Business Commons^™

Parallel System Utilization In Weak Link Analysis, Roger Nibler

Journal of International Information Management

Parallel subsystems within operational systems can improve system reliability, especially in areas of the system which are or may become weak links. The basic modes of operation of parallel systems include backup, operation under exceptional conditions, and functioning on a compare-for-equal basis to facilitate output quality. A parallel system classification scheme is presented as well as a description of a database which ties parallel subsystems to their corresponding operational systems. The database can assist the manager in identifying and analyzing weak links anywhere in the organization to determine where parallel subsystems can best improve overall system reliability.

A Decision Support Model For Management Of Fuzziness In Global Risk Assessment, Mirza Murtaza, Faisal Zeidan

Journal of International Information Management

Solving decision-making problems requires efficient handling of uncertainties. This task has been usually performed by means of expert systems which are based on classical logic and, therefore, need special methods such as heuristic approaches, probability theory, possibility theory, and fuzzy theory. The later approach, fuzzy reasoning and logic, offers a more natural way of handling uncertainty since it is similar to human logical reasoning. In this paper, we develop a fuzzy logic model for assessment and prediction of country risk. This fuzzy method provides a systematic approach to analyzing a target country. By its nature, the decision making for global …

Software Piracy: Issues And Perceptions Of Australian University Students, Wallace Wood, Robert Behling, Ana Yang Ang

Journal of International Information Management

Software piracy is reported as an ongoing problem for software developers and vendors. Significant revenue is lost when illegal copies of software are utilized, estimated by some to exceed $8 billion per year. Of particular concern are estimates that the problem is increasing, especially in those countries that have lax or no laws to protect intellectual property. Research was conducted to evaluate the attitudes and practices of selected first year Australian university students towards software copying practices. The findings show that respondents were most likely to let someone copy their software to gain favor, and students behave in a more …

Maintaining Computer-Based Information Systems Using Text-Based Intelligent Systems Techniques, Sumali Conlon, Chi Hwang

Journal of International Information Management

In order to incorporate up-to-date quantitative and qualitative information, Computer- Based Information Systems (CBIS) must be able to extract data from unstructured, textual formats such as newspapers and magazines. The process of updating information in a CBIS currently requires large amounts of human effort analyzing and converting data from such sources into formats which information systems can work with. This paper suggests some methods by which the data needs of a CBIS can be handled semi-automatically (Employing both computers and humans) using text-based intelligent systems (TBIS) techniques.

Voice User Interfaces (Vuis) Emerge, Brian D. Lynch

Journal of International Information Management

Human beings use speech as the primary means of communication. Therefore, voice user interfaces (VUIs) represent a natural way for people to interact with computers (Fournier, 1996; Hyde, 1979; Teja and Gonnella, 1983; Witten 1982). Voice input facilitates a much higher computer input rate than keyboard or mouse driven input. Voice output permits computer generated output in devices when output screens are not available (e.g., most phones) or in situations where the user's eyes are busy elsewhere (e.g., driving a car, assembling a product, etc.). Thus, VUIs are viewed as the logical next generation in computer interfaces. Forecasts call for …

Application Of Geographical Information Systems, J. V. Iyengar

Journal of International Information Management

Natural resources and environmental management of military lands is becoming increasingly complex and diverse. As military missions change and new equipment is fielded out training lands become increasingly more restricted due to environmental, logistical, and financial constraints. We must become better stewards of the land if we are going to continue to train troops to meet the next mission. GIS is a powerful tool for military trainers, environmentalists, and natural resource planners. This paper will discuss the applications of GIS in military training and environmental/ natural resources management. It will also discuss the use of map layers in the analysis …

Management Of Information Technology In Swedish Firms: An Empirical Study, Esmail S. Sangari, Melvin R. Mattson, Hooshang M. Beheshti

Journal of International Information Management

This study examines the role and the involvement of management in information technology acquisition, planning, and development. The results indicate that top management plays a major role in setting the overall information technology policies. In addition, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) plays a crucial role in the merger of information strategy and corporate strategy. The result also indicates that user's satisfaction is considered to be the most important r factor for justification of information technology acquisition.

Managing For Flexibility: A Manufacturing Perspective, Ravi Kathuria

Business Faculty Articles and Research

This paper investigates managerial practices that are conducive to the management of flexibility. Using data from manufacturing plants in the United States, this paper identifies managerial practices that manufacturing managers strongly demonstrate in plants that place a high emphasis on flexibility. The results indicate that managers who pursue flexibility, emphatically engage in team building, employee empowerment, and other relationship oriented practices that generate enthusiasm among employees. These practices seemingly motivate workers to deal with the uncertainty and changes, in the form of product mix, customer delivery schedule, capacity adjustments, etc., that characterize manufacturing flexibility. Furthermore, workers are entrusted with the …

A Group Decision Support System Idea Consolidation Tool, Chittibabu Govindarajulu, Milan Aiken, Weigi Li

Journal of International Information Management

Manual consolidation of ideas generated in a Group Decision Support System meeting can be a lengthy, inaccurate, and dissatisfying process. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate how an automatic idea consolidation program can reduce the time needed by group members to aggregate comments, inaccuracies of these comment groupings, and dissatisfaction with the comment consolidation process. A case study comparing the program's results with those of two human subjects shows a time savings of 98.8%. Although the computer's comment groupings were not identical with those of the subjects, they were logically consistent.

Solver: A Productivity Tool Used In The Context Of Spreadsheet Analysis, Richard Lebsack

Journal of International Information Management

Computers can enhance the decision-making capability of a manager. This may involve software programs readily available for the personal computer or programs especially customized for a particular company's purposes. This article reviews examples of both and focuses on Solver, an add-on for Excel or 1-2-3 97. Solver enables a manager to manipulate available resources to meet productivity needs. This may involve a specific goal such as maximization of profit or minimization of cost. But it might also involve several goals that can be prioritized. Three models are presented and results from the program are illustrated. With this tool and a …

Use Of Gdss And Training Of Group Members To Improve Decision-Making: An Empirical Study, Edward T. Chen, Sumit Sicrar, Hsin-Ginn Hwang

Journal of International Information Management

Using Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS) to enhance group work has been emphasized in several GDSS studies. Despite the volume of accumulated research, little attention has been paid to investigating the member training effects on group performance. Member training includes group task management techniques, such as constructive attitudes toward group task and decision-making by consensus. This empirical study evaluated the effects of using a GDSS and member training on group performance. The experiment found that groups with member training had better decision quality and GDSS groups demonstrated better decision quality.

Internet In The Healthcare Industry: Infrastructure Issues, Binshan Lin, Chang-Tseh Hsieh

Journal of International Information Management

Health care has long been known as afield that embraces and exploits new information technology, and. this trend shows no signs of slowing down. The healthcare industry is likely to be one of the largest beneficiaries of the Internet technology. This paper addresses four critical infrastructure issues: technological infrastructure, intranet development, financial infrastructure, and quality concerns. Service opportunities and practical problems are discussed that will provide managerial implications in health care and future research opportunities.

Quality Function Deployment In Management Information Systems, Ephrem Eyob

Journal of International Information Management

This paper utilizes QFD concepts as a structured approach in integrating the customer's voice in the development of software and hardware products. QFD's emphasis is a team approach to problem solving by various functional areas of a company to develop information technology tools by improving communication, product development, and measurements of end products.

Expectations Of Job Responsibilities Of Recreation And Sports Managers, Jennifer Y. Mak

Management Faculty Research

The purpose of this study was to identify whether there were differences in the expectations of job responsibilities between different levels of recreation and sports managers towards the same post. The problem was divided into two sub-problems: (l) to determine the relationship in the perceived importance of entry-level managers' job responsibilities between entry-level managers and middle-level managers; and (2) to determine the relationship in the perceived importance of middle-level managers job responsibilities between middle-level managers and top-level managers. Several items were found to have significant difference in the perceptions among the subjects.

Information Resource Management In Emergency Room Medicine: A Case Study, Karmen Seavey

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

The emergency room is one of the fastest-paced, intense places a person can find. Because many of the cases in the ER involve life-or-death decisions, accurate data in a useful format is critical for immediate access of necessary information. Over the last several years, this simple fact has sparked major interest in emergency room information resource management. While traditional paper methods are still widely used, the electronic capabilities provided by information technology are revolutionizing the way emergency rooms and trauma centers function.

An ideal state-of-the-art emergency department is integrated with the rest of the healthcare enterprise for access to all …

Northern Agriculture Integrated Management Strategy - Sub-Region Strategies And Action Plans, Agriculture Western Australia

Natural resources published reports

Greenough Sub-region

Moore River Sub-region

West Midlands Sub-region

Yarra Yarra Sub-region

The strategies and action plans contained in this document have been developed by members of the community, local industry and government agencies, representing the four sub-regions of the Northern Agricultural Region. Sub-regional strategy development has occurred due to community and agency recognition of the importance of protecting, enhancing and developing the region's valuable natural resource base.

Work began on this process with a two-day regional workshop in October 1996 and following this, numerous sub-regional meetings were held over a period of one year.

The summary of this planning work …

An Optimal Procedure For The Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling Problem With Discounted Cash Flows And Generalized Precedence Relations, Bert De Reyck, Willy Herroelen

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

In this paper, we consider the resource-constrained project scheduling problem (RCPSP) with discounted cash flows and generalized precedence relations (RCPSPDC-GPR). The RCPSPDC-GPR extends the RCPSP to (a) arbitrary minimal and maximal time lags between the starting and completion times of activities and (b) the non-regular objective function of maximizing the net present value of the project with positive and/or negative cash flows associated with the activities. To the best of our knowledge, the literature on the RCPSPDC-GPR is completely void. We present a depth-first branch-and-bound algorithm in which the nodes in the search tree represent the original project network extended …

Western Australian Fisheries - Key Achievements 1997-1998, Fisheries Western Australia

Fisheries Published Reports

The WA fishing community can look back at the past year with considerable satisfaction.

Close partnership arrangements between Government, industry, the community and Fisheries Western Australia have both consolidated and advanced the State's position at the forefront of sustainable management of marine environments and fish resources.

Together, commercial fishing and recreational fishing make 􀁚 annual $1.5 billion contribution to the Western Australian economy. Through a carefully balanced portfolio of policies and initiatives the Coalition is making sure that both sectors continue to prosper, while at the same time ensuring that future generations inherit a marine environment which we are all …

Focus On The Future Agriculture Western Australia's Strategic Directions 1998 - 2008, Agriculture Western Australia

Reports

Strong growth in global demand combined with productivity gains, product innovation and sustainability improvements throughout the 1990s enable Western Australia agriculture to look to the 21st century with confidence.

This optimistic outlook is largely the result of innovation across the agricultural industries based on research, development and extension - activities in which Agriculture Western Australia continues to be the State's leading provider.

Focus on the Future is ambitious, and sends a unequivocal message about our strategic directions and the rationale guiding the agency in allocating resources to those areas which offer the biggest benefits to the Western Australian agriculture, food …

Western Australian Agriculture - Key Achievements 1997-1998, Department Of Primary Industry And Fisheries, Western Australia

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

During the past year the agriculture sector continued to be one of the most innovative and significant contributors to the Western Australian economy. In 1996/97 the value of agricultural exports reached $4.6 billion, having doubled in five years.

Not only does agriculture contribute directly to the State's financial position but farm expenditure is estimated to have a three-fold multiplier effect, thereby having a wide impact on the social well-being of Western Australians.

Increasingly, international trade is being linked to environmental performance. Accordingly, the Government has cemented sustainable farming as a cornerstone of the industry's and Agriculture WA's activities, thereby ensuring …

Group Decision Support Systems (Gdss) And Influence Modes: A Comparative Field Study Between Gdss Mediated Groups And Non-Gdss Mediated Groups, L. Grant Bridgewater

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effect of Group Decision Support System (GDSS) technology on perceived influence modes. The researcher measured perceived influence modes in two group treatments: GDSS groups and non-GDSS (N-GDSS) mediated groups. Actual groups in both treatments performed judgmental tasks of their own choosing. Group members then completed a survey which measured their perceptions regarding five influence sources: expert influence, influence from legitimate authority, referent influence, reward influence, and coercive influence. The survey also measured the extent to which members perceived an "opportunity to influence" other group members. For each variable measured in both treatment groups, mean scores were …

The One With The Most Information Wins? The Quest For Information Superiority, Stacy M. Clements

Theses and Dissertations

The escalation of interest in information as a corporate resource is reflected in the military's quest for information superiority. A volume of directives, articles, and doctrine is appearing to meet the unique challenges presented by information as a resource. Discussions of how to achieve information superiority have given rise to investigations of such related concepts as information warfare and information operations, with associated taxonomies and ideas of how to use information capabilities for attack and defense. This thesis examines information superiority and the related concepts, and examines current information technology initiatives in order to discern the characteristics which can aid …

A Decision Analysis Model For Allocating The Military Family Housing Investment Budget, Timothy G. Imdieke

Theses and Dissertations

Allocating resources is a difficult task when resources fall considerably short of the requirements, and there are many different opinions on what requirements should have priority. The Air Staff Housing Division must decide how to allocate a $25OM/year budget to best achieve the Air Force goals for military family housing. The decision is complex because requirements are much larger than the available resources, and there are many conflicting objectives to consider. This research uses value-focused thinking and multi-attribute utility theory to develop a decision analysis model to assist the decision maker in selecting a budget strategy. A deterministic analysis (using …

An Analysis Of The Air Force Environmental Management System, Christopher M. Lindhorst

Theses and Dissertations

In order to be effective and responsible stewards of the environment, the Air Force needs an environmental management system that is properly constructed, organized, and operated. Unfortunately, the current state of the Air Force's environmental management system is not clear. This research, utilizing a variety of analytical and quantitative tools, provides a better understanding of the current stat of the environmental management system in the Air Force. First, areas of vulnerability within the existing Air Force environmental management system were identified through an analysis of Environmental Compliance Assessment and Management Program (ECAMP) data and a field investigation. Through this analysis, …

Information Resource Management: An Analysis Of The Critical Skills, Training Sources, And Training Adequacy As Perceived By Air Force Communications And Information Officers, Donald A. Schmidt

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores what Information Resource Management (IRM) skills are required as perceived by the Air Force officers performing IRM duties. The following questions set the stage for this research: (1) What does current literature say about the required skills needed for IRM professionals? (2) What IRM skills do officers in the field perceive as important to the IRM mission? (3) What is the primary source of any IRM training received by the officers? (4) How adequate was this training, if any? The results suggest that Air Force officers have a grasp of IRM concepts and know what skills are …

Get Your Hands Out Of My Drawers: A Survey Of Information Ownership And Stewardship At The Air Force Institute Of Technology, Keith E. Kolekofski Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Despite beliefs in the benefits of good Information Resources Management (IRM) practices, executives still find their organizations plagued by outdated, inconsistent, and unavailable information. This information is often stored in disparate, standalone systems spread throughout the business. The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) fails to reap the synergistic benefits of shared information despite its bounty of information systems and proclamations for IRM principles. Previous researcher postulated that this disconnect may be explained, in part, by an ownership attitude at the functional level. Empirical evidence gathered from a survey of AFIT's members failed to support Plant's hypothesis. Exploratory factor analysis …

Information Superiority: Outsourcing An Air Force Core Competency?, Hugh J. Mcterman

Theses and Dissertations

The information age is upon us. More businesses are relying on access to immediate and accurate information just to survive in the global marketplace. This reliance has caused most companies to take a closer look at what core business the firm is actually in, how information impacts those strategic areas, and how best to obtain the needed information. Joint Vision 2010 identifies information superiority as the foundation for joint war fighting doctrine and concepts moving toward the year 2010. This thesis explores the perceived relationship between the core competency requirements for information superiority and the tasks defined for the Air …

No. 130 1997 November

International Journal for Business Education

SIEC Historical Documents

An Integrated Environment For Problem Solving And Program Development, Fadi Pierre Deek

Dissertations

A framework for an integrated problem solving and program development environment that addresses the needs of students learning programming is proposed. Several objectives have been accomplished: defining the tasks required for program development and a literature review to determine the actual difficulties involved in learning those tasks. A comprehensive Study of environments and tools developed to support the learning of problem solving and programming was then performed, covering programming environments, debugging aids, intelligent tutoring systems, and intelligent programming environments. This was followed by a careful analysis and critique of these systems, which uncovered the limitations that have prevented them from …

Focused Graduate Education: An Invisible But Real Competitive Edge, Roland D. Kankey, Jan P. Muczyk, Neal M. Ely

Faculty Publications

The future mission of the Air Force will be diverse and complex. Advanced technology will play an increasingly prominent role; a smaller force must accomplish more. To support this mission, our acquisition corps must be intellectually capable, well educated and trained. Focused graduate education will be essential to sustain this effort.