Showing papers in "Systems Research and Behavioral Science in 2009"

Learning behaviours in the workplace: The role of high-quality interpersonal relationships and psychological safety

Abstract: Organizational learning is an important means for improving performance. Learning is a process, that is, often relational in the sense of relying on interactions between people to determine what needs improving and how to do it. This study addresses the question of how the quality of work relationships facilitates learning behaviours in organizations through the ways it contributes to psychological safety. Data collected from 212 part-time students who hold full-time jobs in organizations operating in a wide variety of industries show that capacities of high-quality relationships (measured at time 1) are positively associated with psychological safety, which, in turn, are related to higher levels of learning behaviours (measured at time 2). The results also show that experiences of high-quality relationships (measured at time 1) are both directly and indirectly (through psychological safety) associated with learning behaviours (measured at time 2). These findings shed light on the importance of quality relationships in the workplace for cultivating and developing perceptions of psychological safety and ultimately learning behaviours in organizations. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

An extension of technology acceptance model: Analysis of the adoption of mobile data services in China

Abstract: Mobile data services are entering into all aspects of people's life and are expected to be an important revenue source of telecom carriers. Nevertheless, the acceptance pace of mobile data services is slower than the expected level projected by the telecommunication industry. This research investigated the reason that people use mobile data services in China. Combined with subscribers' experience factors, an extended technology acceptance model (TAM) for mobile data services was presented. The model was tested using data collected from 802 mobile subscribers. The findings of the study indicate that mobile voice service and innovation experience of mobile data services affect subscribers' consumption intention greatly; subscribers' perceived ease-of-use and brand experience influence subscribers' attitude towards mobile data services largely. Promotion of mobile data services is most effective when it is promoted with perfect voice service experience. Additionally, our findings suggest that mobile service carriers need to enhance their investments in mobile data services' R&D. Collaboration among the value chain members of mobile data services will promise cutting-edge new products and services. Using system methodology, a mobile data service infusion system model was constructed to explain the general adoption rules of mobile data services. The adoption of mobile data services in mobile logistics area was also discussed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Modelling and analysis techniques for cross‐organizational workflow systems

Abstract: Emerging e-business, e-commerce, and virtual enterprises are leading to the trend of managing workflows across organizational boundaries. A cross-organizational workflow is generally comprised of intra-organizational workflows and inter-organization workflows. The modeling techniques for the intra-organizational workflows are relatively matured. In this paper, they are briefly reviewed and contrasted to show their strong points and weaknesses. The modeling approaches for the inter-organizational workflows is emphasized and introduced in detail in this paper. The inter-organizational workflow emphasizes more on combining the workflows of different partners together and reconciling the relationships between them. Thus, the modeling approaches are described in two directions by their functions: routing languages introduced to combine individual workflows and interaction patterns proposed for collaborative partners to interact with each other. In this paper, some techniques are summarized, and some interesting research issues in the area are discussed in both technical and managerial perspectives. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A comparative study on e‐learning technologies and products: from the East to the West

Abstract: Among the many technologies that support knowledge management, electronic learning or e-learning has become as popular as business intelligence. Along with the rapid development of modern communications and information technology and the increasing demand for building and maintaining business continuity capabilities, e-learning has emerged into a viable solution for continuous, on-demand training and organizational learning. It becomes critical for organizations to design and develop an effective e-learning system by using well-researched theories and technologies that fit their organizational environment. As we discovered in our study, a successful e-learning system is supported by many critical success factors (CSFs), and technology is the key factor among the CSFs. We also conducted a comparative study on e-learning theories, technologies and products from the perspectives of both western practitioners and Chinese counterparts. Due to the rapid economic development in China and its fast adoption of communications and information technology, the ways Chinese practitioners are developing e-learning theories, technologies and products have inevitably become a focal point in the world of information technology. Through the analysis of the current e-learning technologies and products, we outline the trends of developing e-learning systems and emphasize the importance of proper theories in guiding e-learning systems development. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Influencing factors for predicting financial performance based on genetic algorithms

Abstract: In this paper, considering the financial performance of China's listed companies as the dependent variable, a computational intelligence method based on genetic algorithms and discriminant analysis is employed to screen variables that influence financial performance and forecast the change of financial performance. Specifically, a new model based on genetic algorithms is developed to screen factors that influence financial performance of Chinese listed companies. The empirical results show that variables selected by genetic algorithms can predict financial performance well. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A study on aggregation of group decisions

Abstract: The analytic hierarchy process (AHP), proposed by Saaty in 1971, has already become a common decision technique in the field of decision science. In attempting to deal with group decision problems, a vast amount of literature has adopted geometric means or arithmetic means to aggregate the multiple opinions of group decision makers with AHP. However, geometric means and arithmetic means are usually subject to the influence of extreme values, and make use of only simple average types of manipulation to combine the judgments of decision makers which may not practically capture the group preferences among alternatives. In this paper, two aspects of consideration are probed into the construction of a group AHP decision model, which are ‘preferential differences’ to denote the differences of preferential weights among alternatives for each decision maker, and ‘preferential ranks’ to denote the ranks of the alternatives for each decision maker. A comparative analysis is performed to investigate the effectiveness of the proposed model, and a ‘satisfaction index’ is suggested to indicate the satisfactory level of the final obtained group decision. Finally, a feedback interview is carried out to collect the post-model opinions of decision makers in order to understand their acceptance about the proposed model. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Analysing relational benefits in e‐business environment from behavioural perspective

Abstract: This paper explores relational benefits from Chinese customer's behavioural perspective, which is a valuable addition to the existing literature that focuses on the western cultural background. The findings of this research show that the relational benefits exist in the online shopping context. In addition to confidence benefit, special treatment benefit and social benefit that have been recognized in traditional services, a new benefit scale, honour benefit, is identified in this study. Empirical data from over 500 online consumers suggest that the relational benefits are becoming more and more important and can possibly turn into the sources of the new competitive advantage for the enterprise in the e-business environment. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Integrative system dynamics: analysis of policy options for tobacco control in New Zealand

Abstract: Tobacco use is a global problem and the health consequences are far reaching. Systemic approaches are needed to help investigate policies to reduce the adverse health effects of tobacco use. This paper provides an overview of the system dynamics model that has been developed to assist the Ministry of Health to evaluate the dynamic consequences of tobacco control policies in New Zealand. The model consists of six sectors: population; smoking prevalences; tobacco consumption; second hand smoke; relative risks and tobacco attributable deaths. The model is simulated for 20–30 years into the future. The simulation package used is 'iThink', and a user interface is presented for policy analysis. A range of illustrative scenarios are provided, including: business as usual; fiscal strategies involving less affordable cigarettes; harm minimization strategies involving either less addictive cigarettes or less toxic cigarettes and combinations of the above policies. The main output variables (performance measures) include current smoking prevalence, tobacco consumption and tobacco attributable mortality. Finally some areas for future model enhancement are identified. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Redefining success: designing systemic sustainable strategies

Abstract: In an increasingly complex and interconnected global society, the need to redefine ‘success’ has become an imperative for the survival, sustainability and continued evolution of social systems and their interdependent environments. A wide range of contemporary human institutions—from corporations to governments, schools and universities—narrowly focus their structures, functions, and processes (and the strategies that create them) on the attainment of individualistic, and often myopic, conceptions of success. More often than not, success is defined in egocentric and competitive win-lose terms and is primarily measured according to standards of monetary accumulation. Such a definition is at the heart of the currently unsustainable path of human social evolution at the dawn of the 21st century, and its inadequacy represents a serious challenge for contemporary conceptions of capitalism. This paper explores and presents a more comprehensive definition of success: one that embraces financial, social and environmental sustainability as the cornerstones of a holistic approach to value creation and gives rise to conditions for life-affirming dynamics of value exchange to unfold in perpetuity. It is suggested, that this would both re-humanize and re-vitalize capitalism with a much needed (though not unprecedented) claim to an evolutionary and life-sustaining ethic. Evolutionary systems design (ESD) is described as an approach to the creation of systemic sustainable strategies. ESD is best understood as a heuristic approach that supports and guides the participatory co-creation of sustainable and evolutionary futures. It is grounded in idealized systems design and evolutionary systems theory and embraces theoretical and methodological complementarism from a critical systems perspective. As such, it represents a future-creating form of participatory inquiry that provides a mean by which organizations and communities may achieve success—not in a narrow self-serving sense, but in one that is systemic and evolutionary. Through presentation of ways in which to engage in strategic design conversations, this paper illustrates the potential of ESD as a praxis by which to foster the evolutionary corporation and, in so doing, to guide the evolutionary transformation of business. It is intended as part of the active research of the authors and should be understood as an expression of an ongoing exposition on ESD, treating the issue of strategic design here and leaving that of strategic planning for subsequent presentation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Knowledge portal construction and resources integration for a large scale hydropower dam

Abstract: Based on the research project entitled ‘Data Collection and Decision Support System for Hydropower Dam Construction’ sponsored by the National Development and Reform Commission of China, this paper puts forward a multilayer architecture and a support system for the knowledge portal utilizing web services and J2EE while offering a method for integrating existing resources. The purpose for this system is to help the China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC) manage the construction of a large-scale hydropower dam. Through the interoperability in distributed environment, software integration technology and heterogeneous system integration, the interoperability of heterogeneous systems is realized by the enterprise application integration (EAI). In this project, an open and unified integration environment is provided by the analytic system (AS), making it possible for all kinds of software resources to be made readily accessible. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Supporting crime detection and operational planning with soft systems methodology and viable systems model

Abstract: In recent years the introduction and subsequent enhancements of information technology has seen the emergence of major opportunities for developing new approaches to improve information interchange. The provision of information provides opportunities to find resolutions to problem situations, and the power of providing relevant and accurate information through using information systems cannot be underestimated. However, the world of information systems thinking has, so far, experienced difficulty finding a methodology suitable for utilizing the full range of available current information technology. This situation in the real world shows itself predominantly as information starvation as current information systems struggle to bring order and structure to information technology developments. This paper will discuss the issues relating to the development of a new generic framework. The novel aspect of this generic framework for planning information systems is that it integrates Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) and Viable Systems Model (VSM) in a coherent whole, whilst embracing the concepts of self-adaptation and autonomy. Further, the generic framework integrates the spatial analysis capabilities of a Geographical Information System (GIS). The generic framework will then be tested in real-world problem situations in order to test its effectiveness, efficiency and efficacy with regards to finding suitable solutions to the problem of information starvation. The importance of focusing the framework on GIS functionality is related to the fact that in many organizations GIS is employed as the solution to information starvation because of its ability to display spatial information. This paper will demonstrate the implementation of the generic framework in a UK Police Authority, a large emergency service that suffers from information starvation. In the context of a UK Police Authority the combination of SSM and VSM being supported by GIS functionality is seen as being a significant progression in relation to crime detection and operational planning. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Ludwig von Bertalanffy's early system approach

Abstract: Most of what Bertalanffy published in the field of “organismic” biology was written in German and is thus not widely known. In order to understand the development and meaning of his “general system theory” – which might more accurately be called “general systemology” – those early works are essential. In this talk I will therefore focus on key aspects of his “system theory” of life, both on the level of scientific concepts and philosophical considerations. This will also include a note on works that influenced Bertalanffy and motivated him to later establish a new transdisciplinary field. He was influenced by several philosophers as well as by results from experimental research. As a trained philosopher, Bertalanffy was clearly aware that the notion of systems has a long history going back at least to ancient Greek thinkers. As for the influences from science, the focus here will be on Paul A. Weiss and his experiments performed at the Biologische Versuchsanstalt in Vienna. Those two roots will be used to clarify Bertalanffy’s unique contributions towards a system approach in biology and beyond, in which the aim was to free the term system from vague or even obscure metaphysical connotations and arrive at a framework that is useful for science.

How entrepreneurial orientation moderates the effects of knowledge management on innovation

Abstract: Drawing on the complementary asset theory, this paper develops a conceptual model to explain the relationships among intrafirm knowledge sharing, knowledge application, and innovation as well as the moderating effect of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) on the intrafirm knowledge sharing and knowledge application Using a sample of 607 Chinese firms, this paper empirically examines this model The results show that, under China’s transition economy, the positive relationship between intrafirm knowledge sharing and a firm’s innovation is mediated by knowledge application Furthermore, intrafirm knowledge sharing facilitates knowledge application, and EO positively moderates this relationship Copyright # 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Integrating web 2.0 with the case-based reasoning cycle: A systems approach

Abstract: Traditional case-based reasoning (CBR) research has focused on the theories and heuristics of case representation, retrieval, reuse, revision and retention, while little attention has been paid to the users of CBR systems. In an effort to facilitate and improve the literature related to the CBR cycle as it relates to users, this paper proposes an extended CBR framework which allows users to play a more active role. The extended framework integrates the classical CBR R4-Cycle approach with Web 2.0 technologies such as blogs and RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds. The purpose of the extended CBR 2.0 framework is to encourage and enable users to contribute to case retrieval, case revision, case reuse and case retention. This paper also introduces some ideas to deploy Web 2.0 technologies along with CBR systems, with a discussion of the integration of Web 2.0 and CBR systems in systems perspectives. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Traits Underlying the Capacity of Ant Colonies to Adapt to Disturbance and Stress Regimes

Abstract: How do groups of social agents organize themselves to cope with stress and disturbances? We address this question by looking at ant colonies. We review the suites of traits that allowantspeciestoadapttodifferentdisturbanceandstressregimes,andchangesinthese regimes. Low temperatures and low nest site and food resource availability are important stresses that affect ant abundance and distribution. Large-scale habitat disturbances, such as fire, grazing and mining, and small-scale disturbances that more directly affect individual colonies, such as predation, parasitism and disease, also affect ant abundance and distribution. We use functional groups to study the social and individual traits underlying different responses to temperature stress, large-scale habitat disturbance and competition from other ants. Specific individual and colony traits, such as colony size, queen number and worker specialization, seem to underlie adaptation to various stress and disturbance regimes. Copyright # 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Toward a framework of innovation management in logistics firms: A systems perspective

Abstract: With the rapid circumstance changes, innovation has become a strategic choice for many logisticsfirmsin the21stcentury.In thispaper,wewillseeinnovationasasystemwhichis composed of six elements. We will also look at the relationships among these elements in the context of the systems theory. Finally, we will suggest how to manage the enterprise innovation system (EIS) to achieve systematic innovation and sustained innovation to attain competitive advantages with strategic perspectives for logistics firms. Copyright # 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Integrating sustainability practices using the viable system model

Abstract: This paper represents an effort to explore the use of Stafford Beer’s Viable System Model to design human communities that foster adaptation to criteria of sustainability in our natural and social environments. With the projected rise in sea level and other changes that may accompany warming temperatures, it seems probable that many communities, even some large cities, will have to be abandoned and their populations relocated. This difficult circumstance could create tens of millions of climate change refugees and be met with the failure and incompetence that characterized the response to Hurricane Katrina or it could provide an opportunity to rebuild in a manner that combines a high quality of life with a low impact on the environment. Using the framework of the Viable System Model, three levels of recursion will be explored: the household, the neighborhood and the city. It will be possible to draw upon lessons learned about building and maintaining cities in different climates and under different conditions over the centuries and from the construction of ‘new towns’ in the past fifty years. It has been characteristic of communities that regularly endured environmental challenges to have fostered means of collaboration and cooperation to address them and to constrain competition within bounds that did not threaten their common survival. There is no shortage of ideas and designs that could be applied but there is not yet either the political and social infrastructure to integrate and implement them. Steps taken in this direction might help to coalesce the necessary political will. The following are proposed as guidelines for design under the VSM. The community and the city’s external relationships with the surrounding natural, social and economic environments should be such that they can support themselves while avoiding endangering their own survival and well-being or that of their surrounding environments. Their internal operations should be such that an adequate quality of life is available to everyone from the most dependent members of its society to the most productive. They should pursue these ends with a view to maintaining a balance between collaboration/symbiosis and competition and with the fewest restrictions on the autonomy of members consistent with the other guidelines.

An approach to aid understanding emerging research fields—the case of knowledge management

Abstract: Emerging research fields bring confusion to many people. This paper puts forward an approach, based on domain analysis and journal mining, to aiding people to get an overview of an emerging research field. The approach extends the traditional domain analysis method by adding two additional aspects: objectives and applications, and explores six essential issues regarding a research field, which include: why the research field is necessary, what enables its birth or triggers actions on it, what it deals with, how to implement it, how to support it, and where it has been applied. After introducing the approach, this paper gives a case study of applying it to explore the knowledge management (KM) field. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Complexity, climate change and soil carbon: A systems approach to microbial temperature response

Abstract: A proliferation of data gathered to predict a critically important, urgent and social-policy related question often leads to debate and divergent model results. This classic feature of complex systems is currently being evidenced in assessing a potentially serious feedback response of soil respiration with increased temperatures due to global climate change. Here we apply soft systems modelling (SSM) for a detailed analysis of the ‘‘soft’’ aspects of the topic. Supported by a literature review, we conclude that that varied perspectives on the system’s dynamics and its web of controlling factors have led to seemingly conflicting results. We present a simplified hierarchy organizing the comprehensive universe of interacting controls across scales. This model is implemented as a relational database, including relationships between factors such as nesting and feedbacks. We conclude that although this model is currently limited to pairwise interactions, it provides a useful tool to assess potential interactions and factors of interest. Copyright # 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Engineering perspectives on healthcare delivery: Can we afford technological innovation in healthcare?

Abstract: This article considers the national challenge of controlling healthcare costs. It is argued that this system-level challenge is better addressed with an engineering approach rather than from the perspective of medical science that, quite rightly, is tailored to address clinical practice. The engineering approach is outlined and three models are proposed for controlling the costs of healthcare so that the growth of these costs tracks the growth of gross domestic product. These models provide insights into the magnitude of efficiency gains needed to accomplish this goal. Possible ways to achieve these gains are discussed. Copyright # 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Systems thinking and the use of systemic methodologies in knowledge management

Abstract: Conceptually, systems thinking (ST) and knowledge management (KM) seem to share similar grounds. At the level of practice, there is some evidence, if still patchy, that established systemic methodologies (SM) developed in the UK have been informing KM practice. This paper discusses the conceptual links between ST and KM, exploring the theoretical approaches that were embedded in the early KM literature. A survey of journals from both systems practice and KM areas is carried out to assess the exposure of SM in KM articles. Titles and abstracts of papers published in a sample of management science (MS)/operational research (OR) and KM journals between 1995 and 2005 were queried for the occurrence of SM typical keywords in order to identify articles that have used ST in general and a SM in particular. Results suggest that methods such as systems dynamics, complexity theory, soft systems methodology, viable systems model and critical systems have started to become visible in KM applications; we discuss some of these articles focusing on the methodological orientations of the approaches used. The paper aims to raise KM and systemic practice researchers' awareness of the benefits of further exchange and conversation between these two fields of management.

Material flow and circular economy

Abstract: At present, the economy is increasingly internationally interconnected. Economic globalization requires systems approaches to promote sustainable economic development. The theory of material flow (MF) is one of the new theories that could positively contribute to the economic globalization. The theory of MF is also closely related to the concept of circular economy, as the pattern of material flow can be considered as a closed feedback process for circulatory purpose that is consisted of ‘resources-production-material flow-consumption-recycled resources’. It corresponds to the circular economy's development pattern of ‘resources-products-recycled resources’. In view of the pattern of material flow and its relevance to the circular economy, it is concluded that the theory of MF will contribute to the recirculation of natural resources, optimal utilization of resources, improving natural environment and especially the sustainable global economic development. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A systems science approach to enterprise resources planning systems

Abstract: The enterprise resources planning systems (ERP) have received considerable attention recently, not only in the management of manufacturing industry but also within the services industries and their financial management. The viable system model (VSM) is recursive and helps explaining the general production management model of the ERP system. The recursion level explains the development starting from warehouse management to material requirement planning (MRP), to manufactory requirement planning (MRPII), to ERP and to supply chain management (SCM). In each recursion level, the emergent concepts help explaining the discovery of the two categories of demand: independent demand and dependent demand, the feedback concept helps explaining the closed cycles in MRPII, the local, future and total environment concept helps explaining the interactions between the market and the production system and the law of requisite variety helps to manage complexity. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Generalization and systemic epistemology: Why should it make sense?

Abstract: This paper argues that true ‘systemic’ epistemology should reveal multiple perspectives, conflicting realities and various other contexts due to its inherent pluralistic nature. Therefore, generalization in systems research occurs not across one linear conceptual framework but across the variety of nonlinear, conflicting, dialectal ‘realities’. It is therefore a misunderstanding of systems research to search for linear, singular and non-conflicting versions of events as though there is one overarching ‘mega concept’ that will explain world events. The paper presents the hallmarks of a systemic epistemology. Using an example the nature of a systems epistemology is demonstrated and explained. The paper concludes that a ‘systemic’ epistemology is one that should reflect a ‘systemic’ reality. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The communication of meaning in social systems

Abstract: The sociological domain is different from the psychological one insofar as meaning can be communicated at the supra-individual level. The computation of anticipatory systems enables us to distinguish between these domains in terms of weakly and strongly anticipatory systems with a structural coupling between them. Anticipatory systems have been defined as systems which entertain models of themselves. The model provides meaning to the modelled system from the perspective of hindsight, that is, by advancing along the time axis towards possible future states. Strongly anticipatory systems construct their own future states. The dynamics of weak and strong anticipations can be simulated as incursion and hyper-incursion, respectively. Hyper-incursion generates ‘horizons of meaning’ among which choices have to be made by incursive agency.

A system dynamics approach to competitive strategy in mobile telecommunication industry

Abstract: This paper analyses the mobile carriers' competition strategies by using balanced scorecard and system dynamics (SD) modelling. Four indexes are used to evaluate two major Chinese mobile telecom carriers, which are Internal Business Index, Financial Index, Market and Customer Index and Innovation and Learning Index. With these four indexes, a SD model is developed based on systems methodology, which includes eight sub-systems and 80 variables. Considering the government's regulation policy, the two carriers' competitive strategies are studied through modelling and simulaton. The result shows that for carrier B, improving the investment efficiency is more important; while for carrier A, the product innovation is an essential issue. This research explores an effective way to construct an analytical framework for dynamic competitive strategy. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Auditing in organizations: A theoretical concept and empirical evidence

Abstract: Although auditing in organizations is an important mechanism in developing better corporate processes and knowledge, little has been done to address such key questions as a definition of quality auditing, how it is enabled or its impact and outcomes. This study presents a model of auditing quality in public sector organizations, operationalizes it. In addition, this research examines the role of perceived organizational support (POS) in building auditing quality and the extent to which the latter affects organizational outcomes. The findings of a multi-stage investigation coupled with various sources of data indicate that six components are crucial to auditing quality. In addition, it is shown that POS is an important enabler of auditing quality, which in turn results in positive organizational outcomes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Boundary maintenance in living systems theory and social entropy theory

Abstract: Past analyses of social systems have too often relied upon obsolete dualities such as open system/closed system. The purpose of this paper is to provide a more comprehensive analysis of the full range of boundary-maintenance operations that are at work in the modern complex social system. I first analyse the role of the boundary in Living Systems Theory (LST), and then turn to the analysis and comparison of boundary maintenance in Social Entropy Theory (SET). Among the topics discussed are boundary control for matter-energy (M-E) flows, boundary control for information flows, types of information inflows across social-system boundaries, types of information outflows across social-systems boundaries and types of M-E inflows and outflows across social systems boundaries. Among the types of information inflows discussed are neutral, fatal, catalytic and cancelling. Among the types of information outflows discussed are obligatory, routine and formatted. Finally, some of the M-E inflows and outflows discussed are obligatory, optional and routine. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A Method for Enterprise Knowledge Map Construction Based on Social Classification

Abstract: Knowledge map is an important and effective instrument of corporate knowledge management. A great number of unordered knowledge resources in the enterprises bring about difficulties to the knowledge map construction. This paper proposes an effective method based on social classification to organize the enterprise knowledge resources and to construct the knowledge map further. According to the characteristics of knowledge usage in the enterprise, the enterprise knowledge map is defined as a domain-centered system to display knowledge and their relationships. By virtue of the collaborative nature of social classification, the proposed method collects individual knowledge tagging data and selects some important topics from tags to form a domain knowledge map. Then topics in different domains are related to each other by similarity and the enterprise knowledge map is constructed. At last, a prototype knowledge map system, which is being implemented for an enterprise, is presented.

Designing electronic health records versus total digital health systems: A systemic analysis

Abstract: To date, the digitization of health care typically has focussed simply and solely on electronic records for patients. Most systems are relational databases with a finite number of intra-enterprise applications and are limited to in-house use by health care facilities. Very few of these systems have realized fully functional, scalable, distribution capabilities, not to mention interoperability with external systems. This short-sighted tendency to build large-scale but restrictive automated systems that ignore the interactive nature of health care has resulted in limited operational success and acceptance. That said, this trend is not irreversible. Given the right circumstances, distributed, interoperable, digital health systems could emerge rapidly, offering both intra- and inter-enterprise benefits. To succeed, the design of these so-called total digital health systems (TDHSs) must be approached holistically, incorporating such properties of health care delivery systems as softness, openness, complexity, flexibility and generality. Because of the procedural nature of most electronic health record (EHR) applications now in use, traditional system approaches—such as the relational database model to application design—would be adequate for EHRs. This paper discusses the systemic nature of health care information systems and compares and contrasts the traditional EHR with TDHS. A soft systems methodology (SSM) is proposed for TDHS design. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.