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This paper used a multi-level latent class model to evaluate whether online learning patterns exhibit regional differences and demographics. This study discovered that the Internet learning pattern consists of five segments, and the region of Taiwan is divided into two segments and further found that both the user and the regional segments are highly interpretable. The individual segments are dictated by demographic variables, such as age and gender. For instance, younger people were good at employing Internet services; those 21-30 years old adopted e-learning, browsed blogs, and enjoyed the Internet more than others; and females preferred e-learning applications more than males did. On the other hand, the regional segments are dictated by the individual segments. For instance, the service area segment comprised a higher proportion of members who were good at online learning applications. The agricultural area segment made up a higher proportion of members who were traditional users. The findings provide both product or service providers/vendors and curriculum designers with an applicable guideline for developing service strategies for better matches and higher service satisfaction between the curriculum and the users' needs. (Contains 1 figure and 3 tables.)

Knowledge management systems, or KMSs, have been widely adopted in business organizations, yet little research exists on the actual integration of the knowledge management model and the application of KMSs in secondary schools. In the present study, the common difficulties and limitations regarding the implementation of knowledge management into schools' organizational cultures are reviewed and discussed. Furthermore, relevant theories of knowledge management models are summarized, and a model of process-based knowledge management appropriate for schools is proposed. Based on the proposed model, this study applied a low-cost, open-source software development framework to establish a process-based knowledge management system for schools, or PKMSS. We conducted a 30-day empirical observation and survey at a secondary school in Taiwan. This case study used methods including a satisfaction survey, qualitative content analysis of knowledge discussion, and unstructured interviews to explore the progress, performance, and limitations of PKMSS implementation. It was determined that PKMSS has some value in promoting schools' knowledge management. It not only facilitates the externalization and combination of knowledge and effectively keeps the objectives of knowledge sharing in focus, but it also promotes inter-member interactions. However, this study also found certain restrictions in terms of the classification of knowledge content and system functions. Based on the above findings, we propose relevant suggestions as references for the evaluation and introduction of a KMS in educational organizations. (Contains 4 tables and 1 figure.)

Recently, National Geographic published a special bookazine titled Nature's Best Remedies. This bookazine reorganized nature's remedies as a therapeutic table for treating ailments. The table provides considerable knowledge but is inconvenient to use. This study converts the therapeutic table into a therapeutic sphere by using optimization techniques. In the therapeutic sphere, similar ailments are clustered together, and remedies related to specified ailments are allocated on the sphere. Two surveys demonstrated that, compared with the therapeutic table, the therapeutic sphere is more convenient to use, more efficient for making queries, and more useful for healthcare as well as more intuitive. The proposed therapeutic sphere system can be accessed at http://140.113.73.198/gbball/examples/medeng2.aspx. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explores the possibility of adding user-oriented class associations to hierarchical library classification schemes. Analyses a log of book circulation records from a university library in Taiwan and shows that classification schemes can be made more adaptable by analyzing circulation patterns of similar users. (Author/LRW)

Reports a case study of Taiwan Power Company on the perceived difference between information technology professionals and information systems users. Findings indicated there are significant differences regarding the required skill sets of system analysts and the expected role playing of system analysts, and no significant difference regarding the non-material motivation of system analysts. (Author/AEF)

Presents a query categorization approach to automatically classifying Web query terms into broad subject categories to provide in-depth analysis of users' search interests. Describes a test on search engine logs in Taiwan that shows the approach is efficient in dealing with large numbers of queries. (Author/LRW)

Proposes a mechanism that carefully integrates human and machine efforts to explore Web users' search interests. The approach consists of a four-step process: extraction of core terms; construction of subject taxonomy; automatic subject categorization of query terms; and observation of users' search interests. Research findings are proved valuable for enhancing Web information retrieval systems and Web content organization. (AEF)

This paper proposes an alternative data envelopment analysis method to explore the efficiency, the resource allocation, and the benchmarks of the electricity distribution districts (EDDs) of Taiwan Power Company in 2003. Several empirical results are shown: 1) the EDDs covering the high-tech industry park are more efficient, on average, than ones involved in the nonhigh-tech industry park; 2) the EDDs located in urban areas outperform those located in rural areas; 3) the large-sized EDDs generally are more able to integrate their resources and to operate efficiently; 4) the benchmark-share measure shows that while small-size efficient EDDs can easily become benchmarks, large-size efficient EDDs are deemed as competitive niche players; and finally, 5) the effect on these EDDs merging their activities should be investigated to explore the possibility of increasing competitive advantage in the future. Index Terms--Benchmark-share measure, data envelopment analysis (DEA), performance measurement, technical efficiency.

Significant difference emerges between the spirit of the recommendation system, (the idea to strictly prevent from redundancy, select genuine talents, and make up for the incompleteness in regulations involving personnel management, performance evaluation and seniority computation), and the reality. This paper is to analyze the activity of recommendation by taking the promotion system by recommendation applicable to the police officers above the middle class in Taiwan area as example. Its purpose is to explore the reliability of recommendation, find out the factors affecting promotion, and the conditions pertain to promoters and beyond them. Besides, it investigates into personnel's response to this system. The results will be of benefit to personnel managers and administrators, within these police and public department organization and business in provision of useful guidelines for human resource management. Key Words: Recommendation; Promotion; Human relation; Human resource management