Higher CMM levels attained by QA certified software developers

[Abstract]: This paper addresses the question: is higher capability maturity associated with adoption of Quality Assurance (QA) certification? To assess the extent of adoption of third-party QA certification by Australian software developers, a survey of 1,000 software developers was recently conducted. The questionnaire also included an assessment of their capability maturity based on the capability maturity model (CMM). Cynics who criticise the value of QA certification may be surprised by the strong association found between adoption of QA certification and capability maturity

When Lawyers and Law Firms Invest in Their Corporate Clients’ Stock

I will state my conclusion at the outset. I am not convinced that lawyers\u27 investments in clients in lieu of fees are problematic enough from a conflicts standpoint that the rules of professional responsibility should treat them as presumptively inconsistent with the lawyer\u27s fiduciary responsibility. Lawyers\u27 investments in their clients do raise interesting and unsettling issues, but these issues are not qualitatively different from issues raised by many other norms or practices within the legal profession that also threaten lawyerly objectivity. Indeed, in contrast to some other practices, these fee arrangements can, in some respects, enhance objectivity, or at least balance out some of the agency-cost problems that otherwise infect attorney-client relationships in the corporate setting. If so, broadly banning these fee arrangements in the name of fiduciary responsibility makes little sense. My aim here, in large part, is to speak to the good lawyer about what objectivity and prudence really mean in a world where serious wealth has become the metric for professional success, and how both law and ethics ought to respond to the residual problems caused by these fee arrangements

Software houses: Changing from Product vendors into solution Providers

Integrating hitherto separate IT systems while keeping within with tight budgetary restrictions is becoming the dominant software trend in this decade. Optimism is currently starting to spread again in software houses. However, there are marked regional differences in potential. Contrary to some forecasts, the US software houses are in the process of consolidating their already dominant position in the global market thanks to their economies of scale, combined with the network effect. Conversely, the only chance for most of their typically small European competitors to score points is in certain niches of the market.system software, application software, CRM, ERP, SCM, Web services

Knowledge Mobilization in Agile Information Systems Projects: A Literature Analysis

This study focuses on how knowledge is mobilized in agile information systems (IS) projects. One crucial success factor of those projects is to mobilize knowledge through different knowledge management processes. It is vital to establish efficient knowledge management (KM) processes to generate a knowledge culture based on transparency and communication. Communication channels, digital tools, and platforms are essential for establishing a KM infrastructure supporting the knowledge work of the project organization. Thus, each IS implementation team should maintain a knowledge base and a knowledge potential at some level. However, this is not always the case. We conducted a literature review to survey the extant research on the role of KM in agile system development projects. The agile approach is often associated with the networking model and tacit knowledge. The findings indicate that the agile approach is supposed to promote KM. While tacit knowledge is rooted in the analogue process of continuous actions and informal communication, explicit knowledge is captured in digital records of documentation and databases. In KM, the personalization model (behavioural, networking) and the codification (technocratic, repository) model is central. The choice of system development method (agile versus plan-driven) influences how knowledge is mobilized in the project organization. An agile approach heavily relies on informal communication, tacit knowledge sharing, and light documentation. In contrast, the plan-driven methods such as the waterfall approach generate more explicit knowledge through documentation. Communities of practice are important structures for transforming from plan-driven to agile approaches. We present a framework showing specific challenges the literature identifies concerning the efficient mobilization of knowledge in the agile context. For large-scale agile projects, informal coordination mechanisms were important. This study identifies several measures for overcoming barriers and risks for knowledge sharing in the agile context.Knowledge Mobilization in Agile Information Systems Projects: A Literature AnalysispublishedVersio

Outsiders' Response to Europe 1992. Case of Austria

This paper deals with the response of outsider countries to the EC'92 single-market act. The theory developed by Hirsch, Almor (1992) is tested with Austrian data. Several hypotheses on the change in the geographical orientation of firms since 1987, in particular the increase of foreign direct investment (FOi) into EC in order to overcome likely barriers to entry after completion of EC'92 is confirmed. Uncertainty concerning the EES agreement and Austrian membership in EC lead to a sharp increase of Austrian FOi in relation to domestic investment. Yet, a substantial share of total FDI flow was accounted for by the only "true" Austrian multinational in the late 80ies. This is a state-owned company which does not represent the private sector which has been - with a few exceptions - less dynamic in FOi so far. The hypothesis concerning the knowledge-intensity of production, the type of competition (costrelated, quality-related) and firm integration was also tested but did not find strong support.Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Serie

Newspaper of the university of alaska southeast juneau campus

UAS joins in national assessment movement -- Governor slashes university budget -- Some students at housing just can't say no -- Hokkaido conference planned -- Take a byte of the Apple, or IBM perhaps -- EDITORIAL -- USUAS President's Message -- April gardening in Alaska is simply nuts! -- Student wins Judo contest -- Intramurals hosts bowling tourney -- Rosin up folks for the festival -- Shorts & Briefs -- UNCLASSIFIEDS -- Children's book show on campu