Cesare Taurino

Social Computing as Next-Gen Learning Paradigm: A Platform and Applications

As a field at the intersection between computer science and people behavior, social computing can contribute significantly in the endeavor of innovating how individuals and groups interact for learning and working purposes. In particular, the generation of Internet applications tagged as web 2.0 provides an opportunity to create new “environments” where people can exchange knowledge and experience, create new knowledge and learn together. This chapter illustrates the design and application of a prototypal platform which embeds tools such as blog, wiki, folksonomy and RSS in a unique web-based system. This platform has been developed to support a case-based and project-driven learning strategy for the development of business and technology management competencies in undergraduate and graduate education programs. A set of illustrative scenarios are described to show how a learning community can be promoted, created, and sustained through the technological platform.

New challenges for agribusiness management. Designing a curriculum for competencies building

Emerging market and industry trends are reshaping substantially the critical variables which impact on the competitiveness of agrifood companies. Food producers, processors and distributors face new challenges related with the management of the whole supply chain. The increasing industry dynamism and complexity requires improved engineering and management capabilities for agribusiness leaders, related with the analysis of macroeconomic, consumption and distribution patterns as well as with the design and implementation of new models for managing operations and technology. In this paper, we present a framework for competencies building for agribusiness managers. A multidisciplinary approach is illustrated for the design of a curriculum targeted for executive education programmes. Starting from a definition for the agribusiness manager profile, and based on the review of both theory contributions and domain-specific education initiatives, we define a topics-based taxonomy of technical contents together with a set of learning objectives to be achieved for the profile.

Problem-Based Learning in Web Environments: The Case of “Virtual eBMS” for Business Engineering Education

This chapter presents a case study where Problem Based Learning (PBL) approach is applied to a Web-based environment. It first describes the main features behind the PBL for creating Business Engineers able to face the grand technological challenges of the 2020. Then it introduces a Web Based system supporting the PBL strategy, called the “Virtual eBMS”. This system has been designed and implemented at the e-Business Management Section of the Scuola Superiore ISUFI – University of Salento (Italy), in the framework of a research project carried out in collaboration with IBM. Besides the logical and technological description of Virtual eBMS, the chapter presents two applications of the platform in two different contexts: an academic context (international master) and an entrepreneurial context (awareness workshop with companies and entrepreneurs). The system is illustrated starting from the description of an operational framework for designing curricula PBL based from the author perspective and, then, illustrating a typical scenario of a learner accessing to the curricula. In the description, it is highlighted both the “structured” way and the “unstructured” way to create and follow an entire learning path.

A Process-Oriented and Technology-Based Model of Virtual Communities of Practices: Evidence from a Case Study in Higher Education

This article hypothesizes that virtual communities of practice (VCoPs) are valuable to business schools and universities because they contribute to the emerging paradigms of just-in-time, action-based informal learning. It presents a real case study of a VCoP called Virtual eBMS that was built by applying participative observation (Yin, 1994). In particular, the article provides a process-oriented model of Virtual eBMS that is composed of four main elements: the people participating in the community, the processes and the purpose of the community in terms of the value created for the business school, and the technology enabling the interactions between the community members. Indeed, from a technological point of view, the community is supported by an integrated Web learning and knowledge management platform, described in terms of the main knowledge processes triggered and the correspondent technologies supporting the actions. Finally, the work presents some preliminary results and the value created through the use of Virtual eBMS.