Salvatore Belardo

Implications of data quality for spreadsheet analysis

This paper examines the impact of deficiencies in data quality on the results generated for spreadsheet applications. The purpose is to describe a framework which can be systematically used to determine the relative importance of potential errors in operational and judgmental data. Special emphasis is placed on analyzing the implications of deficiencies in data quality on projected spreadsheet results.

A resilient network that can operate under duress: to support communication between government agencies during crisis situations

The work in this paper is motivated by the weaknesses in communication networks that were observed among government agencies while responding to the emergency situation posed by the attack on the World Trade Center. The paper proposes a self-healing and self-managing architecture for supporting electronic communication between government agencies in crisis situations when the communication infrastructure is partially disabled. The architecture that we propose consists of independent services with standard interfaces and variable addresses. The services discover each other as required in real time by matching the standard interfaces. Disabled services are automatically pruned from the network and new services seamlessly replace the existing services at alternate network nodes. Complex operations can be performed using these services by integrating the services into existing workflows. The architecture allows for redundancy in the system as well as for requisitioning of additional services when the performance degrades due to a higher than normal load, which causes duress in the system. The paper presents the architecture for such a system as well as a model for simulating such a system under various scenarios of duress.

An investigation of system design considerations for emergency management decision support

Simulation tests that were carried out to evaluate decision support system design factors in the context of emergency management decision-making are reported. In particular, two basic issues have been examined: the availability of a microcomputer for enhancing data display during an emergency: and the stage or severity of the emergency. The exercise involved the response to a nuclear generating facility accident, a situation that typically would require various inputs from public officials to protect the local community from potential radiation exposure. The results of the experiment indicate: clear support for computerization of emergency management decision support systems; and an apparent need to focus attention on further development of these systems to improve the decision-making capabilities of public managers during the later, less-structured stages of an emergency.

A strategic decision support system at Orell Fussli

Strategic decision support systems (strategic DSS) are one means of helping managers understand strategy and its implications. Strategic DSS contain many general decision support system (DSS) features, and are intended for senior managers. This article discusses the ongoing development of a strategic DSS for the Banknotes and Securities Division of Orell Fussli, a Swiss printing company. The system incorporates conceptual models, and provides explanations, cases, and guidance on how to use the models effectively. It helps train managers in strategic concepts and facilitates strategic thinking, and has been used to help develop and validate product/market strategies. We also provide several practical guidelines, including use of multiple conceptual models to present different perspectives and provision of a strategic management framework to organize those models. The systems features and guidelines add to our growing knowledge of how to electronically support strategic thinking.

The role of knowledge management in achieving effective crisis management

While most would agree that effective knowledge management can improve the management of crises, it is surprising how little research has been done in this area. In order to begin to address this deficiency, this study presents a framework designed to determine whether, and to what extent, knowledge management can positively impact crisis management (CM). The framework is the result of combining classic strategic CM frameworks with Zack’s knowledge strategy framework. A case study of two energy companies in Taiwan is conducted to investigate the relationships between knowledge strategies and critical CM factors. The research results indicate two main findings. First, an organization needs to employ different knowledge strategies at different phases of a business crisis to fulfil its different knowledge needs and achieve the desired CM outcomes. Second, there are significant relationships among knowledge strategies, crisis phases, and crisis characteristics, as summarized in nine theoretical propositions.

Strategic Integration: A Knowledge Management Approach to Crisis Management

Every day, businesses are threatened by crises that could have been prevented or their impact lessened if only knowledge of causal and influencing factors were known and better managed. Better knowledge management, we contend, can help firms anticipate these factors and design thoughtful policies to lessen the impact of such events. In this paper we show how alignment of knowledge based strategies with crisis management strategies can lead to better crisis management. Knowledge based strategies are used to determine and locate the kinds of knowledge a firm needs. We demonstrate through case analysis how better alignment of knowledge based strategies with crisis management strategies can help firms become less vulnerable to business crises. Mitroffs crisis management model is employed to help focus on the critical aspects of crisis management and to help identify knowledge appropriate to each stage of Mitroffs model.

Lending Analysis Support System (LASS): An Application of a Knowledge-Based System to Support Commercial Loan Analysis

Knowledge-based systems represent one of the most important and fastest growing research topics in the field of information and decision sciences. They promise to have an appreciable impact on decisionmaking in ill-structured decision settings where managers often employ semilogical procedures and tacit knowledge. The incorporation of knowledge engineering concepts with decision-support systems is discussed. A knowledge-based system supports the selection of appropriate models and data which are features contained in a conventional decisionsupport system. A knowledge-based prototype designed for the difficult problems encountered by commercial loan officers is also described, as are the elicitation and representation techniques employed in developing the prototype.

A framework for the application of group decision support systems to the problem of planning for catastrophic events

During the last two years the US has endured extensive property damage and loss of life from the Hurricane Hugo and Loma Prieta natural disasters and expended billions of dollars in the aftermath of a major oil spill in Prince William Sound. Ineffective precrisis planning was, according to most observers, a primary factor contributing to the failure of these response efforts. The application of decision analysis methods and decision support tools to the development of a scenario-driven planning process is discussed. The methodology and structured group interactions on which this technology should be based are demonstrated and are discussed in the context of planning for earthquakes and catastrophic oilspills. The improvement of the contingency planning process through the application of group decision support technology could provide a new foundation for the management of the response to catastrophic natural and technological events. >

A framework for analyzing the information monitoring and decision support system investment tradeoff dilemma: an application to crisis management

The simplest form of a system consists of an input, a process which adds value to the input, and an output containing actionable information. The value of the output from a system is a function of not only the quality of the input but also the appropriateness, validity, and reliability of the transforming process. For certain classes of decisions such as those that correspond to crisis management, even the most simplistic version of a system presents problems for system developers and hence decision makers. Unlike in highly structured decision settings where precise models exist and high quality data is readily available, decision making in crisis settings involves ill-structured tasks which pose considerable problems for those responsible for the investment of a limited information resource budget. This paper presents a framework for analyzing the information monitoring decision support system tradeoff dilemma that occurs in crisis management settings, it concludes with several insights and recommendations for future research.

Assessing Knowledge Management: Refining and Cross Validating the Knowledge Management Index Using Structural Equation Modeling Techniques

With growing interest in knowledge management (KM)-related assessments and calls for rigorous as-sessment tools, the objective of this study was to apply structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques to refine and cross validate the KM index (KMI), a metric to assess the degree to which organizations are engaged in KM. Unlike previous KM metrics research that has focused on scales, we modeled the KMI as a formative latent variable, thereby extending knowledge on formative measures and index creation from other fields into the KM field. The refined KMI metric was tested in a nomological network and found to be robust and stable when cross validated; thereby demonstrating consistent prediction results across independent data sets. The study also verified the hypothesis that the KMI is positively correlated with organizational performance (OP). Research contributions, managerial implications, limitations of the study, and direction for further research are discussed.