Developing a catalogue of errors and evaluating its impact on software development

The development of quality software is of paramount importance, yet this has been and continues to be an elusive goal for software engineers. Delivered software often fails due to errors that are injected during its development. Correcting these errors early in the development or preventing them altogether can, therefore, be considered as one way to improve software quality. In this thesis, the development of a Catalogue of Errors is described. Field studies with senior software engineering students are used to confirm that developers using the Catalogue of Errors commit fewer errors in their development artifacts. The impact of the Catalogue of Errors on productivity is also examined

Translation in XBRL Standardization: An Actor-Network View

eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) presents new opportunities for integrating information flow within communities of diverse organisations thereby significantly enhancing the business information supply chain. Vital to XBRL success, its standardization is proving to be challenging. This paper investigates the phenomena that occur when heterogeneous actors interact in attempts to standardize XBRL. Drawing upon actor-network theory (ANT) we “follow the actors” participating in XBRL standardization efforts in Australia. Supporting qualitative empirical evidence was collected via interviews and reviews of XBRL technical documentation. By presenting unsuccessful and potentially successful focal actors side by side, we enhance current understanding of the role of focal actors in technology standardization networks. Specifically, focal actors require clear and indispensable value propositions and solid political and financial support to achieve effective translations in technology standardization networks

Developing Green IS through translation: The case of an environmental sustainability tool

Green information systems (Green IS) can assist in the achievement of sustainability initiatives and enhance environmental and economic performance. The goal of this paper is to investigate the phenomena that occur when heterogeneous actors engage in complex patterns of interaction in their Green IS development efforts. Drawing on actor-network theory (ANT), we “follow the actors” participating in the development of the Vessel Management System (VMS), a sustainability tool to help enforce compliance with legislation that protects South Australia’s aquatic environment. We find that focal actors with legislative powers, legitimacy, and ability to apply urgency influences can undertake effective translation of actors in emerging actor-networks. This study contributes by integrating ANT and Green IS development with the introduction of sustainability legislation in an environment protection context

Do E-Business Investments Create Competitive Advantage: Perspectives from the Australian Banking and Financial Services Industry

Are advantages provided by e-business vanishing as IT becomes ubiquitous and affordable? Is it losing its strategic value and, therefore, its potential for strategic differentiation? This paper proposes a conceptual framework to assess strategic IT investments for e-business. The framework captures several business, human and time dimensions. It is argued that the interaction of these dimensions with IT is hard to be imitated by competitors, and has therefore, the potential to generate and sustain competitive advantage. We attempt to answer these questions by using the perspectives of IT practitioners in Australian financial service industry in the first of a multistage study

Innovation in the digital economy: The impact of high-speed broadband on innovating SMEs

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have been recognized as engines for innovation, which is critical for economic growth. Limited studies have examined the impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on innovation in SMEs despite the critical importance of making sound ICT investment decisions to transform innovation in the digital economy. This paper examines how technological capabilities can be shaped to achieve organizational innovation outcomes. It uncovers important drivers including innovation orientation, applications that can enhance a firm’s capability to be flexible in its innovation endeavors which in turn can influence innovation impact though innovation process performance and service innovation quality

Assessing E-Learning Effectiveness: Developing Strategies for Pedagogy, Resources and Delivery

Although e-learning is spreading quickly across the globe in both educational and non-educational institutions there are problems and misconceptions related to e-learning. Thus, the aim of this paper is to review existing literature, particularly previous research pertaining to the three dimensions on the basis of which online courses should be designed and assessed. Essentially, we argue that e-learning should take an systematic approach and the checklist we have developed can be used to assess online teaching and learning sites and to develop strategies for pedagogy, resources and delivery in e-learning. It is hoped that introducing measurability of online course assessment will help quantify the usefulness of online course

Effective Internet Marketing: An Integrated Approach Used By Educational Institutions

The internet and its various applications have been found to be very effective in delivering marketing functions in general and advertising in particular. This paper presents an integrated approach about the way different internet marketing strategies can be used for advertising the degrees of an educational institution using a case study method. This is an important goal for educational institutions in Australia. The paper culminates with a recommendation and a discussion about the ways in which this goal can be accomplished. Challenges associated with the implementation of this integration, including spam, internet market research and target market identification are also discussed

Drivers and Inhibitors Impacting Technology Adoption: A Qualitative Investigation into the Australian Experience with XBRL

eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) is an XML-based innovation which has the potential to play an important role in the production and consumption of financial information. In this paper, in-depth interviews are used to explore a range of issues surrounding the adoption of XBRL in Australia. Drivers that promote successful adoption of XBRL are discussed, together with inhibitors that obstruct it. We find that the current members of the XBRL community are waiting for a critical mass of either users or solutions to appear. Combined with other inhibitors and unfulfilled drivers, this has adversely affected XBRL adoption in Australia. While government agencies may play a significant role in breaking this deadlock through making XBRL use mandatory, we identify some important implications associated with this strategy

Emerging Trends of ICT Adoption in Innovation Contexts: A Network Framework

Given the growing prominence of innovation in service sciences and international competitiveness, the context of innovation has emerged in adoption research. This study explores emerging trends of ICT adoption in an innovation context. More specifically, given the increased importance of inter-organizational networks in fostering innovation, the study uncovers drivers of adoption of inter-organizational systems that support the innovation process. Particularly, to enhance understanding of innovations that are entrenched in networks of heterogeneous actors, this study employs an interdisciplinary approach as it applies network and relationships marketing literatures to the adoption and inter-organizational systems literatures. Based on qualitative research incorporating a focus group and sixteen in-depth interviews, the study provides a network framework for understanding key drivers of ICT adoption, including trust, commitment, coordination and communication efficiency, in innovation contexts