Information Technology Scenarios Research Articles

Determinants of customer satisfaction in a B2B IT context – A structural equation modeling approach

Customer satisfaction studies in a business-to-business (B2B) information technology (IT) industry have primarily focused on assessing satisfaction at the project level. However, software organizations are unique due to the complex nature of the supplier-customer relationships; therefore, the requirements of customers at the project and engagement levels are quite different and convoluted. This research identifies the determinants of customer satisfaction in an IT scenario, at an engagement level, and proposes a measurement instrument for the same. Furthermore, the relationships among the various determinants of customer satisfaction and their effect on overall customer satisfaction are investigated using the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. The SEM model was tested for model fit and adequacy through various indices and measures, thereby confirming the theory behind the proposed model. The present research will help practitioners better understand the relationships among the various elements in customer satisfaction measurement and management in software organizations. This study is perhaps the first of its kind in applying the SEM approach for evaluating customer satisfaction in the B2B IT industry.

An Efficient Policy-Based Scheduling and Allocation of Virtual Machines in Cloud Computing Environment

Cloud computing has become the most challenging research field in the current information technology scenario. In this, a set of user tasks are scheduled and allocated to numerous kinds of heterogeneous virtual machines (VMs) in cloud data centers (CDCs), and these VMs are hosted by diverse types of heterogeneous physical machines (PMs). It extends several features, encompassing elasticity, safety, sustainability, and even adequate maintenance compared to traditional data centers. There are numerous techniques available for VM scheduling and allocation. However, it still requires the existence of new mechanisms that can reduce the execution time (ET) of the tasks, improve the optimization of energy usage and resource utilization (RU), and reduce time consumption. Along with optimization, VM scheduling (VMS) and VM allocation (VMA) are two-level issues that need to be considered with essential policies to govern these mechanisms. Hence, for executing optimal VMS and VMA in the data center, new optimization methodologies, such as enhanced shark smell optimization algorithm (ESSOA) at the first level and Brownian movement-centered gravitation search algorithm (BMGSA) at the second level, are proposed in this work to define the policies. Firstly, the user requests for VMs are reserved on the most appropriate PM by the proposed ESSOA, which has the lowest execution cost within deadline limits, and the proposed BMGSA decides the allocation of the chosen VM on the most appropriate PM within the resource limitations at the second level. To demonstrate the proposed algorithm’s efficiency, the simulations are carried out using the Java language-based CloudSim simulator, and the proposed mechanism outcomes acquired are compared with the existing approaches. The simulation results show that the suggested algorithm is efficient in terms of the execution cost, degree of imbalance (DOI), make span (MS), and resource utilization (RU).

Business Intelligence in Decision Support Focusing on Collective Continuity Indicators

The expansion of organizations demands more and more information as an input to acquire greater control of activities, and for the treatment of this data. The information technology scenario has a growing and sharp curve, especially in the scope of big data, requiring attributes for analysis and compilation of the data obtained, thus ensuring the provision of information in a timely manner for more accurate and assertive decisions about the future of organizations. Thus, the present study seeks to show how the implementation of a Business Intelligence tool impacts on collective indicators of continuity of electricity supply. Energy is one of the main inputs for organizations and for everyone who depends on it. Its availability allows a guarantee of the continuity of socio-economic development. Therefore, the objective of this was to carry out descriptive research with a quali-quantitative approach through an applied study, having as locus an electric energy distribution concessionaire, approaching the scenarios before and after the implementation of the tool, making it possible to highlight the improvements in the organization through Business Intelligence. It also has an approach regarding the aid in the decision-making process through this tool, and consequently its contribution to the process of continuous improvement.

Knowledge exploration–exploitation and information technology: crisis management of teaching–learning scenario in the COVID-19 outbreak

ABSTRACT Education institution closure is considered as an effective way to prevent coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. However, there are several challenges concerning teaching and learning activities (knowledge transfer) in crisis times such a COVID-19. This study aims to provide a holistic view of knowledge transfer and information technology scenario in the education sector during COVID-19 or another uncertain environment. A systematic literature review was conducted by several search techniques such as study selection, synthesis of papers, and reporting the results. A total of 290 peer-reviewed research studies were carried out. These articles were filtered, and 51 relevant articles were selected. The study mainly contributes by illustrating the schema or scenario of effective knowledge transfer of the teaching–learning process in the context of coronavirus crisis through maximising the information technology (IT) tools and knowledge management (KM) approach. Several factors namely IT tools of remote and online learning, knowledge exploration–exploitation, education’s knowledge types (tacit-explicit knowledge), and internal–external knowledge in education were identified. The study further provides the new paradigm for future study. Additionally, several concepts and theories were merged, namely SECI theory and ambidexterity view (knowledge exploration and knowledge exploitation). Future studies may extend the research area to different types of organisations and extend this model into empirical tests.

Information technology sector and its culture in India

The objective of this essay is to highlight the changes that occurred in the information technology (IT) workspace. It seeks to provide a sociological analysis of the cultural changes since the arrival of global IT culture in India. The neo-liberalization of 1991 has provided a critical turning point in reversing India‘s stagnating industrial growth and turned it into an important destination for information technology (IT) investment (Athreye, 2003). Since, then several multinational firms either directly invested in India or have tie-ups with the domestic firms. Either way India has occupied a prominent position in the global information technology scenario. The Indian IT sector emerged out of the global demand for new technology-driven products and services such as software application, and software tools.

Trust Model for Reliable File Exchange In Cloud Computing

The recent developments in cloud computing technology show an increase in security, privacy and trust related problems, in many ways, which haven't been predicted by the ones who have been designing clouding environments. Among them, the users trust problem and cloud computing resources secure access warranty have deserved special attention. At this study, it will be presented a review on the concepts of cloud computing, trust and reputation, and some open questions related to trust and security in cloud computing environments will be discussed. Computing systems trust and reputation representation have been widely discussed and applied in a lot of information technology scenarios, becoming subject of scientific researches both from a theoretical and practical point of view. This paper proposes the development of a high level trust model to ensure a reliable files exchange among users in a private cloud, as well as the calculation process of trust among these users, according to the metrics previously established.

Communicating by compatibility

A bio-inspired language is presented. Its terms are processes enclosed into boxes with typed interaction sites. The main feature of the formalism lays in the fact that the key-lock communication mechanism typically adopted by process calculi is partially relaxed in favour of a paradigm driven by a (parametric) notion of compatibility of interaction types. Two simple modelling examples are reported: one inspired by the immune system, and the other by web services. These examples show that embedding compatibility into the communication paradigm may be helpful for the specification of both biological and information technology scenarios.

The Diffusion and Adoption of Information Technology in Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises through IT Scenarios

The rapid economic and technological developments in the globally oriented business world make the strategic use of information technology (IT) essential. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are running behind regarding the application of IT and therefore it is necessary to stimulate the diffusion and adoption of this technology within this group. In this article a so-called IT scenario model is described, with which communication can be established with entrepreneurs from SMEs concerning the strategic application of IT. Theoretical approaches and concepts regarding the diffusion and adoption of IT are essential components of the model. The IT scenario model consists of an environmental aspect, six phases and three aspect areas. The model was put into operation through various interviews with SMEs in the furnishing sector.