Infosys v2n030 (September 21, 1995) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/infosys/infs-v2n030 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * INFOSYS: The Electronic Newsletter for Information Systems * * Volume 2, Number 30 ISSN: 1173-3764 September 21, 1995 * * * * Editor: Dennis W. Viehland, Massey University, New Zealand * * Listowners: Greg Welsh, American University, Washington DC * * Peter M. Weiss, Penn State * * Sponsor: boyd & fraser publishing, Danvers, Massachusetts * * * * Current Subscribers = 3,964 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TABLE OF CONTENTS * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS - From Innovation * * HEARD ON THE NET - Resources for Survey Research * * CONTENTS - Computer Personnel, v16 n3 * * REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE - Professionalism and Certification in IS * * CONFERENCE - Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility * * CONFERENCE - Information Industry Association - Annual Convention * * CALL FOR PAPERS - Conference on Testing Computer Software * * POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT - Visiting Prof, Management Info Systems * * POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT - Professor, Information Systems * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 0765* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS - From Innovation * * Dennis Viehland, Massey University * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * WEARABLE PCs AND BODY NETS: MIT's Media Lab has spawned numerous innovations, and is currently concentrating on Things That Think. Its "wearable" computer turns a pair of eyeglasses into a tiny computer and screen that you wear over one eye to read news feeds automatically downloaded all day. "You can make wearable computers self-powering," says the device's inventor. "You can get about 17 watts in a brisk walk." But the most exciting concept is the Body Net: "Your body in the future will be adorned with wearable computers that communicate with each other." Someone wearing "smart" sneakers, for instance, could walk past transmitters that would pick up the news, which would then be uploaded to the eyeglasses contraption for easy viewing. (Investor's Business Daily 7/25/95 A6) VIRTUALLY NAUSEATED: Disorientation and nausea are common results of using flight simulators and other systems that employ virtual reality techniques, and although these symptoms tend to diminish with increased use, the amount of time it takes to adjust to the real world rises. And some "enhanced reality" systems allowing users to see the world through VR cameras can cause your body to think eye level is just above your forehead. One researcher poured a soft drink into her eyes after a long VR session, thinking she was aiming for her mouth. Work is being done to find drugs to counter such side effects. (Financial Times 7/24/95 p.8) MANAGING TELECOMMUTERS: A study by the Georgetown University School of Business shows that 75% of telecommuters polled reported more productivity and 83% said their home lives had improved. Telecommuting still presents some obstacles to success, however, including missing out on office communications, difficulty in getting the boss's attention, and incompatible equipment. American Express's Hearth Program addresses some of these concerns by pairing telecommuters with in-office "buddies" who are responsible for passing on news, fixing problems and representing the duo in the workplace. In turn, the telecommuters can cover for their buddies -- taking over a larger share of the data processing or fielding calls if the in-office worker has to leave early. (Wall Street Journal 8/3/95 A1) Meanwhile, Utah-based Unibase uses electronic bulletin board systems to manage home-based employees. Managers post assignments on the BBSs, where employees download them, complete them, and then turn them in when finished. The BBS software enables managers to closely monitor multiple assignments' progress. (Inc., Aug. '95 p.107) TANS ARE IN: TANs (tiny area networks) are coming -- and we're not talking skin pigmentation. Tiny area networks are basically networks for the home, that can accommodate kids sharing laser printers and other peripherals with their parents' work-from-home machines. Families -- a third of whom already own at least one home PC -- soon will face the challenge of efficiently managing software, communications, printers, etc., just as small businesses have been forced to do in recent years, and consultants who are ready to target this new market will find themselves in great demand. (Information Week 4 Sep 95 p92) ORGANIZATIONAL RE-FOCUSING: Texas A&M business professors Robert E. Hoskisson and Michael A. Hitt say that instead of downsizing you probably ought to be considering to be "downscoping": i.e., sharpening your organization's focus so that it concentrates entirely on what its real business is. The reason for doing this is to create an organization in which innovation can thrive. If you are doing too many different things and have too many different goals, you'll be tempted just to take a safe profit and count your money. But if you get rid of all the distractions, your people can concentrate on finding ways of innovating, and that's the only thing that will achieve long-term organizational success. ("Downscoping: How To Tame The Diversified Firm," Oxford University Press). BEWARE TECHNOLOGY'S DOWNSIDE: The flip side of networked computing's contribution to collaborative work is its tremendous potential for creating chaos, simply because "speedier" does not necessarily mean "better" and in fact can lead to bad decision making. "The multiplication of technology has outstripped organizational memory (Translation for the jargon-challenged: 'Dumb stuff is harder to shoot down when it's moving at Ethernet speed.') And digital communications have flattened the hierarchical nature of management. (Translation: 'Eye-rolling, sneering, and pulling rank are lost on the new "idea men" because all they notice is e-mail.')" (Inc. Technology, No. 3 '95 p35) Editor's Note: Innovation offers a weekly summary of trends, strategies, and innovations in business and technology. This is an abbreviated list of news items of interest to the IS community from the July 31, August 7, September 4 and September 18, 1995 issues. Individual subscriptions are available at $15 a year. For a trial copy of Innovation, type the word "subscribe" in the body (not subject) of a message to innovation-request@newsscan.com. \EOA 0766* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * HEARD ON THE NET - Resources for Survey Research * * Alan Dennis, University of Georgia * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Editor's Note: A few weeks ago Alan Dennis asked members of the ISWORLD electronic mailing list to send him resources they had found useful to introduce PhD students to survey research. On September 13 Alan posted the following (slightly edited) message to the ISWORLD list. Because most INFOSYS readers, both academics and practitioners, have interests in survey research, the message is reprinted here. ISWORLD provides a forum for discussion of all aspects of IS/IT and aims to become the primary discussion list for providing communication among IS professionals, both academicians and practitioners. To join the list send a "subscribe isworld firstname lastname" message to listserv@irlearn.ucd.ie - - - - - - As promised, here is the list of recommended books, book chapters, and exemplar articles on survey research. If you sent me a suggestion and it's not here, please don't be insulted; I did not intentionally omit any suggestions. My thanks all who contributed. Alan While it's not complete, perhaps our surveys site on the web might help you and your students. The URL is: http://www.ucalgary.ca/~newsted/surveys The main thing it has right now is a list of 40 good articles that did surveying (organized by constructs). In particular you might look at the Moore, Davis, or Straub pieces for a good "how to" approach to things. Depending on the students and various interests, anyone of them might be a good single choice. The article by Atwell in the Survey Research Volume (v.3) of The HBR Information Systems Research Challenge, ed. Kenneth Kraemer, 1991. Newsted, P. R., Munro, M., and Huff, S. "Data Acquisition Instruments in Management Information Systems," In K. Kraemer (ed.), The Information Systems Research Challenge: Survey Research Methods, Boston: Harvard Business School, 1991, pp 187-209. Sondra Miller Rubenstein's "Surveying Public Opinion" Floyd Fowler Jr.'s "Survey Research Methods" Arlene Fink's "The Survey Handbook" "Introduction to Survey Sampling" by Graham Kalton "Survey Questions: Handcrafting the Standardized Questionnaire" by Jean M. Converse and Stanley Presser. Earl Babbie, "Survey Research Methods" (Wadsworth). Earl's statistics books also have good chapters on survey research methods. "Introduction to Survey Research and Data Analysis" by Weisberg, Krosnick and Bowen, Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman and Company, 1989. "Survey Research" in Foundations of Behaviorial Research in Education by F.N. Kerlinger, 1986. Pinsonneault and Kraemer, Journal of Management Information Systems (Fall 1993): 75-105. R. Galliers, IS Research: Issues, Methods and Practical Guidelines Elementary Survey Sampling by Sheaffer Mendenhal and Ott Blauner's Alienation and Freedom is a classic example of how to combine statistics with qualitative research and to define constructs in such a way that they are meaningful. Everyone who does survey research ought to have read Durkheim's Suicide. Finally, there is the classic book (50's), author of which I forget, titled How to Lie with Statistics. Zmud et al. "Confounding effects of construct overlap: an example from IS user satisfaction theory." Information Technology and People, v. 7#2 Moore, G. C. and Benbasat, I. (1991). Development of an instrument to measure the perceptions of adopting an information technology innovation. Information Systems Research, 2, 192-222. Webster, J, and Martocchio, J J (1992). Microcomputer playfulness: Development of a measure with workplace implications. MIS Quarterly, 16, 201-226. "The Survey Research Handbook" by Alreck and Settle Seymour Sudman's book is a classic Scale Development by Robert F. Devellis Straub, MISQ, June 1989, pp. 147 - 169. Validating Instruments in MIS research. This article discusses the steps to instrument validation and argues that it is all too often overlooked. Again, this is clearly written and easy to follow. Handbook of Survey Research, edited by Peter H. Rossi, James D. Wright, and Andy B. Anderson, Academic Press, 1983 (gee, it's old, but still good), ISBN 0-12-598227-5. How to Conduct Your Own Survey By Priscilla Salant and Don Dillman, 1994 Sage has 9 small books in their "Survey Research Kit" (805-499-9774) \EOA 0767* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * CONTENTS - Computer Personnel, v16 n3 * * George Schell, Univ of N Carolina-Wilmington * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Computer Personnel issue Vol. 16, No. 3. has been mailed from the printer and should arrive to all SIGCPR members shortly. This issue's articles include A Comparative Study of Ethical Attitudes Among MIS Students and Professionals by Benham and Wagner Managing IT Professionals in a Global Environment by Burn, Ma, and Tye Instructions for authors, calls for papers, and other information can be found at htttp://www.acm.org/sigcpr/ Direct inquiries can be made to the editor: George Schell E-mail: schellg@uncwil.edu \EOA 0768* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE - Professionalism and Certification in IS * * Derek Smith, University of Cape Town * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I am looking for research in the areas of professionalism and certification in the IS industry. South Africa is lagging behind the US and UK in terms of setting up professional exams and certification in the IS industry. There is a new initiative to implement a Professional Qualifying System which would include entry-level examinations, career planning and appropriate experience. The IS industry in South Africa totals some 24,000 people, of whom almost 75% do not have tertiary qualifications. There is an active Computer Society which is currently building healthy bridges to government. I am currently investigating the perceptions of employers and employees to professionalism and certification. If you have done any research in this area or know of any, I would be very interested in hearing from you. I am particularly interested in any validated instruments that have been used. Please contact me at: Prof Derek Smith Dept of Information Systems University of Cape Town Private Bag Rondebosch 7700 South Africa Voice: +27 [0]21 6502261 Fax: +27 [0]21 6504085 E-mail: derek@infosys.uct.ac.za Thank you. \EOA 0769* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * CONFERENCE - Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility Annual Meeting The Good, the Bad, and the Internet October 7-8, 1995 University of Illinois - Chicago Chicago, Illinois USA New technologies have been appearing at a dizzying pace. The use of these technologies affect all of us, and the questions about what technologies get developed and how they are deployed are too important to leave to the government or to the private sector. Periodically we need to step back and take stock of where we are. Are the "right" technologies being developed? Are they achieving what we want? What are we gaining, and what are we losing? And on the eve of a major election year, what issues should be raised in upcoming national and local debates? These are the questions that will be explored at "The Good, the Bad, and the Internet" in Chicago this fall. The goals of the conference are: --To educate the broad public, especially in the Midwest, about what is at stake today in the major debates around computers and information technology. --To provide a forum where the people concerned about the impact of computer and information technologies can assess the current state of affairs and discuss strategies for democratizing technology, especially in light of the upcoming 1996 elections. --To share experiences and skills in making computers and access to digital information available to the broad public, and especially to communities that have historically been blocked from these new technologies. To accomplish these goals, the first day of the conference will include four panel discussions: --Democratizing the Internet --Privacy and civil liberties: What's happened? What's next? --Technology and jobs: What's happened? What's next? --The good news is: Local initiatives in democratizing technology Day two of the conference begins with a plenary discussion on election year 1996 and will feature representatives from various technology fields identifying the key technology issues for the 1996 election year. Various workshops, including hands-on demonstrations and how-to discussions will help conference attendees acquire the skills to put the ideas from the panel discussions into practice. The conference will conclude with the CPSR Annual Meeting. More information is available at: http://www.cs.uchicago.edu/discussions/cpsr/annual/index.html \EOA 0770* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * CONFERENCE - Information Industry Association - Annual Convention * * Serge I. Obolensky * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Information Industry Association - Annual Convention and Exhibition Romancing the Nets - Profit Strategies for the Electronic Marketplace 22-25 October 1995 Toronto, Canada The Information Industry Association's (IIA) 1995 Annual Convention and Exhibition is the leading business forum for interaction and debate on the most important business strategy and technology issues facing the information industry. This years theme, "Romancing the Net - Profit Strategies for the Electronic Marketplace," focuses on the dramatic, fast-paced changes that are sweeping the information industry and the business implications for content providers and other information companies. The program features reviews of enabling technologies, global dissemination channels, the Internet, and emerging new commercial networks that are driving change in the information industry and illustrates how customer applications and industry business practices are changing as a result. The 1995 IIA Annual Convention and Exhibition offers a unique opportunity to network with key executives from the world's leading information companies in virtually every segment of the information industry - publishers, database providers, information distributors, systems integrators, and hardware, software, and telecommunications companies. The following is a partial listing of the sessions at the 1995 IIA Annual Convention and Exhibition: --Keynote address: Ken Burenga, President and COO, Dow Jones & Company and President, The Wall Street Journal. --Panning for Profits: Staking a Claim in the Electronic Information Goldrush --Voices of the Information Marketplace --Let the Medium Fit the Message: Strategies for Linking Information and Customers --Entering the New World of Information --Second Annual Technology Showcase --Your Information Business - The Global Challenge --Strategic Partners - the Web of Relationships For more information contact: Andrea Peterson, Meeting Coordinator Information Industry Association 555 New Jersey Avenue Suite 800 Washington, DC 20001 Voice: (202) 639-8262 Fax: (202) 638-4403 E-mail: sobolen@msn.com \EOA 0771* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * CALL FOR PAPERS - Conference on Testing Computer Software * * Peter Zuckerman, US Professional Dvlpt Instit * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 13th International Conference on Testing Computer Software Theme: Improving the Testing Process June 10-13, 1996 Washington, D.C. We are soliciting 45 to 90 minute presentations. While we encourage presentations that directly relate to the theme, other topics relevant to testing are encouraged and will be accepted. Planned tracks: --Management --Technical --Test Automation --Advanced Topics Preconference tutorials: Full-day technical sessions for software testing practitioners. Submission Information Proposals for presentations should be 2 to 4 pages long, with enough detail to give an understanding of the presentation, including an outline of its contents. Indicate if the most likely audience is technical or managerial, and please make clear the topic's relevance to software testing. A contribution cover sheet to be completed and returned with your submission is available from the Program Chair. Important dates: Presentation Proposals due: October 13, 1995 Notice of Selection: February 2, 1996 Final Presentation Notes: March 29, 1996 Submit all proposals (e-mail submission preferred; ASCII text) to: G. Houston-Ludlam, Program Chair Frontier Technologies, Inc. 175 Admiral Cochran Drive, Suite 103 Annapolis, MD 21401 Voice: 410/266-8244 Fax: 410/224-3840 E-mail: gingerhl@aol.com If you are interested in attending the conference, contact: US Professional Development Institute 1738 Elton Road, Suite 304 Silver Spring, MD 20903-1725 Voice: 301/445-4400 Fax: 301/445-5722 E-mail: uspdi@clark.net (Subject: Testing Conference) Web: http://www.clark.net/pub/uspdi \EOA 0772* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT - Visiting Prof, Management Info Systems * * Natalie Johnson, Univ of California, Irvine * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Graduate School of Management (GSM) at the University of California, Irvine has a full-time visitor opening in Management Information Systems beginning Fall 1996. Candidates' teaching and research emphasis should be in the managerial aspects of information systems. UCI's GSM provides outstanding opportunities for information systems faculty. As part of the University of California system, it provides a very stimulating intellectual environment, and offers MBA, Executive MBA, and PhD degree programs. GSM's research computing infrastructure is excellent and its instructional computing laboratory is regarded as one of the best in business schools nationwide. Information Systems faculty are also affiliated with the Center for Research on Information Technology and Organizations, an organized research unit that provides opportunities for faculty from a variety of academic units including management, computer science and the social sciences to interact and pursue interdisciplinary research related to computing and organizations. The Center also houses the editorial office of the journal, Information Systems Research (John King, editor) and The Information Society (Rob Kling, editor). Applications received by January 15, 1996 will be guaranteed consideration. Please send resume, names of at least three references, and a letter outlining teaching and research interests to: Dennis J. Aigner, Dean Graduate School of Management University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA 92717-3125 E-mail: kwarner@uci.edu \EOA 0773* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT - Professor, Information Systems * * Jean-Paul Van Belle, Univ of the Western Cape * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Professor in Information Systems Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences University of the Western Cape (South Africa) Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates, irrespective of race, gender or creed, for Professor in Information Systems from 1st January 1996. The incumbent will be in charge of shaping and driving this newly established department and therefore he/she will have proven leadership qualities, a sound academic experience, appropriate qualifications, as well as good links with the IS business community. Challenges awaiting the incumbent include establishing the department's identity, building a strong lecturing team, finalizing the academic curriculum and putting in place the necessary administrative procedures. Once the department's undergraduate programme is properly established, the candidate will also be expected to lead the department into its next phase of post- graduate programmes and research. In addition to the usual benefits, the University offers a stimulating and dynamic work environment which includes a vibrant student body and staff, attractive premises, state-of-the art student computer laboratories and the famous Cape Town life style. Further information about the position and the department are available from: Prof. A. Kritzinger Dean of the Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences Voice: (27)-21-9592257 Fax: (27)-21-9592564 R-mail: jp@ems.uwc.ac.za Application forms, salary particulars and further information may be obtained from: Personnel Department University of the Western Cape Private Bag X17 Bellville, 7535, South Africa to whom completed applications should be sent by 31st October 1995. \EOA * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ABOUT INFOSYS * * INFOSYS is an electronic newsletter for faculty, students, and * * practitioners in the field of Information Systems. INFOSYS * * publishes news items, requests for assistance, calls for papers * * announcements of professional meetings and conferences, position * * announcements, journal table of contents, and other items of * * interest to the Information Systems community. * * * * INFOSYS is published biweekly, more frequently if volume requires * * it. INFOSYS operates as an electronic mailing list on listserv * * software at American University in Washington, DC. The editor is * * Dennis W. Viehland . * * * * INFOSYS is sponsored by boyd & fraser, publishers of educational * * materials for computer and information education. Contact Bill * * Lisowski or visit http://www.bf.com/bf.html * * or gopher.bf.com for more information about boyd & fraser. * * * * To subscribe to INFOSYS send the following one-line e-mail * * message to listserv@american.edu: subscribe infosys yourfirstname * * yourlastname (e.g., subscribe infosys John Smith). 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Send articles to * * infosys@american.edu or d.viehland@massey.ac.nz. * * * * The INFOSYS Calendar of Upcoming Events is updated fortnightly * * and can be obtained in the following ways: * * --E-mail: send the following one-line message to * * listserv@american.edu: get infosys calendar * * --FTP: anonymous FTP to ftp.american.edu; file is pub/infosys/ * * infosys.calendar * * --Gopher: gopher to listserv.american.edu; choose INFOSYS * * --WWW: forthcoming * * * * INFOSYS Back Issues are archived by Robert McArthur at: * * AUSTRALIA: http://www.fit.qut.edu.au/~mcarthur/infosys/ * * by Eric Morgan (N Carolina State Univ) at: * * USA: ftp://ftp.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/infosys/ * * USA: wais://wais.lib.ncsu.edu/infosys * * USA: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/infosys-index.html * * by Brian Fitzgerald (University College Cork) at: * * EUROPE: http://www.ucc.ie/htbin/infosys * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *