The chaotic nature of healthcare information systems: The need for transdisciplinary collaboration

Copyright @ 2013 EMCIS.This paper demonstrates one of the challenges of the healthcare information systems development, namely the chaotic nature of healthcare systems. Although the reliable evidence demonstrating the positive effects of health information systems on safety and quality remains inconclusive (a growing body of research revealing the unintended consequences and potentially error producing effects of health information systems’ implementation. Different arguments from the literature concerning the chaotic nature of healthcare, including but not limited to the nature of patients and disease have been presented. The requirements of new ways of systems design and the need for transdisciplinary dynamic teams within the requirements engineering phase as a start has been discussed. These arguments have been investigated in the context of an exploratory case addressing one of the advanced oncology centres in the US. This paper concludes that there is an important need to rethink healthcare information systems development method, which has to be in a dynamic ongoing manner for some major issues

A Lesson Unit On Aurally Differentiating Between The Phonologies Of English & Arabic: /P/ And /B/

This project analyzes one of the common English pronunciation errors experienced by Arab learners of English which is /p/ and /b/. Such error is systematic, not accidental. The most important factors leading to this error are the interference of the first language and the difference in the sound systems between Arabic and English. A specific curriculum was developed to help Arab learners of English overcome their pronunciation error. The curriculum started with controlled activities, then practiced in authentic speech using interactive learning activities to ensure learners exposure to the target sounds

Possibilities of Production and use of Sponge Iron in the Arab Countries

The Arab countries, being short in coking coals while having petroleum, natural gas and low grade coals, are studying the possibilities of producing sponge iron from their local iron ores using these raw materials instead of imported coke which costs them a lot of hard currenc

A strategy to improve Egyptian elementary stage ESOL student’s speaking skills using role-play.

The aim of the present study was to develop the English-speaking skills of elementary stage, ESOL students through designing a strategy based on role-playing. The speaking skills test included the sub-skills such as grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, fluency, and comprehension. The participants of the study were 24 students. The two-group research design was adopted where the control group (12 students) followed the regular class technique and the experimental group (12 students) followed the role-playing strategy. A pre- and post-test of speaking skills was administered to the participants of both groups to measure the effectiveness of the strategy on students’ speaking skills. Analysis of data obtained revealed significance in favor of the experimental group, in the overall speaking skills post-test. Also, it revealed significance in favor of the experimental group, in each speaking sub-skill post-test. Finally, it was concluded that the strategy provided some evidence for the positive effect that role-playing might have in developing the speaking skills of elementary stage ESOL students in Egypt. Based on the results of the study, the researcher provided some recommendations that may help curricula designers in developing means of teaching speaking skills and incorporating role-paying procedures in the students’ text books and teachers’ guides

Islamic feminism: A perfect match or a contradiction in terms?

Gender inequality is a global issue that limits women’s social, economic as well as political opportunities. Fortunately enough, there have been many feminist movements that fight for gender equality and women’s rights. The basis for male domination is sometimes justified by culture, or religion. The problem arises when the oppression of women is being justified on the basis of religion mainly Islam in the Arab countries, for it becomes harder to women to challenge the situation, because it conflicts with their inner faith. This thesis will tackle the issue of Islamic Feminism, a recent movement that calls for gender equality in the name of Islam, through providing an alternative feminist interpretation of the Qur’anic text as well as Islamic Law. Although Islamic Feminists have succeeded in using their interpretation to reform laws that address women’s issues in the Muslim countries, they still face many challenges from traditional scholars who have attained Islamic education and have studies Islamic jurisprudence. Consequently, this paper argues that in order to move a step forward, and for the movement to be more effectively successful, Islamic feminists have to engage with the traditionalists, to increase the movement’s credibility as well as legitimacy and to be able to make the changes they long for come true

Book Review: \u3cem\u3eFeminist Edges of the Qur\u27an\u3c/em\u3e

Review of Feminist Edges of the Qur\u27an, by Aysha A. Hidayatullah. Oxford University Press, 201

e-Business Value Creation: An Exploratory Study

Value creation is one of the most important issues in formulating e-business strategies. Value is a construct that is hard to define and even harder to model and understand. This paper provides a framework of theoretical analysis that helps the scholars to think about the concept of value creation in the new digital economy. Researchers and practitioners are struggling to identify factors that contribute in creating e-business value. This paper also evaluates these factors with a focus on value creation from adopting e-business in the firms. The presented evaluation is mined from the literatures and from our own experience in e-business strategies. The paper provides a theoretical survey for exploring the common ground between factors that create such a value. The introduced survey covers perspectives, definition, sources and drivers of e-business value creation

A New MINDSET: Regenerative Design to Counter Climate Changes for Reaching Net-Positive Energy Buildings in Egypt

Climate change is the most critical global challenge countering today; therefore, the impacts of climate change require an urgent and collective response where building and construction industry is regarded as one of the highest contributors to many issues that the world is encountering today, especially in a country undergoing rapid urbanization and industrialization such as Egypt. The primary objective of this paper is to promote the use of regenerative design to develop buildings intended to restore and improve the surrounding natural environment by aiming to leave a positive impact instead of harm reduction and participation in Egypt\u27s plan for encountering climate change through a theoretical study for regenerative design and the Living Building Challenge (LBC) as a supporting tool to simplify the regenerative approach for discussing Net-Positive Energy Buildings, where the buildings aim not simply to generate energy but to identify the purpose and the way to handle resources to provide more than the building requires. Then the paper summarized two office buildings that achieved the Living Building Challenge certification, which provides using different architectural and mechanical systems working in concert to perform better, and this could be a reference repeated in developing countries such as Egypt. The study found that regenerative buildings offer an exceptional opportunity to effectively solve current environmental problems and achieve Net-Positive impacts on buildings to “add value” and be designed and operated to generate more than is needed