Australian Computer Society: ACS Digital Library
Not a member yet
884 research outputs found
Sort by
Bullying in the Australian ICT workplace: the views of Australian ICT professionals
Get PDFThe aim of this study is to examine bullying in the workplace from the perspective of Australian Information Communication Technology (ICT) professionals. The data collection for this project included conducting a quantitative survey with 2,315 participants and 43 qualitative interviews with members of Australian Computer Society (ACS). We found that 630 ICT professionals, or 27.23% of all survey respondents, identified workplace bullying as an ethical problem. The majority of survey respondents who selected bullying as an ethical issue were permanent full time employees (N= 413, 65.6%). A significant relationship was found between respondents identifying bullying as an ethical issue in the survey and their job classification (Deviance = 25.55, Df = 11, p=0.0076), suggesting that job classification, among other things, does predict respondents’ selection of bullying. Furthermore, our survey and interview findings indicate that the more mature respondents, as well as those in the managerial roles, have a greater concern about bullying
An Event Group Based Classification Framework for Multi-variate Sequential Data
Get PDFDecision tree algorithms were not traditionally considered for sequential data classification, mostly because feature generation needs to be integrated with the modelling procedure in order to avoid a localisation problem. This paper presents an Event Group Based Classification (EGBC) framework that utilises an X-of-N (XoN) decision tree algorithm to avoid the feature generation issue during the classification on sequential data. In this method, features are generated independently based on the characteristics of the sequential data. Subsequently an XoN decision tree is utilised to select and aggregate useful features from various temporal and other dimensions (as event groups) for optimised classification. This leads the EGBC framework to be adaptive to sequential data of differing dimensions, robust to missing data and accommodating to either numeric or nominal data types. The comparatively improved outcomes from applying this method are demonstrated on two distinct areas – a text based language identification task, as well as a honeybee dance behaviour classification problem. A further motivating industrial problem – hot metal temperature prediction, is further considered with the EGBC framework in order to address significant real-world demands
The Whiteness of Redmen: Indigenous Mascots, Social media and an Antiracist Intervention
Get PDFResistance to the use of Indigenous themed mascots in North America has taken a variety of forms over the past several decades. This paper describes and analyses how a new vehicle for resistance, social media, can be integral to dismantling and eradicating racist images of Indigenous peoples. Specifically, this paper focusses on one campaign that questioned a high school sports mascot and team named the “Redmen”. By using examples from social media, the authors demonstrate how White settlers came to rely on the mascot imagery as a way to position themselves as superior and to regulate representations of Indigeneity. The authors’ analysis posits that the mascot is in itself a form of racialised colonial violence and they discuss how the name and mascot were protected by and through white settler surveillance and control. To intervene in this discourse of superiority and regulation, the paper describes how an anti-racist approach was used to design a social media campaign that built mass critical consciousness and a network of support within the community. The social media campaign coincided with and rallied support from the grassroots Indigenous Movement, Idle No More. The larger joint effort strategically and effectively redirected the public and critical focus to how the “Redmen” name and logo and other racist Indigenous mascots become normalised. Increased knowledge via social media catalysed a shift in public opinion which ultimately leads to retirement of the team name, logo and mascot
Improving IT project governance: A reflective analysis based on critical systems heuristics
Get PDFIT project governance involves establishing authority structures, policies and mechanisms for IT projects. However, the way governance arrangements are implemented can sometimes exclude or marginalise important stakeholders. In this paper, we use critical systems thinking, and the notions of boundary critique and entrenched structural conflict, to inform a critical re-analysis of a case study where the governance proved relatively ineffective. We use the ‘twelve questions’ from the critical systems heuristics (CSH) approach to diagnose problems with governance arrangements and suggest solutions. Based on this, we suggest the CSH approach has theoretical and practical efficacy for improving IT project governance in general
Connected Activism: Indigenous Uses of Social Media for Shaping Political Change
Get PDFPrior studies describe digital tactics as specific strategies actors apply within broader repertoires of contention, specifically in social and political contexts. A comparison of EZLN, Idle No More, and the ongoing Rio Yaqui water rights movement reveals the kinds of community knowledge work that has to happen prior to and around activating digital tactics in Indigenous rights movements, including choices in messaging and discourses of Indigeneity, targeting of movement opponents, and selection of digital tools and techniques. Activists harness these communicative affordances to practice a politics of visibility, cultivate solidarity, diffuse an Indigenous consciousness, enforce dominant governments’ trust and treaty responsibilities, and remind many of the irrevocable injustice of colonialism. Designing methodologies that account for specific Indigenous social and political contexts as well as the affordances of various digital environments is part of the future work of Indigenous media theorists
Information Security and People: A Conundrum for Compliance
Get PDFThis evaluation of end-users and IT experts/managers’ attitudes towards performing IT security tasks indicates important differences between their perspectives on what is and is not necessary to establish a secure corporate IT environment. Through a series of case studies, this research illustrates that making it easier for end-users to comply does not necessarily equate to enhanced implementation of security measures. End-users want to be autonomous, competent, self-motivated and active participants in the development of secure environments. However, managers and experts want to limit autonomy to ensure that procedures are followed closely, rather than permitting flexibility. This results in the creation of environments that are intrinsically de-motivating rather than motivating end-users to become self-determined and self-regulating co-creators of a secure IT environment. The paper also discusses alternative approaches to developing a human system that works for end-users and experts
Organisational Information Security Strategy: Review, Discussion and Future Research
Get PDFDependence on information, including for some of the world’s largest organisations such as governments and multi-national corporations, has grown rapidly in recent years. However, reports of information security breaches and their associated consequences indicate that attacks are escalating on organisations conducting these information-based activities. Organisations need to formulate strategy to secure their information, however gaps exist in knowledge. Through a thematic review of academic security literature, (1) we analyse the antecedent conditions that motivate the adoption of a comprehensive information security strategy, (2) the conceptual elements of strategy and (3) the benefits that are enjoyed post-adoption. Our contributions include a definition of information security strategy that moves from an internally-focussed protection of information towards a strategic view that considers the organisation, its resources and capabilities, and its external environment. Our findings are then used to suggest future research directions
A Longitudinal Journey with BYOD Classrooms: Issues of Access, Capability and Outcome Divides
Get PDFBring Your Own Devices (BYOD) classrooms is the latest addition to the ongoing quest for transforming pedagogical practices and driving educational development outcomes. Governments and policymakers around the world are embracing the idea of integrating digital learning technologies into educational settings backed by research on the benefits offered like the lifelong development of individual learners. While technological interventions open up unlimited possibilities for accessing information and improving collaboration, thereby engaging learners with more interactive learning activities, a new type of gap between individuals could also take shape as the penetration of technologies and adoption stages advance. Results from past projects of similar nature within educational settings have indicated the possible rise in the gap among individuals based on digital access (i.e., equity in access/ownership of digital learning technologies), digital capability (i.e., equity in digital/information literacy skills and usage) and digital outcome (i.e., equity in knowledge acquisition and progression).Therefore, we have conducted a longitudinal study to investigate a BYOD initiative by a New Zealand School. This study shares rich insights in the context of technology-mediated pedagogies and specifically BYOD classroom, as to how digital divides moved beyond access and skills to ensure inclusive learning outcomes. As a part of the five-year study of the technology-mediated teaching and learning initiative, we have been able to explain some of the unanswered questions around the issue of digital divides in the learning process. We investigated issues pertaining to digital divide in the context of BYOD classrooms to make the following revelations. First, the BYOD classroom initiative did not end up accentuating existing gaps in access to digital tools and technologies, despite earlier studies indicating towards increase in gaps. Second, our analysis strongly indicated the changing nature of digital divides with the presence of gaps in terms of information literacy and critical thinking ability, as the BYOD classroom progressed to mature stage. This was eventually bridged in the later stage, as students slowly adjusted to the classroom curricular structures in the BYOD classroom. Third, learner self-efficacy has been identified as a determinant of learning outcomes. In the earlier phase of ICT adoption, learner self-efficacy is influenced by a combination of information literacy, critical thinking ability, and positive motivation; however subsequently, self-efficacy influences affordances in various aspects of social cognitive abilities related to individual’s learning activities affecting how learners engage and apply technology to achieve learning outcomes