Designing a dynamic system traffic control of a freight railway

This paper empathizes the interface design for a new control system for freight that was developed during the process of modernization in a company. On one side, there are managers, intermediate decision levels, that dialogue with the ergonomists and, on the other side, the operators with their own opinions about the system. These last ones are rarely asked by the managers about their opinions. The proposed system is configured from the opinions of the operators. Other problems, such as technology transfer and insistence of the managers about using similar systems obliged that the final project should include some modifications.     

ISM INTERVIEWS Mark Barmann

Abstract

Despite the importance of the topic, there are very few books about MIS economics, and most of those that are available are of an academic nature. One book that does offer a practical and unique view of how MIS managers can justify the “worth” of their systems is reviewed in this column. Also reviewed are two books offering strong opinions about two different MIS concerns – implementing CASE and improving productivity with structured walkthroughs.     

Analysis of the mental workload of city traffic control operators while monitoring traffic density: A field study

IntroductionIt is important to evaluate when and why the mental workload of operators increases during system operation. The city traffic control center (TCC) is a complex work system, and it is important to describe MW as a condition related to this. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the mental workload of operators while monitoring traffic loads in the city TCC.MethodsElectroencephalography and electrooculography data were collected from 16 operators while performing their daily work, in four conditions: resting state, low traffic density, high traffic density, and recovery. The Simplified-Subjective Workload Assessment Technique (S-SWAT) was used to evaluate the subjective workload of operators.ResultsThe findings indicate that operators experience a larger mental workload during high traffic density than during low traffic density (p < 0.001). TCC stressors led to significant changes in EEG bands, such as theta, alpha, and eye activity. Significant differences were observed for subjective ratings of MW (p < 0.001).ConclusionAlthough the working situations of TCC operators are repeated daily, their mental fatigue and stress level gradually increase, leading to deterioration in their mental health. It may be necessary periodically to monitor their mental health and to consider their organizational behavior during traffic density monitoring.Relevance to industrycomplex work systems have increased the requirement for many operators to conduct mental tasks in real work conditions such as city traffic density monitoring. When evaluating such workplaces, it is important to identify situations requiring increased mental workload that might impose additional stress on operators, decreasing their performance. Based on the results, the traffic control center director would be aware of the MW condition of the operators.     

Towards real-time GOMS: a model of expert behaviour in a highly interactive task

Abstract

We present an analysis of an expert performing a highly interactive computer task. The analysis uses GOMS models, specifying the Goals, Operators, Methods, and Selection rules used by the expert. Two models are presented, one with function-level operators which perform high-level functions in the domain, and one with keystroke-level operators which describe hand movements. For a segment of behaviour in which the expert accomplished about 30 functions in about 30 s, the function-level model predicted the observed behaviour well, while the keystroke-level model predicted only about half of the observed hand movements. These results, including the discrepancy between the models, are discussed.     

Ergonomic analysis of the effects of a telehandler's active suspended cab on whole body vibration level and operator comfort

IntroductionExposure to whole body vibration (WBV) is one of the most important risks for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The objective of the study was to investigate whether an active cab suspension system fitted on a telehandler was effective in reducing WBV and in improving comfort.MethodSixteen male healthy professional operators drove a telehandler on a 100 m ISO 5008 smooth track at two different speeds (5 and 12 kph) with activated and deactivated cab suspension system. Adopting an ergonomic approach, different aspects of the human-machine interaction were analyzed: 1) vibration transmissibility, 2) subjective ratings of general comfort and local body discomfort, and 3) anthropometric characteristics of the users.ResultsA series of ANCOVAs showed that the suspension system was effective in reducing WBV at both speeds but did not affect the perception of comfort by the operators. Moreover, individuals with higher Body Mass Index (BMI) experienced more comfort. Some neck/shoulder and lumbar complaints and perceived hard jolts seemed to remain even when the system was activated. No correlations were found between objective and subjective measures.Practical applicationsResults suggest that the operators, given their wide range of physical variability, may need more adjustable or customizable WBV reduction systems.     

Information systems curricula: Business versus academic viewpoints

This paper compares the results of a survey of managers of information systems activities in Fortune 500 organizations and a survey of information systems faculty of accredited business schools with respect to their opinions on the desired composition of undergraduate programs in information systems offered by schools of business. Information is presented on the respondent's opinions about the relative importance of: 1) educational output objectives that graduates of such programs might be expected to possess, and 2) courses and topics within courses designed to achieve these objectives. Similarities and differences between business and academic responses are analyzed.     

Are team personality and climate related to satisfaction and software quality? Aggregating results from a twice replicated experiment

ContextResearch into software engineering teams focuses on human and social team factors. Social psychology deals with the study of team formation and has found that personality factors and group processes such as team climate are related to team effectiveness. However, there are only a handful of empirical studies dealing with personality and team climate and their relationship to software development team effectiveness.ObjectiveWe present aggregate results of a twice replicated quasi-experiment that evaluates the relationships between personality, team climate, product quality and satisfaction in software development teams.MethodOur experimental study measures the personalities of team members based on the Big Five personality traits (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism) and team climate factors (participative safety, support for innovation, team vision and task orientation) preferences and perceptions. We aggregate the results of the three studies through a meta-analysis of correlations. The study was conducted with students.ResultsThe aggregation of results from the baseline experiment and two replications corroborates the following findings. There is a positive relationship between all four climate factors and satisfaction in software development teams. Teams whose members score highest for the agreeableness personality factor have the highest satisfaction levels. The results unveil a significant positive correlation between the extraversion personality factor and software product quality. High participative safety and task orientation climate perceptions are significantly related to quality.ConclusionsFirst, more efficient software development teams can be formed heeding personality factors like agreeableness and extraversion. Second, the team climate generated in software development teams should be monitored for team member satisfaction. Finally, aspects like people feeling safe giving their opinions or encouraging team members to work hard at their job can have an impact on software quality. Software project managers can take advantage of these factors to promote developer satisfaction and improve the resulting product.     

Managing technology transfer for coastal zone development: Caribbean experts identify major issues

Abstract

Remote sensing technology offers a set of tools that can be used in providing large amounts of data about coastal zone resources in a cost-efficient manner. However, this technology is not being applied to development activities to the extent that it could be. This paper provides a summary of Caribbean experts' opinions concerning this issue. Their responses include a discussion of technological factors, as well as other significant factors in the transfer process, such as political and economic constraints, that hinder the flow of technology to the region. The purpose of this research was to develop a series of recommendations that could be considered by policy-makers and managers concerned with remote sensing applications in the region.     

The Control Performance of Operators Controlling a Continuous Distillation Process†

Abstract

The research described in this paper was part of an investigation into human and task characteristics of jobs in more-or-less automated systems. An attempt was made to develop appropriate criteria of control performance for a simulated process control task. A field study was used to reveal possible problems in stating control goals and to assess some aspects of control behaviour. Eight operators controlling a real distillation plant were interviewed about their control behaviour. A decision scheme was developed and used to structure questions concerning control goals.

The results showed that operators controlling the same process differ widely in control goals due lo a lack of information concerning technical and economical aspects of the process. These findings stress the need for a careful defined control goal when experimenting with a laboratory process.     

Performance appraisal of software testers

ContextTo determine the effectiveness of software testers a suitable performance appraisal approach is necessary, both for research and practice purposes. However, review of relevant literature reveals little information of how software testers are appraised in practice.Objective(i) To enhance our knowledge of industry practice of performance appraisal of software testers and (ii) to collect feedback from project managers on a proposed performance appraisal form for software testers.MethodA web-based survey with questionnaire was used to collect responses. Participants were recruited using cluster and snowball sampling. 18 software development project managers participated.ResultsWe found two broad trends in performance appraisal of software testers – same employee appraisal process for all employees and a specialized performance appraisal method for software testers. Detailed opinions were collected and analyzed on how performance of software testers should be appraised. Our proposed appraisal approach was generally well-received.ConclusionFactors such as number of bugs found after delivery and efficiency of executing test cases were considered important in appraising software testers’ performance. Our proposed approach was refined based on the feedback received.     

Designing an integrated AHP based decision support system for supplier selection in automotive industry

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose a decision support model for supplier selection based on analytic hierarchy process (AHP) using a case of automotive industry in a developing country of Pakistan and further performs sensitivity analysis to check the robustness of the supplier selection decision.MethodologyThe model starts by identifying the main criteria (price, quality, delivery and service) using literature review and ranking the main criteria based on experts’ opinions using AHP. The second stage in the adopted methodology is the identification of sub criteria and ranking them on the basis of main criteria. Lastly perform sensitivity analysis to check the robustness of the decision using Expert Choice^ۛ software.FindingsThe suppliers are selected and ranked based on sub criteria. Sensitivity analysis suggests the effects of changes in the main criteria on the suppliers ranking. The use of AHP in the supplier selection gives the decision maker the confidence of the consistency and the robustness throughout the process.Practical implicationsThe AHP methodology adopted in this study provides managers in automotive industry in Pakistan with the insights of the various factors that need to be considered while selecting suppliers for their organizations. The selected approach also aids them in prioritizing the criterion. Managers can utilize the hierarchical structure of adopted supplier selection methodology suggested in this study to rank the suppliers on the basis of various factors/criteria.Originality/valueThis study makes three novel contributions in supplier selection area. First, AHP is applied to automotive industry and use of AHP in the supplier selection gives decision maker the confidence of the consistency. Second, sensitivity analysis enables in understanding the effects of changes in the main criteria on the suppliers ranking and help decision maker to check the robustness throughout the process. Last, we find it important to come with a simple methodology for managers of automotive industry so that they can select the best suppliers. Moreover, this approach will also help managers in dividing the complex decision making problem into simpler hierarchy.     

User Perceptions of MetaLib Combined Search: An Investigation of How Users Make Sense of Federated Searching

SUMMARY

This article presents an investigation of users' understanding of MetaLib Combined Search (MCS), a federated search system implemented for the Washington Research Library Consortium. Through a survey instrument, librarians and students reported their experience, usage, and opinions of the system. Upon responding to process-related questions about a search simulation included in the questionnaire, participants described and illustrated their understanding of MCS operation. Data show that students considered MCS primarily as a tool for locating full text, while librarians viewed it as a secondary search tool with disappointing performance. In discussing MCS operation, students focused largely on full-text retrieval capability and search efficiency whereas librarians paid more attention to search strategies and retrieval quality. Both students and librarians indicated that the lack of background information about MCS operation was problematic. Both groups identified knowledge and skills related to federated searching for information literacy programs. Implications of the findings for information literacy, interface design, and system development were explored.     

MANAGING DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING Five Practices for Success

Abstract

Management of distributed environments requires corporate IS managers to shift from being operators of a central utility to facilitators who can recognize the synergy among loosely related groups of users. Success depends on the development of new ways of visualizing and measuring the service delivery process.     

Evaluating performance in the development of software-intensive products

ContextOrganizational performance measurements in software product development have received a lot of attention in the literature. Still, there is a general discontent regarding the way performance is evaluated in practice, with few studies really focusing on why this is the case. In this paper research focusing on the context of developing software-intensive products in large established multi-national organizations is reported on.ObjectiveThe purpose of this research is to investigate performance measurement practices related to software product development activities. More specifically, focus is on exploring how managers engaged in software product development activities perceive and evaluate performance in large organizations from a managerial perspective.MethodThe research approach pursued in this research consist of exploratory multiple case studies. Data is collected mainly through 54 interviews in five case studies in large international organizations developing software-intensive products in Sweden. Focused group interviews with senior managers from eight companies have also been used in the data collection.ResultsThe results of this research indicate that managers within software product development in general are dissatisfied with their current way of evaluating performance. Performance measurements and the perception of performance are today focused on cost, time, and quality, i.e. what is easily measurable and not necessarily what is important. The dimensions of value creation and learning are missing. Moreover, measurements tend to be result oriented, rather than process oriented, making it difficult to integrate these measurements in the management practices.ConclusionManagers that are dissatisfied with their performance measurement system and want to improve the current situation should not start by focusing on the current measurements directly; instead they should focus on how the organization perceives performance and how important performance criteria are being developed. By developing relevant performance criteria the first step in developing an effective performance measurement system is made. Moreover, it is concluded that manager’s perception of performance is affected by the currently used measurements, hence limiting the scope of the performance criteria. Thus, a change in the way managers perceive performance is necessary before there can be any changes in the way performance is evaluated.     

A modular package manager architecture

ContextThe success of modern software distributions in the Free and Open Source world can be explained, among other factors, by the availability of a large collection of software packages and the possibility to easily install and remove those components using state-of-the-art package managers. However, package managers are often built using a monolithic architecture and hard-wired and ad-hoc dependency solvers implementing some customized heuristics.ObjectiveWe aim at laying the foundation for improving on existing package managers. Package managers should be complete, that is find a solution whenever there exists one, and allow the user to specify complex criteria that define how to pick the best solution according to the user’s preferences.MethodIn this paper we propose a modular architecture relying on precise interface formalisms that allows the system administrator to choose from a variety of dependency solvers and backends.ResultsWe have built a working prototype–called MPM–following the design advocated in this paper, and we show how it largely outperforms a variety of current package managers.ConclusionWe argue that a modular architecture, allowing for delegating the task of constraint solving to external solvers, is the path that leads to the next generation of package managers that will deliver better results, offer more expressive preference languages, and be easily adaptable to new platforms.     

Private Camera Conversation: a new method for eliciting user responses?

Abstract

This paper discusses a new method called Private Camera Conversation. This method can be used to elicit user opinions on various subjects like their use of products. Initial impressions of the method are given on the basis of three small studies in which the method was employed. The method has not yet been validated and compared with existing human factors methods. This study reports the first findings of the application of the method. With Private Camera Conversation people are invited to talk about a particular topic in private to a video camera. The participants themselves decide when they want to start and when they want to stop the recording session. Initial impressions arc that the method has potential benefits for eliciting rich and useful responses even with respect to ‘personal’ issues. The Private Camera Conversation method seems particularly suitable for obtaining information about the social context in which products are used and about qualitative aspects of product use. The method is inviting and entertaining for participants and easy and effective to carry out. Optimal exploitation of the method has to be realized through further development. We hope this article will be a catalyst for further research.     

NT Security Questions and Answers

Abstract

Last July Microsoft's Web site was practically inaccessible for one day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It was the second time that Microsoft's site had been hacked in as many weeks. Both incidents had high visibility and received national press coverage (the author first read about this second incident in The New York Times). Little wonder then that Windows NT network managers and their bosses are becoming more aware of Windows NT security issues.     

Information Literacy for the CEO

Abstract

Computers and information technology are a relatively new concern of today's CEOs and senior managers. Because many have attained their positions without being computer literate, they feel it is either too late to learn or that their involvement is irrelevant. This article discusses techniques that IS executives can employ to help make their CEOs and senior managers information literate.     

Nine Pitfalls in Implementing Packaged Applications Software

Abstract

Users who have high expectations for a new system too often become disappointed once they discover the system does not live up to their dreams. Some IS managers circumvent this problem by purposely setting expectations too low. However, high expectations do not have to be a guarantee for disappointment and dissatisfaction.     

Information administrative support of decision processes in organizations

Twenty-four high-level managers, working with information administration, from twenty large organizations of different kinds, were interviewed about how they perceived information administration and present information administrative practices. ADP-managers saw greater promise in the concept of information administration than did information managers. Many informants were concerned that planned information administration could lead to control and restriction of the information flow rather than to a supportive and facilitative approach. Furthermore, most informants reported various deficiencies in current information handling practices. The consequences of the results for improved IT use in organizations are discussed.