An empirical study to review and revise job responsibilities of software testers

The broad domain of software testing includes different job responsibilities such as creating test plans, devising and running a variety of tests, documenting results, to liaising between different development teams. In this paper, we attempt to collate a list of software testing job responsibilities by applying three different social research methodologies to collect information from different sources. We found that 'test' specific responsibilities are divided into several unit tasks including test suite generation, execution of test plans, and so on. We also found that along with test specific responsibilities, software testers must perform a number of other tasks common to other IT professionals in order to carry out their roles. © 2014 IEEE.

Security and privacy concerns for Australian SMEs cloud adoption: empirical study of metropolitan vs regional SMEs

New national infrastructure initiatives such as the National Broadband Network (NBN) allow small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Australia to have greater access to cost effective Cloud computing. However, the ability of Cloud computing to store data remotely and share services in a dynamic environment brings with it security and privacy concerns. Evaluating these concerns is critical to address the Cloud computing underutilisation issue and leverage the benefits of costly NBN investment. This paper examines the influence of privacy and security factors on Cloud adoption by Australian SMEs in metropolitan and regional area. Data were collected from 150 Australian SMEs (specifically, 79 metropolitan SMEs and 71 regional SMEs) and structural equation modelling was used for the analysis. The findings reveal that privacy and security factors do not significantly influence the decision-making of Australian SMEs in the adoption of Cloud computing. Moreover, the results indicate that Cloud computing adoption is not influenced by the geographical location (i.e., metropolitan or regional location) of the SMEs. The findings extend the current understanding of Cloud computing adoption by Australian SMEs. The results will be useful to SMEs, Cloud service providers and policy makers devising Cloud security and privacy policies.

A novel energy-efficient cross-application-layer platform with QoS-security support

Security provisioning is an essential part in the design of any communication systems, which becomes more critical for wireless systems. Devising a quality of service (QoS) mechanism to coexist security algorithms is a daunting, yet inevitable task. The aim of this novel research article is to present a novel energy efficient, cross-layer-based application-layer wireless system with simultaneous security and QoS supports, which revolves around the practical and low-cost implementation of Suite-B cryptographic algorithms (promulgated by the National Security Agency) and detailed analyses of the associated complexities. The focus of this article is on the novel cross-layer mechanism and its effectiveness to handle QoS-enabled treatment while offering security enhancements.

Rise of the machines: a critical consideration of automated leadership decision making in organizations

Machines are increasingly becoming a substitute for human skills and intelligence in a number of fields where decisions that are crucial to group performance have to be taken under stringent constraints—for example, when an army contingent has to devise battlefield tactics or when a medical team has to diagnose and treat a life-threatening condition or illness. We hypothesize a scenario where similar machine-based intelligent technology is available to support, and even substitute human decision making in an organizational leadership context. We do not engage in any metaphysical debate on the plausibility of such a scenario. Rather, we contend that given what we observe in several other fields of human decision making, such a scenario may very well eventuate in the near future. We argue a number of “positives” that can be expected to emerge out of automated group and organizational leadership decision making. We also posit several anti-theses—“negatives” that can also potentially emerge from the hypothesized scenario and critically consider their implications. We aim to bring leadership and organization theorists, as well as researchers in machine intelligence, together at the discussion table for the first time and postulate that while leadership decision making in a group/organizational context could be effectively delegated to an artificial-intelligence (AI)-based decision system, this would need to be subject to the devising of crucial safeguarding conditions.

Planning for country: empowering built environment students with Indigenous protocols and knowledge

Increasingly, Built Environment (BE) professionals, including planner, architect and landscape architect practitioners, are becoming involved in the planning and design of projects for, and in direct consultation with Indigenous communities and their proponents. These projects range from inserting Indigenous cultural landscape analysis into planning schemes, including Indigenous protocols and aspirations in policy statements; designing cultural centres, information centres and housing; drafting cultural tourism strategies and devising cross-cultural land management plans. This entails working with Indigenous communities or their nominated representatives as stakeholders in community engagement, consultation, and planning processes. Critically, BE professionals must be able to plan and design with regard to Indigenous community’s cultural protocols, issues and values. Yet many (domestic and or international) students graduate with little or no comprehension of Indigenous knowledge systems or the protocols for engagement with the communities in which they are required to work, whether they be Australian or international Indigenous communities. Contextually, both PIA and the planning academe have struggled with coming to terms with this realm over the last 10 years. This paper will report on a recently completed Australian Government Office of Learning & Teaching (OLT) funded research project that has sought to improve opportunities to improve the knowledge and skills of tertiary students in the BE professions through the enhancement of their competency, appreciation and respect for Indigenous protocols and processes that also implicates the professional accreditation systems that these courses are accountable. It has proposed strategies and processes to expose students in the BE professions to Australian Indigenous knowledge and cultural systems and the protocols for engaging with Indigenous Australians about their rights, interests, needs and aspirations. Included in these findings is the provision of a tool that enables and offers guidance to BE tertiary students and academics how to enhance comprehension, exposure to, and knowledge and cultural systems of, Indigenous Australians. While the scope of this report is cross-BE, this paper will focus upon the planning practice, policy and academe realms.

Pedaços

This is a 50 minute solo performance work. Created by Magda Miranda and Rea Dennis Directed by Rea Dennis Performed by Magda Miranda Entitled 'Pedaços' - a Portuguese word meaning pieces or fragments, the performance is built on fragments: of text, of memory, of artifacts collected over a life, of cultural identity that is fractured through the passages of life, migration, the death of family members, and even ageing. Part of Dr Dennis' practice-led research the inquiry explores the way memory intersects with creative process, including spontaneity and decision making, when devising for theatre. Following a post-doc line of inquiry which yielded two previous works: Apart of and A Part From (2007) and Train Tracks and Rooftops (2010) in which Dennis performed and directed. The current work shifts focus to my work in a directorial role alone. It is performed by Magda​ and informed by her memory.