Unified Description for Network Information Hiding Methods

Until now hiding methods in network steganography have been described in arbitrary ways, making them difficult to compare. For instance, some publications describe classical channel characteristics, such as robustness and bandwidth, while others describe the embedding of hidden information. We introduce the first unified description of hiding methods in network steganography. Our description method is based on a comprehensive analysis of the existing publications in the domain. When our description method is applied by the research community, future publications will be easier to categorize, compare and extend. Our method can also serve as a basis to evaluate the novelty of hiding methods proposed in the future.Comment: 24 pages, 7 figures, 1 table; currently under revie

How Different Types of IS Assets Account for Synergy-Enabled Value in Multi-Unit Firms: Mapping of Critical Success Factors and Key Performance Indicators

Rooted in a longstanding tradition, research and practice strives to determine how to derive business value from IT investments. This applies particularly to the neglected research area of multi-unit firms, where there is still a high potential to enhance IT synergies. Our study addresses important research gaps in IT business value research. First, we investigate how different of types of IS assets, i.e., infrastructural, transactional, and strategic IS, account for cross-unit synergies to create business value. Second, we map critical success factors and key performance indicators of this value creation process in order to open the “grey box” in IT business value research. An explorative multiple-case study methodology with five case sites is applied. Our results reveal that these different types of IS assets account for a different degree of cost and value synergies, support diverse critical success factors, and require distinct measurement approaches in the form of KPIs

DIMENSIONS OF TRUST IN THE ACCEPTANCE OF INTER-ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN NETWORKS: TOWARDS A SOCIO-TECHNICAL PERSPECTIVE

In the context of collaborative networks, networked inter-organizational information systems (IOIS) play a major role by providing a shared virtual space for the informal exchange of semi-structured or unstructured knowledge. Since IT support is seen as crucial for the whole network endeavor, the perspective of system acceptance becomes important. However, discussing IS adoption at the interorganizational level brings trust into the story. Building upon socio-technical theory, this study seeks to understand the role of two dimensions of trust in the acceptance of networked IOIS. A theoretical model is developed and subsequently tested with a sample of 121 German network organizations. Network trust reveals to be important for the perceived usefulness of the system, as the main benefit comes from members’ participation. Trust in technology shows to be an even more relevant determinant for the attitude towards the system. We suggest that future adoption studies should pay more attention on the interplay of both the social- as well as the technical-relations

Influence of Network Characteristics on Inter-Organizational IT Integration: The Role of Commitment and Trust

Research on inter-organizational relationships has become prominent in business and IS research and over the past two decades networks in particular have been widely recognized by both academics and practitioners as an important form of multi-organizational governance. Those networks rely heavily on information systems, and the integration of IS across partnering organizations has become the backbone of collaboration. In this context, the importance of organizational attributes has been highlighted by various studies, but antecedents of integration have primary been derived from IT related factors and do not consider network characteristics. This study sets out to expand the understanding of how network organizations can effectively develop and manage IT integration in order to co-create relational value. By drawing on the commitment-trust theory we develop and test a theoretical model based on data gathered from 228 network organizations to explain how network attributes facilitate IT integration

Value Co-Creation in Supply Chains through IT Integration: The Role of Collaborative Network Structure

Firms today are increasingly dependent on external resources, and the need for collaboration across organizational boundaries continues to grow. Therefore, research has highlighted the importance of IT capabilities that integrate an organization with its network of partner organizations. However, antecedents of IT integration have been primarily derived from technology-driven contexts. In contrast, the role of organizational attributes remains largely unexplored. We therefore develop and test a theoretical model to examine collaborative network structure as an antecedent to IT integration. Based on this particular form of supply chain governance, we go on to explore how IT integration in conjunction with other capabilities leads to supply chain integration, thereby enabling the creation of value. Based on data gathered from 150 supply chain executives, the study provides evidence on the important role of organizational attributes and contributes to the stream of research that examines the role of interorganizational IT capabilities in co-creating value

ONE SIZE FITS ALL? THE CONTINGENT ROLE OF CENTRALITY IN IT NETWORK GOVERNANCE

Inter-organizational collaboration in terms of co-creation, co-development, and co-innovation relies heavily on integrated information systems that support reciprocal relations among member organizations. Ensuring desirable behavior in the use of these inter-organizational IT resources is subject to the emerging research on IT network governance. While past studies have concentrated on singular governance arrangements, there is no study that examines the fit of governance choice and internal and external network factors on governance effectiveness. This paper contributes with a characterization of IT network governance arrangements along the degree of centralization of IT-related decision making. Three archetypes are distinguished: a decentralized mode, a hybrid mode, and a centralized mode. Moreover, a contingency model is developed proposing effective governance arrangements according to six contingency variables. A multiple case study methodology is applied with five case sides for validation. Our data indicate support for both the theoretical archetypes and the contingency model. The results suggest that network size, network structure centralization, functional diversity, network trust, IT infusion, and IT competence are important contingencies for the understanding of effective IT network governance arrangements. This research is a first step into a contingent perspective on inter-organizational IT governance arrangements

Value Co-creation through Network IT Alignment: An Empirical Examination in Regional Networks

IT alignment in intra-organizational contexts has been recognized as an important factor of organizational performance. This paper takes up this stance and translates it to the network level. In order to explain the role of IT in value co-creation, a theoretical model investigating the interconnection between IT alignment in inter-organizational networks and collaboration success is being developed. Moreover, the mode of governance is identified as an important antecedent to network IT alignment. An empirical study is conducted including answers from 165 regional network organizations in Germany. The results give support for the assumption that network IT alignment, first, contributes to the value co-creation in inter-organizational collaboration, and second, can be better achieved by networks with a centralized governance mode. In doing so, this study contributes to the emerging field that tries to understand the role of IT in the functioning of inter-organizational networks

Integrating Industry Characteristics in Inter-Organizational IS Adoption Models: A Mixed Method Approach

There are a number of benefits that can be achieved if information is shared automatically between partner organizations. While inter-organizational systems (IOS) are considered to be well adopted, a number of industries, amongst others the wood industry, lag far behind. This study aims to explain how industry characteristics can contribute to the explanation of this low adoption phenomenon. Based on eleven case studies and 204 survey responses, this mixed method study identifies five industry characteristics and their influence on adoption factors. The identified industry characteristics are organizational size, aged staff, low diffusion of IS, low government support, and heterogeneity in IT infrastructures. A theoretical model is developed integrating the industry characteristics and the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework constructs. This study demonstrates that partner pressure, relative advantage, regulatory environment, and technological readiness significantly influence the adoption of IOS. Thus, this research provides valuable insights and offers guidance for policymakers and practice on factors leading to an improved adoption. As well, we conduct a new research design to identify industry-specific actions to help improve the adoption of IOS

Stratigraphic analysis of lake level fluctuations in Lake Ohrid: an integration of high resolution hydro-acoustic data and sediment cores

Ancient Lake Ohrid is a steep-sided, oligotrophic, karst lake that was tectonically formed most likely within the Pliocene and often referred to as a hotspot of endemic biodiversity. This study aims on tracing significant lake level fluctuations at Lake Ohrid using high-resolution acoustic data in combination with lithological, geochemical, and chronological information from two sediment cores recovered from sub-aquatic terrace levels at ca. 32 and 60m water depth. According to our data, significant lake level fluctuations with prominent lowstands of ca. 60 and 35m below the present water level occurred during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 6 and MIS 5, respectively. The effect of these lowstands on biodiversity in most coastal parts of the lake is negligible, due to only small changes in lake surface area, coastline, and habitat. In contrast, biodiversity in shallower areas was more severely affected due to disconnection of today sublacustrine springs from the main water body. Multichannel seismic data from deeper parts of the lake clearly image several clinoform structures stacked on top of each other. These stacked clinoforms indicate significantly lower lake levels prior to MIS 6 and a stepwise rise of water level with intermittent stillstands since its existence as water-filled body, which might have caused enhanced expansion of endemic species within Lake Ohrid

Chemoprofiling as Breeding Tool for Pharmaceutical Use of Salix

Willow bark is traditionally used for pharmaceutical purposes. Evaluation is so far based on the salicylate content, however, health promoting effects of extracts might be attributed to the interaction of those salicylates with other compounds, which support and complement their action. So far, only S. purpurea, S. daphnoides, and S. fragilis are included in pharmaceutical extracts. Crossing with other species could result in a more diverse secondary metabolite profile with higher pharmacological value. With the help of targeted inter- and intraspecific crossing, new chemotypes were generated, whereby nine different Salix genotypes (S. alba, S. daphnoides, S. humboldtiana, S. lasiandra, S. nigra, S. pentandra, S. purpurea, S. x rubens, S. viminalis) were included in the study. Based on substances known for their health promoting potential and characteristic for Salix (selected phenolic compounds including salicylates), a targeted metabolomics analysis and clustering of 92 generated Salix clones was performed revealing four different cluster/chemoprofiles. In more specific, one group is formed by S. daphnoides clones and inter- and intraspecific hybrids, a second group by S. viminalis clones and inter- and intraspecific hybrids, a third group generally formed by S. alba, S. pentandra, S. x rubens, and S. lasiandra clones and hybrids, and a fourth group by S. purpurea clones and inter- and intraspecific hybrids. Clustering on the basis of the selected phenolic compounds can be used for identifying Salix clones with a different compound profile. New combinations of secondary plant metabolites offer the chance to identify Salix crosses with improved effects on human health.Peer Reviewe