Implementing Information Systems: Some Practical Advice and a Richer Model

Recent research suggests that implementing information systems presents considerable difficulties and that many implementations are total or partial failures. This paper argues that what both practitioners and students require are richer and more acceptable models of information systems implementation. Accordingly, case study data concerning the introduction of manufacturing resource planning (MRP II) are used to illustrate five patterns of behaviour (rites) which capture important social actions; and four components of changing psychological orientation. It is argued that appreciation of the rites and psychological developments identified here will support effective change programmes. Guidelines based on our model are provided for practitioners.     

Validation of a Method for Quantitation of Soybean Lectin in Commercial Varieties

Soybean agglutinin (SBA) protein, also known as soybean lectin, is regarded as an anti‐nutrient due to its negative effect on the ability of monogastric animals to gain weight following consumption of raw soybean seed. Historically, SBA has been measured using a time‐consuming and cumbersome hemagglutination procedure. The objective of our research was to obtain a validated methodology that is precise and accurate in the measurement of SBA while allowing minimally equipped laboratories to effectively conduct the analysis, thus our focus was on evaluating an existing commercially available ELISA, an enzyme‐linked‐lectin‐assay (ELLA), and a hybrid ELISA/ELLA. A new ELLA technique that can detect and quantify lectins was chosen and modified specifically for the quantitation of SBA in soybean seed. The proposed ELLA methodology is similar to a standard sandwich ELISA, and uses polyacrylamide‐linked N‐acetylgalactosamine (Gal–NAc–PAA) for a capture phase and the biotinylated version (Gal–NAc–PAA–Biotin) for detection. Based upon the validation data, the ELLA method can precisely and accurately determine soybean lectin levels in soybean seed. The validated ELLA method was used to quantify SBA in nine commercial soybean varieties introduced between 1972 and 2008 and demonstrated that the natural variability of SBA is subject to the effects of genotype and environment.     

From data to knowledge: The interaction between data management systems in educational institutions and the delivery of quality education

No school is an island; it is a part of a continuum or a pipeline of institutions which together form an educational pipeline through which groups of students pass. To turn a body of data into useful information for knowledge-based decision-making at any level, data must be collected, organised, analysed and reflected upon. The purpose of this paper is to discuss how schools and other educational institutions can not only collect better data but learn how to transform that data so that the information held within can be effectively shared among all stakeholders. This process will help to ensure that the school and the entire education system provide a more seamless and effective educational pipeline for students, and ultimately improve the quality of education delivered in the country as a whole.     

Comparison of filter media,plant communities and microbiology within constructed wetlands treating wastewater containing heavy metals

The aim of this study was to investigate the treatment efficiency of passive vertical‐flow wetland filters containing Phragmites australis and/or Typha latifolia and granular media of different adsorption capacities. A cost–benefit analysis was performed on the characteristics of constructed wetlands. Cheap gravel and sand as well as expensive granular activated carbon, charcoal and Filtralite (light expanded clay) were used as filter media. Different concentrations of lead and copper sulfate were added to polluted urban beck inflow water in order to simulate pre‐treated mine wastewater, landfill leachate or highway runoff. The relationships between growth media, microbial and plant communities as well as the reduction of lead, copper, five‐day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in particular, and potentially pathogenic bacteria were investigated. A breakthrough of copper within the first 9 weeks was only recorded for filters containing media with limited adsorption capacities. The breakthrough was independent of the presence of plants. However, after maturation of the biomass, which dominated the schmutzdecke and litter zone, lead and copper concentrations were reduced by 97–99% and BOD by 41–60% in all wetlands. There appears to be no additional benefit in using macrophytes and expensive adsorption media in constructed wetlands to enhance metal reduction during the set‐up period of 5 months. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry