Keynote Lectures
I. S. Research of Business Practices: Many, One or Zero Academic Disciplines?
Gezinus J. Hidding
Abstract
This paper discusses the identity crisis in the Information Systems (I.S.) academic discipline. It reviews how Kuhn's concepts of paradigm and (normal) science apply to I.S. and argues that I.S.'s scope is too broad and too disconnected from practice. The paper proposes that I.S. become a professional discipline, guided by issues faced by practitioners, e.g., Chief Innovation Officers. I.S. research would center around the management of provisioning, operation and maintenance of I.T. Similar to other professional fields (e.g., medicine), I.S. researchers would be practitioners. The paper concludes with a sample of important research questions for I.S. as a professional discipline.
Keywords
I.S. identity crisis, paradigm, normal science, professional discipline
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.
The Knowledge of Business Intelligence
Clyde W. Holsapple
Abstract
Business Intelligence, whether or not we explicitly realize it, is rooted in the field of Knowledge Management. This is a field characterized by knowledge resources, knowledge processors, and knowledge processes. The design, implementation, and application of business intelligence (BI) can benefit from a consideration of knowledge management (KM). When we consciously ground our BI activity in a deep understanding of KM, we can begin to cultivate and nurture BI in unforeseen ways that enhance its yield. No longer is it overrun in a tangle of confused or inconsistent visions and strategy. It is no longer as prone to wither in droughts of shallow perspective. Mindful appreciation of KM helps nourish the practice and study of business intelligence, giving it more of an opportunity to flourish for the benefit of host organizations.
Keywords
business intelligence, knowledge management
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.
Innovation within IBM (and WebSphere) Development through University Collaborations
Andrew Rindos
Abstract
Historically over the years, IBM has supported a wide array of university relations programs, at the corporate, business unit/product division and local (geographical) levels. These programs have been used to support a variety of objectives that include: product innovation, testing, proof-of-concepts and showcases; talent development and recruiting; sales opportunities; corporate citizenship and visibility; and others. An effective application of these university relations resources and programs occurs within the Chief Technology Offices (CTOs) of several IBM Software Group (SWG) product divisions. A notable example is WebSphere CTO, and specifically its Emerging Technology Institute (ETI), which defines the new products, new features, new technologies etc. for the IBM WebSphere product portfolio. It maintains a pair of regional university relations centers, the Centers for Advanced Studies (CAS), located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (US) and Toronto (Canada), which are also co-located at two of WebSphere's largest product development sites. These centers work directly with the local universities in support of product innovation and (student) talent development and recruitment, and are part of a larger network of some 26 such centers located around the world.
Keywords
university relations programs
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.
Very Many Variables and Limited Numbers of Observations;
The p>>n Problem in Current Statistical Applications
Johann Sölkner
Abstract
New technologies have led to an “explosion” of data available to document states and processes in very many fields. Tools of data mining are being used to extract relevant information. If this information is used in decision making, analytical statistics can provide formal tests comparing the outcomes of different scenarios. Statistics has traditionally dealt with limited information, both in terms of observations and numbers of variables explaining the states of these observations. Virtually all statistical hypothesis testing was developed for such scenarios, trying to make sense from limited data, often expensive to produce. Clinical trials and the steps in development of drugs before those clinical trials are a typical examples from human medicine.
Keywords
statistics, data mining, genomic information
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.
Designing Effective Web Sites: How Academic Research Influences Practice
Joseph S. Valacich
Abstract
The design of effective human interfaces to systems, especially in the realm of electronic commerce, has received considerable attention from researchers given the practical importance of enhancing the online consumer’s experience. From this body of work, a comprehensive set of interface characteristics has been developed. While it is important to understand which characteristics can be successfully applied to a Web site’s design, it is equally important to understand their relative value in shaping a consumer’s experience, given the natural tradeoffs that occur due to design complexity, resources limitations, or situational factors. Unfortunately, little research has been conducted to provide clear guidance for optimizing the selection and prioritization of various characteristics within this context of the online consumer experience.
Keywords
website design, B2C
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.