Robert A. Fleck

A cross‐disciplinary model for improved information systems analysis

As organizations seek to prosper in ever more complex and changing environments, they will require ever more sophisticated analysis and design tools. Current systems analysis tools function well to identify hardware and software requirements – the mostly technical elements of systems – but are less well suited to address the human component, an understanding of which is crucial to successful organizational analysis and design. The best technically designed system can easily fail when human factors are not explicitly included. The authors show how a combination of systems analysis and communication auditing methods can jointly optimize both the social and technical elements of organizations as they undergo design or business process re‐engineering. As a result of this joint optimization, the authors maintain that systems analysis tools are enriched and thereby enable system designers to explicitly include human and organizational communication factors into an information or business system. A theoretical model and implementation examples are provided.

International business simulation/gaming: an assessment and review

Can international business (IB) simulation games play a significant role in filling the need for students who understand lB concepts? This article reviews the gaming literature to identify gamings strengths and weaknesses to determine the roles that stimulations can play in lB pedagogy. It then reviews the existing IB simulation games to determine what each game can or cannot contribute to the teaching of international business. Potential adopters can then select the simulation that best fulfills their course requirements.

A Role for Management Games in Internationalizing the Business School Curriculum

A business schools strategic management and business policy course can serve as a vehicle for internationalizing its curriculum. Six commonly available computerized international management games are evaluated regarding their ability to deal with a large set of critical international business issues. All simulations dealt with most issues needing treatment, although they differed in range and depth of coverage. If international simulations are to serve as a medium for helping to globalize a business schools curriculum, a game must be augmented with international case studies, lectures, or readings.

Managing programmer resources in a maintenance environment with function points

Programmer resources as measured in available hours are often a limiting or constraining resource in software projects and maintenance. A key element in software project management, therefore, is the forecast of required programming hours. Estimates based on past experience and similar projects are generally unreliable and usually underestimate the level of programming resources required. Function point counting provides a reliable methodology for estimating the level of effort required in software projects. Presents the results of using and modifying function point counting procedures in a maintenance environment where changes are often confined to one or more lines of code. The study indicates that even in this environment, function point counting procedures are useful. Finally, function point counting in the maintenance environment as discussed in this paper helped uncover problems in resource management, training, and personnel evaluation.

Client/server infrastructure: a case study in planning and conversion

Conversion to client/server systems from host‐centric systems can be accomplished with careful attention to planning and development procedures. A key component in a successful conversion is a customized definition of client/server which complements the organization’s mission. Another key component is the development of an infrastructure which includes hardware, software and people. The training of users and design personnel is crucial to successful conversion. Discusses definitions, strategies, hardware, software, and the pitfalls to be avoided.

Using quantitative techniques to improve athletic schedules

Abstract Team pairings during an athletic season impact the revenues, costs, and exposure of teams in college and professional leagues. The schedules of teams can also influence which one wins a conference or league championship. Factors such as the strength of opponents, travel times and distances, and television exposure are important in constructing desirable athletic schedules, but are often ignored by schedule-makers. Integer programming techniques are applied to scheduling college football games in the Southeastern Conference. The result is a set of schedules which, when compared to the current set, yields a more narrow range in schedule difficulty among the 10 teams, lower total distance for teams to travel during the season, and potentially more televised games.