Traditional Information Systems Research Articles

Social Media for Online Collaboration in Firms and Organizations

Participation in social networks has long been studied as a social phenomenon according to different theories. In particular, the notion of social capital highlights a person's benefit due to his relations with other persons, including family, colleagues, friends and generic contacts. It may be important both for the individuals that are able to accumulate large amounts, and for organizations. Nowadays, social networking systems bring many acquaintances online, both in the private and working spheres. Some systems are used both at home, for leisure goals, and on the work place, professionally. In the vast majority of cases, social networking platforms are still used without corporate blessing. However, several traditional information systems, such as CRMs and ERPs, have also been modified in order to include social aspects. This article shows the role of social capital in the participation in online social networking activities, in the various cases of Virtual Organizations, Virtual Teams, and online Networks of Practice. It describes the present situation, which is characterized by great promises and mixed initial results, and some possible prospects.

Ontology Based Data Access Methods to Teach Students to Transform Traditional Information Systems and Simplify Decision Making Process

We describe a service-based approach that provides a natural language interface to legacy information systems, built on top of relational database management systems. The long term goal is to make data management and analysis accessible to a wider range of users for a diverse range of purposes and to simplify the decision making process. We present an ontology-driven web-service, named Reply, that transforms traditional information systems into intelligent systems, endowed with a natural language interface, so that they can be queried by any novice user much like modern day search engines. The principal mechanism of our approach is turning a natural language query into a SQL-query for structured data sources by using Ontology-Based Data Access methods. We also outline how the proposed approach allows semantic searching of large structured, unstructured, or semi-structured data within the database or outside sources, thus helping bridge the talent gap in the case of Big Data Analytics used by researchers and postgraduate students.

Developing dynamic virtual geographic environments (VGEs) for geographic research

It has been over 15 years since the concept of Virtual Geographic Environments (VGEs) was formally proposed (Lin and Gong 2001). Although the thinking about VGEs never stops since it was born, and the continued development of VGEs has brought about significant achievements resulting from this concept (e.g., Goodchild 2009; Gong et al. 2010; Konecny 2011; Lu 2011; Priestnall et al. 2012; Lin et al. 2013a, b, 2015) as well as related technologies and implementations (e.g., Xu et al. 2011, 2013; Chen et al. 2012, 2013a, b; Zhang et al. 2015a, b; Zhu et al. 2015), there are still some misunderstandings about this ‘new’ branch of Geoscience. Questions generally are related to two concepts: the first concerns the differences between VGEs and game-like virtual worlds, similar virtual communities and cities, and digital earth; the second asks how VGEs can contribute to geographic research beyond traditional Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Maps (Aydi et al. 2013; Tung et al. 2013). The answer to the first question may be found in the term ‘geographic environment’ which refers not only to the natural surface of the earth, space, or a place, but also involves the social behaviors that interact with natural factors; it is the sphere of direct interaction between nature and society (Kalesnik 1979). An important feature of geographic environments is that they change continuously with time. Although some objects in geographic environments have relatively stable shapes (such as a rock or soils), many exist in constantly changing forms (such as vegetation, air and water), and human beings (both in groups or individual) are active throughout their ‘lives’. Given this definition, to build a virtual mirror that can reflect the real geographic environment, only considering the physical part would result only in a one-sided perspective. Moreover, dynamic geographic phenomena and processes require careful attention, a fact often overlooked by traditional systems. Thus, an ideal virtual environment

POINT CLOUD SERVER (PCS) : POINT CLOUDS IN-BASE MANAGEMENT AND PROCESSING

Abstract. In addition to the traditional Geographic Information System (GIS) data such as images and vectors, point cloud data has become more available. It is appreciated for its precision and true three-Dimensional (3D) nature. However, managing the point cloud can be difficult due to scaling problems and specificities of this data type. Several methods exist but are usually fairly specialised and solve only one aspect of the management problem. In this work, we propose a complete and efficient point cloud management system based on a database server that works on groups of points rather than individual points. This system is specifically designed to solve all the needs of point cloud users: fast loading, compressed storage, powerful filtering, easy data access and exporting, and integrated processing. Moreover, the system fully integrates metadata (like sensor position) and can conjointly use point clouds with images, vectors, and other point clouds. The system also offers in-base processing for easy prototyping and parallel processing and can scale well. Lastly, the system is built on open source technologies; therefore it can be easily extended and customised. We test the system will several billion points of point clouds from Lidar (aerial and terrestrial ) and stereo-vision. We demonstrate ~ 400 million pts/h loading speed, user-transparent greater than 2 to 4:1 compression ratio, filtering in the approximately 50 ms range, and output of about a million pts/s, along with classical processing, such as object detection.

Design theory, modelling and the application for the Internet of Things service

ABSTRACTThe Internet of Things (IoT) makes it possible for us to sense the physical world and locate objects in it using the enabling technologies associated with IoT. Compared with traditional information systems, IoT enabling technologies can help acquire real-time data necessary for managing enterprise business process. An IoT system should have an ability beyond integrating enabling technologies and traditional information systems that are only used to access environmental data. This paper begins with a literature review of IoT-related issues and a discussion of the difference between traditional information service and IoT service. Three principles for IoT service design from the perceptive of service classification, coordination and compatibility are proposed. The paper also proposes a utility model for resource allocation in order to improve IoT service performance, and an application involving a cold chain visibility platform is given to illustrate our research.

NEW GENERATION ENTERPRISE GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS

This paper addresses common problems like poor reusability, closed vendor proprietary framework, limited customizability which are associated with use of traditional Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and proposes architecture of new generation GIS. The architecture described in this paper is based on Service Oriented Architecture and open standards. It consists of Geographic Information Service Provider, Geographic Information Service Consumer and Geographic Information Mediation Infrastructure. The new generation GIS allows achieving high level of reusability both on GIS logic and orchestration layer. Its broad customizability capabilities make it suitable for wide user audience.

Design and Implementation of Mobile Electronic Nautical Chart Information System Based on IOS

With the rapid development of nautical surveying and mapping and the growing of the mobile platform products, there is a growing demand for mobile electronic nautical chart information system. Traditional desktop electronic chart information system has played an important role in the field of hydrographic surveying and mapping. But it is very inconvenient to carry it offshore for maritime staff. We have developed the mobile electronic nautical chart information system based on IOS after deeply digging the demand of maritime staff for a mobile system. It realizes some traditional functions like the desktop system such as parsing and rendering of vector nautical chart file, integrated display of various kinds of map layers, data update and sharing inside the system and so on. Besides that, it also realizes some novel functions taking advantage of the characteristics of the mobile devices, such as trajectory recording and navigation, etc. This system is on trial in the relevant operational departments and reaches the level of operational application.

Study on e-government services quality: The integration of online and offline services

Purpose : E-Government, as a new bond linking the government and the public, has gradually become the focus of innovation in government services. The paper focuses on the e-Government service quality issues from the perspective of users. Design/methodology/approach : From the aspects of online service quality perception and offline service quality perception, based on IS Success model and SERQUAL model, e-Government Services Quality model has been set up with information quality, system quality and service quality as key factors. Then, the survey method was applied to collect data and then to test the model. Findings : It was found that users’ perception of offline service quality has a significant effect on improving their perception of online service quality, and online service quality perception has a significant effect on public satisfaction of e-Government services; information clarity, system security and stability, interactive services and “one-stop” services all have a significant effect on public satisfaction of e-Government services. However, offline service quality perception has certain positive effect on public satisfaction of e-Government services but not dramatically. Research limitations/implications : Mobile e-Government as an important direction of the development of e-Government, in the future, we will study more about mobile e-Government services channels. Originality/value: This study further develops the theory of information system service quality, and also provides a theoretical reference for government departments. On the one hand, based on the characteristics of e-government system, information quality, system quality and service quality in the previous system service model are further discussed; on the other hand, both online and offline services are taken into consideration in the information system service model, thus establishing the e-government services quality model and making an in-depth study of the integration effect of online and offline services. Its conclusions can be references for the application of traditional information system service model in the field of e-government.

Explaining the unexpected and continued use of an information system with the help of evolved evolutionary mechanisms

Explaining how, why, and to what extent humans use information systems has been at the heart of the information systems (IS) discipline, and although successful models have emerged, mostly relying on social and cognitive psychology in their theoretical underpinnings, there are still cases that remain unexplainable. In this article, we scrutinize one of these cases where the continued use of technology cannot be explained by one of the most prominent traditional IS models to date. We analyze our qualitative case study by juxtaposing two theoretical lenses: a traditional IS perspective (i.e., the “unified theory of acceptance and use” model) versus an evolutionary psychology perspective (i.e., the four‐drive model). We find that a more comprehensive understanding of continued IS usage is possible when including an evolutionary psychology perspective to the existing models. Specifically, we propose three new concepts, including evolved performance expectancy, evolved effort expectancy, and evolved social influence. We also demonstrate that, in some situations, cognitive and social constructs dominate, whereas in other situations, the evolutionary dependent constructs associated with human nature take over.

A Cloud Security Assessment System Based on Classifying and Grading

Cloud security has become a key limitation on the development of cloud computing. To ensure the stability and reliability of cloud service, cloud security should be assessed regularly using a practical indicator system. Because cloud computing employs virtualization technology and a new delivery mode, the security assessment indicator system for traditional information systems is unsuitable for the cloud. This article proposes a complete cloud security assessment indicator system based on classifying and grading. It uses the comprehensive assessment method combining forward and feedback assessment to assess the security of an actual cloud, and verifies the rationality and practicability of the cloud security assessment indicator system.

Application of green collaboration operation on network industry

Traditional information system and managerial mechanism cannot meet the new environment protection regulations; therefore, a new solution must be set up, else it may run the risk of losing the market and the value of product brand.This research focuses on the solutions provided by the network and communication industry, manufacture of the green products, and the establishment of a Webbased green collaboration management system, which incorporates the environment protection requests into the product development and green supply chain activities. There are three goals: (1) For the design of green products, green components and product management are set up for the purpose of de-toxin and ease of disassemble; (2) For the green supply chain, the management of hazardous substances, product recycle and disassemble are set up; (3) For the product recycling management, the recycling information is feedback for the product update and collaboration operation. The result of research can provide information for the integration of workflow and information system currently in use, provide RoHS and WEEE management solutions, and set up green collaboration information system, so that green products, brand leadership, and environment protection endeavor can be assured.

A Study of Anonymous Delivery Based on Blind Signature Scheme

The traditional delivery information system does not offer anonymous property, which cannot provide protection to the individual information between the shipping and receiving of information transmission such as recipient's name, phone number, address, material contents and so on. This is a big challenge to personal information of privacy and protection. In this paper, we will use the blind signature to implant delivery information system which offers anonymity under the delivery task, and guarantees the consignee's privacy to be protected.

Cyber Ocean: a roadmap to maritime cloud

The maritime domain; a sub domain of the wider critical infrastructure domain plays a decisive role in the worldwide digital economy and collaborative environments where leading information and communication technology is being utilised. In addition, the emerging technology of cloud computing is providing holistic frameworks for generating and delivering a plethora of interoperable, cost effective and scalable e-services creating new business opportunities and immediate profit when implemented. Driven by this motivation, a perspective beyond the traditional information and communication systems utilisation; a road-map to maritime cloud is proposed. The digital frontiers of the 'Cyber Ocean' and the strategic approach for the creation of the maritime cloud environment are defined and the maritime cloud architecture is designed in order to host innovative maritime services in a new era of technology for the maritime domain.

A Review of Cloud Computing Technology Solution for Healthcare System

Previously the traditional healthcare information system that used in the healthcare sector was the paper-based and then later it was replaced by the Healthcare Information System (HIS). However the HIS was found not perform effectively because of several issues such as storage capacity, system integration, high operating cost and system maintenance. Cloud computing is a new technology that deliver the software, infrastructure and computational platform as a service over the Internet in any place and any time. This technology has been said can solve many problems of the healthcare system such as increase the storage capacity and add new capability on the existing healthcare system. Cloud computing offers cost effective, increase interoperability and accessibility, optimize resources and integrate the healthcare information systems. It becomes a solution for solving the current issues, which lead to enhance functionality and features of the healthcare information systems. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the cloud computing technology as solution for healthcare information system issues. Issues such as data transmission, data storage, cost and maintenance issues are presented and described. The implications of this study then discussed.

Privacy as an Integral Part of the Implementation of Cloud Solutions

Bridging the gap between design and implementation stages has been a major concern of designers, analysts and developers of information systems (ISs) and a major aspiration of a number of IS engineering approaches. Cloud computing exacerbates the strain on traditional IS engineering approaches that service-oriented computing has started. At the same time, recent research has argued about the importance of security and privacy in a cloud environment and highlighted a number of security and privacy challenges that are not present in traditional environments and need special attention when implementing or migrating ISs into a cloud environment. This paper contributes to this direction. Specifically, it presents a number of privacy-related cloud properties that analysts need to consider when designing privacy-aware systems in a cloud environment. Also it indicates a number of implementation techniques that can assist developers in assuring the respective properties.

Design of Logistics Information System Architecture Based on GIS

To solve the logistics information system based on GIS application problems of small and medium-sized logistics enterprises, the software architecture of the traditional logistics information system and system based on GIS technology is analyzed, and their advantages and defects are pointed out. On this basis, a kind of service oriented four layers logistics system architecture based on components GIS is designed, using ArcSDE and ArcIMS as GIS platform, the detailed deployment of the architecture are given. The relationships between the infrastructure layer, the spatial information support layer, the service support layer, the business application layer and the components are Expounded. The architecture features of business agility, loose coupling of system interface, combine and reusability of functional components are verified by its prototype system.

Web vs. Mobile

Typically, Information Systems (IS) are used to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of processes. On the one hand, mobile IS, with their ubiquitous character, have the potential to extend the application range of traditional IS. On the other hand it is also known that mobile IS have drawbacks, like a small screen size and limited processing power. The question arises if mobile IS changes decision behavior and more importantly decision performance. This paper contains a field experiment in a play money prediction market with over 2,000 participants in which users use a web frontend as well as a mobile application. Its market setting is well suited to study both decision behavior and decision performance on a user-by-user basis. It is found that participants' trading behavior using a mobile device does differ from using a stationary device. Moreover, looking at decision performance, this paper finds significantly lower trading profits when using mobile devices.

Beyond the organizational ‘container’: Conceptualizing 21st century sociotechnical work

The sociotechnical systems (STS) approach provides a framework that is well suited to grappling with many issues of work in organizations. By conceiving of work systems as mutually-shaping social and technological systems, the STS approach has provided decades of researchers and practitioners with robust analytical tools to consider both the social and the technical elements of organizational contexts. However, we identify two areas where the conceptualization of sociotechnical systems must be updated to reflect the role of information infrastructures as an enabler of trans-organizational work arrangements. First, with its view of nested systems, the STS approach encapsulates work and the infrastructure used to do it within organizations (either explicitly or implicitly) — often leading to a “container” view of organizations as the context of work and a venue for joint optimization of the social and the technical. Second, because work is generally treated as encapsulated within superordinate, nested systems, elements of that work are inherited from those superordinate systems. In this paper we characterize the limitations of industrial age assumptions of organizational encapsulation and inheritance that, rooted in the STS approach, underlie much of traditional information systems scholarship. We then theorize an updated sociotechnical framework (Neo-STS) and apply it to examples of contemporary work situations to highlight the importance and implications of trans-organizational information infrastructures and multidirectional inheritance.

Frame Research of the Building Information Model in Project Management Information System

According to the definition of building information model (BIM), authors compare the merits of traditional project management information system (PMIS) with the one based on the BIM model and BPS framework. Then authors approximately analyze the functions of the PMIS of this framework construction and discuss how this system will interpretably operate in life cycle. Finally authors give some advices on the issues in designing process.

How are icons processed by the brain? Neuroimaging measures of four types of visual stimuli used in information systems

We sought to understand how users interpret meanings of symbols commonly used in information systems, especially how icons are processed by the brain. We investigated Chinese and English speakers' processing of 4 types of visual stimuli: icons, pictures, Chinese characters, and English words. The goal was to examine, via functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data, the hypothesis that people cognitively process icons as logographic words and to provide neurological evidence related to human−computer interaction (HCI), which has been rare in traditional information system studies. According to the neuroimaging data of 19 participants, we conclude that icons are not cognitively processed as logographical words like Chinese characters, although they both stimulate the semantic system in the brain that is needed for language processing. Instead, more similar to images and pictures, icons are not as efficient as words in conveying meanings, and brains (people) make more effort to process icons than words. We use this study to demonstrate that it is practicable to test information system constructs such as elements of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) with neuroscience data and that, with such data, we can better understand individual or group differences related to system usage and user−computer interactions.