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Abstract:
As a growing number of firms outsource more of their professional services across geographic and temporal boundaries, one is faced with a corresponding need to examine the long-term ramifications on business and society. Some persons are convinced that cost considerations should reign as the predominant decision-making factor; others argue that outsourcing means permanent job loss; and still others believe outsourcing makes U.S. goods and services more competitive in the global marketplace. We assert that if outsourcing options need to be analyzed in detail with critical objectivity in order to derive benefits for the concerned constituencies.

Abstract:
This paper describes collaborative commerce (c-commerce); it essentially combines e-commerce, knowledge management and collaboration to carry out transactions and other activities within and across organizations. We first discuss the building blocks for c-commerce. Then, we describe models and federated architectures for c-commerce. Next we analyze the strategic role of knowledge management for c-commerce as well as discuss managerial and business implications. Finally, we provide directions for c-commerce.

Knowledge Management, Collaborative Commerce, Collaboration, C-Commerce, Federated Architectures, Knowledge Management on the Web

Abstract:
The term "24-Hour Knowledge Factory" connotes a globally distributed work environment in which members of the global team work on a project around the clock; each member of the team works the normal workday hours that pertain to his or her time zone. At the end of such a workday, a fellow team member located in a different time zone continues the same task. This creates the shift-style workforce that was originally conceived in the manufacturing sector. A globally distributed 24-hour call center is the simplest manifestation of this paradigm. The true example of the 24-hour factory paradigm discussed in this paper involves groups working together to accomplish a given set of deliverables, such as a software project, and transcending conventional spatial and temporal boundaries.

24-hour knowledge factory, information systems, collocated teams, offshoring, outsourcing, innovation, group process

Abstract:
An increasing number of organizations are involved in the development of strategic information systems for effective linkages with their suppliers, customers, and other channel partners involved in transportation, distribution, warehousing and maintenance activities. An efficient inter-organizational inventory management system based on data mining techniques is a significant step in this direction. This paper discusses the use of neural network based data mining and knowledge discovery techniques to optimize inventory levels in a large medical distribution company. The paper defines the inventory patterns, describes the process of constructing and choosing an appropriate neural network, and highlights problems related to mining of very large quantities of data. The paper identifies the strategic data mining techniques used to address the problem of estimating the future sales of medical products using past sales data. We have used recurrent neural networks to predict future sales because of their power to generalize trends and their ability to store relevant information about past sales. The paper introduces the problem domain and describes the implementation of a distributed recurrent neural network using the real time recurrent learning algorithm. We then describe the validation of this implementation by providing results of tests with well-known examples from the literature. The description and analysis of the predictions made on real world data from a large medical distribution company are then presented.

Inventory Management System, Neural Networks Applications, Recurrent Neural Networks, Statistical Reasoning, Signal-to-Noise Ratio

Abstract:
In data mining applications, the availability of data is often a serious problem. For instance, elementary customer information resides in customer databases, but market survey data are only available for a subset of the customers or even for a different sample of customers. Data fusion provides a way out by combining information from different sources into a single data set for further data mining. While a significant amount of work has been done on data fusion in the past, most of the research has been performed outside of the data mining community. In this paper, we provide an overview of data fusion, introduce basic terminology and the statistical matching approach, distinguish between internal and external evaluation, and we conclude with a larger case study.

Data Mining, Data Fusion, Leveraging of Sample Data

Abstract:
This paper provides directions web and e-commerce applications security. In particular, access control policies, workflow security, XML security and federated database security issues pertaining to the web and e-commerce applications are discussed.

Knowledge Management, Collaborative Commerce, Collaboration, C-Commerce, Federated Architectures, Knowledge Management on the Web

Abstract:
This paper presents a knowledge-based approach to reducing impediments to collaboration in a distributed environment. A major impediment to such collaboration is the issue of communications - clearly and efficiently expressing the desires of every stakeholder in the process, as well as the major decisions and the rationale behind these decisions. The approach described in this paper, embodied in the MATE system, provides a framework for making these decisions in the engineering design process, by eliciting and capturing the goals and desires of every stakeholder in the design process through utility and expense functions. The system uses a four faceted knowledge-based approach of knowledge acquisition, discovery, management and repository to focus on various areas of functionality to be used in the design process. The MATE approach will be combined with the SSPARCy approach, also developed in this group, to address crucial applications that are today contingent on geographical proximity to occur with equal or superior effectiveness in a virtual world. While this paper analyzes a situation involving engineering design, the proposed knowledge-based approach is equally applicable to collaboration in business, healthcare, government, and other environments.

Collaboration, Design Rationale, Design of New Products, Knowledge Management, Knowledge Discovery, Transittion of Knowledge from One Version to Another, Automated Capture of Information

Abstract:
The concept of offshoring of professional services first gained attention slightly over 25 years ago. At that time, US companies began to realize the cost-advantage of getting their computer software developed in India and other countries. The concept gained momentum with the advent of Internet and the availability of inexpensive communication technologies. Unrelated events, such as the need to address the Y2K problem, in a time-bound manner, further increased the use of computer personnel based in faraway places. Studies conducted by professional organizations, such as ACM, IEEE, and NSPE, focus on the cost and labor aspects of offshoring and its direct impact on employment opportunities in the countries involved. This paper broadens this perspective by emphasizing that the key drivers for offshoring will be strategic, not economic, over time. A formal mathematical model is presented to highlight the new trend. Further, instead of a binary model in which the work is performed in the country of the sponsoring organization or a different country, we will gradually see a new work paradigm in which the work is performed in a sequence in factories located in multiple continents of the world. Such 24-Hour Knowledge Factories can leverage factors beyond cost savings. One can employ professionals in multiple parts of the world, perform tasks at all times of the day, and bring new products and services quicker to the market. Just as the advent of multiple shifts allowed machines to be utilized round the clock leading to the benefits of the Industrial Revolution, the creation of new globally distributed workforces and global partnerships can lead to major strategic advantages for companies and countries alike.

24-hour knowledge factory, information systems, collocated teams, virtual distributed teams, offshoring, outsourcing, innovation, group process

Abstract:
While the evolving high bandwidth information highways provide the infrastructure for attaining "physical connectivity" across computing resources and information systems, the "on/off" ramps to such highways are still at a primitive stage. Huge manual effort is currently expended to develop knowledge-based paradigms that can effectively transcend national borders as well as other types of borders. This paper examines the prevailing situation from four perspectives: (i) knowledge acquisition, which deals with the issue of nationwide applications that are still paper-intensive; (ii) knowledge discovery, which deals with the issue of mining of huge amounts of historical and current information in numerical, textual, and other formats; (iii) knowledge management, which focuses on aspects for which dominant standards and procedures prevail at the national level, but not at the international level; and (iv) knowledge dissemination, which deals with extracting knowledge that is tailored to the needs to each user. Unlike current approaches that tend to focus on one aspect only, an integrated approach that attaches appropriate weightage to each of the four facets is emphasized in this paper.

Knowledge Management, Knowledge Discovery, Knowledge Acquisition, Knowledge Dissemination, Knowledge Based Framework, Trans-national Transformations

Abstract:
Many large-scale endeavors, especially the ones that need to be performed on an occasional basis, are performed on a de novo basis. Whether one is designing a spacecraft or a dam, or launching a sales campaign, each endeavor tends to have a life of its own. Very little knowledge, if any, is transferred from one business or engineering design endeavor to a successive one. This paper describes an approach that involves the acquisition of raw information from the keystrokes entered by the user while performing the primary activity. Such information is distilled to produce knowledge for future use, without imposing additional burden on human users involved in the first endeavor or the succeeding endeavors. The paper also describes a complementary approach that significantly reduces the time and effort spent by human beings in articulating their requirements, and specifically, in terms of delineating the indifference points among a set of feasible alternatives. Both these approaches have been validated in a complex multi-organizational situation related to spacecrafts. The approaches can be applied, either singly or jointly, to a broad class of business and engineering scenarios. They incorporate the notion of automated knowledge acquisition, discovery, management, and dissemination. The proposed approach is discussed in the context of supporting work-teams that are distributed both on geographic and temporal basis, thereby creating a "24-hour Knowledge Factory" environment.

Business Process Management; Knowledge Engineering; Multi-attribute Tradespace; Design Rationale; Utility Function.

Abstract:
This paper presents a knowledge-based approach to facilitate the engineering design process relating to spacecrafts. Because the design evolves over a long time and typically involves individuals working at different locations and frequently for different organizations, the degree of collaboration across temporal and spatial boundaries plays a major role in determining the aggregate time and cost involved in each instance of spacecraft design. A major aspect of such collaboration is the issue of communications - the ability to clearly and efficiently explicate and record the detailed needs of every stakeholder in the process, as well as the major design decisions and the rationale behind these decisions. The approach described in this paper provides a framework for facilitating the decision-making process in engineering design, by eliciting and capturing the goals and requirements of every stakeholder in the design process through utility and expense functions. An interactive system has been designed that incorporates a four faceted knowledge-based framework of knowledge acquisition, knowledge discovery, knowledge management and knowledge dissemination to provide designers and stakeholders with the capability to develop an evolving knowledge repository about all aspects of the design process. This interactive system includes the ability to capture succeeding versions of the detailed design, with zero or minimal human involvement; the capability is provided by a set of algorithms collectively named as SSPARCy. A complimentary tool, called MIST, facilitates the Multi-Attribute Tradespace Exploration process by enabling stakeholders to express their goals and preferences in a formalized manner. The combination of MIST and SSPARCy paradigms enables one to transform crucial applications that are today contingent on geographical proximity to occur with equal or superior effectiveness in a virtual world. While this paper analyzes a situation involving engineering design of spacecrafts, the proposed knowledge-based approach can be readily adopted to facilitate other applications that involve sustained collaboration across geographic and corporate boundaries.

Knowledge Acquisition, Knowledge Management, Knowledge Discovery, Knowledge Dissemination, Engineering Design, Knowledge Based

Abstract:
In the US and many other countries, bank checks are preprinted with the account number and the check number in MICB ink and format; as such, these two numeric fields can be easily read and processed using automated techniques. However, the amount field on a filled -in check is usually read by human eyes, and involves significant time and cost, especially when one considers that about 68 billion checks are processed per annum in the US alone.

The system described in this paper uses the scanned image of a bank check to "read" the check. There are four main stages in the system that focus on: the detection of courtesy amount block within the image; the segmentation of string into characters; the recognition of isolated characters; and the post processing process that ensures correct recognition.

The detection of courtesy amounts is performed using heuristic rules. These rules are applied after processing the image to translate the set of gray pixels into groups of pixels, which are considered as strings. The segmentation of the courtesy amount is the most difficult part of the process because of the largely unconstrained nature of handwritten amounts on checks. The proposed segmentation has been implemented as a recursive process that interacts with the recognition module. The recognition of the isolated characters is based on an array of neural networks that has been demonstrated to be very accurate and computationally efficient. Finally, the post-processing module is used to minimize the incidence of incorrect readings by verifying that the sequence of numbers, periods, and commas matches the correct syntax for the recognized value of the check. Several of the algorithms included in the system are generalizable and can also be applied to address other applications involving reading of handwritten inputs.

Automated Check Reading, Automated Reading of Handwritten Information, Knowledge Acquisition

Abstract:
While reading handwritten text accurately is a difficult task for computers, the conversion of handwritten papers into digital format is necessary for automatic processing. Since most bank checks are handwritten, the number of checks is very high, and manual processing involves significant expenses, many banks are interested in systems that can read check automatically. This paper presents several approaches to improve the accuracy of neural networks used to read unconstrained numerals in the courtesy amount field of bank checks.

Optical Character Recognition, Neural Networks, Document Imaging, Check Processing, Unconstrained Handwritten Numerals

Abstract:
The secure publication of XML data over the Internet is increasingly utilized for document exchange over the Web. Publishers of XML data need to satisfy the authenticity and confidentiality requirements of end users and information owners. Satisfying these requirements in a web environment is very difficult since large systems cannot be easily verified to be secure and are often penetrated. In this paper, we propose a first step towards secure publishing of XML data over the Web by suggesting a scalable architecture that distinguishes between the Owner and the Publisher of information. Such a distinction has two goals: to reduce the trust required of the information Publisher and to make the tasks of document management and query response more efficient. Subjects submit queries to Publishers which filter query results on the basis of the access control policies specified by the Owner. In this paper, we show how this capability can be accomplished without requiring the Publisher to keep a copy of the access control policies. With a set of digital signatures generated by the Owner and no trust required of the Publisher, we show that a subject is able to verify the authenticity of a query response, and, under specific conditions, the completeness of a query result, with respect to the access control policies stated by the information Owner.

XML, Secure Publishing, Internet Based Publishing, Source Authenticity

Abstract:
Grid computing and grid topologies are attracting a growing amount of attention. Originating as a concept for sharing computing resources among wired participants, the grid concept is gradually been extended into the wireless world. A Wireless Grid is an augmentation of a wired grid that facilitates the exchange of information and the interaction between heterogeneous wireless devices. While similar to the wired grid in terms of its distributed nature, the requirement for standards and protocols, and the need for adequate Quality of Service; a Wireless Grid has to deal with the added complexities of the limited power of the mobile devices, the limited bandwidth, and the increased dynamic nature of the interactions involved.

Depending on the nature of the interactions among the constituencies served by the wireless grid, various layouts can be envisaged. The ability of these models to address needs at the enterprise, partner, and service levels is contingent upon the efficient resolution of multiple technical challenges of the grid.

wireless grid, grid computing, grid topologies

Abstract:
This paper covers four issues. First, it examines evolving international conventions to determine whether countries, especially developed countries, can take any steps to inhibit offshoring with the objective of protecting jobs in their respective countries. Second, it looks at statistics from independent sources to see if outsourcing exceeds insourcing, or vice versa, in the case of the US. Third, it looks at trends in outsourcing in the legal arena. Fourth, it looks at the intellectual property aspects of outsourcing and presents a long-term vision on how this ticklish issue is likely to be addressed in the long-term.

Outsourcing, offshoring, legal aspects of outsourcing, intellectual property, 24-Hour Knowledge Factory, global development teams, insourcing, net economic benefits, national policy, international conventions, World Trade Organization (WTO), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

Abstract:
Globalization and the spread of advanced information and communication technologies have encouraged a transition to distributed, virtual work practices. By reducing the costs of communication, these technologies now make it possible for more people than ever before to collaborate and compete in real time on different kinds of work from anywhere in the world - using computers, email, networks, teleconferencing, and dynamic new software applications. Thus, according to Thomas Friedman in his book, The World is Flat, "The global competitive playing field has being leveled" (Friedman, 2005, p.8). Connected to the flattening of the world is the increase in the diffusion of offshoring of knowledge intensive work towards emerging countries, such as India, China, and Romania. Although offshoring is becoming a part of our everyday social lexicon, we find little empirical evidence in the academic literature on the implications of offshoring for organizations and knowledge workers, or on the disruptive forces that offshoring brings to local, day-to-day work practices. Certainly, the literature on geographically dispersed or globally distributed teams (GDTs) shows the many organizational challenges of distributed collaboration, exploring issues like compatibility with existing hierarchical structures, awareness of other team member's activities, increased coordination costs, trust between distant members, status differentials, and leadership (e.g., Mohrman, 1998, Paul and McDaniel, 2004, Metiu, 2006, Weisband, in press). Moreover, previous studies explain how distance limits some of the important benefits that come from collocation, such as spontaneous conversation, collaborative social environments, mutual learning and influence (e.g. Hinds and Kiesler, 2002; Cummings, 2004). Some of this research was conducted in situations involving offshoring, but much of it reflects distributed work that remained onshore and does not distinguish between different types of globally distributed work arrangements (Saunders and Ahuja, 2006). Many of the conclusions and insights from these studies, therefore, may apply to the case of offshoring, but more work is needed to better define the specific upsetting effects of offshoring on knowledge workers and organizations.

Abstract:
This paper seeks to build upon earlier works analyzing U.S. federal and state legislation that conflict with the United States' obligations under international agreements. Several of these earlier works conclude that such conflicting legislation violates the Constitution on a variety of grounds, and is therefore legally invalid.

The findings of this paper both validate and undermine the results of these earlier works, as an analysis of the relationship between state laws, federal laws, and international agreements reveal many areas of legal uncertainty and ambiguity.

This paper is divided into six parts. First, it details the emergence and effect of offshoring of professional services on the U.S. economy. Second, it explores the economic and public policy concerns surrounding offshoring. Third, it addresses federal and state government responses to offshoring. Fourth, it examines the constitutional implications of state offshoring restrictions against government contracts and private entities. Fifth, it focuses on federal legislation against offshoring, and potential conflicts with international agreements. Finally, it concludes with an assessment of the effectiveness of trade dispute settlement mechanisms for services.

offshore, offshoring, international agreements

Abstract:
Recent academic and policy studies focus on offshoring as a cost-of-labor driven activity that has a direct impact on employment opportunities in the countries involved. This paper broadens this perspective by introducing and evaluating the 24-hour knowledge factory as a model of information systems offshoring that leverages other strategic factors beyond cost savings. A true 24-hour knowledge factory ensures that progress is being made on information systems related tasks at all times of day by utilizing talented information systems professionals around the globe. Many organizations currently implement other variants of offshoring that appear similar but are fundamentally distinct. The typical model is a service provider framework in which an offshore site provides service to the central site, often with two centers and a distinction between a primary center and secondary center. Entire tasks are often outsourced to the lower-cost overseas site and sent back when completed. In contrast, the 24-hour knowledge factory involves continuous and collaborative round-the-clock knowledge production achieved by sequentially and progressively distributing the knowledge creation task around the globe, completing one cycle every 24 hours. Thus, the 24-hour knowledge factory creates a virtual distributed team, in contrast to a team that is collocated in one site, either onshore or offshore. By organizing knowledge tasks in this way, the 24-hour knowledge factory has the potential to work faster, to provide cheaper solutions, and to achieve better overall performance. Previous studies have examined individual teams over time and explored various benefits of distributing work to distant teams, but have not directly compared the effect of collocation versus geographic distribution on the use of information systems and the overall performance over time of two real-world teams working on a similar task in controlled conditions. This paper highlights the concept of the 24-hour knowledge factory and tests the model in a controlled field experiment that directly compares the use of information systems and subsequent performance in collocated and globally distributed software development teams. The central finding is that while collocation versus geographic distribution changes the way teams use information systems and interact at key points during a project, each type of team has the potential to use information systems to leverage its inherent advantages, to overcome disadvantages, and ultimately, to perform equally well. In other words, one organizational structure is not inherently superior nor must structure pre-determine performance. Geographic distance introduces new challenges but these can be overcome - and even leveraged for strategic advantage. In sum, our findings suggest that firms can apply the 24-hour knowledge factory model to transition from a service provider framework in which offshoring is a short-term and unilateral cost-saving tactic to a strategic partnership between centers in which offshoring becomes a core component of a global corporate strategy.

24-hour knowledge factory, information systems, collocated teams, virtual distributed teams, offshoring, outsourcing, innovation, group process

Abstract:
At the forefront of interoperability using XML in an Internet environment is the issue of semantic trans-lation; that is, the ability to properly interpret the elements, attributes, and values contained in an XML file. In many cases, specific domains have standardized the way data are represented in XML. When this does not occur, some type of mediation is required to interpret XML formatted data that does not adhere to pre-defined semantics. The prototype X-Map was developed to investigate what is required to mediate semantic interoperability between heterogeneous domains. An essential component of this system is structural analysis of data representations in the respective domains. When mediating XML data between similar but non-identical domains, we cannot rely solely on semantic similarities of tags and/or the data content of elements to establish associations between related elements, especially over the Internet. To complement these discovered associations one can attempt to build on relationships based on the respective domain structures and the position and relationships of evaluated elements within those structures. For this purpose, the domains are represented as hierarchical trees in XML syntax; a more general solution handles arbitrary graphs. A structural analysis algorithm builds on associations discovered by other analysis, using these associations to aid in discovering further links that could not have been discovered by purely static examination of the elements and their aggregate content. A number of methodologies are presented by which the algorithm maximizes the number of relevant mappings or associations derived from the XML structures. The paper concludes with comparative results obtained using these three methodologies.

Abstract:
The 24-hour Knowledge Factory is introduced as a global work environment where work is passed between individuals in other time zones on a daily basis. The evolution of this model is described, from foundations in manufacturing to current implementations in software development. The effective management of information resources is critical to the success of this environment. A pilot study, conducted at IBM, utilized a set of advanced tools for gathering social and technical data from repositories as diverse as source control systems and team meeting minutes. This pilot study provides good insights into how the 24-hour Knowledge Factory concept will operate in a commercial setting. The paper concludes with a set of recommendations for leveraging information resources to achieve the ideal 24-hour Knowledge Factory.

Globalization of IS, Outsourcing of IS, Strategic IS Management, Knowledge Discovery, Software Management

Abstract:
Offshore outsourcing of work to support software development and services is seen primarily as a transfer of labor to another shore. But intellectual property is transferred as well. Such transfers have significant long term effects on the balance of intellectual property (IP) generation and consumption. Software is such an intangible good, and the value of intangibles is based on the income that these intangibles are expected to generate in the future. The paper presents the relationships of IP residing in software to the business models used for outsourcing. The use of a quantitative model for software valuation allows formal exploration of business alternatives. The motivation for this paper is to increase the awareness of the need for software valuation when developers of software and the users of such software reside in different countries.

Abstract:
This paper presents a knowledge-based approach for capturing data and rationale, so that the experience and insights gained while pursuing a major project or endeavor can be utilized when pursuing future endeavors of a similar nature. The proposed approach, embodied in a concept demonstration prototype named SSPARCy, focuses on the means for capturing knowledge about the design process, including the evolving state of the design as well as the rationale behind major design decisions made over time. The system uses a four faceted knowledge-based approach of knowledge acquisition, discovery, management and repository to focus on various areas of functionality to be used in the design process. The proposed approach enables individuals and organizations to benefit from the experiences and lessons learned from previous processes, as well as facilitates the exchange of such knowledge throughout the design process.

Collaboration, Design Rationale, Knowledge Discovery

Abstract:
In spite of the rapid advances in computers and communication technologies, a number of large-scale applications continue to rely heavily on the use of paper as the dominant medium, either in an intra-organizational or an inter-organizational environment. One major example of this category of paper intensive applications is the check processing application. In a number of countries, the value of each check is read by human eyes before the check is physically transported, in stages, from the point it was presented to the location of the branch of the bank which issued the blank check to the concerned account holder. This process of manual reading of each check involves significant time and cost. In this paper, a new approach is proposed to read the numerical amount field on the check; this field is also called the courtesy amount field. In the case of check processing, the segmentation of unconstrained strings into individual digits is a challenging task because one needs to accommodate special cases involving: connected or overlapping digits, broken digits, and digits physically connected to a piece of stroke that belongs to a neighboring digit. The system described in this paper involves three stages: the segmentation of the string into a series of individual characters; the normalization of each isolated character; and the recognition of each character based on a neural network classifier.

Abstract:
A "24-Hour Knowledge Factory" involves a team distributed across three or more collaborating centers connected to each other by internet technology or by dedicated networks, with work on specific endeavors being performed on a round-the-clock basis. A white-collar professional could work in the US on a standard 9 am to 5 pm basis; at the end of his or her workday, the activity could be transferred to a colleague in Australia who works during daytime in that country; and, at the end of the latter's workday, the work could be transferred to a third colleague in Poland, who in turn could pass the baton 8 hours later to the first worker in the US. In this scenario, each member of the team would work during the normal workday hours that pertain to his or her time zone. The effective use of sequential workers in a 24-Hour Knowledge Factory requires that professional tasks be broken down to the level that individuals can work on them with minimal interaction with their peers. In addition, one requires new technological approaches that would reduce the effort involved in transitioning from one employee to the next. The latter aspect is facilitated by the concept of composite personae. A pair of technology prototypes was developed; these prototypes leverage internet-based capabilities to redefine the manner of sharing of knowledge. One prototype uses a web-based interactive system coupled with a unique data model to optimize collection and storage of design rationale and history from both stakeholders and workers. The other prototype presents an interaction model where multiple individuals can act as one "composite persona" when interacting with these systems on the internet, thereby allowing tasks and knowledge to be shared across the internet in a seamless manner, without the need for complex authentication and security models. The combination of these prototypes provides the foundation for an integrated internet-based system for implementing the 24-hour knowledge factory model. Further, a case study was conducted at IBM to observe the harbinger of a 24-hour knowledge factory in action and to determine the role that internet technology played in accomplishing the overall endeavor.

Abstract:
The Semantics for Business Vocabulary and Business Rules (SBVR) was released in 2005 by the Object Modeling Group (OMG) as the industry standard for business semantics. However, the lack of an integrated ontology limits the reasoning ability of SBVR. The purpose of this paper is to outline the metamodel of ontology taught in the Accelerating Business Process Engineering and Systems Development with Reusable Business Knowledge course at the University of Arizona, and display how integration into the SBVR could improve future releases of the standard. As supplements to the course material, materials from three books by Amit Mitra and Amar Gupta were referenced. We will illustrate how the integration of the metamodel of ontology could enable the SBVR to reason and thus provide the requisite agility to create resilient business processes and agile automation. We will also attempt to reconcile terms and describe gaps between the models taught in the course mentioned above; as referenced to throughout this paper as AMAG models, and SBVR.

Abstract:
The term "24-Hour Knowledge Factory" connotes a geographically dispersed team of workers in which members of the team are able to work on specific endeavors on a round-the-clock basis. A professional could work in the US on a standard 9 am to 5 pm basis. At the end of his or her workday, the activity is transferred to a colleague in China who works during daytime in that country. At the end of the latter's workday, the work is transferred to a third colleague in Poland or Romania, who in turn will pass the baton 8 hours later to the first worker in the US. Each member of the team works during the normal workday hours that pertain to his or her time zone. The use of sequential workers that underpins the concept of 24-Hour Knowledge Factory has some similarity to the shift-style workforce that evolved in the manufacturing sector as an adjunct to the industrial revolution. Just as the latter concept had a profound impact on the entire manufacturing sector, we argue that the concept of 24-Hour Knowledge Factory will have a major impact on the entire field of information systems, and that more research is needed in this area. The concept of 24-Hour Knowledge Factory is relevant for semi-structured work in both the IS arena as well as in other professional arenas such as finance, product development, marketing, and medicine. The proposed areas of research can help to create the IS infrastructure for supporting applications in these diverse arenas.

globally-dispersed teams, accelerated systems development, IT productivity, strategic reorientation

Abstract:
Adverse drug events impose a large cost on the society in terms of lives and healthcare costs. In this paper, we propose an information system for monitoring adverse drug events in an outpatient setting that can form a part of the post marketing surveillance program. The proposed system architecture builds on previous studies analyzing the involvement of community pharmacies in identifying and reporting adverse drug events. We define the key requirements of such a monitoring and reporting system, identify the factors that influence the successful implementation and use of the system, and propose information technology solutions that satisfy these requirements.

Adverse event reporting, community pharmacy safety network, post-marketing surveillance

Abstract:
In spite of rapid evolution of electronic techniques, a number of large-scale applications continue to rely on the use of paper as the dominant medium. This is especially true for processing of bank checks. This paper examines the issue of reading the numerical amount field. In the case of checks, the segmentation of unconstrained strings into individual digits is a challenging task because of connected and overlapping digits, broken digits, and digits that are physically connected to pieces of strokes from neighboring digits. The proposed architecture involves four stages: segmentation of the string into individual digits, normalization, recognition of each character using a neural network classifier, and syntactic verification. Overall, this paper highlights the importance of employing a hybrid architecture that incorporates multiple approaches to provide high recognition rates.

Handwritten checks; Reading of unconstrained handwritten material; neural network

Abstract:
A distributed system that stores name-to-address bindings and provides name resolution to a network of computers is presented in this paper. This name system consists of a network of name services that are individually self-configuring and self-administering. The name service consists of an agent program that works in conjunction with the current implementation of the Domain Name System (DNS). The DNS agent program automatically configures a Berkeley Internet Name Domain (BIND) process during start up and dynamically reconfigures and administers the BIND process based on the changing state of the network. The proposed name system offers high scalability and fault-tolerance capabilities and communicates using standard Internet protocols.

Internet, Naming Conventions, Extensions to Internet, Automated Network Management

Abstract:
The healthcare industry is being impacted by advances in information technology in four major ways: first, a broad spectrum of tasks that were previously done manually can now be done by computers faster, better, and at lower costs; second, some tasks can be outsourced to other countries using inexpensive communications technology; third, detailed analysis of longitudinal and societal healthcare data can now be analyzed in acceptable periods of time; and fourth, the best medical expertise can be made available to patients without the need to physically transport the patient to the doctor or vice versa. Still, there are many healthcare situations in which face-to-face interaction is the only practical way to render medical assistance. After considering a number of healthcare scenarios in which one or more of the co-authors were involved, this paper concludes that healthcare will increasingly use a portfolio approach comprised of three closely-coordinated components seamlessly interwoven together: healthcare tasks performed by humans on-site; healthcare tasks performed by humans off-site, including tasks performed in other countries; and healthcare tasks performed by computers without direct human involvement. This three-pronged approach will lead to better healthcare services at the most cost-economic rates; further, it will gradually incorporate some of the principles of the 24-Hour Knowledge Factory framework. Organizations that impede or otherwise restrict the use of this multifaceted approach will see higher healthcare costs, and will gradually become less competitive in the global marketplace, as is happening with non-adapting organizations in several other sectors of the economy. Finally, this paper deals with intellectual property and legal aspects related to the proposed three-pronged healthcare services paradigm.

Healthcare Outsourcing, Healthcare Offshoring, Offshore Outsourcing, 24-Hour Knowledge Factory, Medical Outsourcing

Abstract:
"I am a programmer with a Masters degree from a prominent college in the United States. I work 10 hour days and come in on weekends on a regular basis for my company. I pay my taxes and still manage to give back to my community. So why is my country doing nothing when my job is being threatened by international competition?"

"I am president of a company that took a hard look at cost numbers before embarking on outsourcing. Apart from the cost of labor, equipment, and incidentals, are there other aspects that we should have looked at?

This paper attempts to delineate the relevant pieces of information needed to address the above types of questions, as well as other outsourcing related questions, such as:

* What is the United States doing to encourage/discourage outsourcing? Are these actions legal under current international trading rules?

* Is the United States a net beneficiary or net loser when outsourcing occurs?

* How will the continued outsourcing of professional service activities impact different industries?

* How can intellectual property be equitably protected in an economy that involves growing levels of outsourcing?

* How can intellectual property be equitably valued and shared amongst concerned constituencies in an environment characterized by significant outsourcing?

* What is the 'ultimate scenario' for outsourcing, and how will this impact the jobs of those in the U.S. and abroad?

Offshore Outsourcing, Outsourcing, Law and Outsourcing, Intellectual Property, Taxation, International Protocols

Abstract:
Recent academic and policy studies focus on offshoring as a cost-of-labor driven activity that has a direct impact on employment opportunities in the countries involved. This paper broadens this perspective by introducing and evaluating the 24-hour knowledge factory as a model of information systems offshoring that leverages other strategic factors beyond cost savings. A true 24-hour knowledge factory ensures that progress is being made on information systems related tasks at all times of day by utilizing talented information systems professionals around the globe. Many organizations currently implement other variants of offshoring that appear similar but are fundamentally distinct. The typical model is a service provider framework in which an offshore site provides service to the central site, often with two centers and a distinction between a primary center and secondary center. Entire tasks are often outsourced to the lower-cost overseas site and sent back when completed. In contrast, the 24-hour knowledge factory involves continuous and collaborative round-the-clock knowledge production achieved by sequentially and progressively distributing the knowledge creation task around the globe, completing one cycle every 24 hours. Thus, the 24-hour knowledge factory creates a virtual distributed team, in contrast to a team that is collocated in one site, either onshore or offshore. By organizing knowledge tasks in this way, the 24-hour knowledge factory has the potential to work faster, to provide cheaper solutions, and to achieve better overall performance. Previous studies have examined individual teams over time and explored various benefits of distributing work to distant teams, but have not directly compared the effect of collocation versus geographic distribution on the use of information systems and the overall performance over time of two real-world teams working on a similar task in controlled conditions. This paper highlights the concept of the 24-hour knowledge factory and tests the model in a controlled field experiment that directly compares the use of information systems and subsequent performance in collocated and globally distributed software development teams. The central finding is that while collocation versus geographic distribution changes the way teams use information systems and interact at key points during a project, each type of team has the potential to use information systems to leverage its inherent advantages, to overcome disadvantages, and ultimately, to perform equally well. In other words, one organizational structure is not inherently superior nor must structure pre-determine performance. Geographic distance introduces new challenges but these can be overcome and even leveraged for strategic advantage. In sum, our findings suggest that firms can apply the 24-hour knowledge factory model to transition from a service provider framework in which offshoring is a short-term and unilateral cost-saving tactic to a strategic partnership between centers in which offshoring becomes a core component of a global corporate strategy.

24-hour knowledge factory, information systems, collocated teams, virtual distributed teams, offshoring, outsourcing, innovation, group process

Abstract:
The growing adoption of outsourcing and offshoring concepts is presenting new opportunities for distributed software development. Inspired by the paradigm of round-the-clock manufacturing, the concept of the 24-Hour Knowledge Factory (24HrKF) attempts to make similar transformation in the arena of information systems: specifically to transform the production of software and allied intangibles to benefit from the notion of continuous development by establishing multiple collaborating sites at strategically selected locations around the globe. As the sun sets on one site, it rises on another site with the day's work being handed off from the closing site to the opening site. In order to enable such hand-offs to occur in an effective manner, new agile and distributed software processes are needed, as delineated in this paper.

24-Hour Knowledge Factory,offshoring ,distributed software development

Abstract:
The concept of outsourcing has been addressed from different vantage points by various researchers. The ACM Job Migration Task Force analyzed the impact of outsourcing on jobs [1]. This report and others examining the impact of outsourcing on employment have received significant coverage in the press. Wiederhold et al [12] look at intellectual property and tax implications when a software company operates in multiple countries. This article takes an entirely different perspective. What are new computer-based techniques that can be employed to yield innovative solutions that can benefit both developed and developing environments? What is the long-term vision for conducting work in a global economy? Is there an end scenario for offshore outsourcing?

Abstract:
There is a growing discussion of risks when software development is outsourced. In order to assess the extent of those risks, one needs to know the value of that concerned software. Software is an intangible good, and the value of intangibles is based on the income they are expected to generate in the future. This paper presents a model for software valuation based on principles of IP valuation, sales expectations, net present value, and related parameters. An original contribution of this work is the diminution of the base value of the software as maintenance is performed over the lifecycle of the software. The valuation process is presented via a simple quantitative example. Having a quantitative model on a spreadsheet allows for the exploration of business alternatives. Conclusions are drawn that reflect on academic and business practices.

Abstract:
Legal process outsourcing ("LPO") involves the use of foreign lawyers to conduct, perform and apply domestic law. Large, global firms have already begun to embrace the concept of LPO, and small firms and sole practitioners are increasingly reaching out to foreign firms, seeking more efficient and lower cost providers. Ethical considerations, liability limiting agreements, certification and oversight models are all part of the LPO landscape. This paper discusses these aspects, as well as other issues related to outsourcing in non-traditional areas such as the public sector and the judiciary.

legal process outsourcing, foreign lawyers, foreign law firms

Abstract:
Purpose: Starting from the observation that new types of distributed work arrangements across organizational and national borders are emerging, we decided to investigate a particular type of globally distributed team (GDT): the 24-hour knowledge factory, where individuals work around the clock or follow the sun. Our research question is: How do individuals share knowledge during hand offs and what are the factors that affect the hand off process in GDTs adopting the 24-hour knowledge factory model?.

Methodology/Approach: We conducted an interview based qualitative study to conduct detailed investigation of the internal processes of 8 GDTs using the 24-hour knowledge factory model, in Indian organizations involved in offshoring of knowledge intensive work with Western clients, and we coded our evidence using a grounded theory approach (Strauss and Corbin, 1998).

Findings: Our grounded theory shows that, in GDTs adopting the 24-hour knowledge factory model, knowledge sharing during hand offs across locations is hampered by the emergence of status differentials across team members with similar expertise, position, organizational affiliation and ethnicity. The negative effect of status differentials is mitigated by the perception of closeness with an external party - the client.

Practical implications: Our work has practical implications for organizations that want to adopt the 24-hour knowledge factory model to achieve a faster (and cheaper) development of products and services. To make a GDT work around the clock, an organization should not only place attention to technical issues (such as acquiring sophisticated and rich collaborative technologies), but also to potentially disrupting team dynamics that may emerge across subgroups.

Originality/value of paper: Overall, this work contributes to a better understanding of the interplay between status differentials, synchronization, and knowledge transfer in globally distributed teams.

24 hour knowledge factory, offshoring, status differentials, knowledge sharing, group synchronization

Abstract:
A Wireless Grid is an augmentation of a wired grid that facilitates the exchange of information and the interaction between heterogeneous wireless devices. The ability of various grid layouts to handle interactions among the grid constituencies is contingent upon the efficient resolution of multiple technical challenges of the grid. These challenges arise due the added complexities of the wireless grid such as the limited power of the mobile devices, the limited bandwidth (including partial connectivity), and the increased dynamic nature of the interactions involved. This paper focuses on the configuration and administration issues of the wireless grid. The proposed grid topology and naming protocol can allow self-configuration and self-administration of various possible wireless grid layouts.

wireless grid, grid topology, grid naming protocol, self-configuration

Abstract:
The development of a distributed testing environment would have to comply with recent DoD mandates requiring that the DoD Architectural Framework (DoDAF) be adopted to express high level system and operational requirements and architectures Unfortunately, DoDAF and DoD net-centric mandates pose significant challenges to testing and evaluation since DoDAF specifications must be evaluated to see if they meet requirements and objectives, yet they are not expressed in a form that is amenable to such evaluation. DoDAF is the basis for integrated architectures and provides broad levels of specification related to operational, system, and technical views. In our earlier work, we described an approach to support specification of DoDAF architectures within a development environment based on DEVS (Discrete Event System Specification) for semi-automated construction of the needed simulation models. The result is an enhanced system lifecycle development process that includes both development and testing in an integral manner. We also developed automated model generation using XML which paves the way for OVs to become service-providing components in the Web Services architecture. In this paper we present the semantic structure for one of the Operational View documents OV-6a that would aid the development of these semi-automated models. We will describe how OV-6a can be structured in a more generalized meta-model framework such that every rule is reducible to meaningful code which is automatedly constructed through Natural Language Processing (NLP) methods and further be reduced to DEVS based models. The paper also presents an overview of the Life-cycle development methodology for these enterprise architectures and how a common enterprise domain-model can be used in customized business/domain-specific rules and policy structures.

Abstract:
Medication errors occur commonly in healthcare facilities resulting in adverse drug events. These types of errors and their consequences have been previously observed and studied and it has been shown that simple tracking systems can help to significantly decrease occurrences and consequences of such events. We have found a need for similar monitoring for drugs that have just entered the market and whose potential adverse events are not yet known. Current techniques for post-approval monitoring are not adequate for timely discovery of as-of-yet unknown adverse events. FDA's current approach to identifying drugs with serious adverse effects, the MedWatch system, is inherently slow to identify the culprit drugs and to remove them from the market. Between 1997 and 2005, the system was successful in helping to identify 15 drugs with toxic side-effects. However, on average, it took 5.9 years for the identification phase and the subsequent phase for the removal from of the drug from the market. We propose a system that could help reduce this time by a significant amount. The proposed approach involves a simple on-line surveying system coupled with continuous monitoring by participating pharmacists. We have developed a concept demonstration prototype system and provide recommendations for further work related to the scalability, security, and data consistency aspects of our approach. In addition, we analyze how advances in semantic web and ontology development could be used to populate the database of the proposed system.

Adverse event reporting, community pharmacy safety network, post-marketing surveillance, heterogeneous information systems, heterogeneous database systems, healthcare information integration, drug effectiveness reporting, drug effectiveness monitoring

Abstract:
Collaborative work groups that span multiple locations and time zones, or "follow the sun," create a growing demand for creating new technologies and methodologies that enable traditional spatial and temporal separations to be surmounted in an effective and productive manner. The hurdles faced by members of such virtual teams are in three key areas: differences in concepts and terminologies used by the different teams, differences in understanding the problem domain under consideration, and differences in training, knowledge, and skills that exist across the teams. These reasons provide some of the basis for the delineation of new architectural approaches that can normalize knowledge and provide reusable artifacts in a knowledge repository.

Knowledge Reuse, Agility, Offshore Outsourcing, Outsourcing, 24-Hour Knowledge Factory, Object Management, Metamodeling, Modeling, Software Factory

Abstract:
The 24-Hour Knowledge Factory is a software development paradigm that goes beyond the conventional global delivery model. It involves round-the-clock operations through the establishment of three or more development teams around the globe. Complex projects are iteratively broken down into simpler modules, with a "composite persona" (CP) being responsible for each of such modules. Developers around the globe work during day hours only; and the unfinished work is handed off to the next CP driver. The 24-Hour Knowledge Factory concept integrates advances in business processes and IT to provide a greater level of agility and efficiency.

global software development, offshoring, services computing, service oriented architecture

Abstract:
Dual degree programs are becoming increasingly common at universities, especially in the US. The unique highlight of the program in Arizona is that it concurrently emphasizes systematic study of the critical field of entrepreneurship. All participants in this program undergo formal studies and training in the area of entrepreneurship area, leading to the award of a formal certificate. This is the probably the first program in the world where one can receive a regular MBA degree, another masters degree in a specific domain of science or technology, and a coveted certificate in entrepreneurship, all in less than two years time.

Dual degree programs, entrepreneurship, concurrent degrees, domain-specific education, multi-faceted training and education

Abstract:
Secure and seamless exchange of electronic patient care information among heterogeneous interoperable systems is an important goal for future healthcare information systems. However, fast and efficient exchange of information between heterogeneous healthcare systems is inhibited by the variations in the data models used to define patient care records, and the prohibitive costs associated with standardization and software upgrades. In this paper, we analyze the factors impeding the adoption of interoperable healthcare systems and propose the use of a mediating schema-based approach that can enable interoperability and also minimizes the impact of the factors impeding factors. The proposed mechanism uses context specific mediating schemas for data translation and can enable the seamless exchange of electronic patient care records between different healthcare systems. Our approach builds on existing technologies and is specifically adapted to the healthcare context. We illustrate the viability of our approach using a scenario relating to pre-hospital to hospital information exchange.

Mediating Schema, Electronic Patient Care Records, Heterogeneous Hospital Systems, Information Exchange

Abstract:
Adverse drug events impose a large cost on the society in terms of lives and healthcare costs. In this paper, we propose an information system for monitoring adverse drug events in an outpatient setting that can form a part of the post marketing surveillance program. The proposed system architecture builds on previous studies analyzing the involvement of community pharmacies in identifying and reporting adverse drug events. We define the key requirements of such a monitoring and reporting system, identify the critical factors that influence the successful implementation and use of the system, and propose information technology solutions that satisfy these requirements.

Adverse event reporting, community pharmacy safety network, post-marketing surveillance

Abstract:
The 24-hour knowledge factory paradigm facilitates collaborative effort between geographically distributed offshore teams. The concept of handoff, along with the vertical segregation of tasks, enables software development teams to work on a continuous basis on the project. This notion is made possible through efficient knowledge representation, as the process of handoff essentially entails all work completed to be transferred from one site to the next. Data management is one of the key parameters that defines the success of this business model and is achieved through leveraging of specific tools, models, and concepts.

data management, global software development, knowledge representation, offshoring

Abstract:
Recent academic and policy studies focus on off shoring as a cost-of-labor driven activity that has a direct impact on employment opportunities in the countries involved. This paper broadens this perspective by examining the 24-hour knowledge factory as a model of information systems off shoring that leverages other strategic factors beyond cost savings. A true 24-hour knowledge factory can ensure that progress is made on tasks at all times of day by utilizing three or more sets of information systems professionals, located at strategically selected locations around the globe. Some organizations today utilize a service provider framework in which an offshore site provides service to the central site. Entire tasks are often outsourced to the lower-cost overseas site and sent back when completed. In contrast, the 24-hour knowledge factory involves continuous and collaborative activities round-the-clock. By organizing tasks in this manner, the 24-hour knowledge factory offers the potential to reduce turnaround time to complete tasks, to reduce total costs, and to provide better overall performance. Previous studies have examined the performance of individual teams over time and have explored the benefits of distributing work to distant teams, but have not directly compared the effect of collocation versus geographic distribution in the context of the use of emerging information system technologies and methodologies. Since the concept of the 24-hour knowledge factory is still in the early stages of practice for semi-structured tasks, a controlled field experiment was conducted using two distributed centers in which the tasks were performed in a sequential manner. The use of information systems and the overall performance were studied using a collocated software development team and a distributed software development team. While the two teams used information systems in dissimilar ways at key points during a project, the overall performance of the two teams was largely similar at the macro level but differed at the micro level. In other words, one organizational structure is not inherently superior to the other, in terms of the ability to meet stated goals. While spatial and temporal separations introduce new challenges, these can be overcome with the deployment of appropriate collaboration technologies - and even leveraged for strategic advantage. In sum, our findings suggest that firms can apply the two-center and three-center work models to transition from a service provider framework in which off shoring is a short-term and unilateral cost-saving tactic to a strategic partnership between centers in which off shoring becomes a core component of the global corporate strategy.

24-hour knowledge factory, information systems, collocated teams, virtual distributed teams, offshoring, outsourcing, innovation, group process

Abstract:
The term "24-Hour Knowledge Factory" connotes a geographically dispersed team of workers in which members of the team are able to work on specific endeavors on a round- the-clock basis. A professional could work in the US on a standard 9 am to 5 pm basis. At the end of his or her workday, the activity is transferred to a colleague in China who works during daytime in that country. At the end of the latter's workday, the work is transferred to a third colleague in Poland or Romania, who in turn will pass the baton 8 hours later to the first worker in the US. Each member of the team works during the normal workday hours that pertain to his or her time zone. The use of sequential workers that underpins the concept of 24-Hour Knowledge Factory has some similarity to the shift-style workforce that evolved in the manufacturing sector as an adjunct to the industrial revolution. Just as the latter concept had a profound impact on the entire manufacturing sector, we argue that the concept of 24-Hour Knowledge Factory will have a major impact on the entire field of information systems, and that more research is needed in this area. The concept of 24-Hour Knowledge Factory is relevant for semi-structured work in both the IS arena as well as in other professional arenas such as finance, product development, marketing, and medicine. The proposed areas of research can help to create the IS infrastructure for supporting applications in these diverse arenas.

Globally-dispersed Teams, Accelerated Systems Development, IT Productivity, Strategic Reorientation

Abstract:
This paper describes the design, development and testing of a pre-hospital documentation and patient monitoring application called iRevive. The application utilizes a sensor gateway and data mediator to enable semantic interoperability with a wide variety of medical devices and applications. Initial test results indicate that complete and consistent pre-hospital Electronic Medical Records (EMR) can be semantically exchanged with two heterogeneous, in-hospital IT applications

Electronic Medical Records, Interoperability, Clinical Documentation, Emergency Medical Response, Trauma, Standards, Data mediation

Abstract:
Abstract Inspired by round-the-clock manufacturing, the 24-Hour Knowledge Factory endeavors to transform the production of software and other intangibles into a process of continuous development. While the concept of offshore software development is well established, few enterprises are currently able to develop the same code artifacts around the clock. We discuss the benefits of applying the 24-Hour Knowledge Factory to software development. We also present a representative scenario highlighting the problems of asynchronous communication in current offshore software development practices. Further, we introduce the notion of composite persona as a potential collaboration model within the 24-Hour Knowledge Factory and explain its ability to mitigate problems arising from communicating across cultures, languages, and time-zones. Finally, we present a suite of new collaboration tools and techniques that are being developed specifically for use by composite personae in the 24-Hour Knowledge Factory.

round-the-clock, 24-Hour Knowledge Factory

Abstract:
This paper discusses several types of interoperability for medical applications and devices: the ability of applications to run on any platform; how modularity affects interoperability; and data exchange between heterogeneous applications. It draws from experience with Internet standardization to find lessons for creating standards for interoperability.

Medical Care, Cross Platform

Abstract:
In the current global marketplace, liberalization of trade in professional services (“services”) presents one of the biggest challenges and profitable opportunities for the international community. Changes in technology and state privatization polices over the past half century have made services the fastest growing sector in international trade. Despite such a transformation, the potential for further innovation and expansion in the services industries is in jeopardy. In response to public policy and regulatory concerns and political pressures to protect domestic jobs and industries, states have adopted a plethora of state-initiated discriminatory and restrictive policies against trade in services. Because existing international legal mechanisms are ill-equipped to resolve these issues, this paper proposes the formation of a unified international legal structure for services as a solution. In advancing this proposal, this paper examines the evolution of United States federalism and its impact on trade liberalization among states and the European Community’s Trademark regime to demonstrate that a harmonized legal system is the optimal framework for responding to changes in the economy and technology - challenges similar to those currently faced by services trade liberalization.

harmonization of professional services trade, United States Federalism, supranational layer, international trade agreements, preferential trade agreements, World Trade Organization (WTO), North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), European Community Trademark Regime, Intellectual Property, World I

Abstract:
The 24-Hour Knowledge Factory paradigm involves 3 (or more) collaborating centers, each located in a different continent. Individuals at each center work from 9 am to 5 pm in that country, and then pass the work-in-progress to the next collaborating center to enable round-the-clock performance in a manner somewhat akin to the deployment of three shifts in the manufacturing sector.

The gradual adoption of this paradigm is motivated by several considerations. In late 2007, the World Health Organization concluded that working at night is a probable cause of breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. Attempts by US state governments and even the federal government to discourage outsourcing are unlikely to succeed for multiple reasons, and the notion of “hybrid outsourcing” will gain momentum over time. Plus there are the advantages of developing products and services in shorter timeframe; further these products and services can command broader appeal in the global marketplace. A detailed study was conducted at IBM to compare the performance of a co-located team and a distributed team, and the performance of the latter team exceeded initial expectations.

The 24-Hour Knowledge Factory is relevant for structured and semi-structured applications in many knowledge-based industries including accounting, legal, design, and development. There is a growing array of examples from healthcare and other domains where off-site professionals have been able to provide better results than on-site professionals, thereby validating that many tasks can be more effectively performed using the 24-Hour Knowledge Factory approach.

Globally Distributed Teams, 24 hours knowledge factory, knowledge sharing

Abstract:
The relocation of knowledge work to emerging countries is leading to an increasing use of Globally Distributed Teams (GDT) engaged in complex tasks. In the present study, we investigate a particular type of GDT working ‘around the clock’: the 24 hours knowledge factory (Gupta, 2008). Adopting the productivity perspective on knowledge sharing (Haas and Hansen, 2005, 2007), we develop 11 hypotheses to compare technology use, knowledge sharing processes, and performance of a 24 hours knowledge factory with a co-located team. We conducted a quasi-experiment in IBM and collected both quantitative and qualitative data, over a period of 12 months, on a GDT and a co-located team. Both teams were composed of the same number of professionals, provided with the same technologies, engaged in similar tasks, and given similar deadlines. We found that they differed in their use of technologies and in knowledge sharing processes, but not in efficiency and quality of outcomes. We show how the co-located team and the GDT enacted a knowledge codification strategy and a personalization strategy respectively; in each case, they grafted elements of the other strategy in order to attain both knowledge re-use and creativity. We conclude by discussing theoretical contributions to knowledge sharing and GDT literatures, and by highlighting managerial implications to those organizations interested in developing a fully functional 24 hour knowledge factory.

Globally Distributed Teams, 24 hours knowledge factory, knowledge sharing

Abstract:
Businesses engaging in outsourcing of professional service activities to organizations in foreign countries have focused primarily on the issues of cost and the number of jobs affected. However, significant transfers of intangibles occur in many service-based off shoring arrangements as well. Some of these intangibles are considered to be intellectual property (IP). The transfer of intellectual property that accompanies such off shoring arrangements can have significant value, making it important to understand risks of loss, obligations of taxation, and contributions to the profit-making potential of an enterprise. Software is an important and often under-valued component of such transfers of intellectual property.

This overview paper offers a interdisciplinary examination of intellectual property valuation issues and a business perspective for considering software valuation in the context of off shoring decisions and practices.

Intellectual Property, Intangibles, Software, Valuation, Outsourcing, Offshore, Offshoring, Risk, Taxation, Tax haven

Abstract:
The 24-Hour Knowledge Factory is a service oriented architecture model that goes beyond the conventional global delivery model. It involves round-the-clock operations through the establishment of three or more development teams around the globe. Complex projects are iteratively broken down into simpler modules, with each "composite persona" (CP) being responsible for one such model. Developers around the globe only work during their regular day hours; unfinished work is handed off to the next CP driver. The 24-Hour Knowledge Factory concept brings together business processes and IT services to provide a new services computing solution.

global software development, offshoring, services computing, service oriented architecture

Abstract:
In recent years, a number of large-scale applications continue to rely heavily on the use of paper as the dominant medium, either on intra-organization basis or on inter-organization basis, including paper intensive applications in the check processing application. In many countries, the value of each check is read by human eyes before the check is physically transported, in stages, from the point it was presented to the location of the branch of the bank which issued the blank check to the concerned account holder. Such process of manual reading of each check involves significant time and cost. In this research, a new approach is introduced to read the numerical amount field on the check; also known as the courtesy amount field. In the case of check processing, the segmentation of unconstrained strings into individual digits is a challenging task because one needs to accommodate special cases involving: connected or overlapping digits, broken digits, and digits physically connected to a piece of stroke that belongs to a neighboring digit. The system described in this paper involves three stages: segmentation, normalization, and the recognition of each character using a neural network classifier, with results better than many other methods in the literarature.

Character recognition, bank check recognition, segmentation, courtesy amount, scanning, preprocessing, accuracy rate, post processing, feedback, architecture