IT Delivery Research Articles

The effects of IT capabilities and delivery model on cloud computing success and firm performance for cloud supported processes and operations

Our study examines the effect of relational, managerial and technical IT-based capabilities on cloud computing success; and analyzes how this success impacts firm performance with respect to the processes and operations supported by cloud computing. Additionally, we investigated the complex relationships that exist between IT capabilities and the public, private and hybrid cloud delivery models. Data from a sample of 302 organizations were collected to empirically test our model. The results indicate that a relational IT capability is the most influential factor to facilitate cloud success compared to technical and managerial IT capabilities. Furthermore, an evaluation of the interrelationships indicates that the public and hybrid cloud delivery models may be more dependent on relational IT capabilities for cloud success while the flexibility and agility of the firm's internal IT (technical IT capability) facilitates the public cloud. We discuss how IT-based capabilities may be used to leverage cloud delivery models to positively influence the successful implementation of cloud computing, and ultimately, firm performance for the processes and operations supported by the cloud.

Transaction banking in the cloud: Towards a new business model

Transaction banks are confronted with a growing number of challenges that are affecting their present business models. They are increasingly pressed to adapt to changes in their competitive and technological environments. Transaction banks need to redefine their business models to reflect these changing trends better. That means finding more cost-effective IT delivery methods that also support the rapid creation of innovative new transaction banking services to their corpor­ate clients. Innovations such as cloud computing are set to play an increasingly influential role. Banks have, for a long time, been reluctant to adopt computing technologies, particularly for security reasons. Cloud computing, however, has gained greater prominence over the past year, and is now also generating interest from transaction banks. They are increasingly aware of the benefits that cloud computing could bring, giving them a cost-effective way to respond to the present changing conditions. This paper discusses what cloud computing could mean for the transaction banking industry. What are the main drivers, the benefits and the various challenges that transaction banks will need to overcome? It discusses ways in which innovative transaction banks could leverage the cloud for competitive advantages in the coming years. What shape should their cloud take; which model can be used at sufficient scale to make it cost effective and operationally efficient; and when and how to implement the cloud? How will it impact their business model? Some forward-thinking on cloud computing in transaction banking is explored.

ENHANCING QUALITY OF IT SERVICES DELIVERY USING ENTERPRISE CROWDSOURCING

IT outsourcing companies have adopted global delivery model, where IT services, such as backup management, are supplied out of multiple locations worldwide, based on the skill and cost of IT delivery staff, such as system administrators (SAs) and call center agents. Managing IT services quality requires insights obtained by extracting large volumes of tacit knowledge about processes, products and people, which is in collective possession of experts. Current practices to discovering this distributed and unstructured knowledge are semi-automated. Often they involve manual data collection using spreadsheets and tracking of exerts through e-mail. As such they fail to scale and provide accurate insights on demand, such as IT infrastructure snapshots. We present an enterprise crowdsourcing service that enables harnessing of human knowledge to derive quality insights in IT services. Our approach automates knowledge and knowledge owner discovery, and is based on the concept of distributed questionnaires. Experts can breakdown the knowledge requests into multiple parts and engage their networks to co-create the content. We discuss the effectiveness of our approach for knowledge discovery in the context of large-scale, on-going business activities in IT outsourcing organization, which collectively engaged over 2500 experts globally.

Cloud computing: A democratizing force?

There has never been a more disruptive innovation in the IT landscape such as cloud computing since the emergence of the Web in the early 1990s. This IT delivery service has the potential to change many aspects of organizations’ operations, thinking, culture, work and their ability to control global warming. With the increasing ubiquity and pervasiveness of mobile devices, cloud computing's impact could be even greater and much wider in its reach. But this emerging innovation has many hurdles to surmount to become the “telephone” or the “water” equivalent of the IT world. An examination of these issues will be made in this article and an exploration of the empowering and democratizing credentials of cloud computing will be attempted.

Introduction to special issue on cloud and service computing

Over the years, the service-oriented paradigm of assembling software systems and applications using Internet-accessible autonomous and platform-independent software components in a loosely coupled manner has been well received by the public for its unprecedented flexibility and interoperability [2–4]. The research area of service delivery and provisioning has gradually matured into the so-called cloud computing by combining the achievements in both utility computing and grid computing. Cloud computing has the potential to reshape the landscapeof the IT industry. It brings a brand-new model of IT provisioning and delivery by offering benefits such as zero upfront investment, on-demand services, flexible and elastic capacity, and rapid service deployment [1]. Popular cloud services such as Amazon EC2, Google Compute Engine, and Apple iCloud are now hosted on large-scale data centers and delivered to users through a variety of devices. However, realizing the full potential of cloud services raises a number of significant challenges, which have not been fully recognized or addressed in the community. One important issue is that large-scale data centersmust offer reli-

A View Of Cloud Computing

Today’s IT infrastructure is under tremendous pressure and is finding it difficult to keep up. In distributed computing environments, up to 85 percent of computing capacity sits idle. 66 percent of every dollar on IT is spent on maintaining current IT infrastructures versus adding new capabilities. In history, operations have industrialized to become smarter. Cloud Computing is positioned to industrialize the IT delivery of the future. It is a natural evolution of the widespread adoption of multiple technical advances in the distributed computing area including virtualization, grid computing, autonomic computing, utility computing and software-as-a-service. It provides a new paradigm for consumption and delivery of IT based services – It provides an enhanced user experience with a self-service user interface for IT management. It abstracts the technical details from end-users so that they no longer need expertise in, or control over, the technology infrastructure “in the cloud” that supports them. It provides flexible pricing based on pay per usage. It enables flexible delivery and sourcing models including private, public and hybrid clouds. Finally, it provides automated provisioning and elastic scaling of IT infrastructure. This paper presents several views on different perspectives of Cloud Computing, including technical advancement, IT delivery and deployment modes, and economics.

Improved photostability, reduced skin permeation and irritation of isotretinoin by solid lipid nanoparticles / Povećana fotostabilnost, smanjena permeacija i iritacija izotretinoina iz kruto-tekućih nanočestica

The aim of this study was to develop new solid lipid nanoparticles of isotretinoin (IT-SLNs) and evaluate the ability of IT-SLNs to improve photostability, reduce skin permeation and irritating effects. IT-SLNs were prepared by the hot high pressure homogenization method. Size, zeta potential and morphological characteristics of the preparations were assessed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thermotropic properties with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). IT-SLNs had a small average diameter of 74.05 ± 8.91 nm and high encapsulation efficiency (EE) of 80.6 ± 1.2 %. The results showed that the entrapment of IT into SLNs reduced significantly its photodegradation. The in vitro permeation data showed that IT-SLNs can accumulate in the different layers of the skin and prevent systemic uptake of IT in mouse skin. IT-SLNs also significantly increased IT accumulation in the different layers of the stratum corneum of human skin. IT-SLN formulation was significantly less irritating compared to commercial IT-GEL, which shows its potential for improving skin tolerability and being a carrier for topical delivery of IT.

β-Adrenergic agonists differentially regulate highly selective and nonselective epithelial sodium channels to promote alveolar fluid clearance in vivo

β-Adrenergic receptors (β-AR) increase epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) activity to promote lung fluid clearance. However, the effect of selective β-AR agonist on highly selective cation (HSC) channels or nonselective cation (NSC) channels in alveolar type 1 (T1) and type 2 (T2) cells is unknown. We hypothesized that stimulation with β(1)-AR agonist (denopamine) or β(2)-AR agonist (terbutaline) would increase HSC and/or NSC channel activity in alveolar epithelial cells. We performed single-channel measurements from T1 and T2 cells accessed from rat lung slices. Terbutaline (20 μM) increased HSC ENaC activity (open probability, NP(o)) in T1 (from 0.96 ± 0.61 to 1.25 ± 0.71, n = 5, P <0.05) and T2 cells (from 0.28 ± 0.14 to 1.0 ± 0.30, n = 8, P = 0.02). Denopamine (20 μM) increased NSC NP(o) in T1 cells (from 0.34 ± 0.09 to 0.63 ± 0.14, n = 7, P = 0.02) and in T2 cells (from 0.47 ± 0.09 to 0.68 ± 0.10, P = 0.004). In vivo X-ray imaging of lung fluid clearance and ICI 118,551 selective inhibition of β(2)-ARs confirmed patch-clamp findings. cAMP concentrations increased following treatment with denopamine or terbutaline (n = 3, P < 0.002). The effects of systemic (intraperitoneal, IP) and local (intratracheal, IT) modes of delivery on lung fluid clearance were assessed. IT delivery of denopamine promoted alveolar flooding, whereas IP delivery promoted delayed fluid clearance. In summary, β-AR agonists differentially regulate HSC and NSC in T1 and T2 cells to promote lung fluid clearance in vivo, and the mode of drug delivery is critical for maximizing β-AR agonist efficacy.

Mashups and the Cloud: A Legal Analysis

This paper concerns the legal issues of mashups and cloud computing. These two phenomena are fueling the development of the Web 2.0. Cloud computing is currently revolutionizing the field of corporate IT and information delivery, while mashups are democratizing the way in which people create software. Mashups, as discussed in this paper, are a combination of APIs or a combination of an API and data. The purpose of the paper is not to propose solutions to all the existing problems in the field of cloud computing and mashup law, but rather to discuss the issues in light of the current legal rules. The paper also discusses the overall business environment, as well as briefly describes the technological background of the web mashups. Based on academic quality and relevance of topic, this paper has been selected for inclusion in the 2009/10 Munich Intellectual Property Law Center (MIPLC) Master Thesis Series.

Network Capacity on-Demand

With the rapid development and integration of the Internet, wireless communication network and the Internet of Things, the Internet faces many challenges as a bearer network: a large volume of information exchange, multi-level QoS and smoothly switching multiple access protocols. The Internet should be able to provide a variety of network capacity in a more dynamic and on-demand way, not just only limited network resources provision through virtualization. The elastic network is expected to adapt to network changes by enabling network protocols selection and combination dynamically. Cloud computing illustrates a new Internet-based model of IT resources (hardware, software, data) provision, delivery and consumption as a service. Therefore, network protocols as a service can provide guaranteed quality of service and good quality of experience to users who do not care about any network configuration and network management. In this paper, we proposes a novel idea of network capacity on demand by combining the service provision model of cloud computing with the openness of the network protocol. The related conception and stakeholders of network protocol as service are depicted. Cloud-based network architecture is design to present the provision, delivery and consumption of network capacity on demand and discuss the key features of cloud-based network. Finally, a prototype of cloud-based network is implemented by extending OpenFlow architecture.

Network Capacity on-Demand

With the rapid development and integration of the Internet, wireless communication network and the Internet of Things, the Internet faces many challenges as a bearer network: a large volume of information exchange, multi-level QoS and smoothly switching multiple access protocols. The Internet should be able to provide a variety of network capacity in a more dynamic and on-demand way, not just only limited network resources provision through virtualization. The elastic network is expected to adapt to network changes by enabling network protocols selection and combination dynamically. Cloud computing illustrates a new Internet-based model of IT resources (hardware, software, data) provision, delivery and consumption as a service. Therefore, network protocols as a service can provide guaranteed quality of service and good quality of experience to users who do not care about any network configuration and network management. In this paper, we proposes a novel idea of network capacity on demand by combining the service provision model of cloud computing with the openness of the network protocol. The related conception and stakeholders of network protocol as service are depicted. Cloud-based network architecture is design to present the provision, delivery and consumption of network capacity on demand and discuss the key features of cloud-based network. Finally, a prototype of cloud-based network is implemented by extending OpenFlow architecture.

Individual Civil Servants' Conceptions Of Accountability

This article presents a preliminary study of how civil servants in the United Kingdom understand accountability characterized by its emphasis on individual performance and accountability. Using the interpretive approach known as phenomenography, we interviewed ten civil servants who as Senior Responsible Owners (SROs) were accountable for the delivery of IT enabled business change programmes. Our analysis revealed five attributes of accountability, each conceived at three levels in a hierarchy of increasing richness and complexity. These results challenge the notion that accountability is a unitary concept and that there is conflict between traditional and newer forms of accountability.

Networking as a Service: a Cloud-based Network Architecture

With the rapid development and integration of the Internet, wireless communication network and the Internet of Things, the Internet faces many challenges as a bearer network: a large volume of information exchange, multi-level QoS and smoothly switching multiple access protocols. The Internet should be able to provide a variety of network capacities in a more dynamic and on-demand way, not just limited network resource provision through virtualization. The elastic network is expected to adapt to network changes by enabling network protocols selection and combination dynamically. Cloud computing illustrates a new Internet-based model of IT resources (hardware, software, data) provision, delivery and consumption as a service. Therefore, networking as a service can provide guaranteed quality of service and good quality of experience to users who do not care about any network configuration and network management. In this paper, we propose a novel idea of networking as a service by combining the service provision model of cloud computing with the openness of the network protocol. The related conception and stakeholders of networking as a service is depicted. Cloud-based network architecture is design to present the provision, delivery and consumption of networking as a service and discuss the key features of cloud-based network. Finally, a prototype of cloud-based network is implemented by extending OpenFlow architecture.

IT delivery of ChABC modulates NG2 and promotes GAP-43 axonal regrowth after spinal cord injury.

Chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans (CSPGs) with the major component NG2 have an inhibitory effect on regeneration of damaged axons after spinal cord injury. In this study, we investigate whether the digestion of CSPGs by chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) may decrease the NG2 expression and promote axon regrowth through the lesion site. Rats underwent spinal cord compression injury and were treated with ChABC or vehicle through an intrathecal catheter delivery at 2, 3, and 4 days after injury. In addition, animals were behaviorally scored using BBB test in weekly intervals after SCI. Based on immunocytochemical analyses, we have quantified distribution of NG2 glycoprotein and GAP-43 in spinal cord tissue in both experimental groups. Multiple injections of ChABC caused decrease of NG2 expression at lesion site at 5 and 7 days, but not at 14 and 28 days in comparison with vehicle-treated rats and significantly enhanced GAP-43 expression during the entire survival. The densitometry analysis showed significantly higher GAP-43 immunoreactivity (1.8-2.2-fold) in the regrowing axons and cell bodies within the central lesion cavity when compared with vehicle group. Longitudinally oriented and disorganized GAP-43-labeled axons were able to infiltrate and penetrate damaged tissue. The outgrowth of GAP-43 axons after CHABC delivery was significantly longer (≤0.457 mm) when compared with the length of axons in vehicle-treated rats (≤0.046 mm). Present findings suggest that degradation of NG2 with acute IT ChABC treatment may promote ongoing (long-lasting) axonal regenerative processes at late survival (14 and 28 days), but with no significant impact on the improvement of motor function.

Differential internalization of hu14.18-IL2 immunocytokine by NK and tumor cell: impact on conjugation, cytotoxicity, and targeting

The hu14.18-IL2 (EMD 273063) IC, consisting of a GD(2)-specific mAb genetically engineered to two molecules of IL-2, is in clinical trials for treatment of GD(2)-expressing tumors. Anti-tumor activity of IC in vivo and in vitro involves NK cells. We studied the kinetics of retention of IC on the surface of human CD25(+)CD16(-) NK cell lines (NKL and RL12) and GD(2)(+) M21 melanoma after IC binding to the cells via IL-2R and GD(2), respectively. For NK cells, ∼ 50% of IC was internalized by 3 h and ∼ 90% by 24 h of cell culture. The decrease of surface IC levels on NK cells correlated with the loss of their ability to bind to tumor cells and mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in vitro. Unlike NK cells, M21 cells retained ∼ 70% of IC on the surface following 24 h of culture and maintained the ability to become conjugated and lysed by NK cells. When NKL cells were injected into M21-bearing SCID mice, IT delivery of IC augmented NK cell migration into the tumor. These studies demonstrate that once IC binds to the tumor, it is present on the tumor surface for a prolonged time, inducing the recruitment of NK cells to the tumor site, followed by tumor cell killing.

Security and Control in the Cloud

ABSTRACT Cloud computing is a new IT delivery paradigm that offers computing resources as on-demand services over the Internet. Like all forms of outsourcing, cloud computing raises serious concerns about the security of the data assets that are outsourced to providers of cloud services. To address these security concerns, we show how today's generation of information security management systems (ISMSs), as specified in the ISO/IEC 27001:2005, must be extended to address the transfer of security controls into cloud environments. The resulting virtual ISMS is a standards-compliant management approach for developing a sound control environment while supporting the various modalities of cloud computing. This article addresses chief security and/or information officers of cloud client and cloud provider organizations. Cloud clients will benefit from our exposition of how to manage risk when corporate assets are outsourced to cloud providers. Providers of cloud services will learn what processes and controls they can offer in order to provide superior security that differentiates their offerings in the market.

Get Your Head In The Clouds!

Dr Kristof Kloeckner: In the end, it’s all about money – how much do you spend for just maintaining the status quo, and how much on supporting truly differentiating business initiatives. This drives an imperative for dynamic infrastructures, increasing resource utilization and reducing labor costs, and for more flexible economics in the consumption and delivery of IT based services.” – Cloud Computing Journal Interviews IBM's Enterprise Initiatives CTO, Dr. Kristof Kloeckner

IT Delivery Capabilities: Assessment and Performance Measurement of Selected Indian IT &amp; ITeS organizations

In the globally competitive environment, the organizations are forced to seek newer and faster solutions to remain competitive by removing the cost overrun and time overrun. In this backdrop, outsourcing has emerged to be a critical business strategy employed by many companies successfully for their long-term survival and growth. Growing number affirms outsource more of their professional services across geographic and temporal boundaries. India has emerged as an attractive destination to the global companies. Because of its competitive position, the country has gained a unique position in global IT outsourcing. However, one needs to examine the long-term ramifications of outsourcing on business and the society at large. This research paper presents a survey-based analysis of the current trend for private sector outsourcing needs and the competitive advantage for Indian IT corporate. The study finally attempts to evaluate the strategic move in the context of comparative advantages for cost savings, accessing to new skill sets, and access to cutting-edge technology.

Service Orientation in the Enterprise

Three short contributions address the needs, solutions, and effects of service orientation in applications as diverse as mobile telecommunications, e-government, and logistics. "Toward Mobile Services: Three Approaches"--For most companies, software products are considerably more valuable if integrated into a product suite from which each customer can pick and choose a unique configuration. Similarly, in an increasingly networked world, a company can greatly benefit from uniformly integrating its products with those of other companies in the same ecosystem. "New Paradigms for Next-Generation E-Government Projects"--Although the quality of management training is an important dimension of e-government success, three emerging IT trends are defining new rules for the public sector. These paradigms require next-generation e-government projects to shift the emphasis from building on proper technology to gaining a more profound understanding of the nature of organizational transformation and business process management. "Creating Business Value through Flexible IT Architecture"--In addition to mastering IT management, a flexible architecture is a key prerequisite for excellent IT delivery. In an evolutionary approach to architecture transformation, Deutsche Post developed a coordinated set of projects that implemented and reused business services, thus both creating business value and contributing to a flexible IT landscape.

The next generation of systems to support corporate grade ICT products and solutions

The delivery of next generation IT and communications services to corporate customers is a principal part of BT's growth strategy. These services range from IP virtual private networks, to hosted applications, through to fully managed solutions spanning complex IT and network infrastructures. The cost and flexibility of such services is increasingly dependent on the operational support systems (OSS), which automate activities such as provisioning, change, billing, and incident management. However, the OSS challenges for the service provider have never been so great -- not only to support a wide-ranging portfolio of legacy products, but also a new generation of convergent products, while at the same time trying to deliver both improved service and cost savings. Moreover, in the corporate sector, large contracts are typically won in partnerships, and through outsourcing. The OSS must therefore interwork seamlessly with the counterpart OSS in each of the partner's operations, pulling together to deliver a single managed service to the customer. This paper outlines BT's solution to these complex OSS challenges, the application of its systems capability matrix to corporate customers, the relationship to its alliance with HP, the importance of standards such as ITIL, and how BT is levering its research and venturing capabilities to deliver a competitive edge through OSS.