Salha Abdullah

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.

Kansei Design Model for Engagement in Online Learning: A Proposed Model

Positive user experience is associated with positive emotion which is important to engage students in online learning. Most of the previous studies focused only in one element when studying the user experience for example elements in the interface design only or in the interaction design only. This research proposed a model with the combination of design elements in the interface, content and interaction design to understand the experience specifically the students’ engagement with the online learning material. The proposed model of students’ engagement is based on the principles of Aptum model and interaction design. As the dimensions in the model is general, therefore to extract the details of the design elements, the Kansei Engineering technique is adopted as it has been proven able to extract the design elements in many areas of studies. This paper described the proposed model and explained the main design elements in interface, content and interaction design dimensions. Discussions on user experience, emotion and engagement in learning, a brief explanation about Kansei Engineering technique and some conclusion about the research are also presented.

A generic framework for developing map-based mobile application

The development of Location Based Services (LBS) applications specifically on mobile devices requires research into various fields of studies which include cartography, map visualization techniques, mobile graphic engine and wireless network support. Mobile devices however pose limitations such as small screen size, low resolution, limited memory and processing power for map display and navigation. In this study, a generic framework which serves as a guide for developing map-based mobile applications has been proposed. It takes into consideration the constraints of mobile devices and discusses methods to overcome the problems which include visualization techniques, Scalable Vector Graphic (SVG) and TinyLine SVG, mobile cartography concepts. A prototype application for finding point of interest in a university campus was developed using the framework as a guide. This application is intended for use on mobile devices equipped with Java and Scalable Vector Graphic (SVG) supports. Generalisation technique has been adapted in map display to avoid cluttering, while the concept of mobile cartography such as colour, symbol, and context was applied in map generation. This study explores the potential of SVG and TinyLine SVG for image display in mobile devices. The application prototype was developed using Java 2 Mobile Edition (J2ME) package, TinyLine SVG software development kit, Servlet technology and MySQL database management 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.

A Framework for Developing a Co-design Environment for e-Business Applications

The Internet has presented the business world with an unprecedented opportunity in terms of reaching their customers. It has also given rise to new business models and allows firms to engage in e-business. Customers now can browse from one e-store to another and purchase the products that they need right from the comfort of their homes. However, current e-business systems are often criticized based on the fact that it is impersonal and does not satisfy the social needs of its customers such as interactions, collaborations, socialization and networking. As such efforts must be made to give these particular experiences to the customers. Based on the examination of the literature, it is realized that this can be achieved by using two emerging concepts. The first is the concept of value co-creation and the other is via the use of virtual worlds. Using the context of the local wood based products industry, the objective of this paper is to present a conceptual framework for designing a virtual world that will serve as an experience environment that incorporates value co-creation opportunities.

Engaging the SSME Challenge: Curriculum Development for the Engineering Faculty at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Service Science Management and Engineering is a new field that recognizes the importance of the services sector. It had created a worldwide movement in terms of curriculum both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. In Malaysia particularly, several universities have offered Masters programs in SSME. In UKM itself efforts are taken to develop a Masters program in SSME in which the program is designed uniquely covering three main areas of service science, namely the technology, management and the engineering. The curriculum is designed by taking into consideration the importance of service fundamental topics and the three main areas stated. The curriculum framework contains four main components known as Service Foundation, Strategic Service Development, Service Science Concentration which covers three main areas; Technology, Management and Engineering, and Service Science Business & Technology Integration (Capstone). Based on the framework, the program will be offered across the three main faculties in UKM, specifically the Engineering, Business and IT school. Service foundation consists of topics that will provide the contextual foundation and the core knowledge required for service science. The contextual foundation will focus on providing the service context in understanding the customers, organizations, processes and external environment. The core courses on the other hand will focus on developing the competence in innovating and improving service systems using specialized tools in which this are the courses that forms the Strategic Service Development component. The challenge faced in designing such curriculum is determining the approach in teaching for the services subjects as the audience will come from various backgrounds such as Engineering, IT and also Management. This paper reports the challenges faced in designing the service science curriculum particularly for the Engineering concentration and challenges in realizing the agenda of establishing the program in the university.

Engaging the SSME challenge: An agenda for research at the Faculty of Information Science and Technology

Services Science Management and Engineering (SSME) is a new field that recognizes the importance of the services sector. It has created a worldwide movement in terms of curriculum development both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. In Malaysia several universities have offered masters programmes in SSME. In UKM itself efforts are still under way to develop a Masters programme in SSME. Realizing the fact that research and teaching are two sides of the same coin, a research initiative in the area of SSME has been undertaken by the formation of a service science group currently hosted by members of the Faculty of Information Science and Technology. This paper reports the research agenda formulated by the group and the challenges faced in realizing the agenda.

Designing an e-marketplace prototype for wood-based product industry in Malaysia: A concept that fits reality

Rapid growth and expansion of information and communication technology (ICT) have set the pace for an electronic revolution leading to adoption of e-marketplace within the small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The advent of Internet offer many business firms new opportunities and benefits. Thus ICT promises to even further bolster the SMEs’ position as the engine of growth for the Malaysia economy. However, there are various challenges and issues in setting up an e-marketplace in developing countries which appear to impede the growth of e-marketplace. We discuss the realities of electronic marketplaces for developing countries and illustrate the concept by designing an e-marketplace prototype to facilitate trade in wood-based products of Malaysia. Social and technical issues are highlighted and future directions are recommended.

A framework for the development of a multi attributes reverse auction for B2B e-marketplace

E-auction is a process where buyers and sellers are able to bid for products via online intermediaries or portals. In a B2B marketplace, buyers usually initiate requests for products or services via a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The potential sellers compete to offer quality products or services at the best price they can afford. Multi-attributes reverse auction which include non-price attributes has been identified as a promising auction mechanism for B2B e-marketplace. Results obtained from preliminary case studies conducted on local companies involved in the wood based industry revealed that there is a need for a multi attributes reverse auction for a B2B e-marketplace. These results, coupled with a review of literature and existing e-auction sites results in a framework that will serve as a methodology for the development of an e-auction portal tailored for the wood- based industry.