Comparing novice designer performance using a rule -based approach versus a pattern -based approach in conceptual data modeling tasks

Conceptual database design is an unusually difficult and error-prone task for novice designers. This study examined how two training approaches---rule-based and pattern-based---might improve performance on database design tasks. A rule-based approach prescribes a sequence of rules for modeling conceptual constructs, and the action to be taken at various stages while developing a conceptual model. A pattern-based approach presents data modeling structures that occur frequently in practice, and prescribes guidelines on how to recognize and use these structures. This study describes the conceptual framework, experimental design, and results of a laboratory experiment that employed novice designers to compare the effectiveness of the two training approaches (between-subjects) at three levels of task complexity (within subjects). Results indicate an interaction effect between treatment and task complexity. The rule-based approach was significantly better in the low-complexity and the high-complexity cases; there was no statistical difference in the medium-complexity case. Designer performance fell significantly as complexity increased. Overall, though the rule-based approach was not significantly superior to the pattern-based approach in all instances, it out-performed the pattern-based approach at two out of three complexity levels. The primary contributions of the study are (1) the operationalization of the complexity construct to a degree not addressed in previous studies; (2) the development of a pattern-based instructional approach to database design; and (3) the finding that the effectiveness of a particular training approach may depend on the complexity of the task.

Untangling a Web of Lies: Exploring Automated Detection of Deception in Computer-Mediated Communication

Safeguarding organizations against opportunism and severe deception in computer-mediated communication (CMC) presents a major challenge to CIOs and IT managers. New insights into linguistic cues of deception derive from the speech acts innate to CMC. Applying automated text analysis to archival email exchanges in a CMC system as part of a reward program, we assess the ability of word use (micro-level), message development (macro-level), and intertextual exchange cues (meta-level) to detect severe deception by business partners. We empirically assess the predictive ability of our framework using an ordinal multilevel regression model. Results indicate that deceivers minimize the use of referencing and self-deprecation but include more superfluous descriptions and flattery. Deceitful channel partners also over structure their arguments and rapidly mimic the linguistic style of the account manager across dyadic e-mail exchanges. Thanks to its diagnostic value, the proposed framework can support firms’ decision-making and guide compliance monitoring system development.

Utilizing ICT to prevent loneliness and social isolation of the elderly. A literature review

Ageing of the population is a worldwide phenomenon. Numerous ICT-based solutions have been developed for elderly care but mainly connected to the physiological and nursing aspects in services for the elderly. Social work is a profession that should pay attention to the comprehensive wellbeing and social needs of the elderly. Many people experience loneliness and depression in their old age, either as a result of living alone or due to a lack of close family ties and reduced connections with their culture of origin, which results in an inability to participate actively in community activities (Singh & Misra, 2009). Participation in society would enhance the quality of life. With the development of information technology, the use of technology in social work practice has risen dramatically. The aim of this literature review is to map out the state of the art of knowledge about the usage of ICT in elderly care and to figure out research-based knowledge about the usability of ICT for the prevention of loneliness and social isolation of elderly people. The data for the current research comes from the core collection of the Web of Science and the data searching was performed using Boolean? The searching resulted in 216 published English articles. After going through the topics and abstracts, 34 articles were selected for the data analysis that is based on a multi approach framework. The analysis of the research approach is categorized according to some aspects of using ICT by older adults from the adoption of ICT to the impact of usage, and the social services for them. This literature review focused on the function of communication by excluding the applications that mainly relate to physical nursing. The results show that the so-called ‘digital divide’ still exists, but the older adults have the willingness to learn and utilise ICT in daily life, especially for communication. The data shows that the usage of ICT can prevent the loneliness and social isolation of older adults, and they are eager for technical support in using ICT. The results of data analysis on theoretical frames and concepts show that this research field applies different theoretical frames from various scientific fields, while a social work approach is lacking. However, a synergic frame of applied theories will be suggested from the perspective of social work.

Estudo empírico de antecedentes do sucesso de sistemas de informação: análise de um sistema de apoio à decisão em uma universidade pública

Universities are institutions that generate and manipulate large amounts of data as a result of the multiple functions they perform, of the amount of involved professionals and students they attend. Information gathered from these data is used, for example, for operational activities and to support decision-making by managers. To assist managers in accomplishing their tasks, the Information Systems (IS) are presented as tools that offer features aiming to improve the performance of its users, assist with routine tasks and provide support to decision-making. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the influence of the users features and of the task in the success of IS. The study is of a descriptive-exploratory nature, therefore, the constructs used to define the conceptual model of the research are known and previously validated. However, individual features of users and of the task are IS success antecedents. In order to test the influence of these antecedents, it was developed a decision support IS that uses the Multicriteria Decision Aid Constructivist (MCDA-C) methodology with the participation and involvement of users. The sample consisted of managers and former managers of UTFPR Campus Pato Branco who work or have worked in teaching activities, research, extension and management. For data collection an experiment was conducted in the computer lab of the Campus Pato Branco in order to verify the hypotheses of the research. The experiment consisted of performing a distribution task of teaching positions between the academic departments using the IS developed. The task involved decision-making related to management activities. The data that fed the system used were real, from the Campus itself. A questionnaire was answered by the participants of the experiment in order to obtain data to verify the research hypotheses. The results obtained from the data analysis partially confirmed the influence of the individual features in IS success and fully confirmed the influence of task features. The data collected failed to support significant ratio between the individual features and the individual impact. For many of the participants the first contact with the IS was during the experiment, which indicates the lack of experience with the system. Regarding the success of IS, the data revealed that there is no significance in the relationship between Information Quality (IQ) and Individual Impact (II). It is noteworthy that the IS used in the experiment is to support decision-making and the information provided by this system are strictly quantitative, which may have caused some conflict in the analysis of the criteria involved in the decision-making process. This is because the criteria of teaching, research, extension and management are interconnected such that one reflects on another. Thus, the opinion of the managers does not depend exclusively on quantitative data, but also of knowledge and value judgment that each manager has about the problem to be solved.

Modelo de gestão do conhecimento para a unidade organizacional de saúde

Nos últimos anos têm surgido vários debates e estudos sobre a importância do conhecimento. As organizações consideram a Gestão do Conhecimento (GC) uma vantagem competitiva, capaz de gerar riqueza e poder. Para tal necessitam de desenvolver mecanismos e de ter pessoas com capacidade de criar, compartilhar e disseminar conhecimentos na organização. As Tecnologias de Informação e os Sistemas de Informação são uma ferramenta de grande impacto na GC, pois assumem um papel importante no sucesso e na renovação dos conhecimentos. A partir do Modelo de GC desenvolvido por Nonaka e Takeuchi, o Modelo Metavisão, e as técnicas de Business lntelligence, elaborou-se um Modelo de Gestão do conhecimento para a Unidade de Saúde. Com este modelo pretende-se obter beneficies, que passam pelo desenvolvimento de mecanismos de comunicação interna, formação e melhorias no processo de tomada de decisão. ABSTRACT; During the last years, debates and studies have arisen in relation to the importance of knowledge. The organizations consider Knowledge Management a competitive advantage, capable of generating wealth and power. Therefore, new mechanisms have to be developed in the organizations and employ people with capacity to create, share and disseminate knowledge. The information and Communication Technology is an important tool and has a great impact on Knowledge Management because it assumes an important role in the success and the renovation of knowledge. The Model of Knowledge Management developed by Nonaka and Takeuchi, the "Metavision" Model and the techniques of Business intelligence were the starting point to elaborate a Model of Knowledge Management for a Health Unit. With this model we aim to obtain benefits, such as development of mechanisms of internal communication, training plans and improvement during the process of decision making.

A importância dos módulos logísticos do SIG na reorganização logistica e financeira do Exército

No âmbito do plano curricular do Mestrado em Administração Militar (AdMil) procedemos á realização do presente Trabalho de Investigação Aplicada (TIA) intitulado de “A importância dos módulos logísticos do SIG na reorganização logística e financeira do Exército”. É de referir que este assunto é de total interesse porque se enquadra no objetivo estratégico do Exército (OEPB10) que visa incrementar a gestão de recursos apoiada em sistemas de informação publicados na Diretiva de Planeamento do Exército para o biénio 2015 e 2016. O objetivo geral desta investigação é explicar se as funcionalidades do módulo MM do SIG respondem às necessidades do Exército. Pretendemos também identificar se o processo de compras logístico é utilizado em pleno, determinar se é possível fazer uma análise das compras já efetuadas e em curso, determinar se o Exército em SIG consegue gerir as suas existências em quantidade e valor, identificar se existe gestão de necessidades de reabastecimento das U/E/O em SIG e expor as vantagens e inconvenientes da sua utilização, descrever as vantagens da migração dos dados para a aplicação SIG de outras aplicações usadas para a gestão de stocks. O módulo MM do SIG integra a administração de materiais, planeamento, controlo dos materiais, compras, recebimentos de mercadorias, administração de stocks e verificação de faturas. A presente investigação trata-se de um estudo de caso, para tal recorremos ao método hipotético-dedutivo e aplicámos um estudo exploratório/descritivo. Nesta investigação procedeu-se à recolha de informação através de inquéritos por entrevista e por questionário, tendo sido selecionado consequentemente um método misto (qualitativo e quantitativo). Após a análise e discussão dos resultados concluímos que as funcionalidades do módulo MM do SIG implementado no Exército não respondem na totalidade às necessidades do Exército, em determinadas classes de abastecimento no âmbito das existências. Assim é de salientar que do antecedente foram implementadas as ferramentas MM compras centrais e locais, e desde o ano de 2014, têm sido implementados em sistema a gestão dos combustíveis e neste momento o fardamento. Acrescentamos que o módulo MM está integrado e como tal há necessidade de resolver vários problemas considerados externos, nomeadamente a agilização do processo da catalogação, a descentralização das compras que leva a que as U/E/O recorram maioritariamente à utilização de NNA genéricos, não possibilitando a gestão dos materiais em sistema SIG, o que resulta posteriormente numa apresentação incorreta da conta 3 das existências no balanço.

Plataforma de información financiera como herramienta de apoyo para la gestión y toma de decisiones en las Pymes

Las pymes se encuentran envueltas en problemas derivados en distorsiones del sistema empresarial, que incide en la mortalidad de las mismas: la falta de criterios para la toma de decisiones asertivas, lo cual tiene un impacto directo también en la economía en general, y contribuye al aumento del desempleo, la desaceleración económica y, finalmente, a la reducción de la calidad de vida de la sociedad -- El objetivo general de esta investigación consiste en proponer una plataforma de información financiera integral que se constituya en una herramienta de análisis para las pymes en Medellín, Colombia -- Para resolverlo, se desarrollan los siguientes objetivos específicos: 1. Diagnosticar la gestión empresarial en la toma de decisiones -- 2. Describir la información financiera necesaria para la toma de decisiones empresariales -- 3. Indicar los aspectos constitutivos de una plataforma financiera para la gestión empresarial -- Para mitigar esta problemática, la implementación del sistema de información financiero propuesto contribuye al entorno competitivo de las pymes, lo cual permite automatizar procesos, estabilidad laboral y empresarial, reducción de costos, accesibilidad a nuevas tecnologías y crear las bases para la toma de decisiones, con la finalidad de mejorar la competitividad de las micro, pequeñas y medianas empresas

Adopción de las TIC en micro, pequeñas y medianas empresas del Quindío mediante la identificación de factores clave para asesoría a partir de la innovación, la competitividad y la sostenibilidad

En este trabajo se pretende analizar cómo ha sido la adopción de las nuevas tecnologías en diez micro, diez pequeñas y diez medianas empresas del departamento del Quindío -- Se tomaron como punto de partida las ventajas y desventajas que muestra el estado del arte en la apropiación de las nuevas tecnologías de información y comunicación en los procesos de una organización y las posturas de diferentes teóricos en el tema -- Se elaboró una encuesta que permitiese indagar sobre factores clave en el momento en que una empresa decide empezar en el mundo tecnológico y se plantearon unas preguntas, en el esquema de entrevista, que posibilitasen interactuar con el empresario a manera de conversatorio, para darle la posibilidad al estudio de interpretar fenómenos adicionales que pudiesen estarse dando en la mencionada transición -- El análisis se soportó con funciones estadísticas de los datos consolidados en dicha encuesta y las relaciones entre variables para identificar el grado de impacto entre las mismas -- Por último, se entregan las conclusiones del estudio y algunas propuestas de adopción para las empresas estudiadas en el departamento del Quindío que así lo requieran, con el propósito de la Maestría en Administración, de la Universidad EAFIT, que es propiciar la relación empresa-universidad-Estado

Child injury in Brisbane South 1985-91: Implications for future injury surveillance

Specific childhood injury types are ranked by occurrence rate for mortality, hospital admission and emergency department attendance. Cases are drawn from the resident population of Brisbane South, 0-13 years of age, for the period 1 July 1985 to 30 June 1991. A total of 47,244 injuries, 7056 admissions and 99 deaths were analysed. The overall mortality rate was 12.6/100,000 per year (95% confidence interval (CI), 10.2-15.3), the overall admission rate was 911/100,000 per year (95% CI, 890-932) and the overall hospital attendance rate was 6013/100,000 per year (95% CI, 5958-6067). A fall was the most frequent injury mechanism for admissions and 65% of attendances involved injury in the child's own home. The surveillance data establish regional variation for childhood injury risk within Australia and identify an unexplained downward trend in head injury that requires further investigation. The future development of injury surveillance in Australia requires simplified coding which can be integrated into new computerized patient management information systems. Article in Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health 30(2):114-22 · May 1994

Construção e validação da first-check para avaliação primaria do doente na sala de emergência

Introdução: A elaboração de registos de enfermagem na Sala de Emergência constitui um desafio, havendo necessidade de documentar a avaliação inicial, as intervenções de enfermagem e a evolução do estado do doente. Metodologia: Os principais objectivos deste estudo descritivo foram: construir uma checklist de avaliação primária na Sala de Emergência, a First-Check; validar o seu conteúdo através de um painel Delphi e avaliar, na perspectiva dos enfermeiros, a usabilidade e utilidade da First-Check. Foi assim criada uma checklist de avaliação primária do doente na Sala de Emergência, a First-Check, baseada no ABCDE, como método facilitador dos registos de enfermagem, mas também da avaliação do doente e das próprias intervenções de enfermagem. A amostra foram 20 enfermeiros peritos em urgência e emergência e 35 enfermeiros que exerciam funções num serviço de urgência.Resultados: Inicialmente foi criado um painel de Delphi com um grupo de 20 peritos que num total de duas rondas procedeu à validação dos conteúdos da checklist. Posteriormente foi aplicado um questionário a uma amostra de 35 enfermeiros para estudar o instrumento quanto à sua usabilidade e utilidade. Estes participantes estão descontentes quanto ao modelo de registos de enfermagem actual e confirmam a usabilidade e utilidade da First-Check. Na sua opinião a First-Check vai promover o grau de satisfação dos enfermeiros quanto aos registos na Sala de Emergência, trazendo vantagens em relação ao modelo anterior e facilitando os registos de enfermagem. A First-Check é util para a avaliação primária do doente na Sala de Emergência, para a promoção da continuidade de cuidados, para melhorar a comunicação com a equipa multidisciplinar e para facilitar as intervenções de enfermagem ao doente na Sala de Emergência. Conclusão: A First-Check é válida e útil para a avaliação primária do doente na Sala de Emergência promovendo a qualidade dos cuidados prestados ao doente.

Smart Farming in Italian agriculture: essays on adoption and diffusion dynamics shaping the agricultural digital transition

Smart Farming Technologies (SFT) is a term used to define the set of digital technologies able not only to control and manage the farm system, but also to connect it to the many disruptive digital applications posed at multiple links along the value chain. The adoption of SFT has been so far limited, with significant differences at country-levels and among different types of farms and farmers. The objective of this thesis is to analyze what factors contributes to shape the agricultural digital transition and to assess its potential impacts in the Italian agri-food system. Specifically, this overall research objective is approached under three different perspectives. Firstly, we carry out a review of the literature that focuses on the determinants of adoption of farm-level Management Information Systems (MIS), namely the most adopted smart farming solutions in Italy. Secondly, we run an empirical analysis on what factors are currently shaping the adoption of SFT in Italy. In doing so, we focus on the multi-process and multi-faceted aspects of the adoption, by overcoming the one-off binary approach often used to study adoption decisions. Finally, we adopt a forward-looking perspective to investigate what the socio-ethical implications of a diffused use of SFT might be. On the one hand, our results indicate that bigger, more structured farms with higher levels of commercial integration along the agri-food supply chain are those more likely to be early adopters. On the other hand, they highlight the need for the institutional and organizational environment around farms to more effectively support farmers in the digital transition. Moreover, the role of several other actors and actions are discussed and analyzed, by highlighting the key role of specific agri-food stakeholders and ad-hoc policies, with the aim to propose a clearer path towards an efficient, fair and inclusive digitalization of the agrifood sector.

Land management systems : status of BLM's actions to improve information technology management : report to the Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives /

"B-284472"--P. 3.