Showing papers on "Information sharing published in 1994"

What's Mine Is Ours, or Is It? A Study of Attitudes about Information Sharing

Abstract: As technology for information access improves, people have more opportunities to share information. A theory of information sharing is advanced and we report the results of three experiments on attitudes about sharing technical work and expertise in organizations. Based on research on sensitive topics difficult to study in the field, we derived vignette-based measures of attitudes. Subjects read a description of an employee's encounter with a previously unhelpful coworker who subsequently requested help-in the form of a computer program or computer advice. The influence of prosocial attitudes and organizational norms is inferred from subjects' support of sharing despite the previous unhelpful behavior of the coworker. Experiments 1 and 3 demonstrated that greater self interest reduces support of sharing, but that a belief in organizational ownership of work encourages and mediates attitudes favoring sharing. Work experience and business schooling contribute to these attitudes. The theory asserts that information as expertise belongs to a special category of information that is part of people's identity and is self-expressive. Experiments 2 and 3 demonstrated that subjects felt computer expertise belonged more to its possessor than the computer program did but would share it more than the program. Hence, attitudes about information sharing depend on the form of the information. Sharing tangible information work may depend on prosocial attitudes and norms of organizational ownership; sharing expertise may depend on people's own self-expressive needs.

The global network organization of the future: information management opportunities and challenges

Abstract: The key information processing building blocks for yesterday's organizations were typewriters, carbon paper, filing cabinets, and a government mail service. The constraints of these crude information processing technologies often required workers to be located under one roof and organizations to arrange themselves as efficient, but relatively change-resistant, management hierarchies. Those legacy organization designs have persisted despite fundamental changes in information processing technology. Tomorrow's successful organizations will be designed around the building blocks of advanced computer and communications technology. The success of these organizations will come from the ability to couple to, and decouple from, the networks of knowledge nodes. These networked organizations will link, on an as-needed basis, teams of empowered employees, consultants, suppliers, and customers. These ad hoc teams will solve one-time problems, provide personalized customer service, and then, as lubricant for subsequent interactions, evaluate one another's performance. In the network organization, structure will dominate strategy, credentials will give way to performance and knowledge, and human resources will be the only sustainable advantage. Despite the promise, networked organizations present difficult information management challenges. Among these are developing a flexible and efficient information architecture, establishing new values, attitudes, and behaviors concerning information sharing, building databases that can provide integrated customer support on a worldwide basis, and protecting personal freedoms and privacy. Here, we explore the opportunities and challenges that networked organizations will present for information technology management.

The Long‐Term Strategic Impact of Purchasing Partnerships

Abstract: The strategic importance of purchasing has emerged clearly in recent years. The recognition of the potential to be gained through communication and cooperation has prompted many firms to move away from an adversarial buyer-seller stance. Instead, efforts have focused on managing purchasing relationships in order to contribute to strategic success.[1] This contrasts sharply with the traditional perspective of viewing purchasing as a "tactical manufacturing subfunction."[2] Developing effective purchasing partnerships is a complex process requiring a long-term commitment. Rewards are not likely to be immediate. However, a review of the literature presenting previous research and case histories provides little indication of the time required to realize substantive benefits from partnership arrangements. Consequently, the current research focuses on exploring that area. More specifically, the research examines the relationship between the length of time partnership-oriented arrangements have been established and the degree of success in implementing specific purchasing strategies and achieving desired outcomes. Following a brief review of literature relating to the strategic role of purchasing and partnership involvement, research hypotheses and methodology are presented along with the results of an empirical study. BACKGROUND Traditionally, external purchasing or outsourcing has been prompted by desires to achieve efficiency improvements. Today, external purchase decisions often are part of a firm's strategic focus of maintaining flexibility. Firms are finding that they can leverage their core competencies by focusing on what they do best and forming coalitions, or long-term relationships, with "best-in-class" suppliers for other needs.[3] Developing partnerships and cooperative buyer-seller relationships in all types of business arrangements has been identified as a significant contemporary trend.[4] The rationale for entering into such partnership-type purchasing arrangements has been well documented.[5] For example, manufacturing firms have realized significant economies and operating improvements by selectively developing partnerships with suppliers of a variety of products and services.[6] Reasons for external purchases include the avoidance of extensive capital investment needed to produce the products or services internally, access to specialized talent or leading edge technology, higher quality, increased flexibility, and cost and efficiency enhancements.[7] However, partnerships are not without risk. Closer ties also create strategic vulnerability--i.e., partners are likely to anticipate greater degrees of risk and dependence. Spekman summarizes the challenge involved in effectively managing buyer-supplier partnerships: . . . the key is to both recognize one's potential vulnerability and to gain a sense of order, or control, by actively and purposively attempting to manage the relationship and to keep the dependence in check. For the buyer, the process might consist of better evaluating potential trading partners so that only sellers who have certain attributes are selected as close and interdependent partners. In other instances, the process might entail better gathering of environmental information so as to reduce and manage the level of uncertainty in the supply market.[8] Creating Successful Partnerships A number of characteristics, sometimes referred to as critical success factors, are associated with successful partnerships. These factors include selective matching, information sharing, role specification, defining ground rules, development of exit provisions, and long-term commitment.[9] Partnerships reflect a different approach to doing business. Separate operating philosophies must be blended together, hopefully with a minimum of disruption. Therefore, it is important that the corporate values and cultures of the individual prospective partners be compatible. …

Modeling the Dynamics of Supply Chains

Abstract: It is estimated that, on average, 60-70% of the costs of manufactured goods come from raw materials and purchased components [Har92]. As industry moves toward an increasingly more global market economy in which companies focus more on the production of core highvalue-adding components, this gure can only increase. This in turn will further increase the interdependence between manufacturers and their suppliers when it comes to improving due date performance, reducing costs or increasing quality and will put a premium on the ability of managers to grasp the full complexity of the supply chain environment in which their companies operate. Current supply chain analysis techniques and tools often prove inadequate in this regard, due to modeling limitations (e.g. xed leadtimes, inability to account for nite capacities, steady state assumptions, omission of important costs), an inability to take advantage of opportunities provided by Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) technology and a lack of support for operationalizing recent manufacturing philosophies (e.g. \Lean Production",TQM and JIT). This paper reviews important research issues in supply chain management and presents initial work towards the development of decision support tools for analysis of supply chain dynamics. Our approach relies on the development of an extensible multi-agent simulation testbed in which a wide range of supply chain problems can be quickly and accurately modeled, and alternative solutions to these problems can be compared via simulation. We summarize initial results obtained with an early prototype that indicate some performance e ects of di erent information sharing protocols. 1 Objectives and Motivations To remain competitive, industrial organizations are continually faced with challenges to reduce product development time, improve product quality, and reduce production costs and leadtimes. Increasingly, these challenges cannot be e ectively met by isolated change to speci c organizational units, but instead depend critically on the relationships and interdependencies among di erent organizations (or organizational units). With the movement toward a global market economy, companies are increasingly inclined toward speci c, high-value-adding manufacturing niches. This, in turn, increasingly transforms the above challenges into problems of establishing and maintaining e cient material ows along product supply chains. The ongoing competitiveness of an organization is tied to the dynamics of the supply chain(s) in which it participates, This research was supported by the Advanced Research Projects Agency under contracts F30602-91-F-0016 and F30602-90-C-0119. and recognition of this fact is leading to considerable change in the way organizations interact with their supply chain partners. Broadly speaking, supply-chain management can be subdivided into three inter-related topics: 1. Supply Chain Con guration: Decisions here relate to determination of an optimal number of suppliers as well as the selection of speci c suppliers (internal or external) based on considerations such as quality, leadtimes, costs, reliability, expected learning curves, locations, capacities, earlier experiences, etc. 2. Buyer-Supplier Relations: These decisions have to do with assessing the merits of alternative contracts and agreements between buyers and suppliers. They include understanding tradeo s involved in setting up cost-sharing agreements, determining the length of contracts, agreeing to share di erent types of information (e.g. open-book audits of suppliers), or committing to buying a percentage of the supplier's capacity. 3. Buyer-Supplier Coordination: Here buyers and suppliers are concerned about identifying e cient coordination policies to maintain a smooth ow of materials and products through the supply chain, avoiding stockouts while keeping inventories to as low a level as possible. Decisions of interest at this level include the selection of proper inventory policies and associated reordering policies (how much to reorder and when) as well as evaluating the impact of di erent information exchange protocols. In this paper, we summarize ongoing work aimed at the development of an extensible modeling and simulation framework for analyzing supply chain management problems. Our objectives are two-fold: 1. First, we are interested in providing new insights into the nature of tradeo s in currently ill-understood aspects of supply chain coordination such as buyer-supplier information exchange, buyer-supplier contractual agreements and buyer-supplier decisions under dynamically changing supply chain relationships. Analyses conducted to date in each of these areas has either su ered in their relevance to practical industrial situations, due to the limiting assumptions that are necessary to construct tractable analytical models, or have been retroactive and limited in applicability, relying on post hoc trend analysis of speci c organizational entities. Our work, in contrast, seeks to construct and analyze models that capture the assumptions and dynamics of these decision tradeo s in actual organizational decision-making contexts, and to provide relevant, prescriptive advice in di erent decision-making circumstances. 2. More generally, we are interested in increasing the relevance of analysis results to practical decision-making contexts, and in providing practical decision-support tools to supply chain management decision-makers. In developing our modeling and simulation testbed, our goal is a modular framework for specifying models of arbitrary delity to a given application context; allowing analysis of decision tradeo s under assumptions that match the actual circumstances facing supply chain managers and their decision-making requirements. We expect, as a by product of investigating the above mentioned tradeo s, to produce an extensible library of model building blocks (e.g., supplier/buyer agents, reordering policies, contractual agreements, information exchange protocols) for subsequent adaptation and re-use. In the longer term, we envision this research leading to the development of practical decision support tools, directly accessible to supply chain managers and integrated with the EDI capabilities of industrial organizations. The balance of this paper is organized as follows. Section 2 brie y introduces concepts and issues in supply chain management and reviews existing research and approaches in this area. Section 3 summarizes the multi-agent modeling and simulation testbed we are developing. In Section 4, we present initial results obtained with an early prototype. Future work is discussed

The network data delivery service: real-time data connectivity for distributed control applications

Abstract: The network data delivery service (NDDS) is a novel network data-sharing system. NDDS builds on the model of information producers (sources) and consumers (sinks). Producers generate data at their own discretion, unaware of prospective consumers. Consumers "subscribe" to data-updates without concern for who is producing them. The routing protocol is connectionless and nearly "stateless", thus network reconfigurations, node failures, etc. are handled naturally. This scheme is particularly effective in systems (such as distributed control systems) where information is of a repetitive nature. NDDS provides support for multiple producers, reliable data-delivery, consumer update guarantees, notifications vs. polling for updates, dynamic binding of producers and consumers, distributed queries, and user-defined data types. NDDS is integrated into the ControlShell real-time framework and is being used in several robotic applications as an effective means of information sharing between sensor systems, robot controllers, planners, graphical user interfaces, and simulators. >

The use of adapters to support cooperative sharing

Abstract: This paper examines the importance of providing effective management of sharing in cooperative systems and argues for a specialised service to support the cooperative aspects of information sharing. The relationship between features of the cooperative shared object service and existing services is briefly examined. A number of management services of particular importance to CSCW systems are identified. The paper presents a technique of realising a shared object service by augmenting existing object facilities to provide management of their cooperative use. These facilities are realised through object adapters that provide additional cooperative facilities and greater control over the supporting infrastructure.

The Logistics-Marketing Interface: Marketer Views on Improving Cooperation

Abstract: Previous research has identified that the marketing and logistics functions come into conflict and disagreement on a number of issues. The present paper discusses marketer views for improving cooperation with the logistics function, and finds that the most frequently used cooperation techniques are top management support, information sharing, and a philosophy of cooperation. These are rather simple concepts, and their implementation can be accomplished at a relatively low cost and with minimal organizational disruption.

The Impact of Information Sharing Opportunities on Market Outcomes: An Experimental Study

Abstract: Information regarding uncertain demand conditions or industry costs, as well as the opportunity to share this information, can have an important impact on firm behavior. A series of recent game-theoretic models have characterized the incentives for firms to share information regarding uncertain parameters [3; 7; 8; 13; 14; 16; 22; 26; 20; 21 provide a comprehensive survey]. Most of the models assume that behavior in the output market is noncooperative, regardless of the firms' information sharing decisions. This paper reports a series of 15 laboratory sessions that test the noncooperative, backward induction approach of these models. The results suggest that pricing behavior may be influenced by the information sharing decision: Under most conditions the noncooperative Nash model accurately describes average behavior, although in certain conditions information sharing appears to facilitate tacit collusion. The paper also estimates a simple behavioral model of learning that describes how experimental subjects learn the optimal information sharing decision as an alternative to the theories' backward induction assumption. The information sharing models tested here have been interpreted as identifying the incentives for competitive firms to form a trade association that reduces their uncertainty. Thousands of trade and professional associations are active worldwide, and the majority collect information from their members that is aggregated and distributed through association statistical programs. The theoretical models demonstrate how three variables influence the information sharing incentives: 1) The type of competition (Bertrand or Cournot); 2) the nature of the goods (substitutes or complements); and, 3) the source of uncertainty (demand or cost). The first two variables determine the slope of the firms' reaction functions, and the uncertainty source along with the information sharing decision determines the degree of correlation among the firms' strategies. The incentive for noncooperative firms to share information shifts as these three variables change because reduced correlation has a negative or positive effect on profit depending upon the slope of the reaction functions.

Flexible and Dynamic Integration of Multiple Information Bases

Abstract: To support the information sharing in a high performance distributed network of cooperative nodes, a flexible and dynamic integration facility must be developed. A node in the network is typically one user behind his workstation. On one hand, the nodes in the network are developed and evolved independent of each other, primarily to support their local needs, and thus their independence and autonomy must be supported. On the other hand, some nodes tightly and some nodes loosely cooperate, therefore every node wishes to have access to a part of the information available in some other nodes. Since the nodes and their cooperation are intrinsically dynamic, the integration facility must support the systematic and incremental derivation/integration of the imported information from other nodes with the local information. The integration facility must also provide user-friendly interface tools to ease the burden of information integration and the consistency checking for complex interrelationships established among the nodes. These requirements of multiple information base integration, that we claim to be fundamental in supporting the inter-operability of cooperating autonomous nodes are addressed in this paper by a novel approach. In specific, the paper presents the definition and manipulation of object clusters and two interface tools, the Schema Manipulation Tool and the Database Browsing Tool to assist users with their integration of nodes' information. The concepts described in this paper are developed and prototypically implemented as a part of the peer object-oriented federated information management system.

Distributing Global Information Systems Resources in Multinational Companies

Abstract: The recent realignment of national boundaries and the restructuring of national economic policies around the world have highlighted the need for effective management of international Information Systems (IS). This article re-examines the issue of IS resource management within the international dimension. Previous debate on this issue has centred around conflicting views on the need for headquarters to assume control and subsidiaries to exercise freedom, supporting two forms of IS structure - centralized and decentralized. However, the authors argue that centralization and decentralization of IS should constitute the two extremes of a continuum and this continuum relates to the extent to which the multinational company (MNC) adopts a multidomestic structure or a global one. This contingency view of IS and organizational alignment is presented and related to concepts on organizational fit and information sharing. This paper examines the question of IS resources management from the following aspects : firstly, the drive for internationalization and the differences between a multidomestic, global and transnational approach is discussed. From this, a continuum model for the alignment of MNC structures and IS services is proposed. Finally, a number of research areas based on the continuum model are identified for further study within a global research framework.

Information technology, incentives and the optimal number of suppliers

Abstract: Buyers are transforming their relationships with suppliers. For example, instead of playing off dozens or even hundreds of competing suppliers against each other, many firms are finding it move profitable to work closely with only a small number of "partners". In this paper we explore some causes and consequences of this transformation. We apply the economic theory of incomplete contracts to determine the optimal strategy for a buyer. Surprisingly, we find that the buyer will often maximize profits by limiting its options and reducing its own bargaining power. This may seem paradoxical in an age of cheap communications costs and aggressive competition. However, unlike earlier models which focused on coordination costs, we focus on the critical importance of providing incentives for suppliers. Our results spring from the need to make it worthwhile for suppliers to invest in "non-contractibles" like innovation, responsiveness and information sharing. Such incentives will often be stronger when the number of competing suppliers is small. The findings of the theoretical models appear to be consistent with observations from empirical research which highlight the key role of information technology in enabling this transformation. >

Collaborative Engineering Based on Knowledge Sharing Agreements

Abstract: The design of products by multi-disciplinary groups is a knowledge intensive activity Collaborators must be able to exchange informa tion and share some common understanding of the informaton's content The hope, however, that an integrated workbench of application tools will span the needs of engineering collaborators is misplaced We argue that an integrated workbench of application tools cannot meet the long- term needs of engineering collaborators Moreover, standards cannot satisfy the information sharing needs of collaborators, because these needs are dynamic

Total Quality: Teamsmanship over Leadership

Abstract: Total quality management sharply modifies management itself. As teams and teamwork take root, leadership idolatry fades in importance. Teamsmanship requires breaking vertical and horizontal barriers that stand in the way of quick, high‐quality customer service. Management tools helpful in barrier‐busting include team‐building, cross‐training, job rotation, cross‐careering, project teams, and re‐engineering. While these tools are in wide use, companies often misapply or weakly apply them. Examples are given of how some companies use these tools in ways that effectively enhance teamsmanship. Teamsmanship also feeds on information, which must be widely shared. In most Western cultures, however, people tend jealously to guard their own knowledge and personally acquired information. Organizations must employ systematic devices that promote information sharing. Among the better known such devices are benchmarking and quality function deployment. Also useful, but less familiar, are common files and the “star sys...

Heterogeneity and the Incentive to Share Information in Cournot Oligopology Market

Abstract: This paper addresses the robustness of information-sharing incentives of the Cournot oligopoly firms to differences in the cost functions and the quality of information. Specifically, the author investigates which firm has more incentive to share information; the conditions under which information sharing is mutually beneficial; and when it is not mutually beneficial, the conditions under which a firm gains enough to entice the unwilling firm into sharing information by compensation. He shows that the firm with a less convex cost function has more incentives to share information and presents conditions for the latter two issues. Copyright 1994 by Economics Department of the University of Pennsylvania and the Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association.

An intelligent system for identifying and integrating non-local objects in federated database systems

Abstract: Support for interoperability among autonomous, heterogeneous database systems is emerging as a key information management problem for the 1990s. A key challenge for achieving interoperability among multiple database systems is to provide capabilities to allow information units and resources to be flexibly and dynamically combined and interconnected while at the same time, preserve the investment in and autonomy of each existing system. This research specifically focuses on two key aspects of this: (1) how to discover the location and content of relevant, non-local information units, and (2) how to identify and resolve the semantic heterogeneity that exists between related information in different database components. We demonstrate and evaluate our approach using the remote-exchange experimental prototype system, which supports information sharing and exchange from the above perspective. >

Strategy for supporting organization and structuring of development teams in concurrent engineering

Abstract: A framework for supporting the organization and structuring of product development teams under concurrent engineering environment is presented. The concepts of Team Structuring Dimensions (TSD) and Development Characteristics and Factors (DCF) are defined. Based on the concepts, the framework analyzes the emphasis that should be placed on each TSD according to the DCFs, and each different combination of the emphasis defines a more appropriate team organization and structuring. A more appropriate team organization facilitates the communication and information sharing between the team members, and the quality of this communication is essential for product development effectiveness and efficiency. The effectiveness of the framework is discussed by real cases in product development projects.

Sharing Data and Information in Juvenile Justice: Legal, Ethical, and Practical Considerations

Abstract: Decision-makers in juvenile justice systems often complain they can not get information they need from other juvenile justice agencies to make decisions. This can lead to resentment between juvenile justice agency workers, duplication of data collections efforts, and a breakdown in communication and functioning of the juvenile justice system. This paper reviews the legal, ethical, and practical barriers to information sharing among juvenile justice agencies and suggests practical steps to overcome these barriers. This report reviews documents by private and/or public organizations with an interest in information sharing, state and federal Supreme Court decisions, state and federal statutes, government documents, and law review and journal articles. The report indicates there are few legal barriers to information sharing between parties with “legitimate interests,” there are ethical issues to both sharing and withholding information, and that practical constraints are the primary reasons why agencies within many jurisdictions don't share information. Namely, information territorialism most often is rooted in habit and long-standing practice, and/or a lack of established policies and procedures regarding information sharing. The article concludes with a 20 step prescription which could assist a jurisdiction in developing an integrated information system built on information sharing.

An Intelligent System for Identifying and Integrating Non-Local Objects in Federated Database Systems

Abstract: Support for interoperability among autonomous, heterogeneous database systems is emerging as U key information management problem for the 1990s A key challenge for achieving interoperability among multiple database systems is to provide capabilities to allow information units and resources to be flexibly and dynamically combined and interconnected while at the same time, preserve the inwestment in and autonomy of each existing system This research specifically focuses on two key aspects of this: (1) how to discover the location and content of relevant, non-local information units, and (2) how to identify and resolve the semantic heterogeneity that exists between related information in different database components We demonstrate and evaluate our approach using the Remote-Exchange experimental prototype system, which supports information sharing and exchange from the above perspective

Mutual control in the newly integrated work environments

Abstract: How does an increase in the availability of detailed electronic information about behavior change organizations, and what kinds of choices influence those changes? This paper presents a model of mutual control, derived from studies of detailed information sharing in manufacturing, that describes one set of likely changes. According to the mutual control model, increasing pressures for tighter monitoring and control come from a mutual access to, and dependence on, shared electronic information that can be linked to the behavior of identifiable individuals and groups. That the demands for greater monitoring and control come from all directions in organizations, not simply upper management, is a finding that contrasts sharply with the traditional view of electronic surveillance and its concern with regulating managerial excess. The mutual control model also highlights how current systems design ideals, uncritically followed, contribute to the widespread demand for monitoring and tighter control within organi...

Privacy and security requirements of distributed computer based patient records.

Abstract: Privacy and security issues increase in complexity as we move from the conventional patient record to the computer based patient record (CPR) supporting patient care and to cross-institutional networked CPRs. The privacy and security issues surrounding the CPR are outlined. Measures for privacy and security protection are summarized. It is suggested that we lack a key component of an information sharing culture. We need means for semantic indexing in the form of a metadata base at the level of the instantiation of a data base rather than at the level of its schemas.

FISH: Flexible information sharing and handling system

Abstract: With the progress of network technology and workstation technology as the background, there has been progress in the exchange/transmission of information as well as document sharing by electronic means in the office environment. At present, however, techniques have not been developed to the stage where such fragmented information as knowhow is stored/retrieved/managed in the distributed environment. From such a viewpoint, the authors have constructed the knowhow storage system FISH (flexible information sharing and handling system), which can store the knowhow in the text format. In FISH, the minimum unit decomposition of the information and the flexible structurization are realized by decomposing the knowhow into multiple virtual cards to be stored in the computer. Knowhow, which is difficult to be given a systematic structure, is managed by automatically providing links among the card based on the keywords attached to the individual cards. This paper describes first the management method for the knowhow which is the basic design of FISH. Then the features, the functions that can be used, and the implementation of the system are discussed. The result of the one-year operation experiment of the system in the office of the authors is presented, together with discussions. Using FISH, it is made possible to store the knowhow and share the use in the distributed environment.

A distributed computing model for telemetry data processing

Abstract: We present a new approach to distributing processed telemetry data among spacecraft flight controllers within the control centers at NASA's Johnson Space Center. This approach facilitates the development of application programs which integrate spacecraft-telemetered data and ground-based synthesized data, then distributes this information to flight controllers for analysis and decision-making. The new approach combines various distributed computing models into one hybrid distributed computing model. The model employs both client-server and peer-to-peer distributed computing models cooperating to provide users with information throughout a diverse operations environment. Specifically, it provides an attractive foundation upon which we are building critical real-time monitoring and control applications, while simultaneously lending itself to peripheral applications in playback operations, mission preparations, flight controller training, and program development and verification. We have realized the hybrid distributed computing model through an information sharing protocol. We shall describe the motivations that inspired us to create this protocol, along with a brief conceptual description of the distributed computing models it employs. We describe the protocol design in more detail, discussing many of the program design considerations and techniques we have adopted. Finally, we describe how this model is especially suitable for supporting the implementation of distributed expert system applications.

Support for Information Sharing in CSCW Based on Causally and Totally Ordered Group Communication

Abstract: In the context of typical CSCW environments (geographically dispersed, mobile hosts, component failures, concurrent activities) applications which help to overcome the limitations of space and time in collaborative work are extremely difficult to build. The major source of complexity lies in implementing mechanisms for access, manipulation and consistency of shared information. These mechanisms however are fundamental to a wide variety of CSCW applications. COCOON is an object-oriented application framework, which addresses these issues. It provides the abstraction of a shared information space which supports the interaction of members in a collaborative session. In this context COCOON offers a variety of CSCW specific information modelling, interaction and consistency mechanisms built upon the paradigm of causally and totally ordered communcation (CATOC). A major focus is the support for autonomous work, where team members disconnected from the session can alter information and later rejoin by merging their changes with the changes occured in the session in a consistent way.

Building an International Team: How Leading Firms and Networks Stay on Track

Abstract: The rigors of multinational and cross-cultural business today require new skills from global firms and networks. Technology, reporting precedures, seminars and frequent meetings keep multinational teams on the same wavelength. Public relations clients in multinational organizations today need counseling firms that possess truly global capabilities. To properly serve such clients in a world of instant communication and constant change demands increased flexibility on the part of account teams. Building teams across national boundaries and international time zones is crucial for firms and networks looking to increase, or even maintain, international billings. While methods of training key account personnel vary from firm to firm, all of their educational programs have certain elements in common. For multi-office business, most firms and networks are linked by e-mail or other interactive technology systems. Sometimes clients are directly linked into a firm's e-mail network. In addition, all firms have frequent fax and phone contact on shared accounts. Many groups issue regular reports from member offices to others in the network, either via e-mail or in the form of printed materials. Burson-Marsteller has a standardized interoffice work order that formalizes the basic information on interoffice business at the outset for all parties involved. Depend on meetings Networks and firms both depend on frequent meetings of managers to keep information flowing smoothly on international matters or even inter-office business within a country. Often, practice groups within a firm, such as those specializing in health care, technology or consumer product marketing, meet separately to discuss multi-office business. In some cases, heads of practice groups regularly meet with others in the firm to share information and train junior executives. The most elaborate seminars are multi-day training "colleges," such as those sponsored by Burson-Marsteller, Hill and Knowlton and GCI Group, to name just three (see page 28). In general, intense training is conducted and organized by senior firm members and sometimes invited client speakers or outside experts. The chief targets of multinational curricula within global firms are usually account executives in their late '20s or early '30s. This generation is considered the "future of the business," said GCI's CEO Jack Bergen. In contrast, network meetings for information sharing and educational purposes are usually restricted in attendance to firm principals, noted Art Stevens, president-elect of The Pinnacle Group. A number of organizations also sponsor internships or executive exchanges between offices in different countries. Those interviewed agreed that face-to-face meetings of account people and, whenever possible, clients across borders were always productive in terms of improving communications and building comraderie. However, the presence of an interactive, working international team does not negate the necessity for local partners in any trans-national campaign, PRJ learned. Having an understanding and facility in dealing internationally cannot replace the local practitioner's knowledge of media and customs in his/her country, our sources agreed. The real key to success in a multinational venture, they said, is having the combination of global scope and strategy with superior local execution. That's precisely the model that global firms and networks strive for in training programs. Technology links offices An international UNIX-based e-mail system helped the International Public Relations Exchange (IPREX) network put a successful new business proposal together in 24 hours, reported IPREX President Tom Gable. He is president of The Gable Group, based in San Diego, CA. The case Gable mentioned involved three U.S. offices bidding on a project in Texas. IPREX involves 50 independently-owned firms in North America, Europe and the Asia/Pacific region. …

Information sharing in collaborative environments

Abstract: In the eighties, the personal computing paradigm has fundamentally changed the way people work within organizations. The nineties will see a similar revolution-workgroup computing. This term describes IT support of work groups in the context of complex, interdisciplinary tasks in geographically dispersed organisations. Efficient information sharing is the key to effective collaboration support. In the context of typical collaborative environments however, (geographically dispersed, mobile and location independent sites, independent component failures, concurrent activities) building applications which support information sharing between separated and autonomous operating users is extremely difficult. This paper describes an infrastructure which addresses these issues by providing the abstraction of a shared information space and in this context offers a variety of collaboration specific consistency models and coordination mechanisms. >

Communication Resource Use in a Networked Collaborative Design Environment.

Abstract: The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine student use of a prototype networked collaborative design environment to support or augment learning about engineering design. The theoretical framework is based primarily on Vygotsky's social construction of knowledge and the belief that collaboration and communication are critical components in the development of reasoning and learning. The specific goals of the research were to characterize design activities and practices and to examine the use of multiple communication resources to augment activities in a three-way group collaboration. Three groups of students were asked to solve an engineering design problem using a variety of materials, a prototype computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) system, consisting of audio/video conferencing, chat box, draw tool, an interactive multimedia database of engineering information and a multimedia database of electronic textbooks. The groups were given tasks analogous to those of a main contractor and two subcontractors, but specific tasks were left ambiguous to force students to negotiate the boundaries of their tasks. Activities were categorized as: orienting; sub-dividing the problem; establishing roles; information seeking; information sharing; monitoring; negotiating understanding; designing; building; and evaluating. Multiple channels of communication were used by students in three ways: increasing the depth of the discussion; increasing the breadth of the discussion; and overcoming technical difficulty. Conclusions suggest that students need multiple representations of design information to effectively move the design process forward. These multiple channels can encourage both monitoring an active participation and can facilitate clarifications, acknowledgements, information sharing, negotiation, a' the transmission of design information. Findings are illustrated in two figures. (Contains 33 references.) (MAS) *********************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * *********************************************************************** U.S. DEPARTMENT of EDUCATION Once of Educations! Rafe Such and Improvatranl EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) C pus dOCument has been reproduced as ,eCelved from the Parson Or Organizafron Originating .1 C /Arno, changes have been made to improve reproduction qualify Points of ...terror ornmons stated mthrsclocument do not niCessarily reoresont official OE RI positron or policy Communication Resource Use in a Networked Collaborative Design Environment Geri Gay and Marc Lentini The Interactive Multimedia Group Cornell University 209 Kennedy Hall Ithaca, NY 14853-4203 Voice: 607/255-5530 FAX: 607/255-4346 WWW: http://www.img.cornell.edu/ "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY Geri Gay TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." L.111 © 1 9 9 4 Interactive Multimedia Group. This paper presented as a poster session at American Educational '' ) Research Association Conference, San Francisco, CA, April 18-22, 1995. A modified version of this paper N: has been accepted for publication to the Journal of Computer Mediated Communication. For further 17'-information contact the authors. 6

Information technology and the university: integration strategies for the 21st century

Abstract: The revolution in information technology requires that universities integrate information technology with their traditional missions of teaching, research, and public service. To this end, universities must address ethical and legal issues and restructure themselves to better meet the needs of today's learners. In addition, new information technologies are creating new patterns in the research enterprise, with networks enhancing information sharing and data transmittal. Leadership and service are critical to strategies for tomorrow

Integrated System Environment Using an Object-Oriented Project Model with Multiple-Views

Abstract: This paper describes the development, present status and future directions for PMAPM, an object-oriented project model designed to facilitate information sharing along the paths through which work flows between project states or specialists.