Information Technology Components Research Articles

Grid-enabled data warehousing for molecular engineering

Molecular engineering is concerned with the design and manufacturing of novel chemical compounds and materials. Molecular engineering for drug development is complex, time-consuming, and expensive. To lower costs and improve the overall drug development process, information technology (IT) is increasingly employed in the molecular engineering phase. Key IT components for molecular engineering include public and proprietary databases containing information on molecular structures and properties and computational models capable of calculating global properties of molecular structures based on structural and other descriptors characterizing the compound. Recently data mining and data warehousing have become critical tools in the molecular engineering process. Increasingly, some of the computational resources—such as data and information bases, computational models, compute power to execute these models, specialized data mining algorithms—required to develop a new compound are not available locally, but accessible via the global computing network infrastructure. This paper describes a Grid-based approach to molecular engineering. Focus of this paper is placed on the data warehousing of the OpenMolGRID system.

Communications Equipment: What has Happened to Prices?

This paper examines the prices for communications equipment, an important component of information technology. Unlike prices for computers which officially fall sharply every year, the official prices for communications equipment have barely budged over the past decade. This paper combines earlier work on prices for several segments of communications equipment with new results for public exchanges, fiber optic equipment, and modems. The results suggest that prices for communications equipment fall much faster than official statistics would indicate, but not as fast as computers. The results presented in this paper, if incorporated into the NIPAs, would decrease MFP growth by about 0.1 percentage point per year and increase the contribution of capital deepening by a likewise amount. Also, GDP growth would be boosted marginally.

Patterns of co-alignment in information-intensive organizations: business performance through integration strategies

Information technology (IT) has transformed business practices in the last several decades: operations, product strategies, distribution, and customer service have become increasingly dependent on IT. Moreover, IT has changed its orientation from that of pure operational utility in the 1960s and 1970s to that of a competitive weapon in the 1990s and today. These phenomena have affected the way modern organizations are managed, as well as the way IT affects the strategic activities of an organization's value-chain. In particular, aligning an organization's business and IT strategies in order to deliver higher business performance presupposes a strategic business opportunity to which information systems technology is integral. In other words, Strategic Alignment between business and IT can have a positive business impact only if we see an organization's IT components as parts of a well-integrated organizational system. If business strategy is viewed separately from IT strategy or IT strategy is viewed only as a “support” tool, then there is little likelihood that the above positive impact of strategic alignment can take place. This research suggests, develops and tests a strategic co-alignment model by examining three types of integration that impact the planning process and the overall performance of information-intensive organizations: technological integration (TI), functional integration and strategic integration (SI) . The results of this research yield some useful set of guidelines for theory building for IS, as well as for the business practice aspect of IS: most interesting is the role of consistency (co-alignment) between an organization's business and strategic information systems plans to improve overall firm performance. Other recommendations include having a high degree of involvement of IS executives in corporate planning, the use of outsourcing services to promote organizational systems integration, and the importance of internal coordination mechanisms to facilitate both systems consistency and lower transaction costs. Finally, this study has employed cluster analysis and discriminant analysis to interpret the research findings.

U.S.–Singapore Free Trade Agreement:: Implications for ASEAN

The signing of the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA) by the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Singapore on 8 May 2003 is one of the culminations of Singapore's overall trade initiatives and economic strategy, which involves forging free trade agreements (FTAs) with other countries outside the ASEAN region. The first one was with New Zealand, which was later followed with Australia, while other FTAs are still under negotiations. This particular FTA, however, has caught much attention and has been hailed in the Singapore press as a historic and momentous event because it is the first FTA for the United States with an Asian country. On the other hand, for Singapore FTA means, apart from political considerations, much more in economic terms because of the huge market potential the United States can offer. With a population of 287.7 million and a per capita income of US$36,273, the United States can provide a strong economic stimulus which is badly needed during these times of sluggish regional growth and uncertainties. In fact, the United States has already been the largest export market and the largest source of foreign direct investments for Singapore. However, from the U.S. perspective, Singapore is not as important, as the bulk of U.S. trade is with its neighbouring developed countries such as Canada and Western Europe. This means, however, that there is a large scope for greater flow of exports from Singapore to the U.S. market. The recent FTA can certainly offer economic opportunities for trade-dependent Singapore, but what this means for the ASEAN countries as well as for ASEAN economic integration is not quite straightforward and more difficult to settle. Singapore's pursuit of extra-ASEAN FTAs has long been criticized by some fellow ASEAN members since the start of Singapore's bilateral free trade negotiations. Apart from the criticism that the other ASEAN countries were not adequately consulted by Singapore, these arrangements were seen by some as undermining ASEAN as a preferential trading arrangement. Specifically, it is claimed that these free trade arrangements could be providing Singapore's FTA partners with a back-door entry into the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA). Before addressing these concerns raised by other ASEAN countries, there is a need to explore whether there are direct and indirect benefits that can be derived by other ASEAN countries from the newly signed USSFTA. It has been argued that there could be beneficial spillover effects of Singapore's extra-ASEAN FTAs in terms of local and foreign investments for the ASEAN region. This argument is quite convincing if we recognize that Singapore does not have an unlimited capacity to absorb all of the investments that can result from the USSFTA. It is logical to infer that U.S. investors in Singapore tend to engage in third country investment projects, using Singapore as a springboard for further investments in neighbouring countries. It has to be qualified, however, that the spillover effects can only be realized if conditions in the ASEAN countries are conducive for the investors. Further, under the Integrated Sourcing Initiative (ISI) of the Agreement, which allows Singapore to source out some of its information and communications technology (ICT) and medical components from outside Singapore and still qualifies Singapore for the preferential entry into the U.S. market, there is an incentive for local and foreign firms to locate some of their production facilities in the neighbouring ASEAN countries. The USSFTA will certainly provide greater access for Singapore's exports to the U.S. market as goods originating from Singapore are guaranteed duty-free access with no quantitative restrictions or prohibitions, provided the rules of origin are met. It has been estimated that there would be a tariff saving of US$200 million a year from this agreement, which only accounts for less than 1 per cent of Singapore's GDP and a processing fee saving of S$51 million annually. …

Communications Equipment: What Has Happened to Prices?

This paper examines the prices for communications equipment, an important component of information technology. Unlike prices for computers which officially fall sharply every year, the official prices for communications equipment have barely budged over the past decade. This paper combines earlier work on prices for several segments of communications equipment with new results for public exchanges, fiber optic equipment, and modems. The results suggest that prices for communications equipment fall much faster than official statistics would indicate, but not as fast as computers. The results presented in this paper, if incorporated into the NIPAs, would decrease MFP growth by about 0.1 percentage point per year and increase the contribution of capital deepening by a likewise amount. Also, GDP growth would be boosted marginally. (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)

National Software Industry Development: Considerations for Government Planners

AbstractSoftware presents an unusual set of problems for policy makers. As a major global industry, it has been successfully targeted by a growing number of countries for its potential to generate export revenue. At the same time, it is an essential, high‐risk, and increasingly expensive component of Information and Communications Technology (ICT)‐related programs to increase government effectiveness and to bring local firms in other industries up to globally competitive performance levels. This paper outlines the range of considerations specific to software within ICT planning and discusses government's role in accelerating and shaping that growth in support of social and economic priorities. We draw on the experience of both developed and emerging economies to argue that government should take an active role in software industry development, and to lay out the full range of possible government actions (both policies and programs). Every country's path seems to be different – the best course of action will depend on the resources available (including infrastructure and human resources), on the state of the global software industry at that specific time, and on the country's unique situation, such as languages spoken, regional or cultural ties with major markets, a tradition of entrepreneurship, or an expatriate business community.

Florida’s Efficient Transportation Decision-Making Process: Laying the Technology Foundation

In response to “environmental streamlining” legislation passed by the U.S. Congress as part of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, Florida has undertaken efforts to implement more efficient transportation planning and environmental review. These efforts have led to the development of the Efficient Transportation Decision-Making Process (ETDM Process), which redefines how Florida will accomplish planning and project development. A rather unique aspect of Florida’s streamlining approach is the integration of information technology as a vital foundation for the process. The development of Florida’s ETDM Process is described and evaluated, focusing on the information technology component. This component was developed as an interactive Internet-accessible geographic information system database. It integrates resource and project data from multiple sources into one standard format, provides quick and standardized analysis of the effects of the proposed projects on the human and natural environment, and supports the effective communication of results among all stakeholders, including the public. The use of technology is expected to reduce the cost of agency participation in the process and produce better, timely transportation decisions that reflect the proper balance among land use, mobility, and environment. Main topics include application design and development methodology, its integration in the ETDM Process, and how it has been received by the user community to date. Its benefits are evaluated, and recommendations for developing integrated technologies in support of streamlining efforts are provided.

The influence of IT: perspectives from five Australian schools

Abstract Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are now widespread in Australian schools but with variation in how, where, when and how much they are used. Computers may be located in a computer laboratory, distributed throughout the school, or students may use their own laptop computers. IT may be a subject in its own right or ICT may be used across all areas of the curriculum. It is how ICT is used in the school setting that is important in providing students with the skills to be participate in a ‘knowledge society’. This paper examines the ways in which information and communication technologies influence teaching and learning in five Australian schools. Data were gathered through observation, interviews and document analysis in schools operating at the elementary and secondary grades in relatively technology rich environments. Each of the schools participated in the Australian component of the Second Information Technology in Education Study– Module 2 (SITES‐M2) of innovative pedagogical practices. Several of the studies were of specific projects where ICT was the key enabler of the learning programme. Others focused on an entire school's approach to ICT as an agent for changed approaches to learning.

Laboratory for Information Globalization and Harmonization Technologies: A New Research Initiative

The convergence of three distinct but interconnected trends - unrelenting globalization, growing worldwide electronic connectivity, and increasing knowledge intensity of economic activity - is creating powerful new opportunities and challenges for global politics. This rapidly changing environment has information demands that surpass existing capabilities for information access, interpretation, and overall use, thus hindering our abilities to address emergent and complex global challenges, such as terrorism and other security threats. This reality has serious implications for two diverse domains of scholarship: international relations (IR) in political science and information technology (IT). Unless IT advances remain one step ahead of emergent realities and complexities, strategies for better understanding and responding to critical global challenges will be severely impeded. For example, more so now than ever, the U.S. Office of Counter-Terrorism and the newly-created Office of Homeland Security rely on intelligence information from all over the world to develop strategic responses to security threats. However, relevant information is stored in various regions throughout the world and by diverse agencies in different media, formats, and contexts. Intelligent integration of information is fundamental to developing policies to anticipate and strengthen protection against terrorist threats or attacks in the United States. This Project's activities, and relationships with its collaborators, will be coordinated through a newly formed joint Laboratory for Information Globalization and Harmonization Technologies (LIGHT). LIGHT will address information needs in the IR domain, focusing on the conflict realm, which deals with emergent risks, threats, and uncertainties of potentially global scale and scope related to: (a) crises, (b) conflicts and war; and (c) anticipation, monitoring and early warning. The goals of this initiative are to: (1) improve understanding of the types of IR information needs for decision making and institutional performance under varying degrees of risk and uncertainty; (2) design and implement the System for Harmonized Information Processing, to facilitate access to and correct interpretation of essential information that is critical to policy and research in the IR realm, as well as to other similarly complex domains, and (3) advance developments in the use of information technologies to facilitate such interdisciplinary research and to contribute to new education approaches, tools, and methods. Increasingly, addressing problems central to national and global interests in complex domains such as IR requires the use of technologies that easily combine observations from disparate sources, using different interpretations, for different purposes, and by a wide range of users. Critical advances in IT capabilities must span multiple domains (e.g., economic, political, geographic, commercial, and demographic), diverse contexts (i.e., meanings, languages, assumptions), and a multiplicity of contending agents (i.e., states, governments, corporations, international institutions). The technology-related research will focus on acquiring and enhancing information to serve user requirements both over individual domains (i.e., a single shared ontology) and across multiple domains, which are necessary for addressing complex challenges. The core innovation is reflected in the notion of a Collaborative Domain Space (CDS), within which applications in a common domain can share, analyze, modify, and develop information. For applications that span multiple domains we provide for a Collection of CDSs to link shared concepts in distinct domains. Moreover, we will develop the System for Harmonized Information Processing that incorporates CDSs as a basis for knowledge representation and includes all the necessary reasoning algorithms required to support information processing over a range of heterogeneous sources and applications. The development of the system described above builds upon prior work. The political science IR work will draw on an earlier Internet-based experimental platform for exploring forms of information generation, provision, and integration across multiple domains, regions, languages, and epistemologies which are relevant to complex but domain-specific applications, the Global System for Sustainable Development (GSSD). The IT component builds on work on the Context Interchange project (COIN) focused on the integration of a range of distributed heterogeneous information sources (e.g., financial, supply chain, disaster relief) using ontologies, databases, context mediation algorithms, and wrapper technologies. Both groups have considerable experience with the organization and management of large scale, international, distributed, and diverse research projects, including cross-national (e.g., China, Middle East, Europe) and institutional (private, public, national and international) agencies. The anticipated results will apply to any complex domain with multiple entities that rely on heterogeneous distributed data to address and resolve compelling problems. This initiative is supported by a network of international collaborators from (a) scientific and research institutions, (b) business and industry, and (c) national and international agencies. Expected research products include: a software platform, IR-based knowledge repository, and diverse applications in policy, research, and education which are anticipated to significantly impact the way complex organizations, and society in general, understand and manage critical global challenges.

Customer relationship management in financial services: towards information-enabled relationship marketing

Relationship marketing is concerned with how organizations manage and improve their relationships with customers for long-term profitability. Customer relationship management (CRM), which is becoming a topic of increasing importance in marketing, is concerned with using information technology (IT) in implementing relationship marketing strategies. This paper reports on a study of the adoption and use of CRM in the financial services sector. In particular, the key elements of CRM are examined in these organizations and executives' perceptions of the main IT components that enable responsive CRM are explored. CRM is classified into five stages of sophistication and a framework for CRM adoption is developed.

What's in a name, what's in a number: some characteristics of identifiers on electronic networks

Identifiers on electronic networks such as telephone numbers, domain names, IP-addresses and e-mail addresses are not only necessary components of information and communication technology (ICT) applications, but they have also become a new kind of information good that can be traded separately. Identifiers on electronic networks cannot be treated with standard information goods theory; they have very different economic and technical characteristics. The main characteristics are excludability, network externalities and the lack of scale advantages in the daily operations of an identifier system. The excludability of identifiers has brought extensive public debate on ownership questions, especially for mnemonic identifiers that resemble trademark names. Network externality effects and the technical remedies to reduce operational scaling disadvantages as much as possible, have resulted in the appearance of centralised co-ordination or monopolistic control of identifier systems and as a consequence a series of governance questions. A survey on various existing identifier systems is presented after an introduction on the economic and technical characteristics of identifiers. The survey shows a large variety of institutional arrangements and market structures for assigning identifiers on electronic networks. Data analysis of Domain Name registration statistics show substantial effects of policy reform on the growth in registered Domain Names.

Opleiding van elektriese en elektroniese ingenieurs met groter klem op inligtingstegnologie

This paper focuses on the question whether, or not, more components of information technology should be included in the curricula for training of electrical and electronic engineers. Foreign trends are briefly analysed, based on 61 advertisements of vacancies at academic institutions and in the American government and industry.

Success factors for IS disaster recovery planning in Hong Kong

The organization of information technology components into effective enterprise information systems is fast becoming a basic infra‐structural and operational necessity for every organization and business sector. These information systems must be well managed, cost‐efficient, legal, and safe. There is a growing reliance upon IT in many organizations to the point of mission‐criticality. Ideas from disaster recovery planning (DRP) can and should be applied to installed information systems and the new information services whose continuous and reliable functioning may be vital to the organization. This paper reviews the literature concerning the factors that have been identified as essential to the development of DRPs in organizations. As a result of a survey study of four business sectors in Hong Kong: banking, manufacturing, trading, and hotels – the top five critical factors for a successful DRP in information systems are identified with the preferred patterns of DRP identical for three of these sectors.

Tracer study of the Botswana library school graduates

Graduates of the Department of Library and Information Studies, University of Botswana were surveyed with the aim of determining their characteristics, the relevance of their training to their present tasks and their perceptions of the curriculum of the Department. The findings reveal that the products were employed in traditional library settings. They found their training relevant to their present tasks, although they advocated for the strengthening of the information technology component of the curriculum. The study recommended the need to harmonise the certificate and the diploma programmes, given the fact that their schedule of duties are the same. In order for the graduates of the department to be able to function effectively in the emerging information market, a joint BA/B.Sc with library and information studies was recommended for fresh Cambridge O'level holders.

Exploiting information systems and technology through business process improvement

An increasing number of business managers have been looking at business process reengineering (BPR) as a way of applying information technology (IT) to their businesses. Their belief is that process improvement which includes an IT component will allow them to gain competitive advantage and provide quality products and services to their customers. Furthermore, core business processes in most of today's organizations are supported by information systems (IS), and if benefits are to be realized from BPR it will often involve reengineering the information systems that support these processes. The relationship between process improvement and IS/IT is difficult to grasp at times. However, it is widely believed that the two are mutually dependent in the majority of organizations. Given this, it is essential to explore this relationship further. This paper examines how BPR has provided an opportunity for the IS community to combine the rigour of the IS discipline with organizational change and also for IS/IT to facilitate BPR. It is suggested that the two approaches have much to learn from each other. Case studies in three organizations both in the UK and abroad are used to demonstrate how IS/IT plays a significant part in organizational change and business reengineering initiatives. This paper examines the possible reasons why so many reengineered IS/IT systems are failing to support business needs, and examines whether BPR offers a partial solution by analysing the systems development work in the three cases. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Cornwallis Emmanuel Ltd.

Evaluation of Donor-Funded Information Technology Transfer Projects in China: A Lifecycle Approach

Information technology forms an increasingly important component of donor-funded development projects, yet evaluation of such projects has been comparatively-rarely reported. This paper presents an evaluation of the information technology component within four Chinese technology projects, each of which is both described and evaluated. The evaluation is structured around a framework: the information technology transfer life-cycle. Using this life-cycle approach, a number of shortcomings are identified within the various technology projects. More general issues are also identified, for example, around training and the role of donor agencies. Two recommendations follow. First, some ideas about the way in which IT transfer projects are managed. Second, that the life-cycle approach be used more widely in both the evaluation and planning of technology transfer projects.

Pre-service teachers' views on their information technology education

The concern that teachers are being inadequately prepared by their pre-service education to be confident and competent users of information technology remains, despite over a decade of computer availability in education systems. This paper examines the views of 234 pre-service teachers who experienced an information technology component in their teacher education course. It finds that many students have low computer self-efficacy and express negative feelings about information technology. These perceptions are gender and age related. It concludes that the need for information technology competency training remains important, but such programmes need to be specifically tailored to account for the wide range of experiences and attitudes of pre-service teachers.

The role of IT in English for Academic Purposes: a survey of provison on presessional courses at British universities

This paper examines the relationship between Information Technology (IT) and an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course. This relationship is examined in the context of pre-sessional summer courses at British Universities. The paper provides a rationale for the inclusion of an IT component on an EAP course, and considers why a number of IT areas are not yet being fully exploited by EAP units at British Universities.

Ideal, advertised and actual systems analyst skills: the Singapore context

The current software crisis has created a situation where organizations are faced with identified as well as hidden information systems (IS) development backlogs. IS projects are generally behind schedule and/or over budget. Even after implementation, the IS does not necessarily solve all the original problems and is very difficult and costly to use and maintain. Software development and maintenance costs represent the major component of total information technology (IT) budget. Reports on research conducted in Singapore which addresses the question concerning the identification of the skills of systems analysts. Analyses this question from three different viewpoints (interviews about “excellent” systems analyst, newspaper advertisements for systems analyst positions, and a questionnaire regarding hiring, promotion, evaluation and training criteria for systems analysts). The research suggests that there is a discrepancy between the criteria established for the initial screening of candidates and the actual process followed for selection, evaluation, training and promotion of systems analysts. This discrepancy will result in the less than optimal use of systems analyst personnel and may be a contributing factor to the current IS software crisis. While the research was conducted solely in Singapore, it is contended that the results are generally applicable because of the emergence of what is referred to as an “occupational community” of systems analysts.

The role of the process template in organizational change

This is the second in a two-part series on taking a process-led approach to organizational change. In the first paper (1996, 5(1)) the author introduced a more detailed means of specifying and documenting business processes. The process template introduced is capable of capturing requirements across the key business components of human resources, information technology, and tools and equipment. This paper shows how the process template is used during organizational change. In particular, it shows how the process template can be used to help smooth the task of change and tackle some of the commonly experienced difficulties.