Muriati Mukhtar

A combinatorial double auction resource allocation model in cloud computing

Users and providers have different requirements and objectives in an investment market. Users will pay the lowest price possible with certain guaranteed levels of service at a minimum and providers would follow the strategy of achieving the highest return on their investment. Designing an optimal market-based resource allocation that considers the benefits for both the users and providers is a fundamental criterion of resource management in distributed systems, especially in cloud computing services. Most of the current market-based resource allocation models are biased in favor of the provider over the buyer in an unregulated trading environment. In this study, the problem was addressed by proposing a new market model called the Combinatorial Double Auction Resource Allocation (CDARA), which is applicable in cloud computing environments. The CDARA was prototyped and simulated using CloudSim, a Java-based simulator for simulating cloud computing environments, to evaluate its efficiency from an economic perspective. The results proved that the combinatorial double auction-based resource allocation model is an appropriate market-based model for cloud computing because it allows double-sided competition and bidding on an unrestricted number of items, which causes it to be economically efficient. Furthermore, the proposed model is incentive-compatible, which motivates the participants to reveal their true valuation during bidding.

A hierarchical classification of co-creation models and techniques to aid in product or service design

The roles of customers from passive users to collaborators in creating and extracting business value have given rise to customer co-creation techniques and value co-creation models. Although these techniques and models have been useful to researchers and businesses, they are unstructured. A classification is necessary so that research can be placed in proper context of one another. Via an examination of the literature and based on the concept of customer value hierarchy a classification of the different models and techniques of co-creation is developed. There are two implications for the classification. Firstly, it will aid in the research and understanding of the use of the various techniques and models. Secondly, it can assist in designing appropriate encounter processes as a basis for engaging customers and subsequently provide innovation for organizations. The paper concludes with an application of the classification to develop encounter processes in a learning management system.

Employability and service science: Facing the challenges via curriculum design and restructuring

A university faces many challenges in equipping graduates with the right skills and attitudes that will make them employable. The shift from the predominantly manufacturing based industries to the service based one is a source of one such challenge. Focusing on the Faculty of Information Science and Technology, it is contended that there is a need to examine its current curriculum and methods of instruction so as to ensure that future graduates will be suitable for this new economy. In this position paper, based on the model of the T-shaped professional and drawing insights from the newly developed field of Service Science, Management and Engineering (SSME), it is proposed that a combination of approaches is undertaken in restructuring the curriculum so that future graduates from the faculty in particular, and the university in general, will be ready to face the challenges posed by the new era of services.

ERP Implementation Challenges in Small and Medium Enterprise: A Framework and Case Study

The Malaysian small to medium enterprises (SMEs) market has big influences in the business world which is becoming more competitive. Therefore, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) as a functional unit integrated system is needed to streamline the business processes to achieve greater work efficiency. However, an in depth understanding about ERP system is needed to ensure the successful system implementation. This paper seeks to explore the challenges of ERP system implementation in order to deepen the knowledge on ERP system implementation in SMEs. The research method is based on a single-case design within Malaysian SME to obtain a process model of ERP system implementation adoption by SMEs. The conceptual framework for ERP system implementation, which was validated by a number of SMEs in Malaysia, is proposed in order to attempt the minimize ERP project failure in SMEs.

An investigation of lead benchmarking implementation: A comparison of small/medium enterprises and large companies

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore current levels of lead benchmarking implementation and lead performance indicators among Malaysian organizations. Comparing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with large companies, it identifies what benefits and difficulties are present during benchmarking implementation. Design/methodology/approach – Descriptive analyses, one-way ANOVAs between and within groups, and parametric and non-parametric tests are used to compare responses obtained from small, medium and large Malaysian manufacturing organizations. Findings – Findings suggest that larger organizations have a more progressive approach to lead benchmarking. Strategy and employee development are dominant lead performance indicators of continuous improvement. Large companies experience fewer challenges when implementing benchmarking projects. Perceptions of key benchmarking implementation barriers shift from mere lack of resources toward lack of knowledge and training, information sharing, commitme...

Agent-based negotiation framework for web service's SLA

Dynamic establishment of a web services Service Level Agreement (SLA) document that maintains end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) requirements has been identified as a cause of delay in developing web service based solutions. This is because service providers and consumers are usually engaged in a time consuming negotiation process. In order to accelerate the negotiation process, this paper proposes an agent-based conceptual framework for web service SLA negotiation which enables a single service provider to negotiate with multiple web service consumers at the same time. A utility-based negotiation strategy is used by negotiation agents to make decisions at all phases. A 3-tier multi-agent-based system prototype was developed to validate the framework. Web service consumers and providers use the front end GUI-based application to input their requirements preferences which we converted into WS-Policy compliant documents used in the negotiation. The actual negotiation processes are managed and conducted by software agents representing consumers and providers at the back-end system. Simulation results show that 90% of the negotiations are successful.

Organization information ecology and E-commerce adoption: Effect on organizational SMEs performance

Electronic Commerce (EC) has recently become the subject of interest of many researchers involved in behavioral and technology acceptance. EC was heavily studied in developed countries, but there are only a few narrowly focused studies on EC adoption in developing countries, especially in the context of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Previous researchers have investigated many factors that influence the adoption of EC applications, such as organizational and technological factors. However, a review of the literature showed that Organization Information Ecology (OIE), which is an important factor in the context of EC, has not been receiving the attention it deserves in the context of EC adoption. Based on the literature review of previous studies, a model is proposed to reviews and attempts to identify the organizational, technological and OIE factors that effect on the adoption of EC and the impact of EC on organization performance. Altogether, twelve hypotheses are proposed. The proposed conceptual model provides a foundation for test the relationships in our suggested model by using the empirical data or other techniques.

ERP implementation framework for Malaysian private institution of higher learning

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are widely used by many multinational companies throughout the world. Recently, many institutions of higher learning have replaced their legacy systems to ERP systems as a means for integration advantages. Investments with this ERP system are representing the largest investment for institutions of higher learning. They invest millions of dollars and the time taken for the implementation sometimes takes two to three years, or even more. Without a solid history of successes and failures, implementers are at a disadvantage in knowing how best to implement ERP systems so that they will provide operational and strategic benefits to their owners. Due to these problems, this research is carried out in order to establish an ERP implementation framework for Malaysian private institutions of higher learning. The framework has four phases; project initiation, project implementation, realization and operation and maintenance. Every phase will be having a combination of critical success factors (CSFs), deliverables and responsibilities and this combination as unique features for the private institution of higher learning in Malaysia environment.

Value co-creation: Embedding the value elements in critical success factor for e-government system development

The success of electronic government initiatives depend on many factors, among other is critical success factor (CSF). CSF refers to the limited number of areas in which satisfactory results will ensure successful competitive performance for the individual, department or organization [1]. It had been used significantly to present or identify few key factors that organizations should focus in order to be successful. CSF can be categorized into groups of factor such as human factors, technology, culture and infrastructure. Based on analysis conducted there are many CSF available to aid in the e-government system development. However available CSF does not promote the value-in-use element as such current systems developed using the existing CSF are lacked in the value-in-use aspect. Value-in-use is the satisfaction of wants and needs provided by the direct consumption of goods and services [15]. Value in use should be contrasted with the similar phrase, value in exchange [15]. This research will indentify the CSF, that will be focused to embed the value elements for eGovernment system development The value elements will be found from the value co-creation among the system provider and customer. The Service Dominant Logic (S-D Logic) and Experience Co-Creation value insights will be used to establish CSFs co-creation value and therefore it will aid the system development by ensuring the value-in-use is embedded in the system.

The EEE encounter model: Applying the service dominant logic to B2B e-marketplaces

The Internet has provided tools offering marketplaces the opportunity to expand through the Web. Businesses have taken hold of these possibilities and have started to engage in online business-to-business (B2B) transactions. Still, though B2B e-marketplaces have produced early excitement, they have failed to hold transaction volumes. Though there are many reasons for failure, it is contended that the goods dominant approach used to develop these e-marketplaces is a reason why B2B systems have had difficulty in sustaining transaction volumes. The emerging service dominant logic (SDL) however addresses the problems caused by the goods dominant logic. Having an SDL-based reference model would therefore be advantageous to the B2B sector. Business-to-consumer (B2C) e-marketplaces have made moves to implement SDL. In addition, frameworks for value co-creation exist in the B2C context. However, little research has been done on its application on the B2B context. This research attempts to fill up that gap.