Inquiring Systems in Approaches to Information Systems Development

The initial assertion of this paper is that information systems development (ISD) failures can best be addressed through a systems approach. Such an approach is characterised by Linstone’s Multiple Viewpoints or Checkland’s Soft System Methodology (SSM), both of which are supported by Singerian inquiring systems. The paper notes that these approaches are both forms of action research and therefore examines the support given to other forms of action research by Singerian inquiring systems. Organisations which recognise that they are not perfect when it comes to ISD and wish to do something about it can be considered as Learning Organisations. Senge’s approach to Learning Organisations is seen as being generic. In the context of ISD, it is contrasted with SSM. In particular, the support required by these approaches from the classical inquiring systems is being considered. Further, the implications of what any resolution might mean for ISD is also considered. The final focus is to consider the framework of ISD as a social construct and examine the benefits of a non-classical inquiring system, based on the philosophy of Rorty

Strategies to improve the quality of initial teacher education for teachers in the education and training sector (further education and skills)

This report details the Inquiring Teachers, Inquiring Learners project which was developed to support partner institutions to develop and apply a culture of action research within their organisation. The underlying principle of the project was professionalism and in particular the promotion and development of teachers’ professional identities and attitudes as the key to the enhancement of student learning, above all, a vision of the ‘inquiring teacher’. Inquiring teachers it is felt are more likely to develop inquiring learners. Teachers are best placed to know about their subjects and their learners’ needs within their local contexts. The project aimed to support partners of the School of Education to develop the skills and knowledge to define and undertake an action research project that would contribute to improving ITE within their context.Education and Training Foundatio

Profiling a decade of information systems frontiers’ research

This article analyses the first ten years of research published in the Information Systems Frontiers (ISF) from 1999 to 2008. The analysis of the published material includes examining variables such as most productive authors, citation analysis, universities associated with the most publications, geographic diversity, authors’ backgrounds and research methods. The keyword analysis suggests that ISF research has evolved from establishing concepts and domain of information systems (IS), technology and management to contemporary issues such as outsourcing, web services and security. The analysis presented in this paper has identified intellectually significant studies that have contributed to the development and accumulation of intellectual wealth of ISF. The analysis has also identified authors published in other journals whose work largely shaped and guided the researchers published in ISF. This research has implications for researchers, journal editors, and research institutions

Wrong kind of victim? One year on: an analysis of UK measures to protect trafficked persons

This document is part of a digital collection provided by the Martin P. Catherwood Library, ILR School, Cornell University, pertaining to the effects of globalization on the workplace worldwide. Special emphasis is placed on labor rights, working conditions, labor market changes, and union organizing.ASI_2010_HT_UK_Wrong_kind.pdf: 104 downloads, before Oct. 1, 2020.0-ASI_2010_HT_UK_Wrong kind Summary.pdf: 23 downloads, before Oct. 1, 2020

Social-ecological resilience in organic and non-organic cocoa farming systems in the Yungas of Bolivia

Cocoa based small scale agriculture is the basic livelihood of most farming families in the region of Alto Beni in the Bolivian Andes. Cocoa cultivation is affected by climate change impacts, soil degradation, pests and plant diseases, and insecure cocoa prices. From a sustainable development point of view, cocoa farms need thus to become more resilient. Resilience refers to the ability within a farming system to reduce the sensitivity to stress factors while maintaining productivity, the capacity for self-organisation, to learn, and to adapt to change. Resilience can be subdivided in the three features buffer capacity, self-organisation, and adaptive capacity. This study addresses differences in resilience of organic and non-organic cocoa farms, and the most important features that influence social-ecological resilience in cocoa farming systems. Indicators for resilience were defined in a transdisciplinary process with local experts and cocoa farmers in a workshop and focus groups. Indicators for buffer capacity were tree diversity, crop diversity, and the diversity of income sources of the farming family. Indicators for self-organisation were the interaction with farmers’ organisations, their subsistence level, cocoa yields, and the annual family income. Adaptive capacity was assessed by inquiring the number of courses on cocoa cultivation family members had participated in, and the number of information sources they had. We interviewed 52 certified and non-certified households and conducted an in-depth participant observation with 15 households from the sample. It resulted that organic farms in the research area were more diversified (tree species in cocoa plots: 4.4 vs. 1.9, crop diversity: 8.4 vs. 6.7 crop varieties on cocoa farms), and had higher cocoa yields (506 kg ha−1 yr−1 vs. 335.8 kg ha−1 yr−1, both without external inputs). Annual family income was significantly higher on organic farms with 7530.2 vs. 6044.4 USD. Organic farmers had participated in more courses on cocoa cultivation which may be the main reason for the better performance of their farms. We conclude that resilience building was enhanced by local organisations that organise organic certification and go further than basic organic certification principles by providing extension services, tree seedlings, capacity building, and certain social insurances

A sustainable competitiveness model for strategic alliances: a study of rural entrepreneurs and commercial organisations in Malaysia with special emphasis on Malaysian farmers' organisations

It is evident that strategic alliance route offers Malaysian Farmers’ Organisations a reliable and realistic way forward, towards wealth creation and socio-economic development. It has brought about positive financial rewards to the farmers as well as that of the farmer’s organisations themselves. Statistical significance on effectiveness of the various types of alliance and important control factors of profitable alliance have also been identified. Based on 1991-2004 international strategic alliance development models, a three-stage Dynamic Domestic Sustainable Competitiveness Development Model of Strategic Alliance was developed. It consists of Start-up Period, Adaptation Process and Transformation/termination. With the presence of dynamic business entities, strategic alliance projects inevitably face Competitive Challenge from time to time. A Sustainable Competitiveness Cycle, a product of the Adaptation Process, turns saviour in more ways than one, in a lifespan of an alliance

Knowledge Management Applied To Business Process Reengineering

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the role of knowledge management (KM) as a critical factor for the business process reengineering (BPR) success. It supports the theory that the knowledge management can supply the dynamic necessary to stimulate successful reengineering and minimize the failure rate and its sources. Implementing KM strategy in reengineering projects will lead to better outcomes, building the support for long-term success into the design of business systems and processes

Mediating boundaries between knowledge and knowing: ICT and R4D praxis

Research for development (R4D) praxis (theory-informed practical action) can be underpinned by the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) which, it is claimed, provide opportunities for knowledge working and sharing. Such a framing implicitly or explicitly constructs a boundary around knowledge as reified, or commodified – or at least able to be stabilized for a period of time (first order knowledge). In contrast ‘third-generation knowledge’ emphasizes the social nature of learning and knowledge-making; this reframes knowledge as a negotiated social practice, thus constructing a different system boundary. This paper offers critical reflections on the use of a wiki as a data repository and mediating technical platform as part of innovating in R4D praxis. A sustainable social learning process was sought that fostered an emergent community of practice among biophysical and social researchers acting for the first time as R4D co-researchers. Over time the technologically mediated element of the learning system was judged to have failed. This inquiry asks: How can learning system design cultivate learning opportunities and respond to learning challenges in an online environment to support R4D practice? Confining critical reflection to the online learning experience alone ignores the wider context in which knowledge work took place; therefore the institutional setting is also considered