Magister Commercii (Information Management) - MCom(IM) / Information Technology (IT) architecture is not restricted to technology, but may also address the views of business activities; their processes; data sets and information flows; applications and software; and technology. The objective of this study is to understand the role of IT Architecture and related factors that support competitive business advantage. This study investigates the null hypothesis: IT architecture enhances the competitive advantage of business. This study sets out to explore IT architecture and strategic factorsthat support business advantage. The study findings indicated that business advantage is supported by a sound architecture, by IT and business alignmentand by the enablers of organisations. / South Africa

The UK National Health Service (NI-IS) has undergone massive reform over the last ten years. Many of the changes have been connected with the introduction of business and management concepts into a public service. Part of this process has been the introduction of the principles of quality improvement through the process of Clinical Audit. This thesis proposes that the practice of Clinical Audit is often not resulting in an improvement in the quality of patient care. It suggests that this is due to many audit projects not completing the audit cycle. This failure to complete the audit cycle is attributed to the lack of completeness in many audit approaches and to human failure to actually carry out recommended changes in practice unless there is a mechanism to check that such changes occur. In an effort to address these issues, a conceptual model for a structured method has been evaluated and tested on both historical and live audit projects. The method has been developed into a full audit approach (Clinical Audit Structured Method; CASM) encompassing all four stages of Deming's Process Improvement Cycle. However, some deficiencies have been identified with this method and it has been proposed that a computerised toolset (Clinical Audit Structured Toolset; CAST) be developed in order to address these issues. A conceptual model of such a toolset has been suggested and possible barriers to its development have been identified. In conclusion, an information based method has been developed for clinical audit in the NHS and the rationale behind its conception has been discussed and supported. The method itself has been tested and the author has supported the supposition that by improving the information management aspects of audit practice, audit practice could be improved thus resulting in an improvement in patient care.

The convenience and low cost of 802.11-based Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) complemented with 802.1 X authentication has led to widespread deployment in the consumer, industrial and military sectors. The combination of wireless signals radiating further than the intended coverage area, flaws in 802.11's basic security mechanisms and vulnerabilities found in 802.1 X have been widely publicized. Military bases and navy ships are open targets for wireless attacks. Wireless Intrusion Detection System (WIDS), provides an additional (external) layer of security by combining intrusion detection, fire walling, packet filtering and determining the physical location of the intruder.

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This thesis integrates three disciplines: geosciences, computer science, and museum collections management. Although these are not commonly integrated, by developing their intersection this thesis uniquely contributes a much-needed system for effectively managing geological collections. The lack of effective organization and management of collections can result in a serious problem: not only is history lost, but so is the potential for collection of further data from documented samples using newer analytical techniques. Using the Department of Geosciences at Virginia Tech as a beta testing ground, the electronic geological management system, EGEMS, was developed (Chapter 2). A database such as EGEMS should provide ready access to useful information including, a material's provenance or current location, as well as any published analytical data. Past experiences volunteering in museums have allowed the author to design a system that is easily queried for such information. The organizational scheme and data model integral to the functionality of EGEMS was driven by direct experiences with geological research, in particular the electron microprobe analyses of Mn-rich minerals from the Hutter Mine, Virginia (Chapter 1). The final component of this thesis (Chapter 3) describes a facet of museum science that is most important—communication. This project records the development of a museum exhibit. Titled "The Search for the Mysterious Mineral," this approach relies on pedagogical tools to engage the audience, and to illustrate how the scientific method used by a geologist is the same technique used in any problem solving. The exploration involved in these projects has lead to an enhanced understanding and appreciation for connections among generating, managing, and communicating geological information. / Master of Science

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Marchand, Kettinger and Rollins’s (2001) definition of Information Orientation gave us  an  overall  understanding  about  company’s  information  management.  Different from  Market  Orientation  and  Customer  Orientation  etc.,  Information  Orientation Theory  focuses  on  study  of  how  interaction  of  people,  information  and  technology affect  business  performance.  It  pursues  to  establish  an  infrastructure  of  information technology application capabilities within a business organization to achieve effective information  use  and  business  performance  improvement.  In  this  study,  we  are applying  Marchand’s  Information  Orientation  Theory  to  the  information  technology application system of the Sigma Kudos, an Information Logistics Company by using Case Study methodology. We learnt that Marchand’s Information Orientation theory and  its  entities  can  be  used  perfectly  to  exam  and  measure  the  information management  capability  of  the  company.  During  the  study,  we  find  out  many interesting  aspects  which  information  product  companies  need  to  consider  about. Among  of  them,  one  aspect  is  the  main  finding  from  this  study  that  we  integrate resource and vision/strategy to the Information Orientation Theory as they are also the key areas that have an effective impact to a company’s business performance.

<p>&quot / Information Technology (IT) architecture is not restricted to technology, but may also address the views of business activities / their processes / data sets and information flows / applications and software / and technology. The objective of this study is to understand the role of IT Architecture and related factors that support competitive business advantage. This study investigates the null hypothesis: IT architecture enhances the competitive advantage of business. This study sets out to explore IT architecture and strategic factorsthat support business advantage. The study findings indicated that business advantage is supported by a sound architecture, by IT and business alignmentand by the enablers of organisations...&quot / </p>

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<p>&quot / Information Technology (IT) architecture is not restricted to technology, but may also address the views of business activities / their processes / data sets and information flows / applications and software / and technology. The objective of this study is to understand the role of IT Architecture and related factors that support competitive business advantage. This study investigates the null hypothesis: IT architecture enhances the competitive advantage of business. This study sets out to explore IT architecture and strategic factorsthat support business advantage. The study findings indicated that business advantage is supported by a sound architecture, by IT and business alignmentand by the enablers of organisations...&quot / </p>