Requirements engineering for computer integrated environments in construction

A Computer Integrated Environment (CIE) is the type of innovative integrated information system that helps to reduce fragmentation and enables the stakeholders to collaborate together in business. Researchers have observed that the concept of CIE has been the subject of research for many years but the uptake of this technology has been very limited because of the development of the technology and its effective implementation. Although CIE is very much valued by both industrialists and academics, the answers to the question of how to develop and how to implement it are still not clear. The industrialists and researchers conveyed that networking, collaboration, information sharing and communication will become popular and critical issues in the future, which can be managed through CIE systems. In order for successful development of the technology, successful delivery, and effective implementation of user and industry-oriented CIE systems, requirements engineering seems a key parameter. Therefore, through experiences and lessons learnt in various case studies of CIE systems developments, this book explains the development of a requirements engineering framework specific to the CIE system. The requirements engineering process that has been developed in the research is targeted at computer integrated environments with a particular interest in the construction industry as the implementation field. The key features of the requirements engineering framework are the following: (1) ready-to-use, (2) simple, (3) domain specific, (4) adaptable and (5) systematic, (6) integrated with the legacy systems. The method has three key constructs: i) techniques for requirements development, which includes the requirement elicitation, requirements analysis/modelling and requirements validation, ii) requirements documentation and iii) facilitating the requirements management. It focuses on system development methodologies for the human driven ICT solutions that provide communication, collaboration, information sharing and exchange through computer integrated environments for professionals situated in discrete locations but working in a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary environment. The overview for each chapter of the book is as follows; Chapter 1 provides an overview by setting the scene and presents the issues involved in requirements engineering and CIE (Computer Integrated Environments). Furthermore, it makes an introduction to the necessity for requirements engineering for CIE system development, experiences and lessons learnt cumulatively from CIE systems developments that the authors have been involved in, and the process of the development of an ideal requirements engineering framework for CIE systems development, based on the experiences and lessons learnt from the multi-case studies. Chapter 2 aims at building up contextual knowledge to acquire a deeper understanding of the topic area. This includes a detailed definition of the requirements engineering discipline and the importance and principles of requirements engineering and its process. In addition, state of the art techniques and approaches, including contextual design approach, the use case modelling, and the agile requirements engineering processes, are explained to provide contextual knowledge and understanding about requirements engineering to the readers. After building contextual knowledge and understanding about requirements engineering in chapter 2, chapter 3 attempts to identify a scope and contextual knowledge and understanding about computer integrated environments and Building Information Modelling (BIM). In doing so, previous experiences of the authors about systems developments for computer integrated environments are explained in detail as the CIE/BIM case studies. In the light of contextual knowledge gained about requirements engineering in chapter 2, in order to realize the critical necessity of requirements engineering to combine technology, process and people issues in the right balance, chapter 4 will critically evaluate the requirements engineering activities of CIE systems developments that are explained in chapter 3. Furthermore, to support the necessity of requirements engineering for human centred CIE systems development, the findings from semi-structured interviews are shown in a concept map that is also explained in this chapter. In chapter 5, requirements engineering is investigated from different angles to pick up the key issues from discrete research studies and practice such as traceability through process and product modelling, goal-oriented requirements engineering, the essential and incidental complexities in requirements models, the measurability of quality requirements, the fundamentals of requirements engineering, identifying and involving the stakeholders, reconciling software requirements and system architectures and barriers to the industrial uptake of requirements engineering. In addition, a comprehensive research study measuring the success of requirements engineering processes through a set of evaluation criteria is introduced. Finally, the key issues and the criteria are comparatively analyzed and evaluated in order to match each other and confirm the validity of the criteria for the evaluation and assessment of the requirements engineering implementation in the CIE case study projects in chapter 7 and the key issues will be used in chapter 9 to support the CMM (Capability Maturity Model) for acceptance and wider implications of the requirements engineering framework to be proposed in chapter 8. Chapter 6 explains and particularly focuses on how the requirements engineering activities in the case study projects were handled by highlighting strengths and weaknesses. This will also include the experiences and lessons learnt from these system development practices. The findings from these developments will also be utilized to support the justification of the necessity of a requirements engineering framework for the CIE systems developments. In particular, the following are addressed. • common and shared understanding in requirements engineering efforts, • continuous improvement, • outputs of requirement engineering • reflections and the critical analysis of the requirements engineering approaches in these practices. The premise of chapter 7 is to evaluate and assess the requirements engineering approaches in the CIE case study developments from multiple viewpoints in order to find out the strengths and the weaknesses in these requirements engineering processes. This evaluation will be mainly based on the set of criteria developed by the researchers and developers in the requirements engineering community in order to measure the success rate of the requirements engineering techniques after their implementation in the various system development projects. This set of criteria has already been introduced in chapter 5. This critical assessment includes conducting a questionnaire based survey and descriptive statistical analysis. In chapter 8, the requirements engineering techniques tested in the CIE case study developments are composed and compiled into a requirements engineering process in the light of the strengths and the weaknesses identified in the previous chapter through benchmarking with a Capability Maturity Model (CMM) to ensure that it has the required level of maturity for implementation in the CIE systems developments. As a result of this chapter, a framework for a generic requirements engineering process for CIE systems development will be proposed. In chapter 9, the authors will discuss the acceptance and the wider implications of the proposed framework of requirements engineering process using the CMM from chapter 8 and the key issues from chapter 5. Chapter 10 is the concluding chapter and it summarizes the findings and brings the book to a close with recommendations for the implementation of the Proposed RE framework and also prescribes a guideline as a way forward for better implementation of requirements engineering for successful developments of the CIE systems in the future

International Reservations Systems - Their Strategic and Operational Implications for the UK Hotel Industry

Nature and scope of work:This work presents details of the method and results of an investigation of the role and influence of international reservations systems within the UK hotel industry.The research comprised three questionnaire surveys of the use of computer reservations systems and distribution services by UK hotels. These are analysed and to produce an indication of general use of systems and the contribution which these currently make to hotel groups and consortia. The work also included a study of developments in access methods and changes in buyer behaviour as observed by representatives of computer reservation and distribution system, travel agency, hotel representation and intermediary companies. The impact of information technology developments on the travel agency industry, distribution systems operators and intermediaries is considered. The work then indicates the potential implications of these developments for the strategic planning and operational management of hotels in light of prevailing attitudes to technology, preferred sales methods and buyer behaviour.A computer based information and selection facility is developed. This provides a means of identifying the functions required of a distribution system in order to achieve specific business aims. It identifies the channels which meet the requirements while also providing details of the implications associated with use of each.Contribution to knowledge:This research provides the first published account of the current and potential influence of information technology on the way in which the UK hotel sector deals with its market and on the structure of the industry itself. The work results from a comprehensive study of the role of a significant emerging technology within an important sector of the tourism, travel and leisure industry. It is seen as being complete in its own right but also forms a starting point for longitudinal research since no previous work of this nature or scale has been undertaken in the area of interest. The guide developed as part of this work also lends itself to extensive future development as both the technology with which it is concerned and the technology upon which it is based continue to mature.The results of primary research indicate that there is scope for potential change in hotel sector sales and marketing practices as new methods of conducting business are adopted by hospitality industry service providers, agencies and the buying public. The work also suggests that global distribution systems are not the most suitable channel for all hotels but that alternatives must be considered in the context of the particular requirements of each hotel business. The use of formal research methods provides those involved in this sector with an objective assessment of the implications of widespread adoption of computer based reservation and distribution systems for individual businesses and for the industry as a whole. This addresses a requirement which was identified by the author and contributors in the course of the research.The subject area is complicated by the number of available channels through which businesses may distribute and receive information. This complexity is acknowledged throughout the work generates a distribution channel evaluation guide based on the research findings. The purpose of this device is to direct readers through the process of selecting the most appropriate channel to meet their specific business aims. The guide is based on results from the various stages of primary research which indicated the aspects of distribution system use about which hoteliers were unclear and also provided material about possible strategic uses and the operational implications experienced by users. This information was used to develop a staged method of identifying the type of system which would meet specific requirements and to indicate the implications associated with the use of a particular type of distribution system.This decision process is described and is then presented in the form of a hypertext document. The current version provides an elementary guide which can be used to assist qualitative evaluation in a complex subject area and indicates how this technology can be applied in its most basic form. Planned future work aims to develop the scopeand function of the static reference document to produce a means of access to product provider information and to create a forum through which users can communicate with each other through e-mail. System suppliers can provide links to their own product information pages which can be accessed by users seeking information and advice.These developments will result in a guide which is interactive and can be kept up to date by system suppliers. This extension of the guide's role should enable it to provide material to be used in the decision support process by users wishing to conduct quantitative evaluation or comparison of distribution systems. This stage of development would require the use of a facility such as the World Wide Web (WWVV) to enable users and suppliers to communicate with each other.The WWW offers ready support for hypertext, the use of which is considered to be important for this application because of its ease of use for inexperienced computer users, the wide availability of the WWW and the suitability of an on-line system as means of publishing material which is subject to continual change. However, it isconsidered likely that a static version of the guide could be made available for users who do wish to avoid the cost and complication of obtaining access to the WWW. Although the use of hypertext is becoming more common, it is believed that this is the first use of this technology as a means of publishing research in this field

Importance Of The Segmentation On Time-Rich And Time-Poor For Development And Marketing Of Computer Games

ICT (Information Communication Technology) development has already changed many aspects of our life. One of the most successful industries in using ICT as a means for development of new products as well as marketing and sales activities, is the entertainment industry. The games industry is developing rapidly and has penetrated every layer of society. In 1998 video and electronic game revenues reached USD 5.5bn in North American markets alone. The annual increase has been approximately 25% during a number of years. The success of ICT based entertainment products depends to a high degree on the penetration of PCs and Internet connections. Many governments all over the world have strategies and programs in order to reduce the digital divide and to offer all citizens Internet access. In the not so distant future Internet access will be as natural as water, electricity, radio or telephone. Time is more and more becoming an important variable for market segmentation. Everybody has 24 hours per day and night at his or her disposal. However, the perception of time varies. Some feel they have too much time and they are time-rich. Some feel that they have too little time and they are time-poor. Traditionally, time-rich people were also money-rich, but the big majority was both time-poor and money-poor. This is completely turned upside down in the Information society. Nowadays people are equally divided between time-rich and money-poor, and time-poor and money-rich. Both time-rich and time-poor need entertainment and are potential consumers of entertainment especially games as e-services but in different ways. This is a conceptual paper and its purpose is to investigate the importance of the division on time-rich and time-poor for the entertainment industry and practical implications with a special focus on computer games as products and e-services

The criterion of place of residence in research on the knowledge of Industry 4.0 in a group of IT students

PURPOSE: The aim of the article was to analyze the knowledge about Industry 4.0 in a group of IT students. It was assumed that the place of residence of the respondents is one of the factors determining the attitudes and opinions about Industry 4.0, preparation for functioning in its conditions and awareness of the importance and potential benefits of such solutions. The influence of this determinant has been investigated.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: We present the results of research conducted in a group of 236 IT specialization students in 2019 and 2020. A purposive sampling was used. The survey was conducted in a group of students of the Lublin University of Technology in December 2019 and January 2020. The study covered a group of 236 students of Computer Science in full-time studies. The questionnaire was used as a research tool. The survey was conducted in the CAWI (Computer Assisted Web Interview) technique.FINDINGS: The research results show that the place of residence is one of the factors determining the knowledge and perception of the concept of Industry 4.0. Especially the group of inhabitants of the largest cities (over 200,000 inhabitants) shows the greatest knowledge about Industry 4.0. There is a need to improve educational programs aimed at preparing future engineers to operate in the conditions of Industry 4.0, as well as acquiring and developing the skills and qualifications required by Industry 4.0.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Continuous and systematic development of knowledge about Industry 4.0 seems to be advisable, because the concept of Industry 4.0 has an increasingly strong impact on the shape of the industry and is an inherent element of Economy 4.0. This will foster the development of the necessary skills and qualifications.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The presented results of the pilot studies showed the possibility of determining the level of knowledge about the concept of Industry 4.0 in a selected group of respondents. They allowed to identify the place of residence as one of the determinants of knowledge, opinions and attitudes towards Industry 4.0.peer-reviewe

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Augmented reality (AR) is a swiftly developing set of technologies that integrates digital information with a real environment. This information can take the form of text, video, 3D models, audio, or haptics. These technologies have allowed the creation of new applications, use cases, and hardware devices that have caused the industry to become one of the most anticipated future technology areas. The technologies that allow the development of the industry have been decades in development but have seen wide-scale commercial applications only in the past few years through applications like Pokémon Go, or industrial devices such as the Microsoft HoloLens 2. The trend behind the advancement of AR lies within the virtual becoming more interconnected with the real and human biology connecting with technology. In this thesis, I decided to dive into one of the technologies enabling this shift: hand tracking – a set of technologies that have been developed to virtualize the state and orientation of the user’s hands using computer vision or inertial motion capturing gloves – and assess its role in the future of AR. The fundamental value of the technology lies in its potential of virtualizing one of the input systems of the human in the real world – the hands – into the digital, causing the potential of the technology being very significant in future electronics devices. The thesis is being motivated by a deep interest in the technologies allowing this shift to happen, and to be aware of the realities of the competitive dynamics on which the industry currently lies on. The goal of this thesis is to first find a suitable method of conducting the study of future technology in an appropriate manner, then to do a literature review into the scientific literature existing on the subject. Second, with this information, I will conduct an investigative patent database query, with the aim of finding intellectual property filed by key prospective players on the field – possibly indicating their aims to utilize the technology in the future. Third, I will do a foresight analysis into possible scenarios arising from the use of the technology in future commercial settings, trying to combine the insights gained in earlier chapters to provide a future outlook. The outlook is planned to influence decision-makers in the field of consumer electronics to be aware of the implications of hand tracking on future market trends – and to prepare for the possibility of the technology being in limited hands or behind a barrier for any external innovators

Global communication part 1: the use of apparel CAD technology

Trends needed for improved communication systems, through the development of future computer-aided design technology (CAD) applications, is a theme that has received attention due to its perceived benefits in improving global supply chain efficiencies. This article discusses the developments of both 2D and 3D computer-aided design capabilities, found within global fashion supply chain relationships and environments. Major characteristics identified within the data suggest that CAD/CAM technology appears to be improving; however, evidence also suggest a plateau effect, which is accrediting forced profits towards information technology manufactures, and arguably compromising the industry's competitive advantage. Nevertheless, 2D CAD increases communication speed; whereas 3D human interaction technology is seen to be evolving slowly and questionably with limited success. The article discusses the findings and also presents the issues regarding human interaction; technology education; and individual communication enhancements using technology processes. These are still prevalent topics for the future developments of global strategy and cultural communication amalgamation

An investigation into the effects of computer integrated manufacturing systems in the productivity of SMEs in Pakistan

The current dynamic and turbulent manufacturing environment has forced companies that compete globally to change their traditional methods of conducting business [Producer to consumer]. Recent developments in manufacturing and business operations have lead to the adoption of Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) technologies that are based on systems and processes that support global competitiveness, especially for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Organizations and SMEs in particular need to re-evaluate every aspect of their manufacturing strategy and quickly move towards a CIM based environment where manufacturing technologies, business strategies and processes are integrated together. This paper highlights the development of a CIM adoption model that has resulted from empirical work generated from SMEs in Pakistan. The model consists of the parameters such as Top Management Support, System Integration, Marketing, and over all performance

Crafting a Systematic Literature Review on Open-Source Platforms

This working paper unveils the crafting of a systematic literature review on open-source platforms. The high-competitive mobile devices market, where several players such as Apple, Google, Nokia and Microsoft run a platforms- war with constant shifts in their technological strategies, is gaining increasing attention from scholars. It matters, then, to review previous literature on past platforms-wars, such as the ones from the PC and game-console industries, and assess its implications to the current mobile devices platforms-war. The paper starts by justifying the purpose and rationale behind this literature review on open-source platforms. The concepts of open-source software and computer-based platforms were then discussed both individually and in unison, in order to clarify the core-concept of 'open-source platform' that guides this literature review. The detailed design of the employed methodological strategy is then presented as the central part of this paper. The paper concludes with preliminary findings organizing previous literature on open-source platforms for the purpose of guiding future research in this area.Comment: As presented in 10th IFIP WG 2.13 International Conference on Open Source Systems, OSS 2014, San Jos\'e, Costa Rica, May 6-9, 201

Selling packaged software: an ethical analysis

Within the IS literature there is little discussion on selling software products in general and especially from the ethical point of view. Similarly, within computer ethics, although there is much interest in professionalism and professional codes, in terms of accountability and responsibility, the spotlight tends to play on safety-critical or life-critical systems, rather than on software oriented towards the more mundane aspects of work organisation and society. With this research gap in mind, we offer a preliminary ethical investigation of packaged software selling. Through an analysis of the features of competition in the market, the global nature of the packaged software market and the nature of product development we conclude that professionalism, as usually conceived in computer ethics, does not apply particularly well to software vendors. Thus, we call for a broader definition of professionalism to include software vendors, not just software developers. Moreover, we acknowledge that with intermediaries, such as implementation consultants, involved in software selling, and the packaged software industry more generally, there are even more “hands” involved. Therefore, we contend that this is an area worthy of further study, which is likely to yield more on the question of accountability