The fields of HCI and MIS share many concerns but have traditionally not shared literatures, theories and results. This special issue is a first attempt at bridging the disciplinary divide. In this paper, the history of both fields is briefly outlined and reasons for the independence of eachare examined. The criteria for paper inclusion are outlined and each paper is briefly introduced.

Planning a multi-day bicycle tour is a time intensive and difficult task. To enable cyclists to construct their own multi-day tour routes, we propose an automated system which, given an origin, destination, and points of interest, generates detailed bicycle tour routes of minimal perceived exertion. This dissertation is comprised of three bodies of work contained in chapters 2, 3, and 4, respectively. In the first work, chapter 2, we build and test a model of the perceived exertion of different categories of cyclists on a daily path within a long bicycle tour. We first propose an additive formula for calculating the perceived exertion of cyclists on component parts of a tour and then present the results of a survey designed to verify the accuracy of the model. In the second work, chapter 3, we describe an algorithmic procedure for transforming a traditional road graph into a topographical graph. To that end we use polyline data from the OpenStreetMap (OSM), elevation data from the U.S. Geological Survey, and a model of perceived exertion for bicyclists of different levels of expertise. Our topographical graph allows for the calculation of the perceived exertion over any sequence of road segments (a path) for bicyclists of different levels of expertise and serves as input for generating paths of minimal perceived exertion. In the final work, chapter 4, we describe a procedure for constructing bicycle routes of minimal perceived exertion for cyclists of different levels of expertise over a multi-day tour. Given a cyclists origin, destination, selected points of interest, and a level of cycling expertise, this procedure generates a multi-day bicycle tour as a collection of successive daily paths that begin and end at overnight accommodations. We demonstrate the implementation of this procedure on an example multi-day tour route in California and present the results of a survey designed to evaluate the daily paths constructed. In summation, this dissertation contributes a new metric of perceived exertion for bicycle riders, a new topographical graph, and a procedure for constructing multi-day bicycle tour routes of minimal perceived exertion for bicyclists of different levels of expertise.

No description available.

This is a case study of Linkage, and the factors that influence the social dimension of Linkage, as found in the Canadian Forces at the base, or business unit, level. In the course of this study, eight Canadian Forces bases or units were examined to assess their current state of Linkage with regard to Information Technology (IT) Management. The Department of National Defence is a public service organization responsible for the defence of Canada. Like many large organizations today, the Canadian Forces (CF), is faced with budget cuts, and needs to downsize. There is an awareness within the CF that effective use of IT is one way to improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness in a time of cutbacks. The traditional infrastructure of the CF has not kept pace with IT developments in functional areas, such as within its own Administration Branch. An information handling crisis is being faced by all Administration Branch personnel, and this situation is mirrored across other branches of the CF. In the course of this study of the business unit level of the CF, it was determined that Short and Long Term Linkage was influenced by Communication and Shared Domain Knowledge factors. Research results also indicated that Success in IT Implementation did not influence Linkage. Several other contributing factors were also identified, and a Canadian Forces Information Technology Management Partnership System was proposed to overcome these Linkage barriers. The importance of effective management of IT cannot be underestimated. If effective consideration of IT is made a part of the business planning process, Management Information Systems (MIS) practitioners will allow businesses, including militaries, to extract the full benefit and advantage from modern technological developments and procedures. Such is the goal of MIS, and of this work.

No description available.

The problem of the study was to develop a comprehensive model to assist administrators in designing and implementing an integrated information system in a university. The problem was developed because few affective, integrated information systems have been implemented to support decision-making in higher education.Through a review of the literature, an inquiry was conducted into several aspects of university organizations. Based on the inquiry and reaction to key questions, criteria for developing the model were established. To establish a general framework for conceptualizing a comprehensive system model, hierarchical levels in terms of phase, segment, and activity were utilized. Components of the model were developed. The model was evaluated by a group of five experts responsible for and involved in implementing an information system at Ball State University.A review of literature and research relating to the development of a comprehensive model involved the systems approach, organizational and administrative theory, and information systems in higher education. Included were the nature and elements of the systems approach. Organizational and administrative theory were discussed, as were theoretical perspectives, the university as an organizational system, and levels of an organizational system. Comprehensive aspects regarding information systems involved the nature, needs, approaches, structure, status, and integration. The problems, considerations, and procedures for implementing an effective information system were also discussed.The criteria for an effective integrated information system were developed on the basis of connecting all levels of organization, encompassing all functions within an organization, establishing an integrated data base, utilizing appropriate computer technology, and incorporating the human-behavioral element. The criteria for implementing an effective integrated information system comprised extensive user involvement, considerable participation and support of top-level administrators, coordination and communication between technical and user personnel, commitment of adequate resources for implementation, and incorporation of human-relations considerations.A comprehensive systems approach for implementing an integrated information system was developed by describing phases, segments-of phases, activities of segments, and tasks of activities. The main phases were identified as organizational analysis, systems design, implementation, and evaluation. The model was evaluated as developed based on the criteria.Conclusions regarding the value of the model for implementing a computer-based integrated information system in a university are presented. Information relevant to each function and decision must be coordinated among planning, managerial control, and operation. All personnel involved in a system must be aware of informational needs for instruction, student, business, and public affairs. Data regarding students, curriculum, finance, facilities, personnel, and environmental must be stored so that any sequence or combination is available. Computer technology including larger and cheaper information storage, general retrieval systems, data base management systems, and planning models should be utilized. The human element including employee perceptions, preferences, and attitudes on the job must be considered. Extensive user involvement is necessary for success in implementing an integrated information system. Top-level administrators must participate and support the computer-based information system. Coordination and communication between technical and user personnel is necessary. Economic analysis should be applied. Human relations processes must be utilized. The systems approach is useful for implementing management information systems.

This research makes a significant contribution to existing information quality management theory by identifying a large number of relevant maturity indicators and mapping them to a staged evolutionary capability maturity model. The final product is a set of evaluation tools and methodologies, which are intended to assist with the identification of problems in information management as well as information quality management practices. Thus, IQM-CMM may provide organisations with a measure of their maturity in information quality management, along with recommendations for increasing the level of maturity. This may result in enhanced information quality, organisational learning and decision making.

Asset managers recognise that high-quality engineering data is the key enabler in gaining control of engineering assets. Although they consider accurate, timely and relevant data as critical to the quality of their asset management (AM) decisions, evidence of large variations in data quality (DQ) associated with AM abounds. Therefore, the question arises as to what factors influence DQ in engineering AM. Accordingly, the main goal of this research is to investigate DQ issues associated with AM, and to develop an AM specific DQ framework of factors affecting DQ in AM. The framework is aimed at providing structured guidance for AM organisations to understand, identify and mitigate their DQ problems in a systematic way, and help them create an information orientation to achieve a greater AM performance.

This thesis explores the relationship between information systems (IS) and organisational learning. The literature suggests that IS implementation and use can affect and stimulate organisational learning, including higher order learning. However, it is not well understood when and how IS enable and support and when they disable and prevent organisational learning. Furthennore, studies of the relationship between IS and organisational learning tend to reflect theoretical fragmentation of organisational learning literature - focusing either on the individual or on the organisation as a learning entity. The objective of this thesis is to explore the relationship between IS and organisational learning beyond these limitations, including different learning views from the individual up to the organizational. This is achieved by drawing from a Sensemaking perspective of organizations (Weick, 1995) that fills an important gap in linking infonnation systems, organizing, and learning. The Sensemaking perspective offers an understanding of human sensemaking and sense-'unmaking' as an essential individual, collective and organisational ingredient of organising and learning. By integrating Argyris and Sch??n' s (1978) theory of organisational learning with the sensemaking model of organizations this thesis suggests a more comprehensive view to explore the relationship between IS and organisational learning. Specifically this thesis examines the following research question: What are the ways and mechanisms by which information systems' implementation and use engage sensemaking in organisations, and how does such engagement engender or prevent organisational learning? This research question is investigated through an interpretive, longitudinal case study of the implementation and use of a loan approval information system in a large South-East Asian Bank. The study involved an extensive collection of data from the Bank headquarters and its branches, including 43 interviews, strategic and operational documents, IS project documents and informal discussions. The thesis makes two important contributions to knowledge. Grounded in empirical data, it first argues that the emergence of organizational learning when instigated by an IS implementation is likely to follow the pattern from 'not learning', to 'single-loop' to 'double-loop' learning. Secondly, it also proposes that an IS's likelihood to instigate organizational learning depends on the nature of sensemaking involved: a) if an IS implementation engages only individual, intra-subjective sensemaking organizational learning is not likely to occur and system is at risk of being rejected; b) for single-loop learning to emerge the engagement of intra- and inter-subjective sensemaking, mutually intertwined during an IS implementation, is required, and c)the change of mindset and double-loop learning can be achieved through the interplay of all sensemaking processes (intra, inter, generic-subjective and extra-subjective) in an IS implementation. This thesis puts to the test and demonstrates the value of the Sensemaking approach to the understanding of the relationship between IS implementation and organisational learning.

This research makes a significant contribution to existing information quality management theory by identifying a large number of relevant maturity indicators and mapping them to a staged evolutionary capability maturity model. The final product is a set of evaluation tools and methodologies, which are intended to assist with the identification of problems in information management as well as information quality management practices. Thus, IQM-CMM may provide organisations with a measure of their maturity in information quality management, along with recommendations for increasing the level of maturity. This may result in enhanced information quality, organisational learning and decision making.