Australian Computer Society: ACS Digital Library
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Cinderella Gets an Invitation: recognising and organising systems maintenance and support
Full text linkSystems maintenance of existing systems is a 'Cinderella' subject in the field of information systems & technology (1ST). Although it accounts for the majority of systems work, the subject is generally neglected and taken for granted. Based on studies carried out in a large Australasian organisation, evidence is presented for recognising the strategic role of systems maintenance, as a complement to new development. Alternative means of organising systems development work is examined, with the conclusion that a separate systems support group for carrying out maintenance may have net advantage. A re-definition of maintenance, according to a taxonomy of eight different types, is proposed. Effective methodology and metrics for maintenance are also addressed, together with the general phenomenon of "entropological deterioration', and 12 factors that need to be used in assessing existing systems
Cyberspace Versus Citizenship: IT and emerging non space communities
Full text linkIn 1964 Melvin Webber challenged the notions of community and centrality used in urban studies by demonstrating that "community without propinquity" was emerging within certain social networks. He argued that individuals were enmeshed in an overlapping range of groups, and that increasingly these social networks were not limited by physical or geographical location. His definition of community acknowledges a differentiated range of "non-place" cultures. It reflects a change to a process, rather than product oriented view of urban form, triggered in part by the influence of general systems theory. Webber influenced and was influenced by the emergence of an orientation towards non-physical aspects of community, and a participatory approach to design which emerged strongly during the seventies. Reexamination of Webber's work in the light of current information technology offers some insight into the nature of the globalisation of the world economy, and consequent impacts on nationality and sovereignty. The technologies that will be commonplace by the end of the century can both empower and disempower and it will be necessary to reconsider our current notions of both citizenship and of access to and control of such crucial resources. Opportunities offered by IT for marginalised or peripheral groups, whether at the level of nation, region or local community, will challenge existing definitions of centre and periphery. The moral panics surrounding such activities as "hacking" and its supporting "cyberpunk" sub culture demonstrate a growing awareness of the importance of emerging non-space communities
Information Systems and Corporate Memory: design for staff turn-over
Full text linkThe "information age" is reliant upon the information skill-base of people and the storage and access of complete data. Staff turn-over and "down-sizing" as well as the rate of organisational change places increased pressure on the designers of corporate information systems to keep up with the organizational demands. Especially relevant are the "soft" aspects of the corporate information needs of organizations. The term "corporate memory" is introduced to explain the relatively informal collective and individual knowledge of employees gained through their experience and position in the organization. This paper elaborates the issues concerned with the "corporate soft data", and makes suggestions for research, as well as for planners of corporate information systems in organizations facing major down-sizing or related changes. It is concluded that there are a number of readily obtainable sources of soft data in the organization and these data should be analysed for inclusion in system development. If organizations are to become learning systems and not just keep repeating the same mistakes, they need to review all aspects of corporate memory, especially the soft data sources and losses
A Review of Object Oriented Database Concepts and their Implementation
Full text linkObject Oriented design and databases has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years. This article outlines and discusses the semantic data principles used inter alia in understanding Object Oriented concepts. To illustrate and lend substance to this discussion a list is presented of OODBMS implementations. Their weaknesses and strengths are analysed. And their suitability for specific applications is assessed. Finally we offer some conclusions about research in this area and the directions in which further development should proceed