Volume 4 Number 1
2001
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Differences in Stage of Integration between Business Planning and Information Systems Planning according to Value Configurations

Petter Gottschalk & Hans Solli-Sæther Norwegian School of Management BI, Sandvika, Norway

Integration between business planning and information systems (IS) planning is considered an important enabler of business - IS alignment. A con-tent analysis of IS plans was conducted to identify stages of integration between business and IS planning. The companies studied were also classified according to value configurations and eras of IS growth. Empirical results indicate that companies classified as value networks are at a higher stage of integration than value shops and chains probably because they are in the network era rather than the data processing or information technology eras. 

Mahesh S. Raisinghani 
University of Dallas, Texas, USA

The word 'quantum' comes from the Latin word quantus meaning 'how much'. Quantum computing is a fundamentally new mode of information processing that can be performed only by harnessing physical phenomena unique to quantum mechanics (especially quantum interference). Paul Benioff of the Argonne National Laboratory first applied quantum theory to computers in 1981 and David Deutsch of Oxford proposed quantum parallel computers in 1985, years before the realization of qubits in 1995. However, it may be well into the 21st century before we see quantum computing used at a commercial level for a variety of reasons discussed in this paper. The subject of quantum computing brings together ideas from classical information theory, computer science, and quantum physics. This paper discusses some of the current advances, applications, and chal-lenges of quantum computing as well as its impact on corporate computing and implications for management. It shows how quantum computing can be utilized to process and store information, as well as impact cryptography for perfectly secure communication, algorithmic searching, factorizing large numbers very rapidly, and simulating quantum-mechanical systems efficiently. A broad interdisciplinary effort will be needed if quantum com-puters are to fulfill their destiny as the world's fastest computing devices.

Nick Lethbridge 
Edith Cowan University, Australia 

This paper expands on the taxonomy of virtual organisation (VO) structures based on the cross-boundary information flow requirements of member organisations within the VO. Each structure is described, with the essential implications for effective management. That is, what particular features of the VO must management take account of if that VO structure is to be implemented. Management implications to be considered are: Existence of a core organisation, Member organisation replaceability, Planning, Customer contact, Information flows, Suitability of management for each member organisation. The structures are further explained by use of two extended examples. Three information flows are used to define the taxonomy: Plan-ning, Operational and Coordination information. The structures of the i-based VO taxonomy are: Virtual face, Star alliance, Market alliance, Co-alliance, Value alliance, Parallel alliance.

K. Nageswara Rao and KH Babu 
Defence Research & Development Laboratory Kanchanbagh Post, India 

The transition of traditional library collections to digital or virtual collections presented the librarian with new opportunities. The Internet, Web en-vironment and associated sophisticated tools have given the librarian a new dynamic role to play and serve the new information based society in bet-ter ways than hitherto. Because of the powerful features of Web i.e. distributed, heterogeneous, collaborative, multimedia, multi-protocol, hyperme-dia-oriented architecture, World Wide Web has revolutionized the way people access information, and has opened up new possibilities in areas such as digital libraries, virtual libraries, scientific information retrieval and dissemination. Not only the world is becoming interconnected, but also the use of Internet and Web has changed the fundamental roles, paradigms, and organizational culture of libraries and librarians as well. The article describes the limitless scope of Internet and Web, the existence of the librarian in the changing environment, parallelism between information sci-ence and information technology, librarians and intelligent agents, working of intelligent agents, strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities in-volved in the relationship between librarians and the Web. The role of librarian in Internet and Web environment especially as intermediary, facilita-tor, end-user trainer, Web site builder, researcher, interface designer, knowledge manager and sifter of information resources is also described.