Infosys v2n035 (November 7, 1995) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/infosys/infs-v2n035 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * INFOSYS: The Electronic Newsletter for Information Systems * * Volume 2, Number 35 ISSN: 1173-3764 November 7, 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 = 4,823 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TABLE OF CONTENTS * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS - From Edupage * * ANNOUNCEMENT - Web-based Groupware * * REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE - Strategic IS in Low-Competitive Contexts * * CONFERENCE - Workshop on Intelligent Decision Support Systems * * CALL FOR PAPERS - Cooperative Information Systems (CoopIS'96) * * CALL FOR PAPERS - 1996 AIS Americas Conference on Info Systems * * POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT - Visiting Professor, Computer Info Systems * * POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT - Lecturer/Snr Lect, Information Systems * * POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT - Guest Prof in Informatics - For Women * * POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT - Lecturer, Information Systems * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS - From Edupage * * Dennis Viehland, Massey University * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * MCGRAW-HILL PLANS ELECTRONIC ACADEMIC PUBLISHING: McGraw-Hill, the publishing and information services company, is considering the development of electronic academic journals that could be published more quickly and economically than traditional academic journals. An enthusiast about information technology, McGraw-Hill chairman Joseph Dionne says: "If you take this technology, you have someone submit his research, have it reviewed by knowledgeable people, the process could be done in a week or two weeks." He says he has approached such groups as the Society of Physics and the Society of Chemistry, and "there is a very real possibility that it is going to happen over the next five years." (Financial Times 16 Oct 95 p19) THE SPECIALIZATION OF THE COMPUTER: Columnist Walter Mossberg predicts a day when personal computers will be devoted to performing specific tasks, rather than the do-it-all machine we have today: "This would be a no-brainer, $500 or $600 information appliance designed to do a few common tasks really well through tremendous integration of hardware and embedded software and a terrific user interface customized for the job at hand. One such machine might, for instance, be great for word processing, sending and receiving electronic mail and faxes, and printing up newsletters, fliers and form letters. Another might be tuned for personal finance, home banking and spreadsheets. Those machines would trade the promise of unlimited flexibility for the reality of simplicity, reliability and robustness." (Wall Street Journal 19 Oct 95 B1) THE FUTURE OF THE UNIVERSITY: Columbia University professor Eli Noam sees a reversal in the historic direction of information flow: "In the past, people came to the information, which was stored at the university. In the future, the information will come to the people, wherever they are. What then is the role of the university? Will it be more than a collection of remaining physical functions, such as the science laboratory and football team? Will the impact of electronics on the university be like that of printing on the medieval cathedral, ending its central role in information transfer? Have we reached the end of the line of a model that goes back to Ninevah, more than 2500 years ago? Can we self-reform the university, or must things get much worse first?" (Science 13 Oct 95 p247) EXPAND NOW, PROFIT LATER: Information industry analysts are predicting that many companies now losing money on the Internet will be big winners later on, when the Internet becomes a viable industry: "It actually behooves Internet companies to postpone profits and spend as much as they can to grow now," says a director at Hambrecht & Quist Inc. "The right business model for Internet technology companies is GBF -- Get Big Fast." Companies such as UUNet are taking heed -- that's why it's putting up about $154 million to purchase Unipalm Group, making UUNet Europe's biggest Internet access provider. "Scale will be very important to profitability in the Internet business. It will be the same as in telecommunications and computers," says UUNet's CEO. (Investor's Business Daily 24 Oct 95 A8) GERSTNER'S VISION -- NETWORK-CENTRIC COMPUTING: IBM's Lou Gerstner has seen the future, and it is networking. While quietly conceding the PC battle, Gerstner is gearing up for the Next Big Thing: "The future is a network-centric model... The first wave of computing, 30 years ago, was driven by the technologies of host-based processors and storage devices. Twenty years later, we moved into a second wave, which was driven by microprocessors and simplified operating systems. The third wave of computing is being driven by very powerful networked technologies that provide very inexpensive and very wide bandwidth." (Business Week 30 Oct 95 p152) A CHIP AHEAD OF ITS TIME? The Pentium Pro is a little ahead of schedule according to Moore's Law, but is way ahead of software applications based on the 32-bit operating system required for optimal performance. Lab tests at Intel have shown the Pentium Pro is actually 8% to 16% slower than the Pentium when running 16-bit software, and outside test results have been even more dismal. "Ninety-nine percent of the software today is 16-bit software," says the senior editor at Microprocessor Report. Intel executives predict 32-bit software will be widespread in a year or two, and that they're just making sure they stay ahead of the pack. (Investor's Business Daily 30 Oct 95 A8) COUNTING SURFERS: A survey by Nielsen Media Research says that 37 million people in the U.S. and Canada now have access to the Internet. That's about 16.6% of the adult population of the two countries. A report of the survey can be found on the Web at . PROFESSORS TURN TO THE WEB FOR MATERIAL DISTRIBUTION: Professors increasingly are bypassing the copy machine and posting course syllabi and other materials directly onto the Web for downloading by their students. This new strategy allows teachers to offer more current information and facilitates mid-course changes if necessary. Some report that their students spend more time surfing through the information, and point out that high-tech materials presentation ties right in with the expectations of the video generation. Still, many have voiced concern over potential copyright violations and worry that their online activities might get their schools in trouble. "Professors are probably one by one violating copyright laws," says Educom VP Carol Twigg, who predicts that these issues will be resolved before too long. "The next generation of faculty are going to do this naturally." (Chronicle of Higher Education 3 Nov 95 A27) PARALLEL DIGESTIVE SYSTEMS: Pulitzer Prize-winning computer scientist Douglas Hofstadter told Wired's Kevin Kelly that "some eople say that by studying parallel processing, parallel hardware, parallel this and that, we develop a whole new paradigm for thought that will make us think differently. That's a really weird claim. It seems no more likely to me than that it will alter the mechanisms of our digestive tract. We can't modify those things! There's a fine line between what it means to have your thoughts shaped and having thought processes shaped." (Wired Nov 95 p110) Editor's Note: Edupage, a summary of news items on information technology, is a service of Educom. This is an abbreviated list of news items of interest to the IS community from the October 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 31, and November 2, 1995 issues. \EOA * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ANNOUNCEMENT - Web-based Groupware * * Alan Dennis, University of Georgia * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Terry College of Business at The University of Georgia has just released the first version of TCBWorks, a web-based groupware tool. TCBWorks enables groups to brainstorm, organize information, vote, and maintain an organizational memory using the World Wide Web. The software can be used to support groups working together in the same room, or anywhere on the Web. The browser can be any browser that supports HTML 3 and tables (ie. Netscape 1.1 and above). The next version (available in January) will support non-Netscape browsers for everything except multi- criteria voting. It will also provide better user management and the ability to restict access to specific projects and commands (e.g. delete) to selected users. Take a test drive at http://ginger.mgmt.uga.edu:8001 and help us improve it. The software is available free of charge to anyone who wants it. To install it at your site requires a web server running unix or a 486/pentium with Linux. If you prefer, we can set up a private database for your use on our server at Georgia. Alan Dennis Associate Professor of MIS Department of Management Terry College of Business University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602 USA E-mail: adennis@uga.cc.uga.edu \EOA * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE - Strategic IS in Low-Competitive Contexts * * Roger Clarke, Australian National Univ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This message is intended to inaugurate a discussion thread on the application of strategic IS theory in low-competitive contexts. By this is meant organisations that are not fully subject to market forces, e.g. government agencies, charities and professional associations. A Panel is being held at ICIS'95 in Amsterdam on the topic. The Panel Position Statement is at: http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/SOS/ICIS95Posn.html I invite comments on the topic. Please reply to me with the subject "Strategic IS Theory / Low-Competitive Contexts". I will consolidate the responses (exercising editorial discretion of course, particularly if the going gets rough) and provide a summary of the results to INFOSYS and to the members of the Panel. Comments might take various forms, for example: --references to relevant texts, articles, cases and web-pages --the identification of relevant theories --the application of relevant theories to relevant cases --descriptions of weaknesses in existing theories --support for some particular school of thought --a question that the panel should be asked to address --the identification of weaknesses in the design of the panel topic. Thanks for your electronic contributions. Roger Clarke The Australian National University E-mail: roger.clarke@anu.edu.au \EOA * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * CONFERENCE - Workshop on Intelligent Decision Support Systems * * Andrew Blair, Univ of Technology, Sydney * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * First Australian Workshop on Intelligent Decision Support Systems 13th November 1995 University of Technology, Sydney Australia The Workshop program is as follows --J. Zeleznikow, Welcome and introduction --Panel Discussion - Just what ARE IDSSs and what are the key IDSS technology issues ? --J. R. Warren (University of South Australia), Supporting the Primary Care Physician in Use of Electronic Medical Records --J. Zeleznikow (La Trobe University), Building Intelligent Legal Decision Support Systems --A. Sowunmi, F. V. Burstein and H. G. Smith (Monash University), Building a Case Base for Intelligent Decision Support --D. Richards and C. MacDonald (University of New South Wales), Adapting Expert Systems to Behave Like Decision Support Systems --A. Blair, J. K. Debenham and J. Edwards (University of Technology, Sydney), Methodologies for Designing IDSSs: Problems and Solutions --A. McNamara (Continuum, Australia), Persuasion in Decision Support --P. A. Collier and S. A. Leech (University of Tasmania), Acquiring and Representing a Model of Decision Making for Insolvency --B. Lewis (La Trobe), Induction in the Presence of Uncertainty --T. Alwast, I. Miliszewska and C. Leung (Victoria University of Technology), The Use of Agent Based and Data Warehousing Technologies in Decision Support Systems --Panel Discussion - Where are the opportunities for IDSSs and what next for IDSS technology For more information contact: Andrew Blair Univ of Technology, Sydney \EOA * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * CALL FOR PAPERS - Cooperative Information Systems (CoopIS'96) * * Don Potter, University of Georgia * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * First IFCIS International Conference on Cooperative Information Systems (CoopIS'96) June 19-21, 1996 Brussels, Belgium The First IFCIS International Conference on Cooperative Information Systems (CoopIS) is the premier event sponsored by the International Foundation on Cooperative Information Systems (IFCIS). The Foundation and the conference series bring together the scientific community previously served by the international workshops on Interoperability in Multidatabase Systems (IMS) and the conference series on Cooperative Information Systems (CoopIS and ICICIS). The topics to be covered include cooperation and interoperability among all types of information systems, including database, knowledge base, and application systems. Specific topics of interest include (but are not limited to) the following issues in the context of information systems: --All aspects of federated databases and multidatabases, including the issues of handling legacy data and applications, distribution, heterogeneity, autonomy, and security. --Multimedia information management including document management, metadata for digital media, data transformation, etc. --Global information systems utilizing Internet and wide area communications. --Business process modeling, workflow modeling and management. --Information modeling and semantic interoperability. --Architectural issues including concepts for global information sharing, information models, interoperative models, and implementation issues. --Data management issues including collection, exchange, mining, simulation, animation, etc. --Core technologies for cooperation and interoperability. Research papers should not exceed 5000 words. Industrial papers should describe technical or managerial solutions of issues found in cooperative and interoperable systems. Submit six copies of the manuscript to one of the following addresses. Ahmed Elmagarmid (CoopIS'96) Erich Neuhold (CoopIS'96) Department of Computer Science GMD-IPSI 1398 Computer Science Building Dolivostr. 15 West Lafayette IN 47907-1398 USA D-64293 Darmstadt Germany E-mail: ake@cs.purdue.edu E-mail: neuhold@darmstadt.gmd.de Proposals for tutorials, panels, and demonstrating research prototypes or videos can be sent to the respective chairs by e-mail. Important Dates: Paper Submission Deadline: December 22, 1995 Panel/Tutorial Proposals Deadline: February 2, 1996 Author Notification: March 8, 1996 Camera Ready Version Due: March 29, 1996 For further details, see http://www.cs.uga.edu/LSDIS/activities \EOA * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * CALL FOR PAPERS - 1996 AIS Americas Conference on Info Systems * * Reagan Ramsower, Baylor University * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Second Annual AIS Americas Conference on Information Systems August 16-18, 1996 Phoenix, Arizona USA The AIS inaugural Americas Conference on Information Systems was a smashing success. The conference established that scholars and practitioners from throughout the Americas and the world have forged a vibrant new society dedicated to the advancement of the information systems discipline. In unprecedented fashion, the inaugural conference demonstrated the value of harnessing information technologies to construct a diverse conference agenda replete with timely and rigorous topical coverage. With the Second Annual Conference, the challenge for the membership is to continue to work hard to build a unique presence that will enable AIS to forge stronger stakeholds in the academic, commercial, and governmental communities. A diverse program will be provided to serve both research and pedagogical interests of attendees. The conference will feature: --Mini-tracks --Software and technology demonstrations --Research paper presentations --Topic panel discussions --Research-in-progress paper presentations --Professional development workshops --Technology briefings --Tutorials --Teaching/curriculum/research center workshops All submissions must be forwarded electronically in ASCII format to appropriate Track Chairs using e-mail. Track Chairs will be finalized and their e-mail addresses will be announced by January 1, 1996. All e-mail submissions must include the following sections: --The name, e-mail address, mailing address, and organizational affiliation of the contact point for the submission in the first few lines of the ASCII file. --The submission title and name, e-mail address, mailing address, and organization affiliation of all authors. --An abstract of the submission. --The body of the submission. --A list of references or a bibliography. All conference submissions and the submission review processes will be managed through e-mail. The receipt of submissions will be quickly confirmed by the appropriate Track Chair. Important dates: Mini-Track Proposal Submission Deadline January 15, 1996 Notification of Mini-Track Acceptance February 10, 1996 Paper-Panel-Workshop Submission Deadline March 1, 1996 Notification of Acceptance April 15, 1996 Camera Ready Copy Due May 24, 1996 The web version of this CFP is now available at: http://hsb.baylor.edu/ramsower/ais.ac.96/call.htm This page includes information on program organization, special conference features, and submission guidelines. AIS also wants to encourage members who are interested in becoming actively involved in the Second Annual Conference to complete the Call for Participation Form by November 30, 1995. The form can be found on the web page cited above. For more information: General Chair: Andy Philippakis Computer Information Systems Division College of Business, Arizona State University Tempe, AZ 85287-3606 Voice: (602) 965-5134 Fax: (602) 965-1152 E-mail: ais96@asu.edu Program Co-Chair: Michael Goul E-mail: ais96@asu.edu Program Co-Chair: Heidi Owens E-mail: heidio@sbamail.sba.pdx.edu \EOA * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT - Visiting Professor, Computer Info Systems * * David Zolzer, Our Lady of the Lake Univ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visiting Professor in Computer Information Systems Our Lady of the Lake University San Antonio, Texas The School of Business and Public Administration at Our Lady of the Lake University invites applications for a Visiting Professor of Computer Information Systems to teach in the Spring 96 term. The successful candidate will teach four courses: --Fundamental Concepts of Information and Computer Technology --Intermediate Concepts of Information and Computer Technology --two sections of Information Systems and Information Technology A terminal degree in CS, CIS, or closely related discipline is highly desired. An advanced degree with 18 hours in CS, CIS, or MIS is required. Send vita and unofficial transcripts to: Dean, School of Business and Public Administration Our Lady of the Lake University 411 SW 24th Street San Antonio, Texas 78207-4689 Application deadline: November 30, 1995 \EOA * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT - Lecturer/Snr Lect, Information Systems * * Rodney Topor, Griffith University * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Lectureship/Senior Lectureship in Information Systems School of Computing and Information Technology Griffith University The School of Computing and Information Technology in the Faculty of Science and Technology is a leading multi-disciplinary centre of teaching and research in Information Technology. It has 28 academic staff, over 35 postgraduate research students, and about 500 undergraduate students. It offers a range of undergraduate degrees and postgraduate degrees spanning the spectrum of Computing and Information Technology, with an emphasis on the design, application, and social and organisational effects of information systems. The School provides extensive computing facilities, hosts the Australian Software Quality Research Institute, and is a participant in the CRC for Distributed Systems Technology. The School now wishes to fill a vacant tenurable Lectureship/Senior Lectureship in Information Systems. Applicants will be expected to have a postgraduate qualification, teaching experience, and expertise in strategic information systems, organisational analysis, systems analysis and design methodologies, decision support systems, software quality, or information systems management. An appropriate record of achievement in research and professional practice in Information Systems is required. An interest in the social and ethical implications of Information Technology is desirable. Applicants for previously advertised positions in Information Systems are invited to reapply. Further information: Professor Rodney Topor Voice: (07) 3875 5042 Fax: (07) 3875 5051 E-mail: enquiries@cit.gu.edu.au. http://www.cit.gu.edu.au/vacancies/ad95-is.html Applications should be submitted to: Mr James Walden Faculty Manager Faculty of Science and Technology Griffith University, Queensland 4111 Applications close on 30 November 1995. Salary: Lecturer $42,198-$50,111, Senior Lecturer $51,692-$59,605 \EOA * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT - Guest Prof in Informatics - For Women * * Andreas Lund, Umea University * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Guest Professor in Informatics - For Women Fellowship at the Dept. of Informatics Umea University (Umea) Sweden Short and rather informal applications and nominations are invited from and for women researchers concerning a fellowship for a position as guest professor at the Department of Informatics (formerly Administrative Data Processing) of Umea University in Umea. Some few selected researchers that we already know personally have received a personal invitation, but officially any qualified researcher has the right to, and is welcome to apply. This is a special time-limited fellowship that is part of a program of affirmative action for women initiated by the Swedish government. The period of the assignment can be chosen to be between 1 month and 12 months, starting the latest towards the end of next year, 1996. The application or nomination, together with some short summary- documentation as below, and the desired starting date and length of stay should be sent in order to be received by the deadline of November 10, 1995 at the address: Secretariat Dept. of Informatics Umea University S-901 87 Umea (Sweden) Fax: +46 90 166550 E-mail: secretariat@informatik.umu.se We estimate that the confirmation about whether we have applied and got the fellowship in your name can be obtained and forwarded to you the latest in January 1996. More detailed information is available at http://www.informatik.umu.se/ \EOA * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT - Lecturer, Information Systems * * Peter O'Donnell, Monash Univ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Lecturer Department of Information Systems Monash University The Department of Information Systems currently has a need for a lecturer in electronic commerce/inter-organisational systems (although applications in other areas of information systems will be considered). Applicants require a relevant PhD or equivalent, and a record of achievement in teaching and research. Three-year appointment AUS$42,198-$50,111 pa (Lecturer level B) Inquiries: Prof D.R. Arnott Applications: Ms E. McDowell Executive Officer Department of Information Systems Monash University Level 7, 26 Sir John Monash Drive Caulfield East, 3145, Victoria, Australia REF 95A150. Applications close 15 November. More information can be found at http://www.is.monash.edu.au/vacant.html \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). You will * * receive a welcome letter that will tell you more about INFOSYS * * and listserv. To cancel your subscription send the following * * message to listserv@american.edu: unsubscribe infosys * * * * Guidelines for submitting articles to INFOSYS are published in * * the Welcome message each new subscriber receives (or e-mail "get * * infosys welcome" to listserv@american.edu). 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 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *