{"title":"Fitness, Extrinsic Complexity and Informing Science","authors":"T. Gill, Matthew T. Mullarkey","doi":"10.28945/3668","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.28945/3668","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":39754,"journal":{"name":"Informing Science","volume":"53 1","pages":"37-61"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86861140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ABSTRACT Aim/Purpose The objective of this paper is to review the vast literature of user-centric information science and inform about the emerging themes in information behaviour science. Background The paradigmatic shift from system-centric to user-centric approach facilitates research on the cognitive and individual information processing. Various information behaviour theories/models emerged. Methodology Recent information behaviour theories and models are presented. Features, strengths and weaknesses of the models are discussed through the analysis of the information behaviour literature. Contribution This paper sheds light onto the weaknesses in earlier information behaviour models and stresses (and advocates) the need for research on social information behaviour. Findings Prominent information behaviour models deal with individual information behaviour. People live in a social world and sort out most of their daily or work problems in groups. However, only seven papers discuss social information behaviour (Scopus search). Recommendations ICT tools used for inter-organisational sharing for should be redesigned for effective Practitioners information-sharing during disaster/emergency times. Recommendation There are scarce sources on social side of the for Researchers information behaviour, however,most of the work tasks are carried out in groups/teams. Impact on Society In dynamic work contexts like disaster management and health care settings, collaborative information-sharing may result in decreasing the losses. Future Research A fieldwork will be conducted in disaster management context investigating the inter-organisational information-sharing. Keywords user-centric information processing, information behaviour, collaborative information behaviour INTRODUCTION User-centric studies focus on the behaviour of the information users. This research became popular by the second half of the 70's and the beginning of the 80's. The seminal paper of the Dervin and Nilan (1986) discussed the paradigmatic change in information science. They elaborated on three innovations in the field, those are based on the User-Value Approach of Taylor (1968), Sense-Making Approach of Derv in (1983), and Anomalous-State of Knowledge (ASK) Approach of Belkin, Oddy, and Brooks (1982) (see Appendix A and B). These three models focus on the cognitive side of the information needs and uses. Each of the models conceives that the human beings are the actors while processing information. The User-Value Approach of Taylor articulates that information systems are constructed to satisfy the users' needs. Whole algorithms, systems and processes are designed to fulfil the information needs of the users. Therefore, this approach activated the user friendly design of information products and services. The Sense-Making Approach of Dervin articulates that people seek information to construct a meaning between a context and a desired situation. The bridge is constructed via using th
{"title":"Cognition to Collaboration: User-Centric Approach and Information Behaviour Theories/Models","authors":"A. Aydın","doi":"10.28945/3615","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.28945/3615","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Aim/Purpose The objective of this paper is to review the vast literature of user-centric information science and inform about the emerging themes in information behaviour science. Background The paradigmatic shift from system-centric to user-centric approach facilitates research on the cognitive and individual information processing. Various information behaviour theories/models emerged. Methodology Recent information behaviour theories and models are presented. Features, strengths and weaknesses of the models are discussed through the analysis of the information behaviour literature. Contribution This paper sheds light onto the weaknesses in earlier information behaviour models and stresses (and advocates) the need for research on social information behaviour. Findings Prominent information behaviour models deal with individual information behaviour. People live in a social world and sort out most of their daily or work problems in groups. However, only seven papers discuss social information behaviour (Scopus search). Recommendations ICT tools used for inter-organisational sharing for should be redesigned for effective Practitioners information-sharing during disaster/emergency times. Recommendation There are scarce sources on social side of the for Researchers information behaviour, however,most of the work tasks are carried out in groups/teams. Impact on Society In dynamic work contexts like disaster management and health care settings, collaborative information-sharing may result in decreasing the losses. Future Research A fieldwork will be conducted in disaster management context investigating the inter-organisational information-sharing. Keywords user-centric information processing, information behaviour, collaborative information behaviour INTRODUCTION User-centric studies focus on the behaviour of the information users. This research became popular by the second half of the 70's and the beginning of the 80's. The seminal paper of the Dervin and Nilan (1986) discussed the paradigmatic change in information science. They elaborated on three innovations in the field, those are based on the User-Value Approach of Taylor (1968), Sense-Making Approach of Derv in (1983), and Anomalous-State of Knowledge (ASK) Approach of Belkin, Oddy, and Brooks (1982) (see Appendix A and B). These three models focus on the cognitive side of the information needs and uses. Each of the models conceives that the human beings are the actors while processing information. The User-Value Approach of Taylor articulates that information systems are constructed to satisfy the users' needs. Whole algorithms, systems and processes are designed to fulfil the information needs of the users. Therefore, this approach activated the user friendly design of information products and services. The Sense-Making Approach of Dervin articulates that people seek information to construct a meaning between a context and a desired situation. The bridge is constructed via using th","PeriodicalId":39754,"journal":{"name":"Informing Science","volume":"89 1","pages":"1-20"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88122041","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Certain trends in scientific research have important relevance to bioethics theory and practice. A growing stream of literature relates to increasing transparency and inclusivity of populations (stakeholders) in scientific research, from high volume data collection, synthesis, and analysis to verification and ethical scrutiny. The emergence of this stream of literature has implications for bioethics theory and practice. This paper seeks to make explicit these streams of literature and to relate these to bioethical issues, through consideration of certain extreme examples of scientific research where bioethical engagement is vital. Implications for theory and practice are derived, offering useful insights derived from multidisciplinary theory. Arguably, rapidly developing fields of citizen science such as informing science and others seeking to maximise stakeholder involvement in both research and bioethical engagement have emerged as a response to these types of issues; radically enhanced stakeholder engagement in science may herald a new maximally inclusive and transparent paradigm in bioethics based on lessons gained from exposure to increasingly uncertain ethical contexts of biomedical research. Keywords: biomedical ethics, citizen science, informing science, probabilistic innovation, crowdsourcing, transparency, scientific inclusiveness Introduction Given increasing importance of disclosure and transparency issues in contemporary bioethics literature, this paper argues that at the heart of the concept of ethical practice itself is the notion of transparency toward stakeholders. Relevant to this principle is emergence of new citizen science (CS) methodologies (Bonney et al., 2009), including public participation in scientific research (PPSR) (Shirk et al., 2012), participant-led biomedical research (PLR) (Vayena & Tasioulas, 2013), and novel scientific ethics theory development such as that associated with post-normal science (Funtowicz & Ravetz, 1994). This body of literature, which extends stakeholder theory (Freeman, 1984), may be forming the basis for a new model of ethics in science, which may offer important trend insights for bioethics theory and practice. Parallel to these changes arising from citizen science movements dedicated to the democratisation of science are new ethical imperatives that have emerged in the wake of global societal crises, such as the Ebola virus disease epidemic, which have effectively "demanded the reinterpretation of long-standing ethical principles under extreme and urgent circumstances" associated with the need for real time emergency response (Fenton, Chillag, & Michael, 2015). Convergence of citizen science principles of transparency and stakeholder engagement in biomedicine is therefore occurring together with emergent recognition of the need for radically improved temporal responsiveness to urgent needs, which arguably places bioethics at the center of debates concerning these developments. Guid
科学研究的某些趋势与生命伦理学理论和实践具有重要的相关性。越来越多的文献涉及在科学研究中提高人口(利益相关者)的透明度和包容性，从大量数据收集、综合和分析到验证和道德审查。这一文学流的出现对生物伦理学理论和实践具有启示意义。本文试图明确这些文献流，并通过考虑生物伦理参与至关重要的科学研究的某些极端例子，将这些文献与生物伦理问题联系起来。对理论和实践的启示是派生的，提供有用的见解，从多学科的理论派生。可以说，迅速发展的公民科学领域，如告知科学和其他寻求最大化利益相关者参与研究和生物伦理参与的领域，已经作为对这些类型问题的回应而出现;从根本上加强利益攸关方对科学的参与可能预示着一种新的最大限度地包容和透明的生物伦理范式，其基础是从接触日益不确定的生物医学研究伦理背景中获得的经验教训。鉴于披露和透明度问题在当代生物伦理学文献中的重要性日益增加，本文认为伦理实践概念本身的核心是对利益相关者的透明度概念。与这一原则相关的是新公民科学方法论的出现(Bonney et al.， 2009)，包括公众参与科学研究(PPSR) (Shirk et al.， 2012)，参与者主导的生物医学研究(PLR) (Vayena & Tasioulas, 2013)，以及新的科学伦理理论发展，如与后正常科学相关的理论(Funtowicz & Ravetz, 1994)。这一文献体系延伸了利益相关者理论(Freeman, 1984)，可能正在形成一种新的科学伦理模型的基础，这可能为生物伦理学理论和实践提供重要的趋势见解。与致力于科学民主化的公民科学运动所带来的这些变化并行的是，在全球社会危机(如埃博拉病毒病流行)之后出现的新的伦理要求，这些危机有效地“要求在极端和紧急情况下重新解释长期存在的伦理原则”，这与实时应急响应的需求有关(Fenton, Chillag， & Michael, 2015)。因此，在生物医学领域，公民科学的透明度原则和利益相关者参与的融合正在发生，同时人们也逐渐认识到，需要从根本上提高对紧急需求的时间反应能力，这可以说将生物伦理学置于有关这些发展的辩论的中心。指导如何应对这些变化和不断变化的需求，需要生物伦理方面的指导和强有力的领导，以应对与生物医学研究的技术突破有关的极端变化和不确定性。因此，本文试图将新兴的公民科学运动理论与生物医学科学的某些极端例子联系起来，例如人体组织日益增长的全球贸易和基因工程的巨大突破潜力。在这种综合的基础上，得出了有用的见解，并开发了两个模型，一个是(i)基于知识革命的工业与知识范式的分歧如何潜在地推动新的连通性伦理和最大化利益相关者参与;“第一级”理论建议与“第二级”生物伦理学实践建议相关。在埃博拉、寨卡病毒和抗生素耐药性急剧增加等危机的全球背景下，了解这些变化被认为尤为重要，例如，这些威胁是生物伦理参与等式的一方面，而另一方面是生物医学的巨大发展，可能需要从根本上提高透明度和伦理审查。…
{"title":"Citizen Science and Biomedical Research: Implications for Bioethics Theory and Practice","authors":"C. Callaghan","doi":"10.28945/3579","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.28945/3579","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Certain trends in scientific research have important relevance to bioethics theory and practice. A growing stream of literature relates to increasing transparency and inclusivity of populations (stakeholders) in scientific research, from high volume data collection, synthesis, and analysis to verification and ethical scrutiny. The emergence of this stream of literature has implications for bioethics theory and practice. This paper seeks to make explicit these streams of literature and to relate these to bioethical issues, through consideration of certain extreme examples of scientific research where bioethical engagement is vital. Implications for theory and practice are derived, offering useful insights derived from multidisciplinary theory. Arguably, rapidly developing fields of citizen science such as informing science and others seeking to maximise stakeholder involvement in both research and bioethical engagement have emerged as a response to these types of issues; radically enhanced stakeholder engagement in science may herald a new maximally inclusive and transparent paradigm in bioethics based on lessons gained from exposure to increasingly uncertain ethical contexts of biomedical research. Keywords: biomedical ethics, citizen science, informing science, probabilistic innovation, crowdsourcing, transparency, scientific inclusiveness Introduction Given increasing importance of disclosure and transparency issues in contemporary bioethics literature, this paper argues that at the heart of the concept of ethical practice itself is the notion of transparency toward stakeholders. Relevant to this principle is emergence of new citizen science (CS) methodologies (Bonney et al., 2009), including public participation in scientific research (PPSR) (Shirk et al., 2012), participant-led biomedical research (PLR) (Vayena & Tasioulas, 2013), and novel scientific ethics theory development such as that associated with post-normal science (Funtowicz & Ravetz, 1994). This body of literature, which extends stakeholder theory (Freeman, 1984), may be forming the basis for a new model of ethics in science, which may offer important trend insights for bioethics theory and practice. Parallel to these changes arising from citizen science movements dedicated to the democratisation of science are new ethical imperatives that have emerged in the wake of global societal crises, such as the Ebola virus disease epidemic, which have effectively \"demanded the reinterpretation of long-standing ethical principles under extreme and urgent circumstances\" associated with the need for real time emergency response (Fenton, Chillag, & Michael, 2015). Convergence of citizen science principles of transparency and stakeholder engagement in biomedicine is therefore occurring together with emergent recognition of the need for radically improved temporal responsiveness to urgent needs, which arguably places bioethics at the center of debates concerning these developments. Guid","PeriodicalId":39754,"journal":{"name":"Informing Science","volume":"39 1","pages":"325-343"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88420325","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract In the fast changing global economic landscape, the cultivation of sustainable entrepreneurial ventures is seen as a vital mechanism that will enable businesses to introduce new innovative products to the market faster and more effectively than their competitors. This research paper investigated phenomena that may play a significant role when entrepreneurs implement creative ideas resulting in successful technology enabled start-ups within the South African market place. Constant and significant changes in technology provide several challenges for entrepreneurship. Various themes such as innovation, work experience, idea generation, education and partnership formation have been explored to assess their impact on entrepreneurship. Reflection and a design thinking approach underpinned a rigorous analysis process to distill themes from the data gathered through semi structured interviews. From the findings it was evident that the primary success influencers include the formation of partnership, iterative cycles, and certain types of education. The secondary influencers included the origination of an idea, the use of innovation and organizational culture as well as work experience. This research illustrates how Informing Science as a transdisicpline can provide a philosophical underpinning to communicate and synthesise ideas from constituent disciplines in an attempt to create a more cohesive whole. This diverse environment, comprising people, technology, and business, requires blending different elements from across diverse fields to yield better science. With this backdrop, this preliminary study provides an important foundation for further research in the context of a developing country where entrepreneurial ventures may have a socio-economical impact. The themes that emerged through this study could provide avenues for further research. Keywords: entrepreneurial start-ups, partnerships, education, idea generation, innovation, design thinking, common features for the foundation of a successful company Introduction In recent years, there has been a world-wide drive for innovation and the nurturing and valuing of creative ideas that will result in successful entrepreneurial ventures. Managing creativity in order to advance innovation is a vital challenge, and consequently managing ideas will become more and more important to ensure organizational growth (Cohendet & Simon, 2015). This is of particular importance in developing countries like South Africa where research has shown a recent drop in entrepreneurial activities (GIBS, 2009). Cohendet and Simon (2015) also contend that, while ideas are the basic cornerstones (foundations) of creativity and innovation, new ideas are not enough to generate and drive innovation. Producing an idea is only the start and must be followed by a process converting and realizing the potential of the idea. Developing and realizing ideas is what constitutes the innovation process. Many universities include the
{"title":"The X-Factor of Cultivating Successful Entrepreneurial Technology-Enabled Start-Ups","authors":"Elsje Scott, Terrina Govender, N. V. D. Merwe","doi":"10.28945/3580","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.28945/3580","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract In the fast changing global economic landscape, the cultivation of sustainable entrepreneurial ventures is seen as a vital mechanism that will enable businesses to introduce new innovative products to the market faster and more effectively than their competitors. This research paper investigated phenomena that may play a significant role when entrepreneurs implement creative ideas resulting in successful technology enabled start-ups within the South African market place. Constant and significant changes in technology provide several challenges for entrepreneurship. Various themes such as innovation, work experience, idea generation, education and partnership formation have been explored to assess their impact on entrepreneurship. Reflection and a design thinking approach underpinned a rigorous analysis process to distill themes from the data gathered through semi structured interviews. From the findings it was evident that the primary success influencers include the formation of partnership, iterative cycles, and certain types of education. The secondary influencers included the origination of an idea, the use of innovation and organizational culture as well as work experience. This research illustrates how Informing Science as a transdisicpline can provide a philosophical underpinning to communicate and synthesise ideas from constituent disciplines in an attempt to create a more cohesive whole. This diverse environment, comprising people, technology, and business, requires blending different elements from across diverse fields to yield better science. With this backdrop, this preliminary study provides an important foundation for further research in the context of a developing country where entrepreneurial ventures may have a socio-economical impact. The themes that emerged through this study could provide avenues for further research. Keywords: entrepreneurial start-ups, partnerships, education, idea generation, innovation, design thinking, common features for the foundation of a successful company Introduction In recent years, there has been a world-wide drive for innovation and the nurturing and valuing of creative ideas that will result in successful entrepreneurial ventures. Managing creativity in order to advance innovation is a vital challenge, and consequently managing ideas will become more and more important to ensure organizational growth (Cohendet & Simon, 2015). This is of particular importance in developing countries like South Africa where research has shown a recent drop in entrepreneurial activities (GIBS, 2009). Cohendet and Simon (2015) also contend that, while ideas are the basic cornerstones (foundations) of creativity and innovation, new ideas are not enough to generate and drive innovation. Producing an idea is only the start and must be followed by a process converting and realizing the potential of the idea. Developing and realizing ideas is what constitutes the innovation process. Many universities include the ","PeriodicalId":39754,"journal":{"name":"Informing Science","volume":"58 1","pages":"303-324"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82829614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract The privacy of personal information is an important area of focus in today's electronic world, where information can so easily be captured, stored, and shared. In recent years it has regularly featured as a topic in news media and has become the target of legislation around the world. Multidisciplinary privacy research has been conducted for decades, yet privacy remains a complex subject that still provides fertile ground for further investigation. This article provides a narrative overview of the nature of information privacy, describing the complexities and challenges that consumers and organizations face when making decisions about it, in order to demonstrate its importance to both groups. Based on this work, we present a transdisciplinary view of information privacy research linking the consumer and organization. It illustrates areas of concern for consumers and organizations together with the factors that influence the decisions they make about information privacy. By providing such a view we hope to encourage further cross-disciplinary research into this highly pertinent area. Keywords: privacy, information privacy, personal information, privacy management, consumers, clients, transdisciplinary, organizations, literature review Introduction Whereas we once relied on memories and paper to capture small details, these days information is stored permanently in computer systems. Banking, loyalty and other cards, the Internet, and digital devices such as smart phones and tablets are a few of the many means used to track where we are, what we do, what we like, and a myriad of other minutia and personal information. All these details can be used to compile what Solove (2004) refers to as a "digital dossier" on each of us. In our society we simultaneously seek privacy while having to disclose personal information in order to receive services and establish friendships. Online communication and the Social Web have led us into the habit of sharing large amounts of information with a great number of people, yet many do not feel threatened when doing so (Trepte & Reinecke, 2011). The problem is that the same technology that makes it easy to share personal details has also led to what Moor (1997) refers to as greased information--data that moves like lightening and is difficult to hold on to. Moor (1997, p. 28) states that "once information is captured electronically for whatever purpose, it is greased and ready to go for any purpose". As a consequence, the safety of our personal information has become of great importance and a major topic of interest to the business and IT sectors, as well as the general public. Reports focused on the issues of privacy and personal information have become more numerous and prominent in popular media: * In June 2013, The Guardian published a story on how the National Security Agency (NSA) is collecting the phone records of millions of Verizon customers on a daily basis (Greenwald, 2013). The information came fro
{"title":"A Review of Information Privacy and Its Importance to Consumers and Organizations","authors":"Marc Pelteret, Jacques Ophoff","doi":"10.28945/3573","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.28945/3573","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The privacy of personal information is an important area of focus in today's electronic world, where information can so easily be captured, stored, and shared. In recent years it has regularly featured as a topic in news media and has become the target of legislation around the world. Multidisciplinary privacy research has been conducted for decades, yet privacy remains a complex subject that still provides fertile ground for further investigation. This article provides a narrative overview of the nature of information privacy, describing the complexities and challenges that consumers and organizations face when making decisions about it, in order to demonstrate its importance to both groups. Based on this work, we present a transdisciplinary view of information privacy research linking the consumer and organization. It illustrates areas of concern for consumers and organizations together with the factors that influence the decisions they make about information privacy. By providing such a view we hope to encourage further cross-disciplinary research into this highly pertinent area. Keywords: privacy, information privacy, personal information, privacy management, consumers, clients, transdisciplinary, organizations, literature review Introduction Whereas we once relied on memories and paper to capture small details, these days information is stored permanently in computer systems. Banking, loyalty and other cards, the Internet, and digital devices such as smart phones and tablets are a few of the many means used to track where we are, what we do, what we like, and a myriad of other minutia and personal information. All these details can be used to compile what Solove (2004) refers to as a \"digital dossier\" on each of us. In our society we simultaneously seek privacy while having to disclose personal information in order to receive services and establish friendships. Online communication and the Social Web have led us into the habit of sharing large amounts of information with a great number of people, yet many do not feel threatened when doing so (Trepte & Reinecke, 2011). The problem is that the same technology that makes it easy to share personal details has also led to what Moor (1997) refers to as greased information--data that moves like lightening and is difficult to hold on to. Moor (1997, p. 28) states that \"once information is captured electronically for whatever purpose, it is greased and ready to go for any purpose\". As a consequence, the safety of our personal information has become of great importance and a major topic of interest to the business and IT sectors, as well as the general public. Reports focused on the issues of privacy and personal information have become more numerous and prominent in popular media: * In June 2013, The Guardian published a story on how the National Security Agency (NSA) is collecting the phone records of millions of Verizon customers on a daily basis (Greenwald, 2013). The information came fro","PeriodicalId":39754,"journal":{"name":"Informing Science","volume":"166 1","pages":"277-301"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79455037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract This research aims to suggest key design characteristics that are necessary for developing usable e-commerce websites in the Arab world. A comprehensive usability evaluation of four leading Arab e-commerce websites was conducted using the heuristic evaluation method. The results identified major and minor usability problems and major and minor good design characteristics on the selected websites. Based on the results, 51 key design characteristics were suggested. The recommended key design characteristics comprised two levels according to their priority: level one which includes mandatory key design characteristics and level two which includes supplementary design characteristics. The key design characteristics in each level were categorized under specific pages and areas that can be found on any e-commerce website. Such categorizations could direct website evaluators and designers to important pages and areas that should be considered to improve the overall usability of e-commerce websites. The results of this research are particularly important to developing countries which are still facing challenges that may affect the design and accessibility of usable and useful websites. These relate to low speed of accessing the Internet and a lack of website designers who have experience in customers' needs and websites' usable design characteristics. Keywords: key design characteristics, usability, e-commerce websites, Arab world, heuristic evaluation, informing Introduction E-commerce is the process of buying, selling, or exchanging products and/or services and/or information via the Internet (Turban, King, Lee, Warkentin, & Chung, 2002). E-commerce provides many advantages to business organisations, which include extending the marketplace of a business into national and international markets, allowing the customization of products and services according to customers' requirements, enabling companies to interact more closely with their customers, and reducing the cost (Hasan, 2009; Muhtaseb, Lakiotaki, & Matsatsinis, 2012; Tassabehji, 2003; Turban et al., 2002). The e-commerce context can also be viewed from an informing science perspective as explained in Cohen (1999), Cohen (2009), and Gill (2008). Their work elaborates that an informing science framework consists of the informer, the delivery system, and the client (who may be also viewed as the end-user or stakeholder). Looking at the relationship among these three distinct informing science components, we can identify the following: (1) The e-commerce vendors (referred to as informer) communicate with the customers (also may be referred to as the clients) who consume the vendor's product or service; and (2) The informer's functions are achieved via a delivery mechanism of system made of the website infrastructure, its user interface, and the communication mechanism (which in the e-commerce case is the internet). Arab countries are still facing barriers (explained by the informing science
{"title":"Key Design Characteristics for Developing Usable E-Commerce Websites in the Arab World","authors":"L. Hasan","doi":"10.28945/3569","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.28945/3569","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This research aims to suggest key design characteristics that are necessary for developing usable e-commerce websites in the Arab world. A comprehensive usability evaluation of four leading Arab e-commerce websites was conducted using the heuristic evaluation method. The results identified major and minor usability problems and major and minor good design characteristics on the selected websites. Based on the results, 51 key design characteristics were suggested. The recommended key design characteristics comprised two levels according to their priority: level one which includes mandatory key design characteristics and level two which includes supplementary design characteristics. The key design characteristics in each level were categorized under specific pages and areas that can be found on any e-commerce website. Such categorizations could direct website evaluators and designers to important pages and areas that should be considered to improve the overall usability of e-commerce websites. The results of this research are particularly important to developing countries which are still facing challenges that may affect the design and accessibility of usable and useful websites. These relate to low speed of accessing the Internet and a lack of website designers who have experience in customers' needs and websites' usable design characteristics. Keywords: key design characteristics, usability, e-commerce websites, Arab world, heuristic evaluation, informing Introduction E-commerce is the process of buying, selling, or exchanging products and/or services and/or information via the Internet (Turban, King, Lee, Warkentin, & Chung, 2002). E-commerce provides many advantages to business organisations, which include extending the marketplace of a business into national and international markets, allowing the customization of products and services according to customers' requirements, enabling companies to interact more closely with their customers, and reducing the cost (Hasan, 2009; Muhtaseb, Lakiotaki, & Matsatsinis, 2012; Tassabehji, 2003; Turban et al., 2002). The e-commerce context can also be viewed from an informing science perspective as explained in Cohen (1999), Cohen (2009), and Gill (2008). Their work elaborates that an informing science framework consists of the informer, the delivery system, and the client (who may be also viewed as the end-user or stakeholder). Looking at the relationship among these three distinct informing science components, we can identify the following: (1) The e-commerce vendors (referred to as informer) communicate with the customers (also may be referred to as the clients) who consume the vendor's product or service; and (2) The informer's functions are achieved via a delivery mechanism of system made of the website infrastructure, its user interface, and the communication mechanism (which in the e-commerce case is the internet). Arab countries are still facing barriers (explained by the informing science ","PeriodicalId":39754,"journal":{"name":"Informing Science","volume":"16 1","pages":"253-275"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89002759","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sonja H. Bickford, Angela K. Hollman, M. Nenasheva, Pamela Lesser, Timo Koivurova
Abstract In many cases, temporary websites may be simple, accessible solutions for knowledge management and dissemination of information. However, such sites may become outdated as the funding ends, but yet in many cases, still publicly available through the Internet. The issue of website sustainability is a relevant topic for all organizations that have websites. Website lifecycle, knowledge management, and website sustainability issues are discussed through a theoretical-based literature review. These issues are then summarized and used as lessons learned for the case study approach of this paper. The aim is to identify a solution to address a website's life and longevity, post project. A practical case study assessment of the issue of project website sustainability is needed to address the website's longevity--post project--as creation is often made through temporary endeavors. Recommendations for future project websites are made as the outcomes and results of this study and are expressed in the form of suggested practices for project website sustainability in future projects. Keywords: websites, lifecycle, knowledge management, sustainability, case study Introduction A practical case study assessment of the issue regarding a projects' website and its sustainability is needed to address the issue of a website's life, post project. Websites are often created through temporary endeavors, such as grant funded projects, and may become outdated once the project and its funding have ended. However, the website is often left available and accessible to the public. Often a project website's life--past the project's lifecycle--has been left unplanned and thus has resulted in outdated and dead links. Website lifecycle, knowledge management, and website sustainability issues are discussed and covered through a theoretical based literature review which are then summarized and used as lessons learned for the case study approach of this paper. Recommendations for future projects are made in regards to dissemination of results via a website as the outcomes and results of this study are expressed in the form of suggested practices for project website sustainability in future projects. Information structured as web content is extremely important for an organization that needs to distribute knowledge and share information with a wider audience. Publishing web content is becoming a complex process that requires an adequate information system. This information system has to meet not only the changing Internet-related technologies, but also the creation and maintenance needs of both website authors and editors. Implementing a publishing and collaboration system where content is easily updated and system specifications are met becomes a tradeoff between these requirements (Pastore, 2006). Besides the collaboration between the authors and editors, the issue of sustainability--website's lifecycle above and beyond the project--is a relevant and timely issue because th
{"title":"Assessment of Project Website Sustainability: Case of the Arctic EIA Project","authors":"Sonja H. Bickford, Angela K. Hollman, M. Nenasheva, Pamela Lesser, Timo Koivurova","doi":"10.28945/3525","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.28945/3525","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract In many cases, temporary websites may be simple, accessible solutions for knowledge management and dissemination of information. However, such sites may become outdated as the funding ends, but yet in many cases, still publicly available through the Internet. The issue of website sustainability is a relevant topic for all organizations that have websites. Website lifecycle, knowledge management, and website sustainability issues are discussed through a theoretical-based literature review. These issues are then summarized and used as lessons learned for the case study approach of this paper. The aim is to identify a solution to address a website's life and longevity, post project. A practical case study assessment of the issue of project website sustainability is needed to address the website's longevity--post project--as creation is often made through temporary endeavors. Recommendations for future project websites are made as the outcomes and results of this study and are expressed in the form of suggested practices for project website sustainability in future projects. Keywords: websites, lifecycle, knowledge management, sustainability, case study Introduction A practical case study assessment of the issue regarding a projects' website and its sustainability is needed to address the issue of a website's life, post project. Websites are often created through temporary endeavors, such as grant funded projects, and may become outdated once the project and its funding have ended. However, the website is often left available and accessible to the public. Often a project website's life--past the project's lifecycle--has been left unplanned and thus has resulted in outdated and dead links. Website lifecycle, knowledge management, and website sustainability issues are discussed and covered through a theoretical based literature review which are then summarized and used as lessons learned for the case study approach of this paper. Recommendations for future projects are made in regards to dissemination of results via a website as the outcomes and results of this study are expressed in the form of suggested practices for project website sustainability in future projects. Information structured as web content is extremely important for an organization that needs to distribute knowledge and share information with a wider audience. Publishing web content is becoming a complex process that requires an adequate information system. This information system has to meet not only the changing Internet-related technologies, but also the creation and maintenance needs of both website authors and editors. Implementing a publishing and collaboration system where content is easily updated and system specifications are met becomes a tradeoff between these requirements (Pastore, 2006). Besides the collaboration between the authors and editors, the issue of sustainability--website's lifecycle above and beyond the project--is a relevant and timely issue because th","PeriodicalId":39754,"journal":{"name":"Informing Science","volume":"141 1","pages":"201-213"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89957876","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract The global Business Intelligence (BI) market grew by 10% in 2013 according to the Gartner Report. Today organizations require better use of data and analytics to support their business decisions. Internet power and business trend changes have provided a broad term for data analytics--Big Data. To be able to handle it and leverage a value of having access to Big Data, organizations have no other choice than to get proper systems implemented and working. However traditional methods are not efficient for changing business needs. The long time between project start and go-live causes a gap between initial solution blueprint and actual user requirements in the end of the project. This article presents the latest market trends in BI systems implementation by comparing Agile with traditional methods. It presents a case study provided in a large telecommunications company (20K employees) and the results of a pilot research provided in the three large companies: telecommunications, digital, and insurance. Both studies prove that Agile methods might be more effective in BI projects from an end-user perspective and give first results and added value in a much shorter time compared to a traditional approach. Keywords: Agile methods, Business Intelligence, efficiency, end-users needs, advanced analytics, sprint, and iteration. Introduction BI complexity and changing requirements represent the most difficult challenges facing applications. During the process of BI implementation multiple components must be considered from the very start such as data integration, cleansing, modelling, warehousing, metrics creation and management, reports, dashboards, queries, alerts, and many more (Cerqueira, 2015). This requires a clear vision of future needs and a very well defined strategy from project sponsors and end-users. Projects take a long time to implement and their effects can be visible sometimes only after a few years (Kernochan, 2011). Today organizations require BI solutions more than they needed them in previous years and decades. Due to rapid market changes, organizations need to adapt to the new environment properly if they do not want to stay behind their competitors. This situation impacts users' requirements for data and reports. Thus BI projects final products are often found useless due to organizational needs that have changed during the time of project design and implementation (Eckerson, 2007a, 2007b; Marjanovic, 2011). Business cannot longer afford empty investments and needs to have quick benefits and an acceptable payback on the selected BI technology (Oxford Economics, 2015). Traditional methods of BI implementation are no longer efficient. An overly lengthy timeline, the inability to request timely changes that usually occur only at the end of the project, and overly complex approaches do not allow meeting customer targets (Vijaya, 2013). Agile methods brought a new view to a project delivery. It proves that success can be achieved more
{"title":"Effectiveness of Agile Implementation Methods in Business Intelligence Projects from an End-user Perspective","authors":"J. Kisielnicki, A. Misiak","doi":"10.28945/3515","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.28945/3515","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The global Business Intelligence (BI) market grew by 10% in 2013 according to the Gartner Report. Today organizations require better use of data and analytics to support their business decisions. Internet power and business trend changes have provided a broad term for data analytics--Big Data. To be able to handle it and leverage a value of having access to Big Data, organizations have no other choice than to get proper systems implemented and working. However traditional methods are not efficient for changing business needs. The long time between project start and go-live causes a gap between initial solution blueprint and actual user requirements in the end of the project. This article presents the latest market trends in BI systems implementation by comparing Agile with traditional methods. It presents a case study provided in a large telecommunications company (20K employees) and the results of a pilot research provided in the three large companies: telecommunications, digital, and insurance. Both studies prove that Agile methods might be more effective in BI projects from an end-user perspective and give first results and added value in a much shorter time compared to a traditional approach. Keywords: Agile methods, Business Intelligence, efficiency, end-users needs, advanced analytics, sprint, and iteration. Introduction BI complexity and changing requirements represent the most difficult challenges facing applications. During the process of BI implementation multiple components must be considered from the very start such as data integration, cleansing, modelling, warehousing, metrics creation and management, reports, dashboards, queries, alerts, and many more (Cerqueira, 2015). This requires a clear vision of future needs and a very well defined strategy from project sponsors and end-users. Projects take a long time to implement and their effects can be visible sometimes only after a few years (Kernochan, 2011). Today organizations require BI solutions more than they needed them in previous years and decades. Due to rapid market changes, organizations need to adapt to the new environment properly if they do not want to stay behind their competitors. This situation impacts users' requirements for data and reports. Thus BI projects final products are often found useless due to organizational needs that have changed during the time of project design and implementation (Eckerson, 2007a, 2007b; Marjanovic, 2011). Business cannot longer afford empty investments and needs to have quick benefits and an acceptable payback on the selected BI technology (Oxford Economics, 2015). Traditional methods of BI implementation are no longer efficient. An overly lengthy timeline, the inability to request timely changes that usually occur only at the end of the project, and overly complex approaches do not allow meeting customer targets (Vijaya, 2013). Agile methods brought a new view to a project delivery. It proves that success can be achieved more ","PeriodicalId":39754,"journal":{"name":"Informing Science","volume":"75 1","pages":"161-172"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80911936","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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