Volume 2 Issue 2
Authors: Lili Yang; Amjad Fayoumi
Abstract: The problem of collaborative work in open environment has become a center of academic and industrial attention. Creating, sharing, using, and storing knowledge in both tacit and explicit terms are essential to maintain competitive advantages in a highly competitive open market. This paper discusses the problem of work in collaborative and open environment where language is the main component of communication among people. Usually the concepts, terms, definitions understanding are missed or different between people and firms. Thus, sharing common understanding among all stakeholders is very crucial. The paper studies the problem of domain and adopt the Semantics of Business Vocabulary and Business Rules (SBVR) specification and draws a solution based on multi-user engagement to set up clear business language basis to share and use the knowledge as the best way.
Keywords: Semantics of Business Vocabulary and Business Rules (SBVR); Ontology; Requirements Management; Business Modeling; Knowledge Management
Authors: Thais Kampf; Elizabeth Sucupira Furtado
Abstract: This paper discusses the use of theatrical techniques in one experiment to attain the following objectives of interaction design: to communicate iTV (interactive Digital Television) services to understand the target users’ ability for this technology appropriation and to define requirements useful for this technology adoption process. These two objectives are particularly important when systems involved are unknown to people, thus professionals need to gather requirements of such systems. We used role-playing in participatory interaction design sessions by giving some guidelines to plan the enactments. The results are described by discussing the strengths and weaknesses of this approach.
Keywords: Theatrical Techniques; Users Acceptance and Design Of Interaction
Authors: Hermann Kuehnle
Abstract: Production Networks (PN) fundamentally differs from hierarchical organisations, as they emphasise speed, re-linking and reconfiguration. For the decisions for realignment of units and the reallocations of resources, configurations on changing levels of detail and control actions, generic models in line with concurrency modes give an adequate base for the description, the control and the evolution of PNs. Simultaneous application of selected interrelated models may generate very efficient procedures for PN management. Moreover collaboration between dispersed locations is well ICT supported. However, for lack of overall conjectures, management solutions are fragmented. PNs may generally be modelled as Hausdorff spaces and the respective tangent spaces. Specific mappings as well as applications of concurrency modes may be introduced for improving coherence and speeding up decisions. Methods and models appear as embedded structures, carrying the fold/unfold properties of graphs and systems. Interoperability requirements induce standardizations for the models. The specific synthesis of the concurrency modes with criticality thinking results in procedures for gradual and evolving adaptations of production networks’ structures, most adequate to PN’ complexity. Ground laying theory always strengthens the convergence of terminology, methods and models that are developed and applied on a research area. In this sense this paper intends to contribute to a coherent body of knowledge for PN design and management by theory building.
Keywords: Concurrency Modes; Generic Models; Network Evolution; Collaborative Planning; Cyclic Decision Procedure; Criticality
Authors: Farid Shirazi
Abstract: In recent years, we have observed a growing number of socio-political movements across the globe using tools and services provided by Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to participate in democratic discourse and mobilization. The increased level of citizens’ participation in communication discourse using social networking sites and blogs is an indication of the role of ICT tools and services, particularly the Internet, in today’s communication landscape. This empirical study uses archival data for 146 countries across the globe for the period 1996-2010 to investigate the impact of ICT expansion and other determinant parameters such as education, the rule of law, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and institutional resistance on democratic freedoms on a global scale. Some of the important findings of this study reveal that ICT positively influences democratic freedoms across the globe and that while the global digital divide in basic telecom infrastructure has decreased during the last 15 years, the gap has shifted significantly. The digital gap is greater between the least developed nations and the most developed countries in terms of broadband technologies.
Keywords: ICT; Democracy; Education; Law; E-Business; Institutional Resistance; Broadband; Web 2.0; Digital Divide
Authors: Mostafijur Rahman; Martine Spence; Ajax Persaud
Abstract: This study examines the implementation of social media in small service firms with a view to indentifying the factors that promote or inhibit successful adoption. Based on in-depth interviews, the study found five key factors that inhibit successful adoption. These factors have not been reported in prior research on social media adoption. The implications of the results are discussed.
Keywords: Social Media; Adoption; Service Firms; Web 2.0