Joan Cooper

Evaluating the use of the Web for tourism marketing: a case study from New Zealand.

Abstract The information-intensive nature of the tourism industry suggests an important role for the Internet and Web technology in the promotion and marketing of destinations. This paper uses the extended Model of Internet Commerce Adoption to evaluate the level of Web site development in New Zealands Regional Tourism Organisations. The paper highlights the utility of using interactivity to measure the relative maturity of tourism Web sites.

Factors affecting adoption of electronic commerce technologies by SMEs: an Australian study

Using the Internet for electronic business has become an area of action for the Australian government. This paper presents research results from two regional areas, which indicate that while most manufacturing SMEs use e‐mail, very few are involved in electronic commerce activities. Major barriers are concern about security and privacy of transactions, cost of consultants, and lack of IT expertise of staff. Employing people with appropriate knowledge has been added to current training methods such as on‐the‐job training. Results from the two regional areas are found to be consistent. Comparisons between small and medium organisations highlight some differences.

Critical sets in back circulant latin squares

SummaryTo date very few families of critical sets for latin squares are known. In this paper a new family of critical sets for back circulant latin squares is identified. The proof that each element of the critical set is an essential part of the reconstruction process relies on the proof of the existence of a large number of latin interchanges.

Competition or co-operation? Strategic information management in the National Health Service: A case study of the ceredigion NHS trust

This paper investigates the strategic planning for information management in the National Health Service (NHS). The purpose of the study is to establish whether the use of information technology (IT) to encourage competition in the NHS is effective. The approach taken to implement IT within the NHS is examined with a view to determining whether the increase in competition has led to changes in the way IT systems are developed and managed. The role of IT in increasing the competitiveness of hospitals has been crucial. This paper looks at the role of information management in encouraging competition, and whether it leads to greater efficiency and improvements in patient care. This paper examines firstly the strategy for information management in the NHS; secondly, the IT strategy in Wales and specifically in the Ceredigion NHS Trust; and thirdly, examines four developmental pilot projects. The conclusion is that the strategy of encouraging competing pilot projects is counter-productive. The pilot projects are too ambitious given the lack of previous investment in IT and that the projects themselves, although worthwhile from a developmental point of view, need substantial investment before they can be implemented. Only one of the projects has been implemented despite partial success for two of the other projects. The successful projects had the support and involvement of the senior management and this may have had an effect on the decision making process. Hospitals in the NHS, faced with tight financial constraints, will need to co-operate with other organisations in order to develop integrated systems for better patient health care.

Australian healthcare: a smart card for a clever country

In this paper we give an overview of smart card technology how a smart card could be used as a healthcare card and the benefits that would most likely result from doing so. The smart card memory can be zoned into different security levels. The top security zone may contain an individuals full medical history while the lowest security zone may contain the cardholders name and address. Access to the different zones depends on the level of security of the zone. The higher the security level the more restrictive the access method. Were smart cards adopted for the storage of medical histories it would change the form of medical information recorded, not merely convert paper files to electronic ones. Storage of an individuals medical history on a smart card raises important privacy issues. These privacy issues are discussed particularly as they relate to the Australian community.

University-Regional Partnership in a Period of Structural Adjustment: Lessons from Southern Adelaide's Response to an Automobile Plant Closure

Abstract This paper examines some of the issues that arise out of partnerships between universities and regions. It draws upon the experience of Flinders University in working with a range of regional agents in responding to the closure of the Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) plant at Lonsdale in Adelaides southern suburbs. The paper suggests that there are a number of hurdles to the establishment of effective partnerships that include: the perception that universities behave in ways that are different to either public or private sector organizations; the absence of universities from the networks and communication protocols central to the work of economic development practitioners; the sporadic nature of university engagement with regional issues; and, the gap between university funding models and local economic aspirations. The paper also finds that government-established mechanisms for regional development may be flawed, especially if they are dominated by representatives of the public sector. The research concludes that current policy preoccupations with the development of commercially valuable intellectual property results in a heavy discounting of other economic impacts. Finally, the paper argues that a pathway for effective engagement between universities and their regions can be established, but such initiatives require considerable time, patience and understanding on the part of all parties. Periods of regional economic stress may not be the most appropriate periods for establishing these working relationships.

Security considerations for present and future medical databases

In this paper we consider the security of medical databases. We give an overview of the security problems and the possible available mechanisms for the prevention of security compromises. Many of the security problems are common to all databases. However, the problem of data inference from statistical queries is particularly pertinent to medical databases and consequently we treat this problem in more detail. The paper concludes with a proposal for a Security Subsystem in a database management system.

How information technology shapes strategy in the steel industry: A case study of British Steel

This paper investigates the impact of information technology (IT) on the strategic management of British Steel. The purpose of the study is to establish whether the implementation of technological changes in the steel industry in Britain is as a result of a deliberate strategy or in response to competitive forces. The reasons for making these changes, how they are implemented and evaluated are examined including factors such as the impact on the organization and the resistance to change. The paper is divided into two sections; comparing and contrasting British Steels IT strategy with that of one of its subsidiaries, British Steel Distribution. The conclusion is that competitive forces have an impact on both the IT strategy of these organizations and the way that IT is used to shape the overall strategy.

A sociotechnical approach to smart card systems design: An Australian case study

Sociotechnical theory represents an important frontier as an effective design tool for new technology. This paper suggests a working model for adopting the objectives of sociotechnical principles for smart card systems design. As an example, a case study based on the collective design practices of Australian firms known to be using smart card is presented. It is found that we are witnessing the birth of a new capacity of Australian firms to understand in a practical way, how sociotechnical knowledge can be applied. It is concluded that current smart card design practices of Australian firms are not responsible for the limited success of attempts by Australian firms to introduce smart card technology. Rather, it is suggested that there are good economic and organizational reasons why smart card acceptance and use in Australia may have been inhibited. Some important challenges that must be addressed have been noted.

Use of the web for destination marketing by regional tourism organisations in the Asia-pacific region

The information-intensive nature of the tourism and travel industry suggests an important role for Web technology in the promotion and marketing of destinations. This paper evaluates the level of Web site development in Asia-Pacific Regional Tourism Organisations. The study uses the extended Model of Internet Commerce Adoption (eMICA) (Burgess and Cooper 2000), and highlights the utility of using interactivity to evaluate the relative maturity of commercial Web sites.