Kenneth A. Griggs

A framework for e‐learning as a tool for knowledge management

A common thread among the plethora of definitions of knowledge management is that its objective is to identify and leverage the collective knowledge in an organization to help organizations compete and survive. One potential lever is e‐learning, the creation and distribution of organizational knowledge through the online delivery of information, communication, education, and training. John Chambers, of Cisco Systems, said: “The two great equalizers in life are the Internet and education”, so why not fuse the two to provide an efficient way to empower a workforce with the skills and knowledge it needs to compete amid the rapid pace of change in business? In this paper we discuss the relationship between knowledge management and e‐learning and present a framework for employing e‐learning as a valuable tool for knowledge management. The framework encompasses the planning and implementation elements necessary for organizations to leverage existing technologies and implement new ones to promote organizational learning and contribute to the management of organizational knowledge.

A model of information technology opportunities for facilitating the practice of knowledge management

Purpose – There is controversy about the role information technology (IT) should play in knowledge management (KM) spanning extremes that either overvalue or undervalue ITs role. This study recognizes the balance required between the two extremes and aims to present a KM process and a three‐dimensional model to assist in identifying opportunities in which IT can effectively facilitate KM practices.Design/methodology/approach – Through a synthesis of KM literature the paper developed a KM process that consists of identification of classifications of knowledge and their particular value to an organization, sources of knowledge, and application opportunities. It developed a three‐dimensional model consisting of KM life cycle, KM level, and KM objectives to assist in identifying the most effective IT application opportunities.Findings – Current IT infrastructures provide support for the organization, formalization, and distribution of organizational knowledge. However, there are relatively few applications t...

A web portal/decision support system architecture for collaborative intra-governmental planning

In this paper, we focus on the US intra-governmental initiative to improve internal efficiency and effectiveness (IEE) using information technology. We propose a web portal architecture that permits government planning teams to collaborate in an effective way to make more informed and better decisions. The architecture incorporates a simulation decision support system, which provides remote teams with the ability to experiment with a variety of planning scenarios to gain an understanding of the effect of policies and rules on team coordination and overall performance. The web portal architecture allows government agencies to share simulation results and discuss potential plans before implementing them.

An architecture for distributed scenario building and evaluation

A Web portal can support collaborative learning and help individuals and organizations plan for an uncertain future.

Does updating judgmental forecasts improve forecast accuracy

Abstract This study investigates whether updating judgmental forecasts of time series leads to more accurate forecasts. The literature is clear that accurate contextual information will improve forecast accuracy. However, forecasts are sometimes updated when pure temporal information like the most recent time series value becomes available. The key assumption in the latter case is that forecast accuracy improves as one gets closer in time to the event to be forecasted; that is, accuracy improves as new times series values become available. There is evidence both to support and to question this assumption. To examine the impact of temporal information on forecast accuracy, an experiment was conducted. The experiment found improved forecast accuracy from updating time series forecasts when new temporal information arrived if the time series was trended. However, there appeared to be no value in updating time series forecasts when the time series were relatively stable.

The impact of incentives on the accuracy of subjects in judgmental forecasting experiments

Abstract There is an ongoing debate in the social sciences about whether or not financial incentives are needed in order to obtain good performance from experimental subjects. This debate often extends into the research on judgmental forecasting. Thus, an experiment was conducted to assess the effects of financial incentives on time series forecasting accuracy. There was no evidence that financial incentives impacted forecasting accuracy in stable time series. Financial incentives also had no impact immediately after instabilities occurred and no impact once the trend in the data had fully emerged.

Teaching the technology of electronic commerce: what should students and faculty know?

This paper is an exploration of the issues in teaching and learning essential electronic commerce technology. The paper defines the technology and describes a framework, consisting of a set of core concepts and themes, required for competency as well as a set of concrete skills. Recent research and EC employment trends are cited and a model for a lab-based EC course is proposed. In addition, a curriculum model based on website development stages is described in the paper. The current electronic commerce technology market is examined to provide a basis for the selection of the product offerings of particular vendors, as candidates for inclusion in an electronic commerce programme.

The asymmetry of judgemental confidence intervals in time series forecasting

Abstract In forecasting a time series, one may be asked to communicate the likely distribution of the future actual value, often expressed as a confidence interval. Whilst the accuracy (calibration) of these intervals has dominated most studies to date, this paper is concerned with other possible characteristics of the intervals. It reports a study in which the prevalence and determinants of the symmetry of judgemental confidence intervals in time series forecasting was examined. Most prior work has assumed that this interval is symmetrically placed around the forecast. However, this study shows that people generally estimate asymmetric confidence intervals where the forecast is not the midpoint of the estimated interval. Many of these intervals are grossly asymmetric. Results indicate that the placement of the forecast in relation to the last actual value of a time series is a major determinant of the direction and size of the asymmetry.

A funding choice decision model for financing promising e-government services

The evolution of electronic government (e-government) initiatives poses a myriad of challenges that involve complex technology, social and managerial decisions. One of the most overwhelming challenges, however, is identifying funding sources for promising e-government services. In this paper, we explore issues associated with the shortcomings of traditional government budgeting that prevent the successful use of information technology to enable e-government processes and services. We present diverse and innovative approaches local, state and federal government agencies are experimenting with to counter governmental budgeting constraints and create cost effective and properly funded e-government services. Finally, we develop a decision model to help guide the choice of an appropriate non-traditional funding approach in light of the risks associated with each alternative and the potential policy, social and political ramifications of each choice.

Internal controls: lessons to be learned from fire

This paper is an analytical investigation of practices related to business fraud prevention and detection and employs the analogy of fire control and safety as a model for accounting control. As in fire control where fire counter measures must match fire type, anti-fraud activities must match fraud characteristics. The paper contains a historical literature review of accounting fraud, an account of internal control research, and a report of a game theoretical model used to explain the behaviour of the players in accounting fraud. The model described in the paper includes factors such as perpetrator category, detection probabilities, collusion, the cost of controls, and the value of rewards. The model postulates a set of perpetrator types based on the level of commitment to fraud and employs a game tree to describe movements and outcomes with varying rewards and control environments. In addition, the model is used to show the interplay among a variety of fraud and counter-fraud factors. Historical evidence suggests that what is known about internal control activities is based on anecdotal evidence and therefore, a game theoretic approach may have merit.