97,716 research outputs found
Recommended from our members
Towards a methodology for the development of integrated IT infrastructures
In this paper, the authors propose and validate
a methodology for the development of integrated
Information Technology (IT) infrastructures. The
motivation for putting forward a new methodology is
grounded on the limitations of the various software
engineering methodologies (traditional) that exist
today. Despite that the traditional methodologies result
in the development of Information Systems (IS) from
scratch, Enterprise Application Integration (EAI)
builds integrated IT infrastructures using existing
applications. This significant difference is associated
with many issues needed to be realised and addressed
like: (a) the changes that such an infrastructure brings
to organisations, (b) the resistance to change and (c)
the extension of IS lifecycleâs. The proposed
methodology consist of eight stages and aims at
supporting software engineers, organisations and
researchers to build integrated IT infrastructures. As a
result the methodology seeks to contribute to the body
of knowledge
Joining sustainable design and internet of things technologies on campus : the IPVC smartbottle practical case
Higher education institutions (HEIs) are favored environments for the implementation of technological solutions that accelerate the generation of smart campi, given the dynamic ecosystem they create based on the involvement of inspired and motivated human resources (students, professors, and researchers), moving around in an atmosphere of advanced digital infrastructures and services. Moreover, HEIs have, in their mission, not only the creation of integrated knowledge through Research and Development (R&D) activities but also solving societal problems that address the academic community expectations concerning environmental issues, contributing, therefore, towards a greener society embodied within the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This article addresses the design and implementation of a Smartbottle Ecosystem in which an interactive and reusable water bottle communicates with an intelligent water refill station, both integrated by the Internet of Things (IoT) and Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), to eliminate the use of single-use plastic water bottles in the premises of the Polytechnical Institute of Viana do Castelo (IPVC), an HEI with nearly 6000 students. Three main contributions were identified in this research: (i) the proposal of a novel methodology based on the association of Design Thinking and Participatory Design as the basis for Sustainable Design; (ii) the design and development of an IoT-enabled smartbottle prototype; and (iii) the usability evaluation of the proposed prototype. The adopted methodology is rooted in Design Thinking and mixes it with a Participatory Design approach, including the end-user opinion throughout the Smartbottle Ecosystem design process, not only for the product design requirements but also for its specification. By promoting a participatory solution tailored to the IPVC academic community, recycled plastic has been identified as the preferential material and a marine mammal was selected for the smartbottle shape, in the process of developing a solution to replace the single-use plastic bottles.7519-C505-DF9E | Ant?nio Jos? Candeias CuradoN/
Attitudinal and behavioural determinants influencing decision makers when adopting integration technologies in local government
Over the last few years, the advent of innovative
or revolutionary integration technologies has
influenced pivotal decisions within top management
to strategically transform Local Government
Authorities (LGAs). These technologies may
represent a huge cost for adopting LGAs, but may
also offer the chance to achieve competitive
advantage through superior service delivery. With
the emergence of electronic Government (e-
Government), LGAs are turning to integration
technologies to fully automate and e-enable their
business processes and integrate their IT
infrastructures. While prior research on the adoption
of integration technologies in the private and public
domain has considered several determinants (e.g.
benefits, barriers, costs), little attention has been
given to investigate the attitudinal and behavioural
determinants influencing top managementâs decision
making process for the adoption of integration
technologies in LGAs. Notwithstanding, the
implications of this research have yet to be assessed,
leaving scope for timeliness and novel research.
Therefore, it is of high importance to investigate this
area within LGAs and contribute to the area of
strategic decision making by examining attitudinal
and behavioural determinants of top management in
relation to integration technologies adoption
Recommended from our members
Exploring knowledge management integration through EAI in local government domain
Information Technology (IT) infrastructure integration and knowledge management share communal objectives e.g. to make organisations more effective and efficient, agile and innovative, and more responsive to market changes. Such association when assimilates bona fide knowledge management philosophy, it offers the IT departments a headship opportunity for organisational transformation in affiliation with the rest of the establishment. Notwithstanding, in the context of Local Government Authorities (LGAs), the non-integrated nature of the IT infrastructure is associated with inefficient data and knowledge exchange and reduction in LGA servicesâ quality. Therefore, numerous data inconsistencies and redundancies occur that impact LGA services to their citizenry. LGAs have deployed Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) technological solutions to integrate their legacy with new developed Information Systems (IS). Literature indicates that EAI achieves integration at five layers namely: (a) connectivity, (b) transportation, (c) transformation, (d) process integration and (e) knowledge integration. This research adapts a Revised Model for Integration Layers (REAL) and tests through a case study in a local authority. The results indicate that cases leading to data inconsistencies and replication can be prevented by integrating knowledge through EAI
Physical Infrastructures and Attractiveness of Private Capital in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) Countries
Physical infrastructures are a set of interconnected structural elements whose function is to participate in attracting capital flows in order for the economy to function efficiently. They transfer capital flows that are able to ensure growth and stability. They also constitute a major challenge for growth and development. We have attempted in this paper to study the influence of physical infrastructures and financial development on foreign direct investments (FDIs) in the context of Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries by combining two theoretical approaches (the Paradox of Lucas and the external-internal factors), and by integrating the correlation between the components of capital flows. Our regressions show the importance of non-linear effects in the explanation of the determinants of private capital. This analysis also emphasizes the more important role physical infrastructures play in attracting FDIs despite perverse effects
Recommended from our members
Mapping factors influencing EAI adoption in the local government authorities on different phases of the adoption lifecycle
Several private and public organisations have adopted Enterprise Application Integration (EAI), however, its application in the Local Government Authorities (LGAs) is limited. Although, there exist few EAI adoption models, these models mainly focus on a number of different factors (e.g. benefits, barriers, cost) influencing the decision making process for EAI adoption. Moreover, these models do not illustrate which factor(s) influence the decision making process for EAI adoption on the adoption lifecycle phases. Literature indicates that the adoption process involves a sequence of phases an organisation passes through before taking the decision for adoption. This exemplifies that LGAs may also have to pass through several adoption phases before taking the decision to adopt EAI. However, due to the: (a) multiplicity of diverse EAI adoption factors and (b) not able to recognise which factor(s) influence EAI on adoption lifecycle phases, it may not be easy for LGAs to take decisions to adopt EAI by merely focusing on different factors. This may impede the decision making process for EAI adoption in LGAs. Notwithstanding, the implications of EAI have yet to be assessed, leaving scope for timeliness and novel research. Therefore, it is of high importance to investigate this area within LGAs and result in research that contributes towards successful EAI adoption. This paper makes a step forward as it: (a) investigates and proposes four adoption lifecycle phases, (b) validates the adoption lifecycle phases and (c) mapping the factors influencing EAI adoption on the adoption lifecycle phases, through a case study. Hence, it significantly contributes to the body of knowledge and practice. In doing so, providing sufficient support to the decision makers for speeding up the decision making process for EAI adoption in LGAs
Towards a foundation for holistic power system validation and testing
Renewable energy sources and further electrificationof energy consumption are
key enablers for decreasing green-house gas emissions, but also introduce
increased complexitywithin the electric power system. The increased
availability ofautomation, information and communication technology,
andintelligent solutions for system operation have transformed thepower system
into a smart grid. In order to support thedevelopment process of smart grid
solutions on the system level,testing has to be done in a holistic manner,
covering the multi-domain aspect of such complex systems. This paper
introducesthe concept of holistic power system testing and discuss first
stepstowards a corresponding methodology that is being developed inthe European
ERIGrid research infrastructure project.Comment: 2016 IEEE 21st International Conference on Emerging Technologies and
Factory Automation (ETFA
Managing evolution and change in web-based teaching and learning environments
The state of the art in information technology and educational technologies is evolving constantly.
Courses taught are subject to constant change from organisational and subject-specific reasons. Evolution
and change affect educators and developers of computer-based teaching and learning environments alike â
both often being unprepared to respond effectively. A large number of educational systems are designed
and developed without change and evolution in mind. We will present our approach to the design and
maintenance of these systems in rapidly evolving environments and illustrate the consequences of evolution
and change for these systems and for the educators and developers responsible for their implementation and
deployment. We discuss various factors of change, illustrated by a Web-based virtual course, with the
objective of raising an awareness of this issue of evolution and change in computer-supported teaching and
learning environments. This discussion leads towards the establishment of a development and management
framework for teaching and learning systems
- âŠ