Australian Computer Society: ACS Digital Library
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A Pattern-Oriented Approach to a Methodical Evaluation of Modeling Methods
Get PDFThe paper describes a pattern-oriented approach to evaluate modeling methods and to compare various methods with each other from a methodical viewpoint. A specific set of principles (the patterns) is defined by investigating the notations and the documentation of comparable modeling methods. Each principle helps to examine some parts of the methods from a specific point of view. All principles together lead to an overall picture of the method under examination. First the core ("method neutral") meaning of each principle is described. Then the methods are examined regarding the principle. Afterwards the method specific interpretations are compared with each other and with the core meaning of the principle. By this procedure, the strengths and weaknesses of modeling methods regarding methodical aspects are identified. The principles are described uniformly using a principle description template according to descriptions of object oriented design patterns. The approach is demonstrated by evaluating a business process modeling method
A Methodology for Measuring the Risk Associated with A Software Requirements Specification
Get PDFThis paper presents a six-step metrics-based methodology for assessing the risks associated with - and hence the resources required to implement - the requirements contained within a software requirements specification (SRS). The method seeks to eliminate the use of subjective probability assessments in models of risk exposure (RE) and risk reduction leverage (RRL). Measurements are taken of the number of requirements and the class of risk, the number of change requests and their date of issue, and the cost of each requirement change. The class of requirements risk is tailored to a given organisation using the Delphi method. The information collected is stored as an historical database for use in the analysis of subsequent SRSs
Concepts of Cognition and Consciousness: four voices
Get PDFThis paper considers theories of cognition and consciousness in four traditions: neuroscience, cognitive science, activity theory and the distributed cognition approach. It is most concerned with social theories of consciousness—activity theory and distributed cognition—but briefly considers biological and computational models as a foil or backdrop against which the social theories stand out more clearly
The Role of E-Mail in an Industrial Dispute
Get PDFThe purpose of this paper is to show, based on a case study, how electronic communication networks have affected the process of a large scale industrial dispute. The case study describes a two-and-a-half month long strike of academic staff members at all universities in Israel. During the strike, electronic mail (e-mail) was used as a major means of communication between faculty members. Sources of data for this paper were mass media reports, including reports from national radio, TV, and newspapers, participant observations, and messages that flowed on the e-mailing list throughout the lengthy strike. Analysis of the data from the various sources suggests that the e-mailing list was instrumental in enabling the strikers to succeed in what was presumed to be a hopeless battle. The paper is concluded with a discussion of the lessons to be drawn from this case for e-mail research and practic
Information Systems Success in Small and Medium Enterprises: an evaluation by Australian public accountants
Get PDFTraditionally, the success of Information Systems (IS) has been studied in the context of large organisations with a focus on systems that have been developed inhouse. Most businesses, however, are small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and they have increasingly adopted packaged application software. To evaluate their success we examined two research variables, namely user practices and design features. The evaluation was done by public accountants who deal with SMEs as clients and are most likely to have well-developed opinions on the use of packaged software. In general, they rated small/medium accounting software packages as satisfactory with some notable exceptions. The installation phase of packages is not very well managed. Packages appear to lack a number of important control features which, considering the lack of internal IS expertise in SMEs, could result in malfunctions of their accounting systems. The study identifies better documentation and user education as ways to overcome perceived deficiencies
Alternative Views of Case Research in Information Systems
Get PDFThis paper discusses the differences between a positivist research philosophy and one which is increasingly emerging in IS research - an interpretive research philosophy, as they relate to case research, by examining selected case studies drawn from recent published IS case research. Each perspective places a different emphasis on case research, reflecting different ways of viewing reality and the pursuit of valid knowledge. This is an important realisation that can help us understand the debate that often arises over the nature and stature of case studies as a method for conducting research
Groupware and Business Process Improvement: technology enabled organisational learning
Get PDFMuch of the evaluative research on groupware in organisations so far has been preoccupied with the role of groupware as a new interaction media to replace or extend face-to-face communication in groups. It has focused on gains and losses from a group interaction point of view, typically disregarding the impact of other functions such as allowing public access to relevant historical and business process information concerning the organisation. This paper tries to bridge this gap with a focus on the support provided by groupware to business process improvement groups. This paper is based on a qualitative analysis of the effects of the introduction of an asynchronous groupware system into a service company based in Brazil. That analysis suggests that improvements on business redesign efficiency and effectiveness can be attained not only from asynchronous groupware support to group communication, but also from: l)Its support for public sharing of historical information about former business process improvement; and 2)Its support for providing a repository of information about business processes that could be targets for improvement. The paper is finalised with the proposal of an explanatory model, describing the relationship between the introduction of technology, its integration with a business process improvement meta-process, and its effects on the efficiency and effectiveness of that meta-process
Computerised Support for Requirements Modelling in FOOM
Get PDFThis paper briefly introduces an information systems development/acquisition method, FOOM Swatman & Swatman (1992a) and justifies the need for computerised support for the method prior to further field trials. The paper then describes the requirements of a workbench which may be used to support FOOM and reports the experience gained in using FOOM itself in the requirements analysis and modelling processes
Focusing Information Systems Post-Graduate Research Projects
Get PDFThis paper reports on an investigation of mechanisms that assist Information Systems post-graduate research students to focus their projects.
An evaluation is presented of the experiences of Information Systems research students in focussing their research projects based on a survey conducted of students who participated in two of the first three Information Systems doctoral consortia to be held in Australia. The survey sought to determine whether a doctoral consortium or 'systematic expert review' is the most valuable mechanism for focussing a research proposal.
Systematic expert review was considered by the students to be more effective than the doctoral consortium process for the purpose of focussing their research project proposals
Software Quality Certification: identifying the real obstacles
Get PDFA case study of software certification reveals the real difficulty of certifying quality beyond superficial assessment - readers are invited to form their own conclusions. AS 3563 Software Quality Management System is the Australian version of ISO 9001, developed specifically for the software industry. For many Australian software houses, gaining certification with AS 3563 is a priority since certification has become a prerequisite to doing business with government departments and major corporations. However, the process of achieving registration with this standard is a lengthy and resource intensive process, and may have little impact on actual software quality. This case study recounts the experience of the consulting arm of one of Australia's accounting firms in its quest for certification. By using a number of specific management strategies this company was able to successfully implement AS 3563 in less than half the time usually taken to achieve certification - a feat for which its management should be congratulated. However, because the focus of the project was on gaining certification, few internal benefits have been realised despite the successful implementation of the standard