Amgad Badewi

Using Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) in Understanding Current User-Support Scenario in the Climate Science Domain of Cyber-Infrastructures

Cyber-infrastructures have transformed the practice of research. Researchers can now access distributed data worldwide with the help of cyber-infrastructures. User support services play an important role to facilitate researchers to accomplish their research goals with the help of cyber-infrastructures. However, the current user-support practices in cyber-infrastructures are not properly organized (at least in climate cyber-infrastructures) thus over-burdening human support agents. The paper describes the study conducted to evaluate the geographically distributed user-support system currently in practice in the leading cyber-infrastructure namely Earth System Grid Federation (ESGF). The members of the investigation team found out that the user-support in ESGF, a global climate cyber-infrastructure need more attention to make it resourceful as well as standardized. The findings about end-user support system were modelled using soft systems methodology (SSM). This approach helped to present the findings of this study to stakeholders in order to capture their feedback about the current system to further improve the system.

User Support System in the Complex Environment

e-Science infrastructures have changed the process of research. Researchers can now access distributed data around the globe with the help of e-infrastructures. This is particularly a very important development for the developing countries. User support services play an important role to provide researchers with the required information needs to accomplish their research goals with the help of e-infrastructures. However, the current user-support practices in e-infrastructures in the climate domain are being followed on intuitive basis, hence over-burdening infrastructure development staffs who partly act as human support agents. The main contribution of this paper is to present the environmental complexity with-in the contemporary user support practices of climate science e-infrastructure known as Earth System Grid Federation (ESGF). ESGF is a leading distributed peer-to-peer (P2P) data-grid system in Earth System Modelling (ESM) having around 25000 users distributed all over the world.

ERP benefits capability framework: orchestration theory perspective

ERP benefits can be classified as automation, planning and innovation benefits. This research aims to answer two research questions: (1) what are the ERP resources and organizational complementary resources (OCRs) required to achieve each group of benefits? and (2) on the basis of its resources, when should an organization invest more in ERP resources and/or OCRs so that the potential value of its ERP is realised? Evidence from studying 12 organizations in different countries and validating the results with 8 consultants has been drawn upon to develop the ERP Benefits Realisation Capability Framework, showing (1) that each group of benefits requires ERP resources (classified into features, attached technologies and IT department competences) and OCRs (classified into practices, attitudes, culture, skills and organizational characteristics) and (2) that leaping ahead to gain innovation benefits before being mature enough in realising a firm’s planning and automation capabilities could be a waste of time and effort. This research can be used as a benchmark for designing the various blueprints required to achieve different groups of benefits from ERP investments.