Implications of an ethic of privacy for human-centred systems engineering

Privacy remains an intractable ethical issue for the information society, and one that is exacerbated by modern applications of artificial intelligence. Given its complicity, there is a moral obligation to redress privacy issues in systems engineering practice itself. This paper investigates the role the concept of privacy plays in contemporary systems engineering practice. Ontologically a nominalist human concept, privacy is considered from an appropriate engineering perspective: human-centred design. Two human-centred design standards are selected as exemplars of best practice, and are analysed using an existing multi-dimensional privacy model. The findings indicate that the human-centred standards are currently inadequate in dealing with privacy issues. Some implications for future practice are subsequently highlighted.     

The human-centred movement: The British context

The cornerstone of the British human-centred tradition lies in the two notions, human machine symbiosis and socially useful technology. The contemporary tradition has its roots in the LUCAS PLAN of the 1970s and has recently been shaped by a number of European social and technological movements in Scandianvia, Germany, France, Ireland and Italy. The emergence of the information society places the human-centred debate in wider socio-economic and cultural contexts. The paper explores the shaping of the European dimension of the human-centred tradition and proposes a research agenda for social innovation for inclusive information society.     

The enactment of significance: a unified conception of information,systems and technology

This paper introduces a new perspective that helps unpack the relationship between information, systems and technology within the nature of human organisation. We argue for an area of interest located at the intersection of signs and systems, which involves the enactment of forma, informa and performa. To demonstrate the utility of this perspective, we deliberately consider a ‘strange’ case from a different time, space and culture. We discuss the nature of human organisation among the Inka Empire and how this organisation was reliant upon the enactment of significance, particularly in relation to an artefact known as the khipu. We conclude with a discussion of the value of our framework in helping us understand the complex entanglement of information, systems and technology within human organisation.     

Human-centred appraoches to control and information technology: European experiences

In this paper, the concept of Human-Centred Technology will be described with regard to the different dimensions of workplace, groupwork and networks and in terms of the frameworks of both society and the natural environment. These different aspects of Human-Centred Systems will be illustrated by a series of case studies representing several European countries. The report covers a wide range of research fields. The emphasis is on technology: the roles of control and information technology in enterprises today — including issues of applying AI — and the strategies of designing and implementing technology taking into account the specific aspects which characterize human-centred systems.     

Human-centred by design? The adoption of CAD in the UK

The appropriate forms of organisational arrangements to accompany the introduction of integrative technologies such as CAD and their implications for operator skills and work organisation have been hotly debated. For some, CAD represents yet another example of a technology being used to deskill a previously higly skilled occupational group, whilst for others it is a technology which allows a break with the deskilling trend, raising the possibility of much human-centred forms of work organisation. This paper examines the introduction of CAD in six UK organisations and highlights the need for strategic, but at the same time more skill-based, approaches. The prospects for the development of such an approach in the UK are briefly evaluated.     

Cultural signature of interorganisational information systems? The development of EDI systems in the korean automotive industry

This paper presents research linking national culture and technology development. The research identifies how key features of Korean culture, collectivism and hierarchical authoritarianism, affect technological innovation. This perspective casts new light on cultural research that, while generally confirming national culture–technology development ties at the organisation level, has had less success accounting for culture barriers to innovation in collectivist nations, especially at the interorganisational level. According to the results of the study, closed collectivism and authoritarianism in Korea are responsible for the development of closed electronic data interchange (EDI) systems and the failure of an industry-wide EDI standard development. Hence, to develop open EDI systems which make communications between manufacturer and supplier free, Koreans need a new cultural standard. Accepted: 19 August 2002     

Routinisation of B2B E-commerce by small firms: A process perspective

Prior research on e-business based on the TOE framework and the factor based variance approach have yielded mixed results in that differences exist in terms of the identified technology, organisation and environmental factors and their influence at different steps of the routinisation trajectory. In this research we probe deeper into the routinisation phenomenon and investigate the process in a bid to understand ??when?? and ??why?? certain TOE factors become crucial determinants at different stages of the routinisation process. The context of our study is integration of B2B e-markets by four small firms. Our findings from interpretive case studies indicate that changes in organisational characteristic (such as IT infrastructure), environmental characteristics (such as e-business usage in the industry), and perceptions of e-business (risk and benefit) over time influenced movement along the routinisation trajectory. There is evidence that in high risk e-business, the ability to conduct trials with controlled risk is a crucial determinant of progression from initial to continued usage. Also, contrary to the independent effects of the organisation, environment and technology characteristics assumed in prior research, we found that it is the interaction effect of the three factors that determined initial attitude, initial usage and continued usage. Based on our findings we develop a process model of e-business routinisation and discuss the theoretical and practical implications.     

On a human-centred approach to database systems

It is often illuminating to view a technology or a methodology from a novel perspective, thereby assessing it with criteria which are likely to differ markedly from those used by its designers. In this paper we review current database design methodology and, implicitly, database technology. We attempt to show that both are founded on an information-centred philosophy, and that the consequences of this view are significant and unsatisfactory. We investigate an alternative, human-centred philosophy and relate this to the more limited scope of a user-centred view which evolves from our analysis.     

Adopting a musical intelligence and e-Learning approach to improve the English language pronunciation of Chinese students

This study investigates the use of musical intelligence to improve the English pronunciation of Chinese third level students. It is relevant for a human-centred systems engineering approach to cross-cultural interaction. Language learning is important as valid communication can help interactions and cultural understanding between countries, this also may benefit international stability. There are natural barriers between the English and Chinese language which are reflected in teaching approaches. The teaching of English in Chinese classrooms is removed from real-world English learning environments. The academic environments and approaches focus on the learning of grammar, spelling and writing with little real-life conversation and interaction with native English speakers. English language learning in China is from a more academic perspective rather than practical utilisation. Correct pronunciation and accent is therefore diminished. This study demonstrates that a musical intelligence e-Learning approach can benefit Chinese English language students.     

Workflow Management Systems and ERP Systems: Differences, Commonalities, and Applications

Two important classes of information systems, Workflow Management Systems (WfMSs) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, have been used to support e-business process redesign, integration, and management. While both technologies can help with business process automation, data transfer, and information sharing, the technological approach and features of solutions provided by WfMS and ERP are different. Currently, there is a lack of understanding of these two classes of information systems in the industry and academia, thus hindering their effective applications. In this paper, we present a comprehensive comparison between these two classes of systems. We discuss how the two types of systems can be used independently or together to develop intra- and inter-organizational application solutions. In particular, we also explore the roles of WfMS and ERP in the next generation of IT architecture based on Web Services. Our findings should help businesses make better decisions in the adoption of both WfMS and ERP in their e-business strategies.     

Systems engineering methodologies, tacit knowledge and communities of practice

In the context of technology development and systems engineering, knowledge is typically treated as a complex information structure. In this view, knowledge can be stored in highly sophisticated data systems and processed by explicitly intelligent, software-based technologies. This paper argues that the current emphasis upon knowledge as information (or even data) is based upon a form of rationalism which is inappropriate for any comprehensive treatment of knowledge in the context of human-centred systems thinking. A human-centred perspective requires us to treat knowledge in human terms. The paper sets out the particular importance of tacit knowledge in this regard. It sets out two case studies which reveal the critical importance of a careful treatment of tacit knowledge for success in two complex, technology-driven projects.

外语类高校学生信息技术素养的提升研究

信息技术素养,要求个体能对信息进行综合处理,包括使用工具、资源、程序和系统做出一系列操作.信息技术素养,不仅是对教师的要求,对学生也应有此规范.从生态学习观和学习共同体的视角进行分析,提出了语言类高校教师对学生信息技术素养提升的方案设计,帮助学生发展成适应智能化社会和高新技术社会的综合人才.     

Successful product or successful system? User satisfaction measurement of ERP software

Most software projects are largely undertaken with a focus on developing successful products rather than successful systems. For example, enterprise resource planning (ERP) products are generally developed in isolation from other system components like people, information or existing business processes. This paper applies the human-centred approach in studying the design of SAP-ERP system and measuring its user satisfaction. The objective of the paper is to explore the relationship between the human-centred dimensions (process, syntactic, semantic, social and pragmatic) and the user satisfaction on SAP-ERP system. This paper attempts to answer two questions: what human-centred model can provide a systematic and successful ERP system? And what methodology can be used for validating this model and how can it be applied for evaluating user satisfaction? The contributions of the paper are to address the need for the human-centred approach as a basis for the design of ERP system, to define a systematic human-centred model for measurement towards user satisfaction. This paper suggests the application of a proposed five dimensional model in measuring the human-centredness of SAP-ERP system and embarks a case study to conduct quantitative analysis. In conclusion the paper suggests an urgent and immediate need to develop scientific and engineering methodologies for designing, building, and analysing complex systems that centre on fundamental forms of human activity, supported by computer and communication technology.     

The human-centred information society: A community-based approach

The paper argues that the human-centred approach should be considered as an alternative to the techno-economic model of the EC information society. This alternative approach should be based on the principles of democratic participation of citizens and social cohesion. Using a community development based approach the paper introduces concepts of partnership, tripartite collaboration and universal participation. Having evaluated a human-centred approach to the information society this is then applied to the results of four case studies of Danish and Swedish community teleservice centres (CTSCs), and the subsequent lessons drawn.     

数字人文视域下的非物质文化遗产资源整合及保护

众所周知,目前国内处于一个重要的数字化背景,各种数字化技术和资源已在各个领域内进行运用,并已取得很好的效果。在很长一段时间以来,非物质文化遗产资源的整合、保护工作所受到的重视程度较高,但很多非物质文化遗产的保护工作存在诸多的限制,在实际的保护过程中也易出现损坏、遗失等等负面情况,而采用数字化技术就能有效地避免出现以上诸多问题,同时可促进国内非物质文化遗产资源整合工作、保护工作的效率和质量同时得到提升,从微观角度上,这对非物质文化遗产的继承和发扬具有促进作用;从宏观角度出发,这对国内社会整体的发展也具重要意义。故此,在本文中就针对数字人文视域下的非遗资源整合及保护机制进行系统的研究和分析,主要目的对促进数字化技术与非物质文化遗产的整合、保护工作进行结合,实现协同发展。     

Reconstructing human-centred technology: Lessons from the Hollywood dream factory

A post-modernist analysis of human-centred technology (HCT) suggests the ideology which informs the theoretical and practical development of HCT resonates with ideological representations of machine intelligence portrayed in science fiction (sf) films. It is argued that such an ideology reflects and reinforces ontological dualisms which constrain our ability to imagine and realise our future relations with technology. This paper invites proponents of HCT to meet their shadows, to transgress, the cultural and discursive borders constructed in the name of modernism, and to reflect on what is taken-for-granted and peripheralised within their own work.     

The ‘Japan problem’ in science and technology and basic research as a culture

This paper analyses the Japan Problem in science and technology from the viewpoint of the cultural factors involved. The selective use of contrary images of society depending on social context gives rise to a self-amplification of the problem. The paper critically examines what such generating mechanisms imply for a linear model connecting scientific, technological and economic performances. By focusing on the Science and Technology Basic Law and Plan approved in Japan in 1995 and 1996, it argues that measures taken for the promotion of basic research and creativity without giving due consideration to the relevant cultural factors provide an unsound basis for evaluating basic research. The paper argues that self-organisation by self-reference could provide an important general principle for human-centred science and technology policy, and especially policy for basic research.With Senior Associate Membership of St Antony's College, University of Oxford, UK for 1998–1999     

Assessing the benefits from e-business transformation through effective enterprise management

This paper reports on research carried out in 1999–2001 on the use of e-business applications in enterprise resource planning (ERP)-based organisations. Multiple structured interviews were used to collect data on 11 established organisations from a diverse range of industries. The findings are analysed according to the level of sophistication of e-business models and their transformational impact on the organisation. Early adopters of e-business show a trend towards cost reductions and administrative efficiencies from e-procurement and self-service applications used by customers and employees. More mature users focus on strategic advantage and generate this through an evolutionary model of organisational change. Two complex case studies of e-business integration with global suppliers and their corporate customers are analysed to identify specific stages of benefits accrual through the e-business transformation process. Collectively, the set of case studies is used to demonstrate the increased benefits derived from an e-business architecture based on a network of ERP-enabled organisations.