Information Management Approaches Research Articles

The Improved Information Environment as a Key Rationale for Freedom of Information Reform in China

The improved Chinese information environment influenced China’s capacity to accept Freedom of Information (FOI). The comparison of different information management approaches to crises taken by the Chinese government over time demonstrates that without the improvement of the information environment due to the formation of multiple paths for information flow, the Chinese government would have been unlikely to be receptive to FOI reform.

P2PDocTagger

As the amount of user generated content grows, personal information management has become a challenging problem. Several information management approaches, such as desktop search, document organization and (collaborative) document tagging have been proposed to address this, however they are either inappropriate or inefficient. Automated collaborative document tagging approaches mitigate the problems of manual tagging, but they are usually based on centralized settings which are plagued by problems such as scalability, privacy, etc. To resolve these issues, we present P2PDocTagger, an automated and distributed document tagging system based on classification in P2P networks. P2P-DocTagger minimizes the efforts of individual peers and reduces computation and communication cost while providing high tagging accuracy, and eases of document organization/retrieval. In addition, we provide a realistic and flexible simulation toolkit -- P2PDMT, to facilitate the development and testing of P2P data mining algorithms.

Highlighting the archives perspective in the personal digital archiving discussion

PurposeThe topic of personal archives has mainly been discussed by two research traditions in information science: archives and records management, and personal information management. The purpose of this paper is to compare a corpus of the archival literature written by the archival community with the concepts and challenges posed by Catherine Marshall, who exemplifies the personal information management approach. Many of the personal digital archiving challenges that Marshall identifies are related to discussions within the archival community.Design/methodology/approachIn order to demonstrate the similarities between Marshall's work with the archival discussion about personal archiving, Marshall's challenges, tasks and attributes of personal digital archiving were compared with a total of 33 articles from two library and information science databases.FindingsMany of the personal digital archiving challenges that Marshall identifies are related to discussions in the archival community. The author suggests that certain aspects of the archival literature may be utilized to address Marshall's identified challenges. Lastly, future collaborations between members of the archival community and members of the personal information management community may prove useful in addressing the challenges of personal digital archivingOriginality/valueThe paper demonstrates that two areas of information science share ideas about how to address the issues related to personal archives, but rarely consult one another when writing about personal digital archiving. The author highlights the archives and records management tradition in an attempt to introduce the literature to the broader discussion on personal digital archives being had by the personal information management tradition.

Microbiology information service system based on object deputy database

A new approach for microbiology information management based on object deputy database was proposed.It used the object deputy model for data modeling.The common descriptive information of microbes was defined as the basic object.Microbial diversity and correlated information of microbes were modeled through deputy objects.A microbiology information service system based on our object deputy database was implemented.Advanced functions of the database could facilitate information management.Update propagation supports dynamic classification of data,object views could be used for schema evolution,and cross-class query provides efficient data retrieval.The experimental result shows that this approach outperforms the traditional ones.

Are We Missing the Boat? Collaborative Solutions for North American Fish Wars

Are We Missing the Boat? Collaborative Solutions for North American Fish Wars

UAVs Integration in the SWIM Based Architecture for ATM

The System Wide Information Management (SWIM) approach has been conceived to overcome the capacity and flexibility limitations of the current ATM systems. On the other hand the commercial applications of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) require the integration of these vehicles in the ATM. From this perspective, the unavoidable modernization of the ATM is seen as an opportunity to integrate the UAVs with the rest of the air traffic. This paper is devoted to study the feasibility and impact of the aggregation of UAVs on the future ATM supported by a SWIM inspired architecture. Departing from the existing technical documents that describe the fundamentals of SWIM we have explored the compatibility with a potential UAVs integration and also explored how the UAVs could help to improve the future ATM system. We will use the weather application as an example in both cases.

Impact of integrated pest management on food and horticultural crops in Africa

AbstractIn sustainable agricultural development, integrated pest management (IPM) can play a key role in the reduction of crop losses, thereby increasing productivity while minimizing environmental contamination and health hazards. In recent years, agricultural research and development partners have pioneered outstanding contributions in IPM, notably in varietal resistance against pests, biological control of alien invasive species, substitution of inorganic pesticides with biopesticides, new export market opportunities, and new tools in biotechnology. Success stories are not limited to these areas, but are also found in the areas of human capital development, information management, and participatory approaches. The potential of IPM to contribute to poverty alleviation and food security is, however, poorly realized in Africa due to a myriad of factors, including inadequate deployment of high‐yielding crop varieties, harmful pesticide regimes, political instability, conflicts in social values and civil wars, inappropriate agricultural policies, biased global trade policies, lack of market information, and poor rural infrastructures. Few African countries have adopted IPM as the official national crop protection policy and there is no framework for resource allocation to support widespread promotion of research and training in IPM. This calls for reshaping and revisiting a number of policies related to food production and agricultural development, in order to encourage partnership and participation in the identification, analysis, advocacy, and follow‐up of agricultural policy issues as well as public awareness of the effect of pests and diseases on food security and the environment.

DISASTERS AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT –AN ADVANCED APPROACH TO DEAL WITH CRISIS

This paper demonstrates the importance of disasters and crisis management as one of the main acts for disasters protection and prevention activities. As known, disasters and crisis are results of human behavior and actions against the dangers they are dealing with. This paper focuses on studying the correlation between disasters and human behavior during the disasters management activities. This paper provides a methodology for disasters and crisis management components and stages of advanced information systems and management approaches to support the decision-making process during the stage of recovering the disasters such as floods, earthquakes and similar crisis. The aim of this paper is to decrease of the quantity of damages and losses which may to thousands of houses and communities locate near to the disasters areas. The paper provides an overall framework consisting from several useful points and guidelines in dealing with disasters and crisis. The paper outlines some insights and recommendations which are expected to facilitate and optimize the utilization of scientific and technological and human resources available in regional and local government agencies and the information and decision making Support Centers.

Collaborative project information management in a semantic web environment

PurposeThe advent of web services and the semantic web have opened up opportunities for a new generation of interoperable systems on the web. The purpose of this paper is to show the importance of semantics in design and construction, and how this has long been recognised and addressed to varying extents by researchers.Design/methodology/approachThere is now the potential for designs to be developed through a system of collaborating design services and for input by the construction team members. The potential also extends to the construction phase where the designers can provide more timely responses to problems encountered in the field. Within this environment, there is the need for effective mechanisms for design and construction information management, in addition to an ontology that facilitates the sharing of design and construction information and the underlying semantics. This paper explores these trends in collaborative design and construction, and presents an ontology‐based approach to project information management in a semantic web environment.FindingsThe findings include a framework for semantic web‐based information management (SWIMS), which provides for effective collaborative information management. Examples, based on design and construction information, are presented to illustrate the key concepts.Originality/valueThis paper presents an innovative approach to overcoming the limitations of conventional information management approaches in construction. The proposed approach is expected to enhance collaboration, and avoid information loss, overload and misunderstanding,

Streamlining Workflow Using Existing Technology

Processing rehabilitation admissions and case management records in a three-person office in a major academic medical center had become cumbersome and redundant due to multiple information management approaches and requirements from various sources. Simple questionnaires and brief, casual meetings with pertinent personnel defined what was working well and what was problematic and helped establish a foundation for change management. Analysis of the existing paper system revealed more than 300 data items used more than once throughout the departmental processes. A simple timing trial, based on selected segments of a workflow diagram, revealed the potential to save 3 to 3(1/2) hours per case by revising a departmental database, decreasing work redundancy, and creating an electronic case file. Because the work environment utilized Microsoft Office and Access databases, a plan was developed to utilize these resources to streamline the workflow and eliminate duplication of effort in the admission/case management documentation processes.

The role of professional discourses in the organisational adaptation of information systems

This paper focuses on the role of professional discourses in shaping the contexts upon which the organisational role of information systems is constructed and adapted. It presents the results of an exploratory case study conducted at a Higher Education Institution in the UK during the implementation and post-implementation periods of a University-wide management information system. It analyses how different professional discourses explored tensions in the management of the information environment articulated around two major categories of issues, which acted as interpretative repertoires and discursive resources: (i) representations of the information environment, expressed through the tension between information centripetalism and information centrifugalism; (ii) models of information management approaches, expressed through the tension between a focus on controlling process and a focus on negotiating meanings. While simultaneously discursively exploring these tensions and establishing contacts across them through activities of organisational translation, different organisational actors reshaped and adapted the role of information systems from an initial centripetal agenda to a much more negotiated and distributed role.

Addressing the data aspects of compliance with industry models

A fundamental aspect of compliance involves the capability to produce business reports which constitute adequate audit and control records. This presents two significant challenges. Very often, international and government regulators do not coordinate their policies, creating a great deal of overhead for the implementing organizations, particularly those represented in multiple geographical areas. In addition, the information required to produce these reports may be in inconsistent formats throughout the enterprise or unavailable at the right level of detail. To overcome these challenges, organizations need to develop an enterprise-wide data architecture that enables the consolidation of regulatory reporting requirements and the integration of data from different business areas. The definition of data standards and the use of common data-modeling techniques throughout the enterprise can assist in this effort. IBM has developed a series of industry models that address these challenges based on the principles of data warehousing and business intelligence. This paper describes in detail the technical and business challenges of information management in the context of compliance and presents a few practical examples of how customers in the financial services industry have addressed compliance requirements such as Basel II and Solvency II by using enterprise-wide information management approaches based on industry models and related technology.

Section 1: Health and Clinical Mangement: Health and Clinical Management – Comparing the Clinical Outcome of Computerized Strategies

SummaryTo summarize current excellent research in the field of health and clinical management.Synopsis of the articles selected for the IMIA Yearbook 2006.Current research in the field of health and clinical management analyses impact and patient outcome of both established and recently presented approaches. Usability and effects of extracting data from computerized medical records for preventive care and surveillance issues are a topic as well as strategies for detecting adverse events.The best paper selection in the field of health and clinical management shows examples of excellent research on assessment, strategies and concepts for computerized health information management approaches. The articles emphasize the necessity of carefully considering health information systems regarding their outcome and compatibility with clinical routine. A concerted management of knowledge about evaluated health information management approaches will advance this trend and should lead to a more evidence-based design of the underlying systems.

A personal information management approach for people with low vision or blindness

A method and tool is presented that extends a word-processor so as to assist with organising personal notes and other information. It is usable by people who are blind or who have low vision, as well as by others, on a small display. The basic principle is to allow the user to annotate parts of the text with labels and then group together any parts of the text that have the same label. The tool was prototyped using the 4DML transformation system, was experimentally evaluated, and refinements are reported on.

Knowledge is power: using nursing information management and leadership interventions to improve services to patients, clients and users

This paper examines the purpose, role and function of information and information management within health care today. It is set within the context of a specialist forensic learning disability setting. Changes in politics, government legislation and reforms of the National Health Service (NHS) have created a need to equip managers with the necessary tools and skills to be able to lead and manage effectively. As such there has been a great emphasis upon specialist training, such as the government-driven Leading an Empowered Organisation courses, for nurse managers and nurses with leadership potential. Yet with the drive to generate a new wave culture within the NHS of inspirational leaders, are we still overlooking a critical and key area which is fundamental in achieving and delivering cost effective, quality health care--the area of information management within health care today? The processes presented in this paper are structured through a strategic nursing management and leadership performance implementation model, the Clinical Nursing Leadership Learning and Action Process (CLINLAP) model, which facilitates work-based learning and capability development in the reality of everyday clinical activities. Through the model, the emphasis is to make clinical goals specific, roles explicit, processes clear and encourage these activities to be carried out within an environment of open relationships. The use of CLINLAP model assisted as a management and leadership technology to manage change in the workplace so as to improve services to patients in Yelday Lodge. Structured management and leadership interventions led to observable positive change in information management on Yelday Lodge. The conclusion is that sustained quality information could be embedded in nursing practice at Yelday Lodge or elsewhere by evaluating and discussing the different information management approaches within the practice area through the use of structured management and leadership interventions. The use of the CLINLAP model is recommended for use as a model for managing information, knowledge and communication for results within nursing and health care services.

Developing nursing management and leadership capability in the workplace: does it work?

Developing nursing management and leadership capability in the workplace: does it work?

Fighting terrorism, making war: Critical insights in the management of information and intelligence

Abstract This article reviews and analyzes the essential lessons of information and intelligence management lessons from recent terrorist attacks and the decision to attack Iraq. It draws on evidence from the 9/11 Commission, the Senate investigation of intelligence and the war in Iraq, the Butler Commission in Britain, and other sources. It identifies and explores several themes, including the following: relationship between intelligence work and other information work; inconclusive nature of intelligence; role of executive leadership in successful intelligence work, including the leader's need for information and decision-making style; role of organizational culture and human factors; the need for sound information management practices and systems; and the need to evaluate information for decision making and other actions. The article concludes with a discussion of strategic information management policies and approaches that are essential to improve the nation's information and intelligence management capacity.

Value creation in the digital age: an information management approach

One of the biggest challenges in oil and gas exploration is accurately measuring the financial return on investments in technology. Metrics are evolving that allow the rigorous calculation of value added and the effect on ensuring discoveries. Information Management solution implementations provide value creation, which involves streamlining key elements of process, technology and data. They consist of workflow optimisation, technology mastery, and data ownership initiatives. No matter how large or small the business, to expand business opportunities, streamline processes, improve customer satisfaction and increase profitability, companies need to take advantage of technology solutions that can transform the way they do business. At the same time, these technology solutions must be able to: 1) support the corporate vision; 2) be delivered via reliable, high-performance networks; 3) scaled with the growth of the company; and 4) offer maximum value at the best cost. Impacts on business objectives are calculated in reduced cycle time, improved quality of strategic decisions and the value of standardised processes. Measures are provided of barrels of oil added to proven reserves, documented cost savings and verifiable calculations of the value of time saved for geotechnical personnel working on exploration projects. The pressure will increase as producing fields mature and require more complex processes, tools and data to be effectively managed.

E-Automation, an architecture for distributed industrial automation systems

Due to the complexity of modern industrial systems, a conventional automation system is not capable of providing sufficient information management and high-level intelligent approaches, as achieving these functionalities requires the support of comprehensive data management and coordination between system devices and heterogenous information. This paper proposes the concept of e-Automation, in which computer networking and distributed intelligence agent technologies are applied to industrial automation systems, and presents a hardware and software architecture that implements this concept. An open infrastructure based on multi-agent systems is employed in the proposed architecture of e-Automation, which aims to allow the implementation of diverse tasks and to permit greater configurability than can be obtained from a traditional system. To evaluate our proposed e-Automation concept, this paper presents a case study of substation information management which adopts the proposed e-Automation architecture in power system domain.

E-Government: Towards a Public Administration Approach

In public administration science and practice, the debate on e-government concentrates on service delivery, information and technology. This article argues that we need a broad public administration approach towards e-government that surpasses this technocratic emphasis. Public administration theory helps us to escape from the conceptual prison of the information management ideology that currently dominates e-government. Both the locus of e-government (the parts of public administration that are being touched by it) and its focus (its approach towards governance) can be used to broaden the concept. If we do not enrich e-government, many of its possibilities will remain unexploited. Also, if we stick to the information management approach, e-government will endanger the very foundations of the legitimacy of public administration.