Snapshot—A Technique for Tagging and Tracing Transactions

Abstract

Statistics show that as much as 60 percent of business-critical data now resides in e-mail, making it potentially the most important repository of data your company owns. This huge amount of data — which is growing on a daily basis — translates into a significant burden on corporate storage resources.     

Successfully Managing the Multivendor Environment

Abstract

The coordination of services from multiple sources—management of the multivendor environment—is a many-faceted responsibility for the MIS manager. There are inherent problems in such an environment, but the MIS manager can take steps to ensure that the benefits and opportunities presented by the multivendor environment are realized.     

A south-east Asian viewpoint

Abstract

Some south-east Asian Fundamentals of commercialization or remote sensing—namely attitudes, open skies, products and accessibility—are discussed.     

A Two-Dimensional Approach to Systems Development

Abstract

Although many variables can contribute to the failure of a systems development project, the use of the traditional f one-dimensional systems development life cycle approach is often a major factor in the failure of such an effort This article describes an alternative method— the two-dimensional approach to systems development— and discusses why IS managers should consider adopting this new development approach.     

CAUSAL BAYESIAN REASONING IN MEDICINE

Abstract

We propose a knowledge representation architecture organized in three levels—a causal network (containing the domain knowledge), medical strategies and causal reasoning—and expose the fundamentals of a mathematical model for computing probaility through the application of Bayes' theorem in a causal network.     

Modelling linear fractional transportation problem in belief degree—based uncertain environment

A linear fractional transportation problem in uncertain environment is studied in this paper where the uncertain parameters of the problem are of belief degree—based uncertainty. For the first time, this type of uncertainty is considered for the linear fractional transportation problem. Belief degree—based uncertainty is useful for the cases that no historical information of an uncertain event is available. Zigzag type uncertainty distribution is used to show the belief degree—based uncertainty of the parameters of the problem. As solution methodology, the uncertain linear fractional transportation problem is converted to a crisp form using three approaches of expected value model, expected value and chance-constrained model, and chance-constrained model, separately. An extensive computational study on a real illustrative example shows the efficiency of the proposed formulation and the conversion approaches. The sensitivity analysis over the example illustrates the high dependency of the objective function value to the changes of the confidence level values of the chance constraints in the expected value and chance-constrained programming approach and the chance-constrained programming approach.     

A parallel genetic algorithm to solve the set-covering problem

This work presents a parallel genetic algorithm (PGA) model to solve the set-covering problem (SCP). Experimental results obtained with a binary representation of the SCP, show that—in terms of the number of generations (computational time) needed to achieve solutions of an acceptable quality—PGA performs better than the sequential model. This comportment can be explained principally because, the PGA of p nodes—each one with its corresponding local population P_L—behaves like a sequential GA with a global population, P_G, of the same size, which it—the sequential GA—has the great disadvantage of having to completely evaluate in each generation. Not so the PGA, which only evaluates a pth part of the P_G.Scope and purposeSince classical optimization techniques are inefficient to solve NP-complete problems—in terms of computational complexity—new methods have been developed. The genetic algorithm (GA), is one of such methods proposed to solve combinatorial optimization. Although Genetic Algorithms (GAs) are efficient to solve these kinds of hard problems, during recent years, models of parallel genetic algorithms (PGAs) have been used to improve both quality of solutions and computing time. The aim of using PGAs, is to discover how the interchange of genetic information of separate populations, affects or influences the final solution. The exploration of different solution spaces could optimize the search in terms of both computational time and quality of solution.     

Coastal definition using Landsat data†

Abstract

An automated technique is described, for extracting land-water boundaries from Landsat MSS images by means of ‘density contour-threading’ of the band 7 data. The resulting coastlines, etc. can then be transformed to fit any map projection—in particular the British National Grid—with the aid of selected ground control points.     

SELF-ORGANIZING REPRESENTATIONS

ABSTRACT

Based on the three basic principles—cognitive relativity, rationality, and clarity—the Contextual Theory of Cognitive States provides a unified constructive platform, which may help to understand and model many of the puzzles of human activities, including culture, and other self-organizing phenomena.     

Achieving IT-Business Strategic Alignment via Enterprise-Wide Implementation of Balanced Scorecards

ABSTRACT

IT-business alignment remains one of the top issues of IS managers. This article presents a case study in which four key elements of IT-business alignment — integrated planning, effective communication, active relationship management, and institutionalized culture of alignment — were enhanced by the enterprise-wide implementation of an established strategic management tool, the balanced scorecard.     

Meet Your Cracker Intrusion Management Using Criminal Profiling

Abstract

It is 2 A.M. and you receive the call. “We've been hacked.” Those are the only words you remember from the short conversation in your slumbering state. An eye-catching commercial — yes. Reality — yes, for some. Security breaches come in many different styles. This is just one possibility.     

A Systematic Approach to Long-Term Planning for OA Implementation

Abstract

Because end-user computing (EUC) is playing a more significant role in the overall performance of organizations, EUC and its associated technologies should be viewed as a set of distinct value activities — that is, activities that contribute to an organizations competitive advantage. Management should emphasize those EUC attributes that have a positive influence on the organization —direction, support, and control. This article discusses these attributes, the major issues associated with each, and the timing of each attribute in conjunction with organizational strategy.     

Mesoscale variability of sea surface temperature in the North Atlantic

Abstract

Analyses of mesoscale horizontal distributions of temperature were performed for an area of the North Atlantic using data from the NOAA-7 and NOAA-6 Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). The zonal and meridianal variance spectra have.slopes between —1.4 and —2.5 with a clear maximum at -2.0. This is also true for the direction-dependent structure functions. The isotropic part of the variance spectra has a mean slope of —2.2±0.17 at scales of 10— 100km; this lies between the slopes of -1 and —3 predicted by the theories of two-dimensional and geostrophic turbulence. A comparison between measurements and theories is difficult because of the insufficient applicability of these theories to boundary layers. Moreover, in some cases there are significant maxima in the variance spectra at scales between 50 km and 250 km.     

How Dragging Changes Students’ Awareness: Developing Meanings for Eigenvector and Eigenvalue

Abstract

The complementary use of the theories of instrumental genesis and shifts of attention enabled me to obtain insights into students’ understandings of the concepts of eigenvector and eigenvalue. My analysis suggests that the use of different dragging modalities can provide evidence of shifts in structure of a student's attention and consequently can reveal processes involved in her understanding of the concepts. Inversely, shifts in structure of her attention can result in her use of different dragging modalities. I also identified a new dragging modality—intentionally dragging—that is, to drag a point with the intention of producing a certain configuration.     

Security Awareness Tools

Abstract

Future cryptosystems — at least those that survive rigorous vetting — will have long lives. However, not all implementations of these cryptosystems will. Existing cryptosystems may have long lives; most existing implementations, however, will not. Advances are inevitable. Plan for them from a business perspective, from an architecture perspective, and from a security contingency perspective.     

Third World continuing medical education with hypertext: the Liverpool Anaemia Guide System

Abstract

Some of the needs of continuing medical education (CME) in Third World countries are described. The potential of hypertext-based computer-assisted instruction (CAI) to meet these needs are discussed and compared to a more traditional expert system type approach to CAI. A prototype hypertext CAI system in such an application area—the Liverpool Anaemia Guide System (LAGS)—is described and its use evaluated by a small sample of Third World medical practitioners. It is concluded that systems such as LAGS may make a valuable and cost effective contribution to Third World CME programmes.     

Investigating the Prevalence and Performance Correlates of Vertical Versus Shared Leadership in Emergent Software Development Teams

ABSTRACT

In this multi-disciplinary study involving 44 software development projects, we investigate how leadership types—vertical versus shared—impact team performance. The results of the study show that while vertical leadership was found to have a higher positive impact on team efficiency, shared leadership was found to have a higher positive impact on team innovation, and a balanced shared and vertical leadership was found to optimally impact team effectiveness.