Information systems effectiveness: research designs for causal inference

Abstract. This paper examines the capacity of the research designs of 37 empirical studies of information systems (IS) effectiveness to provide a basis for the development of theories about behaviour related to IS effectiveness. The power of each study to support causal inference was evaluated in terms of (a) its handling of the time dimension, (b) its ability to weigh differences and (c) its resistance to internal validity threats that pose alternative explanations for its reported findings. Of the reviewed studies, 29.7% could account for the time dimension, 32.4% employed a comparison group and 16.2% were not susceptible to any internal validity threats. Only 13.5% of the studies combined an accounting for the time dimension with the use of a comparison group. Of these, however, only 5.4% were also invulnerable to internal validity threats. The research designs of nearly 95% of these published studies were deficient in supporting causal inference. In those studies, suggestions that one variable was causally related to another variable could not be substantiated. Encouragement for the future capacity of IS effectiveness research to support causal inference was found in a trend towards the use of quasiexperimental designs. Recommendations are made regarding ways to increase the inferential capacity of research designs employed in the study of IS effectiveness.     

Reliability and performance analysis of time – space – time switching networks with multiple separated space switches

Since electronic switching systems usually require very strict reliability requirements as well as good performance objectives, we need to jointly analyse the performance and reliability of switching systems. In this paper, we compare conventional time–space–time switches with single space switches with those with multiple separated space switches, from the viewpoints of reliability and performance. We consider time–space–time switching networks which consist of N incoming time switches, i.e. one NxN space switch, two (N/2)x(N/2) space switches, and four (N/4)x(N/4) space switches. We introduce a Markov reliability model to study the effect of failures and analyse the reliability and performance of three different types of switching networks in terms of average blocking probability and the mean time to unreliable operation, as we vary the offered traffic. As a result, T–S–T switching networks with multiple separated space switches exhibit better performance and reliability than those with single space switches.     

A computational framework for representing authors'' courseware models*

Abstract This paper looks at some of the problems of existing courseware authoring systems, and advocates the use of knowledge-based techniques to resolve these problems and to form the basis of future authoring environments. The prototype knowledge-based representation language, GTE, is presented as an example of a knowledge-based language which might form the basis of such environments. The final part of the paper discusses some of the developments in GTE which must take place if it is to be used within a full and flexible authoring environment. The paper will focus particularly on the question of instructional strategies, but many of the observations can be taken as relevant to all the knowledge involved in a teaching interaction.     

Effect of Bi and Sr concentrations on the formation of the 2223 phase in Bi-Pb-Sb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O materials, obtained under different conditions of thermal treatment

The superconducting properties and the phase and chemical composition of Bi _x Pb_0.3Sb_0.1Sr _y Ca₂Cu₃O_z (x=1.5, 1.6, and 1.7;y=1.9, 2.0, and 2.1) materials synthesized by one-step and multistep thermal treatments have been investigated. The multistep annealing between 825–875°C promotes the 2223 phase. The change of Bi concentration has little effect on the 2223 phase formation, regardless of the kind of thermal treatment used, but increasing the Sr concentration (y> 2) strongly inhibits this phase. It has also been established that the loss of Pb after synthesis depends on the initial Bi concentration. The loss of Pb decreases when the initial Bi content is lower.     

Macroscopic analysis of design processes based on a scheme for coding designers' cognitive actions

We have devised a new scheme for coding designers' cognitive actions from video/audio design protocols. Designers' actions are coded into four cognitive levels; physical, perceptual, functional and conceptual. Relations between actions belonging to different levels, such as dependencies and triggering relations, are also coded. The present scheme has two benefits. First, we found that design actions are definable in a systematic way using the vocabulary of the scheme, and thus a designer's cognitive behaviours in each of local design stages is represented as a structure composed of defined primitive actions. This is expected to lay the foundation for microscopic analyses of how particular types of actions contribute to the formation of key design ideas. Second, this scheme is suitable for macroscopic analyses of how designers cognitively interact with their own sketches. We examined, for a practising architect, the ways in which drawing, inspection of drawings, perception, and functional thoughts correlated with one another in his design process. The findings suggest that design sketches serve not only as external memory or as a provider of visual cues for association of non-visual information, but also as a physical setting in which design thoughts are constructed on the fly.     

Effective lightning protection schemes for distribution line

The causes of lightning outage are subdivided into direct lightning strokes and induced lightning strokes, which are identified by the characteristics of the lightning overvoltage. In the past, lightning protection devices were directed mainly toward the latter, and attention has been focused on the installation of lightning protection devices, ground wires, and reinforcement of insulators. However, lightning outages continue to occur. Thus it is extremely important to clarify the fault characteristics of lightning surges and to study the effectiveness of various lightning protection devices by considering both direct lightning stroke and induced lightning stroke in order to prevent lightning outage in the future. In this research, the electromagnetic transients program (EMTP) has been applied to the direct lightning stroke, and the induced lightning outage analysis program for multiple conductor systems has been applied to the induced lightning stroke to study the effectiveness of lightning protection devices provided by combination of various lightning protection devices. The most effective lightning protection schemes are analyzed and evaluated based on verification tests on the full scale models as well as economic considerations.     

Thermal design method of bayonet-tube evaporators and condensers

The paper describes an effectiveness-NTU design method of bayonet-tube evaporators and condensers. Including the effect of the wall superheat on the shell-side film coefficient, and using an energy balance on the tube, differential equations for the steady-state fluid temperatures are formulated. Because of the nonlinear nature of the governing equations, the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method is employed to the solution of the finite difference equations. The results are iterated with the combination of integration techniques. An upper bound to the numerical error being ±5% the fluid temperature distribution as well as the exchanger effectiveness are determined, and presented as a function of the Hurd number, the number of heat transfer units and the flow arrangement. For flow entering through the inner tube, the temperature distribution displays the occurrence of a minimum at a point other than the tube-tip of the exchanger. In an extension of the analysis, an effort is made to illustrate the deviation of the results obtained by uniform film coefficient from the present study, and the differences are outlined.     

Modified atmosphere packaging of a mixed prepared vegetable salad dish

The aim of this study was to design a modified atmosphere package for a mixed vegetable salad consisting of 75 g of cut carrot, 55 g of cut cucumber, 20 g of sliced garlic and 50 g of whole green pepper. Respiration data of all the components were combined with film permeability data to predict package atmospheres and design optimal packages for experimental testing for improved shelf-life of the produce. The optimal package avoided minimum O₂ and maximum CO₂ tolerance limits, and chilling injury temperatures for any component. A pouch form package made of 27 mm low density polyethylene developed a modified atmosphere of 2.0–2.1% O₂ and 5.5–5.7% CO₂, which was beneficial for all components and provided better quality retention than other test packages.