innovation core to IT’s mission. The course, called Technology Transfer, is the study of the "flow" of technology from its creation through adoption to implementation and eventual effects. Our BS in Information Technology has one of the few courses that address these issues directly. Many students are skeptical of the reality of organizational life and fail to understand the way that change actually occurs. The course provides a framework by which students can interpret and understand their roles as change agents in the organization. This paper provides an overview of RIT's Technology Transfer course, explains its rationale within the curriculum and its contribution to professional practice. It also discusses some of the techniques used in teaching these skills. The paper concludes with feedback on the value of the course to our graduates.
Misinformation as a Starting Point for Critical Thinking
Authors: A Banks David
Published: October 2017

The media generally, and the web in particular, offers learners access to increasingly large amounts of data. Some of this will be verifiable, some will be inaccurate or out of date and some will be either accidentally or deliberately untrue. Failure by students to recognise the existence of misinformation, deliberate or accidental, will lead to the uncritical use of web-sources materials with consequential impact on the value and quality of the work produced. This paper suggests that this potential problem can be turned into an educational benefit by highlighting the problem by stressing the need for students to enhance their critical thinking skills in ambiguous data and information environments.
A Knowledge-Based Risk Management for the Utility Business Service Model
Authors: Silveira Christina
Published: October 2017

The digital economy needs new indicators for emergent technologies, and to establish them, a risk analysis model is deployed as an Information System Meta research method. The role of the Utility Business Service Model (UBSM) in mitigating information technology and information systems (IT/IS) risks in the business activity: assisting to understand how the virtual enterprise paradigm is shifting established values across the IT/IS value chain. The technical infrastructure for e-commerce and ebusiness share similar risks. The PMBook (Project Management Institute) risk analysis model is used to understand the risks involved in the adoption of UBSM by potential customers. This preliminary model will be part of a virtuous cycle of learning and informing. The twofold purpose of the knowledge-base risk management framework is (1) to summarise and categorise initial research finds about the use of the UBSM, and (2) survey the pace of adoption and acceptance of the UBSM as a service provision business model, which includes the application services provision (ASP) business model.
Building Data Mining Models in the Oracle 9i Environment
Authors: Hauke Krzysztof , L. Owoc Mievzyslaw , Pondel Maciej
Published: October 2017

Data Mining (DM) is a very crucial issue in knowledge discovery processes. The basic facilities to create data mining models were implemented successfully on Oracle 9i as the extension of the database server. DM tools enable developers to create Business Intelligence (BI) applications. As a result Data Mining models can be used as support of knowledge-based management. The main goal of the paper is to present new features of the Oracle platform in building and testing DM models. Authors characterize methods of building and testing Data Mining models available on the Oracle 9i platform, stressing the critical steps of the whole process and presenting examples of practical usage of DM models. Verification techniques of the generated knowledge bases are discussed in the mentioned environment.
Making Databases Relevant in the Accounting Information Systems Course: Exercises for the Classroom
Authors: Moody Janette
Published: October 2017

The pivotal role played by computers in acquiring, storing, and processing financial information requires that accountants, and therefore accounting students, have a thorough understanding of the underlying principles of data composition and data structures. In addition, in order to facilitate the deep learning that will sustain these students past the point-and-click mechanics of the software dujour, it is important that a pedagogical strategy such as problem-based learning be used in the classroom, especially during the early learning phases of database courses. This presentation will provide some specific examples of classroom exercises designed to incorporate the student’s current knowledge of everyday business situations with higher order concepts of data models and their impact on managerial information. The presentation will first discuss the current state of Accounting Information Systems curricular, the concepts of problem-based learning, and examples of classroom exercises to teach database concepts to accounting students.
Sparse Design: Cross-Disciplinary Communications in Software Development
Authors: Thornburg Gail
Published: October 2017

One of the precepts of traditional models of software development is that detailed specifications, that is, what precisely the software should do, must precede the design and then creation of the code. This paper details scenarios of non-conformance to this model, and explores the issues that arise from the failure of the model.
Competing in the Information Economy
Authors: M. Duggal Sudesh , Revinova Sveta
Published: October 2017

In the information economy, the successful organization will be a sophisticated information-gathering machine that analyzes and manages information flow with the same skill and focus that the industrial company managed work processes. In the information economy, the successful company will be competitive on price and quality as a given, but will also compress cycle time to a minimum. Time compression will become the principle basis for competitive advantage. The emerging business strategies that achieve competitive advantage through time compression are explored in this paper.
Social Networks in Transnational and Virtual Communities
Authors: Vivian Nathan , Sudweeks Fay
Published: October 2017

There has been extensive research on social networks but little is known about why some communities survive and some disintegrate. This paper provides a framework to explain similarities in many types of communities. In particular, a comparison of transnational communities and virtual communities highlights the efficacy of the framework in explaining how strong relationships within communities are dependent on social formation factors such as a sense of identity, social structures and social capital.
Information Science: Science about Information Misinformation and Disinformation
Authors: Tudjman Miroslav , Mikelic Nives
Published: October 2017

Participants in interactions (particularly in interactive network media (WWW) aim to change their intentions, goals, decisions and actions - as well as those of other participants in communication. Integrity of information is therefore disturbed; changes are manifested as technical, semantic and social errors and lead to the creation of information, misinformation and disinformation. These become legitimate points of interest in Information Science. Criteria for differentiation among information, misinformation and disinformation are suggested based on their value for different participants in interaction. Therefore, the notion of relevance needs to be redefined and efficiency of information is analyzed from the point of view of participants in the communication process. Usability of information is a measure of efficiency of the information process as judged by the user. Relevance is an accepted term for measuring information usability by the user. Usefulness of information is a measure of sender's efficiency regarding the decision-making processes and actions of the information user. Usefulness is a measure of the actual effect of the author (source) of information on the choice of goals, decisions and actions of the information user.
Spam and Anti-Spam Measures: A Look at Potential Impacts
Authors: Lueg Christopher
Published: October 2017

The proliferation of unrestricted Internet access has brought the community spam which has become a serious problem costing companies billions of dollars per annum. Typical anti-spam measures, such as filtering and blocking techniques, exist but focus on solving the spam problem on the message transportation level. Using such techniques may have impacts beyond the realm of spam-filters and block lists. In this paper we argue that implementing typical anti-spam measures means that computers are assigned the power to assess legitimacy of email. This means, for example, that legitimate email might be rejected because the sender used the 'wrong' mail server or the wrong terminology. In this paper, we describe some of the core problems and discuss alternatives.
Panel on: The Creation and Distortion of Communication through Information Technology Can You Say That? Communication Contours of Cybersmear
Authors: Elizabeth Bezanson Mary
Published: October 2017

New technology asks members of society to reorder their thinking about their world. The deep penetration of new informing technologies in the Internet age invites people to reconsider their conceptions of language, bias, and communication. This paper establishes the contours of communication in cybersmear. Focusing on the character of messages, this paper considers the implications of emotive language on the personal acceptance and legal protection for speech in cyberspace
Towards Egocentric Way-Finding Appliances Supporting Navigation in Unfamiliar Terrain
Authors: Lueg Christopher , Bidwell Nicola
Published: October 2017

In this paper, we discuss foundations, requirements and first experiences with a mobile information system that supports, and is ecologically compatible with, human vision-based navigation and acquirement of spatial knowledge during movement through the physical world. The appliance assists a person finding his/her way from an origin to a destination by providing an egocentric (viewer-centered) rather than an abstract top-down map-type view of the surrounding environment. We illustrate the use of the application in a foreign, or partially familiar, built environment of the scale of a small town or university campus and discuss first field experiments exploring egocentric way-finding support.
The Evaluation of a Computer Ethics Program
Authors: Byrne Graeme , Staehr Lorraine
Published: October 2017

The importance of teaching computer ethics is shown by its inclusion as core content in both information systems and computer science model curricula. This paper outlines a method for evaluating undergraduate computer ethics programs using the Defining Issues Test of moral judgment. A “before-and-after with a control group” research design was used. The experimental group exhibited a significantly larger increase in moral judgment development than the control group. This indicates that computer ethics teaching is having a useful effect on students’ ethical development.
Location-Oriented Knowledge Management in a Tourism Context: Connecting Virtual Communities to Physical Locations
Authors: Lueg Christopher
Published: October 2017

Virtual communities have shown to be rich sources of knowledge if community members are sharing what they know. A look at virtual communities related to traveling in Australia suggests that often members are more than happy to share what they know about certain locations. In this paper, we outline, from a Location-oriented Knowledge Management (LoKM) perspective, the steps necessary to connect virtual communities to physical locations (and travelers exploring these locations). We will argue that this connection exceeds connections established by traditional web sites, such as privately operated sites or commercial travel guide-sites. We also highlight benefits for individual travelers, virtual communities and last but not least local businesses and other organizations.
Deakin Online: An Evolving Case Study
Authors: Coldwell Jo , Newlands Douglas
Published: October 2017

This paper describes the planning, implementation and current progress of the Deakin Online Project which aims to establish a virtual campus for Deakin University. The project is built upon the WebCT Vista© learning management system. Strategies for eTeaching and eLearning are analysed and the dangers and opportunities are identified. Approaches to the preparation of both students and faculty for working in the online environment are discussed including online training, mentoring schemes and a dedicated teaching and learning support unit. An in-depth account of the project is presented which is potentially useful to any organization considering embarking on online teaching on a large scale.
A Case to Do Empirical Study Using Educational Projects
Authors: Gu Mingyang
Published: October 2017

Nowadays, many empirical studies are carried out based on educational projects. In these cases, instructors put forward requirements on educational projects from the perspective of education, and researchers also provide their requirements from the perspective of empirical study. How to design educational projects successfully from both educational perspective and research perspective becomes a practical challenge. In this paper, we present a successful case to resolve this problem: we designed two educational projects in a software architecture course, based on which an empirical study about creativity in software development was carried out. Our methods to design these educational projects can be reused for other software engineering courses associated with empirical study.
The Effect of a Computer Instructional Model in Bringing about a Conceptual Change in Students’ Understanding of Particulate Concepts of Gas
Authors: Hwang Bao-tyan , Chiu Shang-feng
Published: October 2017

This study explores students’ misconceptions with the particulate concept of matter in gaseous state. Then, based on promoting students’ learning and understanding from a constructivist perspective, the effectiveness of instructional activities by presenting a demonstration with computer simulation was investigated. Students were expected to benefit from computer monitored instruction in a number of ways: by becoming more interested in physical phenomena and therefore more motivated; by acquiring a concrete example of a abstract concept that will aid them in reasoning; and by being able to evaluate their predictions of a future physical event using their current conceptual framework and the new concept being presented in the teaching activity. A systematic study of students’ ideas on particulate concepts was carried out first with the participation of 296 subjects in Grade 5-8 (age 11-12 through 14-15) in Taiwan. An open-ended questionnaire and picture drawing question was administered to the subjects. The responses were categorized according to the level of sophistication of the answer and the drawing of the picture. The instruments used both in the pretest and posttest were designed in a format of a two-tier test. Teaching is conducted by a computer demonstration that was specifically designed from implications regarding students’ cognitive conflict. The research findings indicated that students had some misconceptions about the gaseous particles concerning the size, weight, motion and kinetic distribution in space. After teaching, there was a comparison of students’ learning outcomes between the pretest and posttest. A significant difference statistically revealed that teaching activity in this research by the computer-simulated demonstration could obviously benefit students’ conceptual change in learning of particulate theory.
Communication and Cooperation: Technology Transfer on Australian Family Cotton Farms
Authors: Gartshore Dale
Published: October 2017

This paper presents findings of a recent study which explores rural women’s use of an agricultural decision support system, CottonLOGIC, within the Australian cotton industry. Meta-analysis is applied through the theoretical framework of structuration theory while diffusion theory is used for lower level analysis. The concept of communication is applicable to both theories. The significance of CottonLOGIC as a communication medium for technology transfer of industry research to cotton farms is evaluated in this paper. The findings suggest that CottonLOGIC is a recognised means of information exchange but even more valuable is the cooperation of stakeholders to influence effective reconstruction of farm management practices and technology usage.