In the business domain, interviewing is the requirements elicitation technique of choice for practitioners participating in the development of software solutions. Interviewing is used for reasons such as its simplicity to implement, its familiarity with participants, and the ability to conduct more thorough analysis sessions. It is widely acknowledged that during interviews, experts experience difficulty with articulating their tacit knowledge. This can affect the interview technique. This dissertation examines the effectiveness of interview techniques in eliciting user requirements when knowledge is tacit. A framework is proposed to classify interview techniques using two dimensions developed in this study - specificity and structure. The framework is tested using a survey of qualified practitioners responsible for projects with varying levels of complexity that are 400 hours or less of effort. Multivariate statistical tests are performed to assess the effect of interview dimensions (specificity and structure) after accounting for requirements complexity and human factors. Results suggests that the two proposed dimensions, specificity and structures, do not have a strong effect on effectiveness in general. Further analysis is performed after taking into account the low sample sizes and the use of non-validated scales. This results in preliminary evidence that when there is more structure and less specificity, interview techniques trend towards a higher level of effectiveness. Overall, the dimensions of structure and specificity do not appear to significantly impact the effectiveness of interviewing techniques. The findings of this study are sufficient to encourage further work on the research model. Several suggestions are made for future research.

This dissertation presents the development of two methodologies to migrate legacy data elements to an open environment. Changes in the global economy and the increasingly competitive business climate are driving companies to manage legacy data in new ways. Legacy data is used for strategic decisions as well as short-term decisions. Data migration involves replacing problematic hardware and software. The legacy data elements are being placed into different file formats then migrated to open system environments. The purpose of this study, was to develop migration methodologies to move legacy data to an XML format the techniques used for developing the intermediate delimited file and the XML schema involved the use of system development life cycles (SDLC) procedures. These procedures are part of the overall SDLC methodologies used to guide this project to a successful conclusion. SDLC procedures helped in planning, scheduling, and implementing of the project steps. This study presents development methodologies to create XML schemas which saves man-hours. XML technology is very flexible in that it can be published to many different platforms that are ODBC compliant and uses TCPIIP as its transport protocol. This study provides a methodology that steers the step-by-step migration of legacy information to an open environment. The incremental migration methodology was used to create and migrate the intermediate legacy data elements and the FAST methodology was used to develop the XML schema. As a result the legacy data can reside in a more efficient and useful data processing environment.

The purpose of this dissertation was to develop and validate an instrument to identify factors critical to the successful implementation of human resource information systems (HRIS) based on client/server technology. An extensive review of the literature indicated that many organizations have attempted to implement client/server software applications, but that their efforts have often been unsuccessful. The small percentage of successful implementations is a significant problem considering that the vast majority of medium and large organizations today are migrating to a client/server computing environment. A correlational research study was conducted to examine the factors identified in the literature as client/server critical success factors and determine their relevance to client/server HRIS implementation success. The procedures for conducting this correlational research study included; (a) the development of a survey instrument, (b) a review of the instrument by an expert panel, (c) a pilot study to validate the instrument using a randomly selected population of 50 firms, and (d) the administration of the validated instrument to a sample of220 organizations. As a first step, a Likert scale questionnaire was developed based on the factors identified in the literature. To validate this instrument, a panel of client/server experts reviewed the survey instrument. This group of experienced systems professionals supported the validity of this instrument by giving it a mean score of 4.20 out of a possible 5.0. Next, a randomly chosen group of 50 HRIS professionals participated in a pilot study. These experts used the instrument to rate the importance of each factor to their specific HRIS client/server implementation and to assess the success of their project. Factor analysis and reliability tests supported the reliability of the instrument. As a final step, the survey instrument was administered to another randomly selected group of220 human resource systems professionals. The survey results were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics to determine the relationship between each factor and client/server HRIS implementation success as perceived by each respondent. Analysis of the descriptive data indicated that the factors were perceived to be important with mean scores ranging from a minimum of2.84 to a maximum of 4.68. Factor analysis resulted in the identification of 17 items that loaded significantly on seven factors including; (I) implementation methodology, (2) business integration, (3) technology planning, (4) technology selection, (5) system integration, (6) project scope, and (7) management support. Correlation analysis was conducted to test the hypotheses and identify associations between these factors and success. It was concluded that (a) there is a positive relationship between system integration and success, (b) there is a positive correlation between project scope and success, c) there is a negative correlation between technology planning and success, and (d) no significant association was found between success and implementation methodology, business integration, technology selection or management support. This research study concluded with the contribution of a validated instrument for measuring client/server critical success factors. This valid, reliable instrument can be used by organizations or other researchers interested in investigating the factors present in the implementation of a software application based on client/server technology.

Traditional methods that emphasize didactics and rote learning seem deficient to some medical educators. These approaches typically emphasize knowledge acquisition and retention of little relevance to practice. To improve problem solving, knowledge retention, and transfer, the educational strategy and philosophy of problem-based learning (PBL) is being used in medical education on-ground, face-to-face settings. The information age and advances in information technology now provide exciting new online education alternatives for physicians wanting to use this method to meet lifelong learning needs. The challenge for the instructional designer is how to migrate established face-to-face instructional methods to the online environment. The goal of this dissertation was to provide a unique instructional design model that details criteria to guide the development of online PBL environments in continuing medical education (CME). The work addresses the following research questions: What influence should learning theory have on the instructional architecture of online PBL used to educate professionals in medical practice? How can computer technologies used in online instruction delivery incorporate relevant learning theories and cognitive principles to deliver effective online learning environments (OLEs) using the PBL method? What are the necessary elements in the development and implementation of a validated instructional design model for delivering online PBL in CME? This developmental research project also described how an OLE could be developed for physician continuing education in pain management along framework guidelines in order to illustrate concepts in the model and how it could be adapted to accommodate the course content of a particular medical specialty. Lessons learned in the process and implications for instructional design practice were discussed.

The last decade has seen the Internet as an enabler to assist the user on query searching and information needs. Searching for information on the Internet differs in significant ways. To adequately support retrieval tasks, search engines require an array of emerging technologies. As supporting tools, they are of great value to the user by providing relevant results specific to a given query. This study examined Internet agents from the perspective of fixed learning and evolutionary learning with selected search engines. Internet agents refer to the intelligent software residing in search engines to process and access information on behalf of the user. The goal of this research was to measure whether user performance varies as a result of retrieving information across selected agent types. The literature in software agents and intelligent interfaces emphasize that two fields of study guide their general development, Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). This study applied seminal models in Information Systems as the theoretical base. Norman's seven-stage model of interaction, Simon's satisficing theory, and Goodhue's Task Technology Fit model are introduced to help explain the user interaction with Internet agents. Two field experiments were performed to empirically test four hypotheses and answer one research question. The study was conducted at the California State University Los Angeles, Computer Information Systems department, using a sample of 60 students. User performance and personalization features were evaluated with four search engines. Using primary data, the study indicates that Internet agent types were positively associated with finding relevant results for the user. Conversely, self-evaluations on user performance were not significantly different between agent types. Research limitations are discussed as well as the contributions to the field and recommendations for future studies.

In the current information-rich society, computer-related technology must become a tool used routinely in order for all people to effectively learn, and then work. Teachers must be encouraged to use computer technology within the coursework, and be professionally trained and supported in this endeavor. Although the requirements in the workplace have been changing over the years, entry into the 21st century labor force demands that the schools keep pace with these changes, many of which have resulted in curriculum reform. The United States Department of Education has concluded that it is crucial for teachers to be technologically proficient if they are to meet the students' needs. The obligation to be better informed about effective uses of technology has, therefore, become a priority of the United States Congress and many state legislatures. State education departments and school districts have established new goals to assure that students learn specific skills and competencies. The goal of this study was to enable high school teachers to infuse online components into the coursework using constructivist theory. The process by which this goal was achieved was through the development of HSTOR-E (High School Teachers' Online Resource Environment), an online community where, during the fall semester of 2003, high school teachers acclimated themselves to the online atmosphere for learning. While being mentored, sharing their ideas and knowledge with other participants, and using online primary source American history documents, they expanded their knowledge base and learned to infuse technology into their coursework appropriately. The implementation of the website and online learning environment worked as a course. A case study approach was used. It is expected that this study will serve as a model for school districts, state education departments, and the United States Department of Education, as all prepare to expand the use of technology in content areas.

Adoption and use of ecommerce by small businesses is generally understood to be rather slow, though the reasons are unclear. In this research, the factors (called critical success factors) affecting the adoption and continued use of e-commerce technologies are studied. Three well known theoretical frameworks and views from strategy literature have traditionally provided theoretical reasons for identifying factors a small business would use to successfully employee-commerce technologies in their organization, viz., the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework, the chain of causality (C of C) and the resource-based view (RBV). In this study, a model called the critical success factors model, was developed to study adoption and use of e-commerce technologies by service-oriented small businesses. The model utilizes factors identified by the three established frameworks and contextualized them to small business and e-commerce. The model is empirically tested using data collected from (146) small business firms. Analyses and results suggest that the employee's computer expertise, the decision maker's ability and willingness to innovate, and the degree to which ecommerce technologies integrate with existing infrastructure significantly affect the longevity of system use. Therefore it is suggested that a manager (small business owner) planning an e-commerce system should try to be innovative in the use of e-commerce applications and technologies in their organization, hire skilled people to handle their e-commerce systems, and carefully analyze the benefits versus the costs of integrating e-commerce systems with existing infrastructure.

The study investigated whether the social organization based on informal communication of scientific research groups has changed with the use of computer mediated- communication. A population of 101 investigators of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) currently working in the United States was identified. Scientists were asked on a survey questionnaire to name the persons they contact three or more times per year concerning their work. In addition, investigators of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness were asked whether they use computer-mediated-communication to discuss their work with their colleagues and, if so, which media of CMC they use. The following media were considered: electronic mail, electronic mailing lists, electronic bulletin boards and real-time chat facilities. Forty-nine per cent of the scientists responded to the survey representing forty-nine per cent of the estimated population of investigators of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness. Using social network analysis methods, the study identified the social organization based on informal communication of the research group. The social structure consisted of a network of 47 connected scientists, 5 disconnected subgroups and 39 isolates. The social organization also contained an invisible college of six scientists whose members scored significantly higher on measures informal communication and intellectual influence. Seventy-nine per cent of the respondents use computer mediated- communication for informal communication. In addition, computer mediated- communication increased the number of scientists, particularly peripheral scientists, who participate in informal discussions. The study concluded that the social organization of investigators of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness has not changed. As in earlier investigations (Blau, 1978; Crane, 1972; Crawford, 1970; Weedman, 1993; Zaltman, 1974) an invisible college was identified however, the study also concluded that the invisible college shares its role in the dissemination of informal communication with conversations on the electronic networks. Future study of international scientific research groups, emerging computer communication technologies and the content of informal communication relations was recommended.

Kean College of New Jersey, one of eight colleges in the state's higher education system, has often failed to include professional librarians in much of the campus decision making. Lack of participation may be due a lack of aggressiveness on the part of the librarians or to the long held perceptions by administrators that the library is only a storehouse. Library space has been appropriated for other purposes although seating and shelving area needs are in short supply. The library is considered a support service, not an academic department. Professional librarians are not thought of as involved in instruction. The distribution of college information and the allocation of resources are based on Schools, Departments, Teaching Credit Hours and the employee category of faculty. New Jersey State College librarians lost faculty status and academic rank in 1970. Decision makers are unaware of the effect technology has had on information retrieval and the potential value of telecommunications in accessing distant databases for research purposes. The role of a college library in computer conferencing, networks, and electronic mail delivery is as yet undeveloped at Kean. Academics must be educated to seeing the library as the center of major developments in the use of communication technologies. This will become clearer with an online public catalog and Compact Disk workstations in the library. To alleviate the problems of omission of the library in the planning process and to increase recognition of the changing role of academic librarianship, procedures were undertaken to 1. Obtain appointment to college committees where decisions are made, and 2. To demonstrate online information retrieval to interested colleagues. The opportunity to participate on the various advisory bodies involved in implementation of a Governor's Challenge Grant made the library representative a visible, active partner. Classroom faculty are unfamiliar with the new modes of thinking and learning that are involved in establishing search strategies for information retrieval. The increasing instructional responsibility of academic librarians with the growth of machine-stored data must be demonstrated. The results of this study helped achieve closer communication with college leaders and broadened their understanding of the changing role of academic librarians. Library presence made it possible to extend certain rights and privileges for librarians through the revision or expansion of policy documents. Movement from the periphery of the college through service on campus committees and an awakened awareness of the new role for librarians were the goals of the project. The rewards are believed to be increased recognition and respect as librarians are seen and treated as colleagues by classroom faculty through their joint participation in common endeavors. The significance of bibliographic instruction was demonstrated and also the value to classroom faculty of Online information retrieval. There was librarian participation in the implementation of the goals of the Governor's Challenge Grant particularly in plans for computers in the curriculum and further development of the new General Education program. Involvement in plans for a local area network and the Primix system were explored. The political action of participation, cooperation with administration and classroom faculty, must be initiated by the librarians themselves or they will continue to be overlooked. This is advocated throughout the literature of librarianship. Political action was the method taken to awaken colleagues to an appreciation of their academic library in an information age.

Electronic commerce (e-commerce) and online advertising have exploded on the Internet. The Internet advertising frenzy resulted in revenue that topped $1.953 billion for the first quarter of 2000 (Internet Advertising Bureau, 2000a). Revenues for the first quarter swelled almost 10% over the fourth quarter of 1999 and 182% over the first comparative quarter of 1999. The continued growth of e-commerce is reflected by the interactive nature of the Internet, which has provided abundant opportunities for companies to promote their goods and services. Given the promise of the Web as a medium for e-commerce and advertising, businesses are turning to online advertising because it has enormous communication power. Although companies are allotting more of their budgets for online advertising, advertisers are searching for the most effective online advertising models to reach their audience. This research study investigated the prevalent online ad models and developed a new online advertising model to enhance conversion events, the Enhanced Conversion Events Model (ECEM). The ECEM included four criteria: (I) emotional and rational appeals, (2) ad dynamics, (3) pull based, and (4) metrics. An online ad, VCwheels, was developed based upon the ECEM and deployed on Ventura County Star newspaper's Web site, insidevc.com. Its metrics, provided by DoubleClick's NetGravity, were compared to other online business ads' metrics deployed during the same time frame on insidevc.com. Analyses and findings of the new online ad model's effectiveness were determined by its September 200 I 's measurement results and a summative committee meeting. Based on the metrics provided by NetGravity, VCwheels elicited a higher click-through rate than the 15 other ads deployed during the same time frame (i.e., September 200 I). This research has significant implications for practitioners and academic researchers as it gleans from the ECEM's results. Findings demonstrate that the ECEM enhances conversion events. The theoretical underpinnings of the ECEM punctuated with its practical application and results offer academic researchers and industry practitioners with recommendations for expansion and exploration of effective online advertising models.