William Tibben

Computationally efficient ontology selection in software requirement planning

Understanding the needs of stakeholders and prioritizing requirements are the vital steps in the development of any software application. Enabling tools to support these steps have a critical role in the success of the corresponding software application. Based on such a critical role, this paper presents a computationally efficient ontology selection in software requirement planning. The key point guiding the underlying design is that, once gathered, requirements need to be processed by decomposition towards the generation of a specified systems design. A representational framework allows for the expression of high level abstract conceptions under a single schema, which may then be made explicit in terms of axiomatic relations and expressed in a suitable ontology. The initial experimental results indicate that our framework for filtered selection of a suitable ontology operates in a computationally efficient manner.

Re-conceptualizing the digital divide: a knowledge-based approach

Determining a robust conceptualization of the digital divide has proved to be a difficult challenge for scholars. This paper argues that a knowledge-based approach provides an effective means to understand and develop responses to various forms of disadvantage related to access and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). In developing this idea one area of social network analysis is used to make the claim that social networks are used by people to configure an ontology to negotiate the uncertainty of their day-to-day existence. It follows then that digital divide factors can be understood in terms of ICT facilitated knowledge development and related processes. The paper investigates this idea by using Nonaka and Takeuchis knowledge management framework to analyze five case study examples

Theory Building for ICT4D: Systemizing Case Study Research Using Theory Triangulation

The popularity of case study methods in information and communications technology for development research presents challenges in comparing findings across studies for the purpose of theory building. The object of this paper is to describe a qualitative study in which theory triangulation was used to systematically compare multiple cases to develop theory. The concept of development provided the theoretical context for the study. The work of Hall and Midgley was used to provide three rival philosophical positions that give rise to differing approaches to social development. These are: populist, enterprise and statist. The application of these three contrasting perspectives using theory triangulation is demonstrated in the analysis of multiple case studies taken from a community technology center program in Australia. The relative strengths and weaknesses of each approach are identified and used as the rationale for theory development.

Understanding the Adoption of Clusters by SMEs using Innovation Theory

SMEs-clustering has been of considerable interest over the last decade and is associated with regional development. The Australian government advocates the formation of SMEs cluster thereby encouraging SMEs to achieve competitive advantage through globalisation. However, the notion of SMEs clusters involves some issues in terms of its adoption by SMEs. Firstly, most academic research shows that SMEs cluster has been treated as a phenomenon in the economy and that its foundation lacks a theoretical perspective. Secondly, there is a lack of understanding of SME clusters in general. Much of the literature on SMEs and clusters has primarily addressed the benefit of industrial clusters; however, the process of how SMEs adopt clusters is given less attention. This study leads to a more refined understanding of SME clusters with an emphasis on its adoption by SMEs. It utilises Rogers Innovation theory to explore the processes involved in the adoption of SMEs cluster by SMEs and also the advantages and disadvantages obtained by doing so. The novelty of this study lies in the assumption that the cluster idea is an innovation per se. In particular, we adopt Rogers S-shaped innovation curve model to investigate how SMEs adopt the cluster idea as an innovation. We look to see if the pattern of joining the cluster in time follows Rogers S-shaped curve. A case study methodology method will be used to collect data from SMEs within a cluster in Australia. It is expected that the data gathered will be analysed to suggest implications as to how SMEs can sustain competitive advantage within SME clusters

ICT accessibility criteria in public procurement in OECD countries --- the current situation

Public procurement is the process by which government bodies purchase their Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products and services. Including accessibility criteria in the procurement process may improve employment opportunities in government for people with disabilities and could have flow-on effects for increased accessibility. Various methods of incorporating accessibility criteria in public procurement need to be assessed to ascertain the most effective processes to achieve e-inclusion. This paper outlines a research project investigating the current status of legislation, regulation and policy of ICT accessibility criteria in public procurement in OECD countries. Using mixed-methods research to gather information, the paper draws on contrasting cases for comparative analysis. The research finds that voluntary schemes contributed to the failure of these programs. It is apparent that lack of understanding about ICT accessibility plays a key role. Mandatory processes based on uniform global standards coupled with compliance will have an impact.

Theory Building for ICT4D: The Use of Theory Triangulation in Case Study Research

The dominance of case study methods in ICT for Development (ICT4D) research presents challenges in comparing findings across studies for the purpose of theory building. This paper addresses this issue by outlining a method in theory triangulation as a way to systemize case study research across multiple cases in ICT4D. Three approaches to social development outlined by Hall and Midgley are used to provide contrasting theoretical perspectives on development. These are: Populist, Enterprise and Statist. The application of these three contrasting perspectives using theory triangulation is demonstrated in the analysis of multiple case studies taken from a community technology centers (CTC) program in Australia.

Review of cybersecurity frameworks: context and shared concepts

In an effort to develop strong cyber resilience, international organisations, academic institutions, corporations and countries have been actively working to develop cybersecurity frameworks (CSFs)...

Is Consensus a Viable Concept to Justify Use of Online Collaborative Networks in Multi-stakeholder Governance?

The adoption of multi-stakeholder decision-making processes using online collaborative technologies for Internet governance has facilitated participation of stakeholders from many developing countries in decision making within organizations such as ISOC and ICANN. One important and underlying rationale that gives rise to such arrangements is the notion of consensus. The paper uses the work of Arrow to firstly question whether consensus is indeed a theoretically justifiable concept on which to base multi-stakeholder governance. The paper then further uses Arrows insights to develop an analytical framework which identifies expertise and authority as two key factors in the analysis of online decision making. The paper presents a conjecture that a significant challenge in ensuring productive multi-stakeholder governance are the practices that govern the ways in which authority and expertise interact. To that end, two potential sources of leadership are defined within online collaborative networks: positional leadership and thought leadership.

Revisiting an information infrastructure for development: exploring the cost of information in Pacific Island development

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been associated with development programmes for many decades. A theme of Lamberton’s commentary on such initiatives focuses on the lack of attention given to information as a key factor in the development process. His writing reiterated a number of arguments that he saw as being fundamental to the application of an information perspective to development issues. With a focus on agricultural development policy in the Pacific region, the paper uses a number of propositions that are suggested by Lamberton to analyse contemporary development initiatives in Pacific Island agriculture. These propositions focus attention on information costs that can influence the transfer of information and development of knowledge. Document analysis of selected published sources from a Pacific Island development programme are reviewed to illustrate the significance of information costs for development processes. The paper addresses the contention between traditional authority and knowledge and its significance for development.

A synthesis of a knowledge management framework for sports event management

Due to rapid social development in Asia, sports events have grown larger and many new countries are also hosting them for their first time. In addition to required increase in expenditures and more efficient management, various instances of inadequate planning highlighted the needs for more effective and better sustainable structures to support knowledge transfer between organizers, from one event to the next. The research presented in this paper aims to facilitate the deployment of systematic knowledge management practices to sports event management, to enable sustainable planning. The research in this paper synthesizes is carried out on the Malaysian Games as an example of a sports event management. Furthermore, we introduce knowledge management (KM) framework that was developed based on studies and observations of processes and activities in this organization. The focus is on knowledge that is key to the success of the Malaysian Games and that which can be used to the development of the organization and in future games.