Volume 2 Number 1
1999
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1-9

Development of a Video Network for Efficient Dissemination of the Graphical Images in a Collaborative Environment.

Anatoliy Gordonov & Michael Kress

Video distribution inside a local area network can impede or even paralyze normal data transmission activities.  The problem can be solved, at least for a while, by compression and by increasing bandwidth, but that solution can become excessively costly or otherwise impractical.  Moreover, experience indicates that usage quickly expands to test the limits of bandwidth.  In this paper we  introduce and analyze the architecture of a Hybrid Analog\Digital Video Network (ADViNet) which separates video distribution from standard data handling functions.  The network preserves the features of a standard digital network and, in addition, provides efficient real-time full-screen video transmission through a separate analog communication medium.  A specially developed control and management protocol is discussed.  For all practical purposes ADViNet may be used when graphical images have to be distributed among many nodes of a local area network.  It relieves the burden of video distribution and allows users to combine efficient video data transmission with normal regular network activities.

11-18

A Groupware-based Peer Review Process:
An Exploratory Case Study

Bridget N. O'Connor
New York University (USA)

This paper uses Lewin’s planned change theory and Rogers’ diffusion of innovation theory as lenses through which to describe what occurred in an organizationally flat, team-based organization when it rolled out a groupware-based peer review process.  The Information Systems Department wanted to implement a high-level groupware product.   The Human Resource Department wanted to enable team members to rate each other on their teambuilding skills as well as provide a criterion to be used by the organization’s Policy Committee in awarding biannual bonuses.   Literature related to corporate peer reviews as well as the use of groupware provided the basis for questions posed.   Both nondirective and focused interviews were conducted with key players and a sampling of actual evaluation data was collected.  Analysis indicated that perceived management (non)commitment to using peer review data and issues of confidentiality may have led many individuals to be skeptical about the value of a peer review.   As to the use of groupware to enable the evaluation, users were quite pleased; however, planners’ initial resistance to using this technology was evident and early efforts to devise usable reports were troublesome.

19-32

Expectations and Influencing Factors of IS Graduates and Education in Thailand: A Perspective of the Students, Academics and Business Community

Teay Shawyun, Ph.D.
Assumption University (Thailand)

As academic we have always been entrusted with developing the knowledge, skills, and capability of our IS students. In the strive for excellence in education, there is always the question of what has been implemented is appropriate and finally achieves its ultimate goals of delivering quality, capable and intellectual students as workforce for the business. To this end, this exploratory research tries to discover what knowledge, skills and capability are expected of an IS graduate, the facilities expected to develop these qualities and what influencing factors make the students go for an IS education. The research will be based on the perspectives of the student, academic and business community. The major findings highlight the overall tendency of higher mean expectation of the business community in most of the fundamental expectations of the type of knowledge, skills and capability and the facilities essential to the development of these attributes. The academics are normally supportive of the business community’s perspectives except in the dimensions of skill expectation and attitudinal factors. Overall, it also appears that the students show a lower average means on most attributes as compared to the academics and business community. Based on this research, there appears to be distinctive expectations of an IS graduate. Based on the balanced technology approach of looking at the development of the IS graduate from degree of sophistication of the Technoware (T), Humaware (H), Inforware (I) and Orgaware (O), it is hoped that the following can be achieved: 1. A newly revised and revamped IS curriculum, 2. A linkage of the THIO to develop the IS graduate and 3. A linkage of the academia-industry THIO linkage to develop the IS graduate.