Decision Support for Software Projects: The Role of SPC and Simulation Metamodeling

While many researchers have attempted to directly apply statistical process control (SPC) to the software domain, several difficulties in applying SPC to software development, in particular, the inability to compute meaningful control limits for the process. In this research, we propose a framework for applying SPC to software projects. The framework integrates SPC concepts and simulation metamodeling to create meaningful control limits on process and project inputs. The framework is demonstrated using a case study

Application of fuzzy logic to multiple criteria decision making in aquacultural planning

The field of regional planning is characterized by the large number of issues and attributes involved, and regional planning for aquaculture development is no exception. Moreover, aquacultural plans do not have clearly defined objectives and require information that, if exist, is often imprecise and uncertain.This paper applies fuzzy set theory to multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) in aquaculture planning. In effect, the paper demonstrates how fuzzy set theory can be used to explicitly account for the inherent uncertainty encountered when planning for aquaculture development in a given region. A case study for regional aquaculture planning in Northern Egypt demonstrates the proposed fuzzy MCDM framework

The use of information technology in aquaculture management

The recent advances in information technology (IT) have had profound impacts on all walks of life and aquaculture is no exception. The growing importance of aquaculture as an alternative source of protein has further emphasized the need to adapt and develop advanced IT for the better management of aquaculture facilities as well as the regional planning for aquaculture development. It is the objective of this paper to review the use and potential prospects of IT in aquaculture management. The information technologies considered are instrumentation and process control, data management, computerized models, decision support systems, artificial intelligence and expert systems, image processing and pattern recognition, geographical information systems, and information centres and networks. The review includes a brief introduction of each of the aforementioned technologies, followed by a survey of their current application as well as their potential use in aquaculture management. Abstract The recent advances in information technology (IT) have had profound impacts on all walks of life and aquaculture is no exception. The growing importance of aquaculture as an alternative source of protein has further emphasized the need to adapt and develop advanced IT for the better management of aquaculture facilities as well as the regional planning for aquaculture development. It is the objective of this paper to review the use and potential prospects of IT in aquaculture management. The information technologies considered are instrumentation and process control, data management, computerized models, decision support systems, artificial intelligence and expert systems, image processing and pattern recognition, geographical information systems, and information centres and networks. The review includes a brief introduction of each of the aforementioned technologies, followed by a survey of their current application as well as their potential use in aquaculture management

Aquaculture in Egypt and Issues for Sustainable Development

Although aquaculture in Egypt has the potential for satisfying the increased demand for protein and has been experiencing unprecedented growth during the last decade, questions remain regarding the sustainable development of the industry. It is thus the objective of this article to review the current status and practices of the aquaculture industry in Egypt, highlighting the major issues confronting the sustainable development of the aquaculture industry. Several issues are identified as limitations to future sustainable development, namely, production technology, fry supply, a feed industry sufficient to meet the demands of a growing aquaculture industry, and marketing and distribution systems necessary to accommodate the strong seasonal supply pattern. The article then concludes with a discussion of recommendations for alleviating these limitations

Designing information systems doctoral programs: Issues and challenges

Doctoral programs aim at preparing students for stewardship in their discipline with particular emphasis on training for research. While doctoral programs have been conventionally offered by research institutions, market demands, changing needs, and other factors are driving traditionally teaching institutions to explore opportunities for implementing information systems (IS) doctoral programs. In this paper we present some of the issues and challenges involved in designing and implementing IS doctoral programs. The emphasis is on traditionally teaching institutions. The paper concludes with a set of recommendations and directions for future research on doctoral programs in information systems

Increasing Research Relevance in DSS: Looking Forward by Reflecting on 40 years of Progress

Decision Support Systems (DSS) is a field that has made rapid progress in establishing itself and maturing into seven key sub-fields. However, there are continued concerns about the relevancy and growing disconnect between academic contributions and professional applications of DSS. This paper serves to review the existing literature, and propose a Research Relevance Framework meant to serve as a guideline to ensure future DSS research has a consistent standard upon which relevance can be assessed

An ontology-based model management architecture for service innovation

Organizations have indicated renewed interest in service innovation, design and management, given the growth of service sector. Decision support systems (DSS) play an important role in supporting this endeavor, through management of organizational resources such as data and models. Given the global nature of service value chains, there have been ever increasing demands on managing, sharing, and reusing these heterogeneous and distributed resources, both within and across organizational boundaries, through DSS consisting of database management systems (DBMS) and model management systems (MMS). Analogous to DBMS, model management systems focus on the management of decision models, dealing with representation, storage, and retrieval of models as well as a variety of applications such as analysis, reuse, sharing, and composition of models. Recent developments in the areas of semantic web and ontologies have provided a rich tool set for computational reasoning about these resources in an intelligent manner. In this chapter, we leverage these advances and apply service-oriented design principles to propose an ontology-based model management architecture supporting service innovation. The architecture is illustrated with case study scenarios and current state of implementation. The role of potential information technologies in supporting the architecture is also discussed. We then provide a roadmap to make advancements in research in this direction

Enabling Distributed Model Management Using Semantic Web Technologies

In today\u27s increasingly dynamic and competitive business environment, organizations strive to leverage their information resources to gain and sustain competitive advantage. Decision models as knowledge objects encapsulating problem situations, as well as means for leveraging information stored in corporate data warehouses, have positioned such models as an organizational resource that need to be managed, shared and re-used. Recent developments in distributed information technologies and the increasing reliance on such technologies by organization requires that model management accommodates today\u27s distribute infrastructure landscape.In this paper, we leverage recent developments in semantic Web technologies to enable model management functions in a distributed and heterogeneous environment. The proposed architecture leverages OWL to represent models at various levels of abstraction as well as pertinent problem domain, OWL-S to semantically annotate decision models represented as Web services, and SWRL to facilitate model querying. Model selection and composition are used to illustrate the applicability of the architecture to model management functions in a distributed setting

College students’ acceptance of Tablet PCs: an application of the UTAUT model

nstructional technology can enhance the learning process for post secondary students. Colleges and universities have adopted computing initiatives that require every student to acquire their own portable computing device. Yet for such initiatives to improve students ’ learning and teaching effectiveness, such technology-based initiatives must be accepted by students and faculty alike

Evaluating students’ acceptance and use of Tablet PCs in collegiate classrooms

Instructional technology can enhance the learning process for post secondary students. Colleges and universities have adopted computing initiatives that require every student to acquire their own portable computing device. Yet for such initiatives to improve students’ learning and teaching effectiveness, such technology-based initiatives must be accepted by students and faculty alike. This research evaluates students’ acceptance of Tablet PC (TPC) as a mean to forecast, explain, and improve usage pattern of TPC in education. Using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, a primary implication of this research is that while students may think favorably of TPC and thus intends to continue to use the technology, this does not necessarily explain actual use of TPC specific features. Universities wishing to ensure that students leverage the full feature set of TPC may have to further facilitate and support the use of TPC specific features