Luvai Motiwalla

Mobile learning: A framework and evaluation

Wireless data communications in form of Short Message Service (SMS) and Wireless Access Protocols (WAP) browsers have gained global popularity, yet, not much has been done to extend the usage of these devices in electronic learning (e-learning). This project explores the extension of e-learning into wireless/handheld (W/H) computing devices with the help of a mobile learning (m-learning) framework. This framework provides the requirements to develop m-learning applications that can be used to complement classroom or distance learning. A prototype application was developed to link W/H devices to three course websites. The m-learning applications were pilot-tested for two semesters with a total of 63 students from undergraduate and graduate courses at our university. The students used the m-learning environment with a variety of W/H devices and reported their experiences through a survey and interviews at the end of the semester. The results from this exploratory study provide a better understanding on the role of mobile technology in higher education.

Distance learning on the Internet : An exploratory study

The Internet and Web-based technologies have become a popular platform for the development and delivery of distance learning (DL) programs in an online class setting. While these programs have proven popular with both students and faculty, few research studies have been done to determine the impact of these virtual courses on student learning and/or satisfaction. This article presents the development of a Web-based course model and the results from an exploratory study conducted to determine the effectiveness of this model on student satisfaction. Results from the survey reveal that the students had a positive experience with this Web-based course model. Students were generally satisfied with the online learning environment, appreciated the flexibility of being able to access course material any time and any place, and were satisfied with quality and course content.

Internet-Based Distance Education--The Administrator's Perspective

Abstract In this study, the authors sought to investigate the status of distance education (DE) at 68 higher education institutions. Through a survey of DE program directors, the authors gathered information on size, target audience, media used, evaluation methods, student characteristics, student and faculty perceptions, and administrative support. Results reveal that the programs were still primarily asynchronous in their course delivery and needed more staffing and technical support and that program coordinators were experimenting with alternative forms of evaluation.

An intra- and inter-industry analysis of e-business effectiveness

Electronic business (EB) on the Internet has been promoted as a revolutionary technology that will transform the way we do business. This paper presents an intra- and inter-industry financial performance (FP) analysis of three industries: retail (R), consumer products (CP), and food beverages and tobacco (FBT). Financial statements of 165 companies selected from these three industries extending over a period of 10 years were reviewed to determine whether the EB activities have any significant impact on their FP, and whether this impact varied across industries. This comparative examination indicated that the EB companies did better than their non-EB counterparts in the post-EB period and the FBT industrial sector performed better than the R and CP sectors.

Predictable variation and profitable trading of US equities: a trading simulation using neural networks

Abstract A switching rule conditioned on out-of-sample one-step-ahead predictions of returns is used to establish investment positions in either stocks or Treasury bills. The economic significance of any discernible patterns of predictability is assessed by incorporating transaction costs in the simulated trading strategies. We find that ANN models produce switching signals that could have been exploited by investors in an out-of-sample context to achieve superior cumulative and risk-adjusted returns when compared to either regression or a simple buy-and-hold strategy in the market indices. The robustness of these results across a large number of stock market indices is encouraging. Scope and purpose A large body of evidence has accumulated suggesting that stock returns are predictable by means of publicly available information on a number of financial and macroeconomic variables with an important business cycle component. Previous research has, for the most part, relied on standard statistical techniques (e.g., regression analysis) with unduly restrictive assumptions presumed to hold in the underlying data-generating process. This paper reexamines the evidence regarding predictable variation in US stock returns using both artificial neural network (ANN) and regression, and compares simulated trading results obtained from ANN models with those obtained from regression.

Mail‐man: A knowledge‐based mail assistant for managers

Although several collaborative office systems have been developed recently to provide synchronous communication support for managerial work, they have not capitalized on electronic mail (E‐mail), an existing asynchronous office communication technology widely used by managers. This is because E‐mail technology has yet to incorporate intelligent characteristics and flexibility to support different office functions, which can enable it to adapt to the changing and uncertain environment of managerial work. This article addresses the conceptual and technological issues involved in development of E‐mail to support managerial work with MAIL‐MAN, a knowledge‐based E‐mail system unified with other office applications to model and support managerial work.

USING SUPER-EFFICIENCY DEA TO EVALUATE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF E-BUSINESS INITIATIVE IN THE RETAIL INDUSTRY

Electronic Business (EB) on the Internet is an attractive technology for traditional business organizations to improve their financial performance. The Web-based economic model is supposedly more efficient at the transaction cost level. It also provides cost-effective marketing, global market access, and a disintermediation of costly distribution channels. The current paper uses super-efficiency data envelopment analysis (DEA) model to evaluate the financial performance of e-business initiatives in the retail industry. Because of the possible infeasibility of the super-efficiency DEA model, the use of super-efficiency DEA model has been restricted. This paper demonstrates that if super-efficiency is interpreted as input saving or output surplus achieved by a specific efficient DMU, infeasibility does not necessary indicate the best performance. A new approach is applied to correctly characterize and rank the performance of a set of EB companies and non-EB companies in the retail industry. This analysis indicates that the EB companies perform better in some areas than their non-EB counterpart.

ESP: an expert system for pre-session group decision support systems planning

The authors present a prototype expert system, the Expert Session Planner (ESP), which is designed to support GDSS (group decision support systems) session facilitators during critical pre-session planning. Its major components are a group selection module, a calendar scheduling module, and a tool selection module. ESPs advantages are that it allows scarce human facilitator knowledge to be distributed and provides consistency across sessions, provides training for novice session facilitators in the selection of GDSS software, and offers a foundation upon which to build further intelligent support software for group meeting processes. A case study illustrates the use of the expert system for planning a typical group meeting.<<ETX>>

Enhancing Mobile Learning Using Speech Recognition Technologies: A Case Study

While many studies have demonstrated the value of mobile learning (m-learning) applications in educational environments, the limitations of mobile devices may impair the accessibility of such applications. In this study, we explore the integration of speech or voice recognition technologies into m- learning applications to reduce access barriers. Based on an m-learning framework proposed in our previous work, we built an educational online forum accessible through mobile devices. We then developed customized interactive voice response (IVR) and text-to-speech (TTS) technologies to allow users to interact with the forum through voice commands. This voice-enabled discussion forum application not only helps normal users avoid the cumbersome task of typing using small keypads, but also enables people with visual and mobility disabilities to engage in online educations. The prototype forum was tested in two different blind institutions in Massachusetts with 10 users. The results from this study provide insights into how to improve accessibility of m-learning and other related m- commerce applications.

A framework to support managerial activities using office information systems

Abstract:Office systems have traditionally been effective in automating well-defined and structured office tasks that are performed by personnel who account for a minor share of the office payroll. To make an impact on office environments, office systems must be able to support effectively semi-structured or unstructured office tasks that are generally performed by managers and professionals.This paper provides a conceptual focus through a framework for analyzing the office functions of managers, and a technological focus and direction through a design and architecture of an Integrated Office Information System (IOIS) for implementing such a concept that supports the less structured activities of managers.