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Information is the most important intangible asset that has administrative management. The article focuses on the implementation of a repository of administrative digital documents. The method followed for its development, implementation and validation in a university context is described, which consists of four phases. Particularly, Phase 3 deals with the construction of the open access administrative repository to capture, manage, save and preserve digital documents, it was selected as a computer tool and Business Content Manager, in this case Nuxeo. The results of the implementation allowed the General Directorate of Settlement of Assets of the Universidad Nacional del Nordeste to manage the information produced and speed up the automation of reception of the news necessary for the settlements of assets. This repository is an effective tool for information management, providing the university with a comprehensive solution for the management, processing and safeguarding of digital documents, speeding up the search and retrieval of information. The achievements suggest the improvement of intermediate ICT procedures and constitute a contribution to the area of digital repositories in administrative contexts [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the implication of folksonomies to Internet users in the U.S. It states that folksonomies are considered the hottest trend in the Internet industry wherein it serves as a tool for Internet users to add, change and improve World Wide Web content. It is created as users of a Web site add "tags" or keywords to describe items on a Web site thus they can choose from their own keywords with few or no restrictions imposed on it. The keywords are not selected from an existing controlled vocabulary, a strict taxonomy or any official sanctioned method of bibliographic description. According to Thomas Vander Wal, who created the term folksonomy, these are created when people tag items online for some information retrieval purposes.

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to describe new search methods based on semantic information structures to offer a personalised and interactive knowledge retrieval to the user. Design/methodology/approach - A careful look on existing "knowledge management projects" leads to a proposed approach of a "knowledge broker network" where transfer of knowledge is based on communication between humans. To enhance the quality of search results a new search algorithm ("Search Assistance Algorithm (SAA)") is described in a simplified manner. Findings - The paper provides information on the knowledge broker network and shows the advantages of this concept especially of the automated part. Research limitations/implications - The paper shows the proposed approach has not formally being tested yet Some pilot studies have been made and a study especially for the SAA is planned for the near future. Practical implications - This approach has the potential to change the way of transfer of knowledge using a knowledge broker network based on knowledge management systems, which could be improved by our SAA in practice. Originality/value - Using knowledge management systems in a "standard way" by feeding in information and using retrieval methods is not optimal for sharing knowledge between humans. To provide and update information is very cost-intensive. Using "meta-information" about "who is expert in which area" and bring information-seeker and experts together could be the optimal method. This knowledge broker network helps to bring this idea into reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trillions of dollars are annually spent on the development and implementation of information technology within the United States and around the world. On average, roughly 50% of such systems are considered failures or fall short of meeting the expectations set forth by management. The lost productivity and high costs associated with these shortcomings necessitate the identification of alternative frameworks for facilitating the successful acceptance and continued internalization of new technologies. Internalization is defined as the effective and continued use of a technology over time. As such, this paper introduces a conceptual model for examining the effect of trust and planned change initiatives on technology adoption behavior. We propose that technology trust and interpersonal trust, when coupled with planned change initiatives, lead to greater technology adoption and internalization. A series of propositions are introduced and examined between trust, planned change, technology adoption, and internalization. Implications and recommendations for future explorations and development are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes content syndication and its applications for libraries, information centres and publishers, and highlights it as a new opportunity considering the scant developments in this field. Further, it explains how syndication, as applied to Temaria, a portal of Spanish journals on library and information science, makes it easier to track an author or to keep up–to–date on specific subjects, amongst other possibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Institutional repositories have become an important means of publishing, disseminating, and preserving the digital information of organisations. The majority of them run on open software tools. Institutional repository projects are being carried out following an evaluation of the software's features. Nevertheless, the evaluations to date have been comparative, focussing on the features offered by each tool, rather than on other factors. In order to overcome this limitation, this work analyses the different published models for evaluating institutional repository software, studies the approach adopted in each case, and proposes a model. This model is oriented toward the study and definition of informational–documental processes, the users, the characteristics of the collections, and the context of the project in which it is framed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we intend to examine information retrieval behaviors from a psychological point of view using a search engine on the World Wide Web (WWW). We investigated information retrieving behaviors in detail based on both the recorded data of retrievers’ web browsing actions and their thinking processes by the “think aloud” method. We focused on selected keywords for retrieving and compared them between retrievers who had enough knowledge about their task and those who did not. Our goal was to learn about the literacy needed for finding required information efficiently on the WWW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents information related to automating dynamic strategy selection. Since the early days of structured methodologies, design techniques have evolved to facilitate the representation of real-world entities in software systems. In situations where the use of standard design patterns could hinder design understandability, lazy types model deal with complexity by keeping track of a unique type while avoiding the artificial multiplication of types traditional object oriented programming solutions introduce. the objects that make up an object oriented system at runtime might need to act on varying amounts and kinds of data. Methods might need alternative implementations to account for this variance. All in all, program behavior should adapt itself to the data available at each moment. We can use standard class hierarchies and strategies to handle these cases, but they can become too complex and difficult to maintain given the conditional logic needed to dynamically adjust alternative implementation strategies.

Focuses on the usefulness of collaboration for developing infrastructures to share information for companies. Use of Web tools with security levels; Guarantee for the supply chain to deliver according to plan; Timeliness of the response of the Original Equipment Manufacturer; Improvement of visibility.

Successful Web-based information systems (WIS) are critical for electronic retailers to attract and retain consumers and deliver business functions and strategy. However, the design and development of a WIS may include many business, technology and user challenges. Understanding and fulfilling the critical requirements of these challenges will determine the success of a WIS commercial application. In this paper, we present an abstract model for WIS design in e-retailing. Unlike previous WIS research, this model offers an integrated and overall view, where four interconnected layers are investigated: business determinants; WIS; business interface; and users/customers. Through our discussion of this model, we provide researchers with a better understanding of WIS issues requiring further investigation, and provide practitioners with a foundation to understand WIS requirements and features for success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the influence of an organization's information ecology, or internal information environment, on a firm's electronic commerce initiatives and plans. To investigate this problem area, results are reported from a recent case study investigation on the adoption and use of a specific e-commerce initiative – namely a corporate portal – by 20 participants at a large Canadian company. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews and field observations, while analysis comprised a variant form of grounded theory. Factors of the information ecology influencing portal utilization are identified. From these, implications are drawn to e-commerce solutions in general. Specific recommendations include the need to create a democratic steering committee to oversee the development of e-commerce solutions, gain support of upper management, and market and train organizational workers on the functionality and strategic importance of a company's e-commerce initiatives and plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a study involving 52 large organizations in the computer components industry, the relationship between information technology structure and organizational competitive strategy was examined. The results indicate that the information technology structure, as measured by the locus of responsibilities for information systems, is strongly related to competitive strategy. For example, an organization with a conservative competitive strategy possesses a more centralized information systems function than an organization with an aggressive competitive strategy. This means that user departments in a conservative organization have less control over their information technology function than user departments in an aggressive organization. These findings provide additional support for the organizational fit concept -- that the conformity between information technology structure and overall organizational context variables, including competitive strategy, is instrumental to the successful implementation of information technology systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an overview of research literature concerning information management science and outlines several featured characteristics and identifiable distinctions between various topical focuses for diverse readerships. Several charts are provided categorizing information management literature into genres such as telecommunications, management, and computer industry. Additional information compared includes publication information such as circulation volume, manuscript source and selection processes, and years of initial publication launch.

Comparison of motivational patterns of information systems (IS) and non-information systems people in the same occupational group reveals no significant differences. This finding contrasts with prior writings. Conceptually, this study focuses on a more complete set of motivators of productive work behavior. Methodologically, it measures motivators with a constrained-choice checklist, samples employees from the insurance industry, and statistically tests for IS and non-IS differences within clerical/operations, technical/professional, and managerial occupational groups. Until further study shows otherwise, this study suggests that IS people are as motivationally normal while doing their job as other workers in their occupational group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auditors and systems analysts are increasingly called upon to determine the impact of a disaster striking the computer system. Current risk analysis methods rely on some variation of expected value analysis. The expected value method suffers from serious drawbacks in this application because probabilities of disaster are difficult to estimate and the loss distributions are likely to be highly skewed. This article presents an improved methodology for dealing with EDP risk analysis and contingency planning. It is based on the concept of stochastic dominance and it provides a more accurate comparison of the various contingency plans by dealing with estimates of the entire loss distribution. This methodology also focuses on the differences between contingency plans, rather than on the cause of the disaster. The application of this methodology is illustrated for the case of a hypothetical medium-sized bank using aggregated data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the usage pattern and sources of assistance for personal computer (PC) users in twelve organizations. The study found that PCs attract new computer users and the extent of PC usage was correlated with prior computer knowledge. The most important reason for using PCs was for specific professional work. Although managers spend fewer hours than their staff using their PCs, there was no relationship between the diversity of applications and organizational position. Overall, users were satisfied with their PCs, but not with the information they obtained from the written sources (i.e. manuals, documents, and journals). The best sources of information for PC users were their own colleagues and their organization's information systems staff. Moreover, "lead users" played an important role as consultants to other users. Two divisions of a large manufacturing firm in our sample introduced PCs concurrently but under different policies. The two units provided a natural setting for assessing the impact of the technology. in the division that underwent extensive planning prior to the introduction of this technology, we found that users made significantly more use of internal consulting. In contrast, in the other division, where management had adopted an "individual initiatives and maximum freedom" policy for introducing this technology, the users made significantly less use of internal consulting, approaching outside vendors instead even though they felt the information obtained from the vendors was significantly lower in quality. Implications for the management of personal computer technology are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of an information system on user attitudes and perceptions of job characteristics. These impacts were assessed with a quasi-experimental research design for a sample of nurses in a major urban hospital. After testing for and rejecting possible confounding influences of the pretest scores, comparisons were made between pre-implementation and post-implementation attitudes and perceptions. Results showed little change in job perceptions and no significant change in attitudes toward the system. The importance of these findings is discussed within the context of alternative models for explaining the organizational impacts of information systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Software cost estimating is an important concern for software managers and other software professionals. The hypothesized model in this research suggests that an organization's use of an estimate influences its estimating practices which influence both the basis of the estimating process and the accuracy of the estimate. The model also suggests that the estimating basis directly influences the accuracy of the estimate. A Study of business information systems managers and professionals at 112 different organizations using causal analysis with Equations Modeling System (EQS) refined the model. The refined model shows that no managerial practice in this study discourages the use of intuition, guessing, and personal memory in cost estimating. Although user commitment and accountability appear to foster algorithm-based estimating, such an algorithmic basis does not portend greater accuracy. Only one managerial practice-the use of the estimate in performance evaluations of software managers and professionals-presages greater accuracy. By implication, the research suggests somewhat ironically that the most effective approach to improve estimating accuracy may be to make estimators, developers, and managers more accountable for the estimate even though it may be impossible to direct them explicitly on how to produce a more accurate one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the development of the role of programmers within the computer industry in the 20th century and calls for changes in the 21st. The evolution of the programmer is described from a machine operator who designed and altered the hardware architecture, to problem solving specialists formulating algorithms, to contemporary roles of higher information theory managers. Calls are offered to regress the trends of computer user interaction, allowing individual users to have more control and knowledge over the processing mechanisms of their computers.

This article briefly describes the EU-funded Daidalos project, which designs and develops a communications infrastructure for next-generation networks to enable personalized, context-aware, composite services to mobile users. The fundamental concepts rely on federation of operators who create a pervasive environment for service provisioning, on integrated mobility, security, virtual identity for users, and resource management. The project validates concepts by means of specification, implementation, and integration in a large research testbed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computers transformed the post-Work War II American state and, as a consequence, influenced the policies that emerged from them. Can we better understand those policies by tracing their relations to the computer systems that might have accompanied their inception and implementation, even if only tangentially? Can following the outcomes of daily computer work really provide valid insights into the intentions or operations of the institutions in which the computers are embedded? Computer historians can trace how institutions like states fundamentally perceive the world differently because of how computers alter their daily operations. The next frontier for computer history lies beyond the (still-crucial) understanding of the origins, development, use, and transformation of hardware and software. We must focus on outcomes, not just as output, technologically delineated data parcels that reflect a particular programming and set of inputs, but outcomes in the form of decisions made from outputted data, formulated policies that reflect institutional imperatives. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Reports on the sponsorship by the Association for Systems Management of the 1994 PROJECTWORLD Conference & Exposition in Santa Clara, California on December 12, 1994. Meeting agenda; Contact information.