Ravi S. Sharma

A survey and comparison of peer-to-peer overlay network schemes

Over the Internet today, computing and communications environments are significantly more complex and chaotic than classical distributed systems, lacking any centralized organization or hierarchical control. There has been much interest in emerging Peer-to-Peer (P2P) network overlays because they provide a good substrate for creating large-scale data sharing, content distribution, and application-level multicast applications. These P2P overlay networks attempt to provide a long list of features, such as: selection of nearby peers, redundant storage, efficient search/location of data items, data permanence or guarantees, hierarchical naming, trust and authentication, and anonymity. P2P networks potentially offer an efficient routing architecture that is self-organizing, massively scalable, and robust in the wide-area, combining fault tolerance, load balancing, and explicit notion of locality. In this article we present a survey and comparison of various Structured and Unstructured P2P overlay networks. We categorize the various schemes into these two groups in the design spectrum, and discuss the application-level network performance of each group.

A Socio-Technical Framework for Quality Assessment of Computer Information Systems

The emergence of total quality management and the ISO 9000 suite of standards has allowed a re‐think of how (and why) the post‐implementation evaluation of computer systems is to be carried out. Traditional performance measurement, modeling and analysis techniques – while not discredited – have been tempered with a more holistic ideology. This article recommends a socio‐technical approach to determining the quality of a computer information system. In this context, two postulates have been proposed and tested by field survey of expert systems in the insurance industry in North America. Postulate one focuses on a multidimensional concept of IS quality comprising the characteristics of task, technology, people and organization. Postulate two deals with differences in assessments of these characteristics according to stakeholder groups: managers, developers, and users. Summarizes the key findings of these postulates in the context of the TQM and ISO 9000 philosophies.

Realising the Strategic Impact of Business Intelligence Tools

Purpose - In this practice oriented article on the deployment and impact of business intelligence tools in industry suggests a balanced scorecard approach to performance management. More specifically, a suite of web 2.0 tools are used in the practice of business intelligence and their impact measured with a balanced scorecard. Design/Methodology/Approach - The research proposition is that the effectiveness of business intelligence is indeed strategic and relates to its corporate performance. This claim is validated using a global IT consultancy firm’s business intelligence unit as the lead case of an immersive field study. Research engagements with four other firms provide corroborative support. Findings - The balanced scorecard approach to deriving targets and ascertaining outcomes was shown to be applicable to good practice. The converse is equally valid. That is, strategic performance management requires the use of business intelligence in order to be sound. Therefore, tools such as web 2.0 and data analytics, must be outcome-driven with planned targets identified. Practical implications - Business intelligence is a necessary activity for deriving improved performance. It aids in the identification of a firms knowledge strengths as well as gaps with respect to its environment. The key message to executives is that Peter Drucker was right - we cannot manage what we do not measure! Originality/Value - The use of business intelligence as a strategic knowledge management technique is a composite of a host of web 2.0 tools. It does not stand in isolation from other initiatives for exploiting knowledge in order to drive performance.

A Policy Framework for Developing Knowledge Societies

In this article, the authors explore the definition of a knowledge society and why such a society is desirable in the development of nations. First, this paper reviews the literature on knowledge societies and notes a gap in qualitative approaches which are amenable for framing development knowledge policies. The authors then describe a conceptual framework that depicts a knowledge society in terms of 13 dimensions that span infrastructure, governance, human capital and culture. This framework is validated with published proxy indicators from reputable sources such as the United Nations and the World Bank. In a field exercise, this paper determines the usability of the framework for policy discussion using Singapore, Nigeria, the United States and the United Arab Emirates as the foci of our analysis. The authors conclude by suggesting that such a qualitative framework is useful for policy-makers and other stake-holders to understand that the evolution to a knowledge society is a journey that requires benchmarks, environmental intelligence and an emphasis on the tacit structure of knowledge for sustainable advantage.

Value-Added Knowledge Management for Financial Performance: The Case of an East Asian Conglomerate

Purpose - This paper aims to study the economic significance of using a blended business and knowledge strategy through the lens of conventional financial management before and after the implementation of KM initiatives in a knowledge-intensive, high-growth firm that had gone through business diversification through organic developments as well as mergers and acquisitions for over a decade. Design/methodology/approach - The economic value added (EVA) method is proposed as a measure of the effective usage of capital funding in the firm before and after its KM program. The extent of the economic impact due to the contributions of various KM strategies was analyzed singstandard financial management reporting. This enabled the derivation of follow-on KM initiatives that were consistent with the target objectives. Findings - The EVA method was found to be valid and credible in determining the net impact of various KM initiatives. This was in a form that was comprehensible to top management and KM decision-makers. Research limitations/implications - Knowledge management as a strategic imperative has gained significance over the past decade for its ability to handle the complexity of information to further create, transfer and reuse intellectual capital. More importantly, KM is seen as the key business enabler across different enterprises for its ability to enhance competitiveness and shareholder value. The EVA method used in this paper has allowed the valuation of KM initiatives. Practical implications - The emergence of KM as a blended business strategy has hence proved o be vital for the sustainability of the knowledge-driven business model that looks beyond the physical and financial into intellectual and social capital. Originality/value - The paper presents a longitudinal case study of a fairly large East Asian onglomerate. (Chosen as Outstanding Paper Award Win)

A socio-technical model for deploying expert systems. I. The general theory

This paper is addressed to an audience of managers and senior analysts involved with planning and controlling the knowledge engineering life cycle. A general framework for understanding the sociotechnical implications of expert systems is provided. It is argued that expert systems comprise two distinct but entwined subsystems. There is a technical component that concerns the task domain and the knowledge engineering process. There is a social dimension of how users and managers relate to the system and how the system fits with the organization. The authors believe that understanding the associations between these factors is essential in evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of expert systems. >

Beyond the digital divide: policy analysis for knowledge societies

Purpose – In the first part of reporting our research on knowledge societies (Sharma et al. 2008), we overviewed a conceptual model for analyzing knowledge development. In this second part, we report the results of using our framework in the field for the purpose of formulating knowledge policies. Methodology / Approach – We use the conceptual framework of 13 dimensions for knowledge policy-making analysis and qualitative focus group discussions by means of what is known as a Knowledge SWOT Analysis. Such an exercise ordinarily determines what we term as net strength (strengths offset by weaknesses) and net opportunity (opportunities offset by threats). Findings – Our field research suggests that whereas quantitative indicators are very commonly used for the purpose of benchmarking and progress tracking, they are limited in terms of determining causes, effects and encapsulating good practices. Our framework providea a means for policy-makers and analysts to engage in discussion, debates, story-telling and scenario building in order to understand net strengths and opportunities. Research Limitations – We were limited by the time constraints of our focus group participants and that it was not feasible to conduct a K-SWOT of more than the 4 societies we have used for the reason that there were insufficient numbers of informed participants. Practical Implications – Developing the knowledge economy has to be more than a management of socio-economic indicators. Understanding the net strength and opportunity faced by a society in the context of a global knowledge economy allowed insights into gaps that may be addressed with appropriate knowledge policies. There is much work to be done in formulating implementable policy recommendations. Originality / Value of Paper – It is hoped that a useful and valid policy analysis tool for knowledge development has thus been described.

A generic machine for parallel information retrieval

Abstract Information retrieval is the recovery of documents that match a requesters query. Ideally, this process must be both effective and efficient. Of the myriad of strategies proposed by researchers in the literature, several have been hardware enhancements to retrieval. Mostly, these have had to do with the utilization of file servers, intermediate buffer memories, array processors, and associative memories/coprocessors. In this article, we introduce two distribution schemes that partition documents over multiple processors and the corresponding multiprocessor retrieval algorithms that match relevant documents to user queries. The suggested framework is based on a general-purpose hypercube multicomputer architecture with a dedicated disk for each node. This hardware feature, together with special storage and access methods, makes the proposal a justifiable and viable application of parallelism in information retrieval.

Beyond the Digital Divide: A Conceptual Framework for Analyzing Knowledge Societies

Purpose – The research reported in this ongoing study aims to investigate the notion of knowledge assets developed within digital communities in the course of their economic or leisure activities. Ideally, the resulting knowledge is universal, affordable and relevant; this inclusiveness is a hallmark of any information or knowledge society. Design/methodology/approach – The authors first synthesize the related research literature covering the areas of knowledge-based economies, knowledge societies and knowledge policies. A model using 13 dimensions is then developed, which the authors claim is critical for creating a knowledge community in the digital economy. The model is validated against critique from a Delphi panel of researchers in the area. Findings – While creating a knowledge society encompasses dimensions pertaining to infrastructure, governance, talent and culture, intangible assets are key to sustaining such societies. Governance and culture are instances of such intangibles. Talent may seem to be tangible but the human capacity for learning and development, which leads to an innovative culture, is less so. In any case, time is the essential ingredient for a knowledge culture to come about. Research limitations/implications – Knowledge societies are not measurable constructs that can be described quantitatively and benchmarked with weighted summations of scores along prescribed dimensions. It would be a fallacy to treat the notion of a knowledge index as a socio-economic measure of success. Practical implications – . conclude with a practical view of how the dimensions may be best exploited in the course of a policy discussion on sustainable knowledge societies.

Best Practices for Communication between Client and Vendor in IT Outsourcing Projects

It has been reported that outsourcing specialist knowledge work can enable business excellence by enhancing business competitiveness, economic value added service, quality, and market branding. Much of this may be supported by seamless technical communication flows between the vendors and clients of an outsourcing project. However, the potential loss of confidentiality, authority, and security are key factors organizations take into consideration before venturing into outsourcing. Developing an information communication platform which promotes a secure knowledge exchange culture in an environment conducive to trust is fundamental to mitigate these information risk factors. The empirical study reported in this paper investigated the central postulate that effective management of technical communication at every stage of executing an IT outsourcing contract reduces associated risks and establishes trust in an outsourcing relationship. The objective of the study was to provide knowledge managers with an insight into the effectiveness of communication flows for various outsourcing activities in order to support knowledge mobilization for effective service delivery. The field research was conducted through a survey of industry practitioners from vendor and client organizations with a sample size of 70+ respondents from 20+ organizations, about an equal number of clients and vendors. It is the intended contribution of this work to prescribe a socio-technical platform for professional technical communications between clients and vendors of outsourcing services that effectively manages information risks and the notion of trust arising from the project life-cycle.