An empirical investigation of the factors contributing to spreadsheets usage and end-user computing satisfaction

The purpose of this research is to develop and test a model of the relationships between several external and various mediating variables and the end-users' satisfaction and usage of spreadsheets. The present research takes several steps toward establishing a valid motivational model of the end-users. Two fairly general, well-established theoretical models (i) 'theory of reasoned action' (TRA) of human behaviour from social psychology and (ii) 'technology acceptance model' (TAM) from management information systems were chosen as paradigms within which to formulate an extended model Several adaptations to these paradigms were introduced in order to make them applicable to the present context building upon and integrating previous research in a curnulative manner. This led to a model which was tested by a nine page questionnaire with 129 entries. Response data was collected from a cross-sectional survey of 333 university students who have been out for one year training in industry across the UK. A careful reliability and validity analysis for the measures used in the survey was conducted. Multiple regression analysis, path analysis, and LISREL modelling were used as different data analysis techniques. The analysis in part gave good support for the initial model considered but also indicated some shortcomings in the two base models

Control of industrial accidents in Saudi Arabia

An information-based solution is proposed that will aid fire-fighters and other emergency service personnel in their control of industrial accidents in Saudi Arabia. The integration of databases and geographic information systems (GIS) through dynamic data exchange (DDE) creates an informatics tool with more general usability. Further, web enabled information exchange about hazardous materials is interfaced with the proposed information system. The resulting 'Industrial Incidents Administration System' (IIAS) is a paperless, user-centred, secure method for information exchange able to preserve information between the Civil Defence and Industrial Sectors in Saudi Arabia using state of the art electronic sources and resources. Three main needs were identified in the design phase of HAS: the information architecture of the data repositories in a form that retains semantic and syntactic values; a rapid-access database for planning decisions; and, an online transactional database for frequent updating. In order to achieve the HAS, the following technologies were exploited and integrated. Online data exchange through the use of an Information Bus system architecture; a local database which contains five subsystems; and the GIS application. Interoperability was an important feature of the proposed solution. In order to better understand and satisfy user needs, the prototype system was implemented and evaluated. The purpose of this prototype was to receive feedback from users to understand their needs. The feedback received helped to improve, as well as add, new functionalities to the HAS. In this study, we presented results and experiences of conducting two well known evaluation techniques heuristic evaluation and cognitive walk-through. The two methods employed complemented each other very well, the first giving feedback from end-users needs, and the second revealing deficiencies in usability in the system. The study provided convincing information for improving the current version of HAS

Estimation of Parent-Sib Correlations for Quantitative Traits Using the Linear Mixed Regression Model: Applications to Arterial Blood Pressures Data Collected From Nuclear Families

A fundamental question in quantitative genetics is whether observed variation in the phenotypic values of a particular trait is due to environmental or to biological factors. Proportion of variations attributed to genetic factors is known as heritability of the trait. Heritability is a concept that summarizes how much of the variation in a trait is due to variation in genetic factors. Often, this term is used in reference to the resemblance between parents and their offspring. In this context, high heritability implies a strong resemblance between parents and offspring with regard to a specific trait, while low heritability implies a low level of resemblance. While many applications measure the offspring resemblance to their parents using the mid-parental value of a quantitative trait of interest as an input parameter, others focus on estimating maternal and paternal heritability. In this paper we address the problem of estimating parental heritability using the nuclear family as a unit of analysis. We derive moment and maximum likelihood estimators of parental heritability, and test their equality using the likelihood ratio test, the delta method. We also use Fieller’s interval on the ratio of parental heritability to address the question of bioequivalence. The methods are illustrated on published arterial blood pressures data collected from nuclear families

Evaluating the Antecedents of the Technology Acceptance Model in Saudi Arabia

Antecedents of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) have been the focus of research on user intentions toward new technology in developed countries for years. Findings from these studies can potentially reveal new methods to improve employee acceptance and use of new systems. The present study investigates whether the antecedents of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use also apply in developing countries, specifically in Saudi Arabia. Findings indicate that the antecedents of TAM do, in fact, apply in Saudi Arabia, and therefore also have implications for businesses in developing countries to improve the user acceptance and use of new technologies

Boundary integral solution for a class of fourth-order two-point boundary value problems

In this paper, a boundary integral method is proposed for the solution of a class of fourth-order two-boundary value problems described by the equation yiv+P(x, y, y’, y’’, y’’’) = 0, x ∈ ( 0,L), where P is a polynomial function of its arguments. The differential equation is cast in an integral form and the weighted residual technique is used to generate the corresponding boundary integral equations. The boundary integral equations are then, solved by expressing the dependent variable, y, in terms of a power series. The proposed method is tested through four examples to show the applicability of the method to solve a wide range of fourth-order differential equations including the nonlinear ones

Control of industrial accidents in Saudi Arabia

An information-based solution is proposed that will aid fire-fighters and other emergency service personnel in their control of industrial accidents in Saudi Arabia. The integration of databases and geographic information systems (GIS) through dynamic data exchange (DDE) creates an informatics tool with more general usability. Further, web enabled information exchange about hazardous materials is interfaced with the proposed information system. The resulting 'Industrial Incidents Administration System' (IIAS) is a paperless, user-centred, secure method for information exchange able to preserve information between the Civil Defence and Industrial Sectors in Saudi Arabia using state of the art electronic sources and resources. Three main needs were identified in the design phase of HAS: the information architecture of the data repositories in a form that retains semantic and syntactic values; a rapid-access database for planning decisions; and, an online transactional database for frequent updating. In order to achieve the HAS, the following technologies were exploited and integrated. Online data exchange through the use of an Information Bus system architecture; a local database which contains five subsystems; and the GIS application. Interoperability was an important feature of the proposed solution. In order to better understand and satisfy user needs, the prototype system was implemented and evaluated. The purpose of this prototype was to receive feedback from users to understand their needs. The feedback received helped to improve, as well as add, new functionalities to the HAS. In this study, we presented results and experiences of conducting two well known evaluation techniques heuristic evaluation and cognitive walk-through. The two methods employed complemented each other very well, the first giving feedback from end-users needs, and the second revealing deficiencies in usability in the system. The study provided convincing information for improving the current version of HAS.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo