bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chief Academic Officers and Gateway Courses: Keys to Institutional Retention and Persistence Agendas
Authors: Matthews Roberta S. , Newman Scott 
Published: December 2017

AbstractAmong persistence and retention agenda initiatives undertaken by colleges and universities, gateway‐course improvement efforts are often overlooked. However, the engagement of diverse institutional stakeholders in the transformation of gateway courses can contribute significantly to student success. Chief academic officers are in a unique position to sponsor such initiatives.
Prognostic value of multicenter flow cytometry harmonized assessment of minimal residual disease in acute myeloblastic leukemia
Authors: Lacombe Francis , Campos Lydia , Allou Kaoutar , Arnoulet Christine , Delabarthe Adrienne , Dumezy Florent , Feuillard Jean , Geneviève Franck , Guérin Estelle , Guy Julien , Jouault Hélène , Lepelley Pascale , Maynadié Marc , Solly Françoise , Ballon Orianne Wagner , Preudhomme Claude , Baruchel André , Dombret Hervé , Ifrah Norbert , Béné Marie C. ,   on behalf of the Groupe d'Etude Immunologique des Leucémies (GEIL)
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe assessment of minimal residual disease (MRD) in acute myeloblastic leukemia is of growing interest as a prognostic marker of patients' outcome. Multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC), tracking leukemia‐associated immunophenotypic patterns, has been shown in several studies to be a useful tool to investigate MRD. Here, we report a multicenter prospective study which allowed to define a harmonized analysis strategy, as well as the efficacy of MFC MRD to predict outcome.This study included 276 patients, in 10 different MFC centers, of whom 268 had at least 1 MRD check point. The combination of a CD45, CD34, and CD33 backbone, with the addition of CD117, CD13, CD7, and CD15 in 2 five‐color tubes allowed to define each patient's multiparameter immunophenotypic characteristics at diagnosis, according to a Boolean combination of gates. The same individual diagnosis gating strategy was then applied at each MRD time point for each patient. MRD levels were stratified according to log by log thresholds, from 5 × 10−2(the classical morphological threshold to define remission) down to <5 × 10−5.MRD was found to be constantly negative (<5 × 10−5) for 148 patients. Survival analyses significantly associated MRD negativity with a good prognosis and any positive value with poorer outcome. AllPvalues were <0.0001 both for disease‐free and overall survival at the earliest time point (post‐induction, MRD1) as well as when considering all time points together. Finally, MRD levels were independent of cytogenetics and allowed in fact to further stratify all cytogenetics risk groups.In summary, this multicenter study demonstrates that a simple combination of immunophenotypic markers successfully allows for the detection of MRD in acute myeloblastic leukemia patients, with a strong correlation to outcome.
Development of a Coupled Model for Simulation of Urban Drainage Process Based on Cellular Automata Approach
Authors: Abbasizadeh Hossein , Nazif Sara , Hosseini Seyed Abbas , Tavakolifar Hamed 
Published: December 2017

AbstractSimulation of the interaction between an urban drainage system (UDS) and surface flow is a challenging issue. Conventional rainfall–runoff models are only able to simulate the flow in UDSs without considering the interaction between surface runoff and UDS. In this study, SWMM (storm water management model), as a well‐known urban drainage simulation model, and a two‐dimensional overland flow model developed based on the cellular automata approach, have been coupled for UDS simulation. In the proposed model, sewer flows are one‐dimensionally simulated using the SWMM model and at the flooded manholes, the surcharge hydrographs are determined. Then the two‐dimensional overland flow model is used for routing the surcharged flows. The coupled model could consider the complex interaction between the drainage system and the overland flow. The proposed model has been used in a study area located in Tehran, capital of Iran. The results show that almost 40% of surcharged flow returns back to the UDS, which caused 1.5% increase in the UDS's outflow volume. This can greatly affect the UDS performance downstream of the study area. The implementation results show the model's capability in simulation of flood behaviour as well as the urban inundated area with acceptable accuracy and much less computational effort. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cultural Context and its Impact on Requirements Elicitation in Thailand
Authors: Thanasankit Theerasak , Corbitt Brian 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis paper reports one part of an ethnographic study of how software analysts in Thai software houses undertake the requirements engineering process. In this paper the impact of Thai culture on the elicitation of requirements in information systems developed will be reported. The important role of requirements for software and systems development can be traced to the early study of software engineering. Software developers realised that errors during the requirements phase caused high cost in fixing systems and often led to rejection of systems (Laudon and Laudon 1995). This paper compares the nature of elicitation of requirements by systems analysts in Thailand with standard descriptions of elicitation in requirements engineering research. Detailed descriptions of elicitation processes and an evaluation of text are used to suggest that elicitation in Thailand is affected by different use of analytical and elicitation tools, different adaptation of those tools to the elicitation process, an inability to gain full access to all users where requirements can be identified, increased time needed to uncover requirements and an inability to develop requirements specification. This has important implications for Software Houses using western consultants or organisations employing consultants not familiar with Thai Culture. Understanding the nature of the impact of Thai culture on Requirements engineering processes should ensure that project failure due to poor understanding of requirements for systems would be lessened.
Information and Business Process Equality: The Case of SAP R/3 Implementation
Authors: Al‐Mashari Majed , Zairi Mohamed 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe emergence of SAP R/3 technology has created an opportunity to ensure information and business process equality both at organisational and global levels. SAP R/3 serves as a catalyst for information integration within and beyond the organisational scope through its standardised software modules, while at the same time working as a vehicle for transferring best practice business processes. This paper reports on a case study of a failed implementation of SAP R/3, in conjunction with business process reengineering (BPR) efforts, at a major Middle‐Eastern manufacturing company. Both situational and contextual climates of implementation are described and analysed. Lessons in terms of factors that led to failure and their future implications are discussed in the light of the contrasting experiences of several best practice companies. The central theme of the paper argues that establishing process and information equality through SAP R/3 is highly dependent upon the approach followed to redesign core business processes, as well as the extent to which they have been integrated with other business components.
Systems Integration for a Developing Country: Failure or Success? A Malaysian Case Study
Authors: Zaitun A.B. , Mashkuri Y. , Wood‐Harper A.T. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis paper presents the findings of a case study on three government departments. The study focuses on the triggering factors, obstacles and success factors of systems integration innovation and diffusion. The paper starts with a definition on systems integration and a brief explanation on the need for integration. This is followed by a description of each department studied. The subsequent sections dwell on the triggering factors, obstacles and success factors for systems integration. The paper concludes with a recommendation that most of the obstacles to the successful implementation of systems integration can be resolved through inter‐organizational cooperation, inter‐organizational structures and a change in business processes.
Enabling Communication in Developing Regions
Authors: Yavwa Yakomba , Kritzinger P.S. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe lack of communication facilities in developing countries is a constraint to social, political and economic empowerment of the people. However, advances in technology promise to deliver voice, video and data communication services, that are urgently needed, under a common packet switched communication network. Using Zambia as a case study, the cost effectiveness of three design scenarios which involve a hybrid of radio and microwave, radio and satellite, and radio and optic fibre were evaluated. The communication links in each scenario were modeled as E1 trunks. The cost of establishing these links was determined. Each scenario was then subjected to generic input traffic patterns using a multiclass queueing network analysis model to determine its effectiveness. Our findings show that the scenario involving the microwave links as inter‐regional links has the lowest cost. The second is the scenario involving satellite inter‐regional links and the most expensive is the scenario involving optic fibre inter‐regional links. Furthermore, the microwave‐radio hybrid scenario was found to have the smallest cost‐effectiveness ratio of 17.9 followed by the optic fibre‐radio scenario with 20.3 and finally the satellite‐radio scenario with 892.9. These results effectively imply that the microwave‐radio hybrid scenario is a better option for developing countries.
Taxonomy of New Software Exporting Nations
Authors: Carmel Erran 
Published: December 2017

AbstractIn recent years dozens of nations have begun exporting software products and services. We label these nations the “new software exporting nations”. We introduce a four‐tier taxonomy of software exporting nations. Thresholds for the tiers are defined by export revenues, by cluster size, and by maturity. Tier 1 nations are the major software exporting nations; Tier 2 nations are the transition software exporting nations (China and Russia); Tier 3 nations are the emerging software exporting nations (e.g., Brazil, Bulgaria); and Tier 4 nations are the infant stage software exporting nations (e.g., Vietnam, Cuba).
Implementing an Information System in a Large LDC Bureaucracy: The Case of the Sudanese Ministry of Finance
Authors: Higgo Higgo A. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractIn developing countries, the implementation of Information Systems is a complex process, given the interaction of the contextual framework with wider societal and cultural issues. This paper illustrates the importance of strategic thinking and validates ways and means to realize socio‐economic development in one such developing country – the Sudan. In this paper, a systemic interpretive approach is taken to an investigation of the systems development and implementation process in the Sudanese Ministry of Finance with a particular focus on strategic issues. Lessons which may be tested in other developing contexts are derived from this study.
An Empirical Study on Telecommunication Product Adoption in Latin America and the Caribbean
Authors: Bagchi Kallol K. , Solis Adriano O. , Gemoets Leopoldo A. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis study discusses some empirical findings on telephone and cell phone adoptions in Latin American and Caribbean nations. Exhaustive fixed‐effect pooled regressions are undertaken for this set of nations, using data from the World Bank for the period 1989–1999. The results show that telephone and cell phone adoption processes are different in nature. Moreover, diffusion is established to be a major factor in both telephone and cell phone adoptions in the region. Economic conditions as well as privatization also positively impact the adoptions.
Challenges to Information Systems Implementation and Organisational Change Management: Insights from the Health Sector in Ecuador
Authors: Alvarez Angel Javier Salazar 
Published: December 2017

AbstractMajor challenges remain in Latin American countries experiencing Healthcare Reform. Among these challenges, the implementation of decentralised organisation and management seems to be a central problem. Besides top‐down, prescribed initiatives for reorganisation such as decentralised organisational structures, the organisational challenge of implementing information systems and strengthening the management capacity of district health providers and district health authorities remains neglected, or at least undervalued. The objective of this paper is to illustrate a substantive process theory of IS implementation, situated within the context of a case study. The case study is based on a national information systems initiative to support the decentralisation and modernisation of management functions in health districts of the Ministry of Public Health in Ecuador
Integrating Indigenous Knowledge and GIS for Participatory Natural Resource Management: State‐of‐the‐Practice
Authors: Tripathi Nitesh , Bhattarya Shefali 
Published: December 2017

AbstractExperience has shown that development efforts that ignore indigenous knowledge (IK), local systems of knowledge, and the local environment generally fail to achieve their desired objectives. IK systems are becoming extinct because of rapidly changing natural and social environments. A Geographic Information System provides a framework to document and store indigenous knowledge meaningfully. Participation by the local community in development initiatives is critical for achieving sound natural resource management to utilize the full potential of IK systems. The main premise of this paper is to review the literature available on the approach of integrating indigenous knowledge with Geographic Information Systems as a way of promoting participatory natural resource management and giving opportunity to the local community to participate in development programs and decision‐making both as contributors and as users of knowledge.
Communication Practices as Functions, Rituals and Symbols: Challenges for Computerization of Paper‐based Information Systems
Authors: Mosse Emílio , Nielsen Petter 
Published: December 2017

AbstractCommunication within organizations is more than functional transmission of information between different actors. Communication practices are also composed of ritualistic and symbolic aspects, together building a relation between context and practice. This paper discusses communication practices within and among different levels of the health information system in Mozambique and efforts to implement ICTs to support these paper‐based practices. The analysis builds on a case study, based on participatory observations and interviews revealing these different aspects of communication practice. Applying our analytical lens, we describe the ongoing communication practice as shaping and shaped by the context.
A Conceptual Solution to eBusiness Models in Developing Countries: Post‐Crisis Domestic Procurement Network to Facilitate Humanitarian Assistance
Authors: Gong Weixi 
Published: December 2017

AbstractE‐business models vary between countries with different e‐readiness; therefore developing countries should identify their own ways to do e‐business. A developing country suffering from various crises may provide a niche market for doing e‐business due to its specific demands. In many crisis‐affected countries, demands for post‐crisis humanitarian assistance are increasing and relevant domestic goods producers may become eligible suppliers for meeting such demands. However, there are missing links in the normal business cycle and these should be identified. This paper provides an analysis of demand and supply in a crisis‐affected country in terms of post‐crisis humanitarian assistance. It provides a conceptual solution to filling the gaps and strategic orientation towards implementation. Moreover, the conceptual solution suggested may have a fourfold effect on the countries’ development.
The Role of Enterprise System Implementation in International Joint Venture Development: Exploring the Relationship
Authors: Ding James 
Published: December 2017

AbstractIn recent years, the rapid development in International Joint Ventures (IJV) has been a significant phenomenon under the global economy, especially in the developing countries. However, high failure rates and hence the huge investment risks make the promised advantages unpredictable. In this study, we explore the role of Enterprise System (ES) implementation in the journey of IJV development. We study the impacts of ES to IJV through a comparison study for their relationship that involves three scenarios: implementing ES prior to, parallel to, or after IJV operation. We then construct a generic framework for the optimal strategy based on findings from both ES and IJV literature. We also use a comparative case study approach to illustrate the value of this framework. We conclude our study with some discussions on possible extensions to innovation management as future research directions.
ERP and Competitive Advantage in Developing Countries: The Case of an Asian Company
Authors: Molla Alemayehu , Bhalla Arjun 
Published: December 2017

AbstractEnterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are diffusing globally. There is however little research on ERP reflecting the experiences of developing countries’ in general and on the relationship between ERP and competitive advantage in particular. This paper addresses the issues of competitive advantage and ERP by investigating a case study of an Asian company. The paper poses two questions of whether or not the implementation of ERP within the case organization contributed towards competitive advantage and the factors that facilitated the turning of ERP benefits into competitive advantage. Results of the case study demonstrate that ERP enabled the case organization to achieve competitive advantage, but the physical technology alone cannot be considered as a cause. Several factors that the implementation of ERP assisted but that are related to innovations, managerial coordination, business routines and processes contributed to this. On the basis of the result, a framework that allows evaluation of ERP from opportunistic, awareness and positioning points of view is developed. This framework can support managers in developing countries to make crucial decisions that are necessary with respect to an ERP that has been (or is to be) implemented. Some managerial and theoretical implications of the study to IS research in general and that of developing countries in particular are highlighted.
Information Systems for Multi‐Tenure Jurisdictions
Authors: Latu Savae , Dacey Simon 
Published: December 2017

AbstractTechnologies that are being developed according to the needs of a particular society depend largely on the level of skills, available materials, economy, requirements and cultural traits of that society. If such technologies are proved to work successfully within a given society, cultural differences may not allow those technologies to operate effectively in other societies. Therefore, when transferring a new technology cross‐culturally, several factors must be considered so that it is beneficial to the receiving societies. Land Information Systems have been developed to serve the growing needs of developed societies for complete, current and reliable information in a timely. They are also engaged to evaluate long‐term policies on land management combining economic, social and environmental issues. Faced with compelling arguments for the adoption of such technology in developed countries, it is tempting to simply translate and impose this experience on the situation in developing countries. The authors have been asked to develop an information system to assist Tonga's Estate Holders (Nobles) in managing the country's land under their care. Accordingly, in endeavouring to explore ways in which the tools and techniques offered by Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can be used to collect, use and preserve relevant information about lands which are still held under various customary land tenure systems this paper presents a brief overview of culture, land tenure, Land Information Systems (LIS) development and proposes an extension to the classical LIS development models in order that information about customary held lands is dealt with effectively.
Participatory Mapping for Local Management of Natural Resources in Villages of the Rufiji District (Tanzania)
Authors: Duvail Stéphanie , Hamerlynck Olivier , Nandi Revocatus XL , Mwambeso Pili , Elibariki Richard 
Published: December 2017

AbstractTanzania has introduced legislation that allows communities to locally manage their natural resources. From 1998 to 2003, the Rufiji Environmental Management Project (REMP) promoted such a transfer of authority, from the central government to 4 pilot villages of the Rufiji District in southern Tanzania, mainly for forest resources. These communities developed Village Environmental Management Plans (VEMP). Land‐use maps have been produced by multi‐institutional teams using Landsat images, aerial photographs, detailed landscape analysis, ground‐truthing and incorporation of the results in to a GIS.Cartography and Environmental Management, carried out in a participatory way, were shown to be effective tools for the improvement of communication and information sharing between local populations, government institutions and researchers. The mapping of land use in the Rufiji District can potentially clarify a fuzzy land‐tenure situation, especially in the floodplain. This area, considered as under‐utilised by the local authorities, is in fact extensively cultivated by the Warufiji populations who have abandoned the Ujamaa village scheme. The mapping of the 4 areas, by the villagers themselves, equipped with GPS, was instrumental in their official recognition as Village Forest Reserves. Mechanisms still need to be put in place for the resolution of land‐use conflicts between villages and for the mediating role that local government should play.For improved planning, this participatory mapping exercise has to be complemented by a detailed analysis of the economic and spiritual values of the different landscape components, and by a description of the local rules of resource sharing. The drive towards increased local management of natural resources still needs to be supported by a strong Government with the will to empower and to secure the local benefits of the decentralisation process.