Sim Kim Lau

Embedding learning capability in Lagrangean relaxation: An application to the travelling salesman problem

This paper presents an effective procedure that finds lower bounds for the travelling salesman problem based on the 1-tree using a learning-based Lagrangian relaxation technique. The procedure can dynamically alter its step-size depending upon its previous iterations. Along with having the capability of expansion-contraction, the procedure performs a learning process in which Lagrange multipliers are influenced by a weighted cost function of their neighbouring nodes. In analogy with simulated annealing paradigm, here a learning process is equivalent to escaping local optimality via exploiting the structure of the problem. Computational results conducted on Euclidean benchmarks from the TSPLIB library show that the procedure is very effective.

Constructing university timetable using constraint satisfaction programming approach

The timetabling problem consists of a set of subjects to be scheduled in different timeslots, a set of rooms in which the subjects can take place, a set of students who attend the subjects, and a set of subjects satisfied by rooms and required by timeslots. The heart of the problem is the constraints that exist as regulations within each resource and between resources. There are various solution approaches to solve the timetabling problem. This paper focuses on developing a constraint satisfaction problem model for a university timetabling problem. A solution of a constraint satisfaction problem is a consistent assignment of all variables to values in such a way that all constraints are satisfied. A sample case study problem is investigated and a constraint satisfaction programming approach is implemented using ILOG scheduler and ILOG solver. We use various goals in ILOG to investigate the performance of the CSP approach

Customer experience management in E-services

E-services are the provision of services over the Internet. Customer experience management (CEM) is a vital part for e-services and Web services. This chapter will examine CEM in e-services by providing a unified architecture (SSES) and an intelligent system architecture (MEMES) as well as a cybernetic model for B2B e-services. The SSES unifies e- services, Web services and infrastructure services into a hierarchical framework. The MEMES is a high level system model for implementing multiagent CEM system for e-services. Both architectures tie together methodologies, techniques, and applications into a unified framework cybernetic model provides a new insight into B2B e-services with feedback from e-service customers. The chapter also explores case-based e-service recommendation. It is argued that the proposed approach will facilitate the development of CEM, e-business and e-service.

Ontology Revision Using the Concept of Belief Revision

One of the problems identified in the development of ontology is the difficulty in maintaining ontology that often faces on issues of changes in knowledge or perception about things within the community of practice. When new information is added, consistency needs to be maintained to ensure it does not cause inconsistency within existing concepts in ontology. This paper discusses the feasibility of using the concept of belief revision as a basis for ontology revision. It is an effort to the use of expansion, revision and contraction operators of belief revision to revise ontology.

An integration-oriented ontology development methodology to reuse existing ontologies in an ontology development process

Ontology is defined as an explicit specification of a conceptualization and can be used to provide a shared understanding of a domain which is necessary to overcome differences in terminology from various sources. To build high quality ontologies, developers are required to choose and follow a suitable methodology containing a series of steps, activities and guidelines organized in a systematic way. In this paper, we develop guidelines on how to select ontology merging or integration which has not been explored in any ontology research. As it is more cost effective to build an ontology reusing existing ontologies (integration and merging) than from scratch, we therefore propose an ontology development methodology, MIOD, which incorporates and performs ontology integration in its development process. A semi-automatic key term evaluation system is developed to find suitable source ontologies from a group of candidate ontologies. The proposed methodology and system are used to address the insufficiency of current ontology development and integration methodologies.

The Adoption and Use of ICT in Thailand and Vietnam

This exploratory study compares the adoption and use of ICT in the developing nations of Vietnam and Thailand by examining the nature and structure of the IT profession in medium to large size organizations. A theoretical framework is used with three related components: domains of IT professional expertise; the scope of the IT professionals knowledge, skills, and experience; and specific knowledge and skills associated with the domains of professional expertise. The findings provide insights that are not found in existing reports which address ICT issues at a national rather than an organizational level. In particular, findings concerned with the first two components of the framework for both nations are compared to predictions about the adoption and use of ICT in organizations in technologically developed nations.

Ontology-based collaborative inter-organizational knowledge management network

Knowledge is recognized as one of the most important and valuable management assets because knowledge enables organizations to utilize and develop resources, enhance their competitiveness and develop sustainable competitive advantage. A number of knowledge management approaches have been developed with the purpose of managing organizational knowledge.

An ontology-based collaborative inter-organisational knowledge management network (CIK-NET)

Knowledge is recognized as one of the most important and valuable management assets because knowledge enables organizations to utilize and develop resources, enhance their competitiveness and develop sustainable competitive advantage. A number of knowledge management approaches have been developed with the purpose of managing organizational knowledge.

AN EXPLORATORY STUDY ON THE ADOPTION AND USE OF ICT IN MYANMAR

This exploratory study investigates the adoption and use of information and communication technologies in Myanmar by examining the nature and structure of the information technology profession. The investigation is based on a theoretical framework consisting of three components: domains of information technology professional expertise; the scope of the information technology professionals knowledge, skills and experience; and specific knowledge and skills associated with the domains of professional expertise. The findings show that specialist skills in systems development, database, network and communications are important. This paper also provides insights that are not found in current literature which investigates information technology skills in Myanmar.

Ontology Revision on the Semantic Web: Integration of belief revision theory

Ontology is used to define terms and relations on the semantic Web to form well-structured semantics of Web resources. Ontology revision refers to the process of updating ontology to ensure changes are made in a consistent manner. Belief revision theory deals with approaches to ensure consistency in the belief sets is maintained when beliefs need to be revised. This paper discusses the integration of belief revision theory to the ontology reengineering method as a means to ensure consistency in ontology revision