The Socio-Cultural Factors Influencing Online Female Consumers in Saudi Arabia

Speaker: Khulood Rambo

Title: The Socio-Cultural Factors Influencing Online Female Consumers in Saudi Arabia

Abstract: Designers can make a difference in the way people live their lives. Their core is to provide design solutions to meet the needs, expectations, and variations of their target users. Although Saudi Arabia is becoming an emerging market for both global and local retailers, many consumers remain reluctant to adopt ecommerce business to consumer transactions such as online shopping. Moreover, the literature shows that despite the general low penetration of e-commerce applications in Saudi Arabia, there is a perceptible significant difference between the numbers of males and females with positive responses towards adopting these applications. This paper identifies the sociocultural and technical factors that influence both the Saudi female’s adoption and the design of e-commerce applications using the foundations of organisational semiotics. A socio-technical tool-kit of methods and techniques that bridge the gap between the notions of ‘culture’ and ‘technology’ by providing a deeper analysis of the social norms that govern people’s behaviour.

Convergence of BI with Search and Collaboration - How Search technologies can extend the scope of BI solutions

Speaker: Kevin Starling.

Title: Convergence of BI with Search and Collaboration - How Search technologies can extend the scope of BI solutions

Abstract: Exalead will discuss the convergence of current trends towards real-time business intelligence with new perspectives of corporate intelligence, where combining internal and external content sources enables a truly 360-degree view, and the potential for new insights, of critical business processes and items. Exalead will present real-world examples that show how business can derive commercial value from such convergence, demonstrating how search has become a "must-have" enabling technology behind decision-support platforms and business-process driven collaboration platforms.

Information costs, the firm, and innovation

Speaker: Dr Nigel Wadeson

Title: Information costs, the firm, and innovation

Abstract: Dr Nigel Wadeson is interested in how information costs affect the organization of the firm and also in entrepreneurship and innovation. In this informal talk he will discuss 2 models. The first is a model of the structure of the firm based on the costs of information storage and communication. The second views innovation as a sequential search.

Interactive Graphic Organizers: A case of ICT curriculum integration in higher education

Speaker: Dr. Mario J Lopez and Dr. Hector R Ponce

Title: Interactive Graphic Organizers: A case of ICT curriculum integration in higher education

Abstract: VirtuaLab-USACH developed Interactive Graphic Organizers (IGOs), a software application built with components on Adobe Flash and Air platforms. IGOs are modular, interactive and facilitate both students thinking skills development and teachers interactive visual content display. This article presents some results from IGOs curriculum integration evaluation. IGOs were integrated into learning activities in an Information Systems Design course (belonging to the seventh of twelve semesters in Industrial Civil Engineering degree course at the University of Santiago, Chile). A cuasi-experimental design was used where students from the experimental group (the course) were invited to use the IGOs in their learning and assessment activities. A working hypothesis was stated for the curriculum integration; and comprehensive tools were developed for data collection.