The Transaction Pattern through Automating TrAM in Education & Practice

Speaker: Dr Simon Polovina

Title: The Transaction Pattern through Automating TrAM in Education & Practice

Abstract: Transaction Agent Modelling (TrAM) has demonstrated how the early requirements of complex enterprise applications can be captured and described in a lucid yet rigorous way. Using Geerts and McCarthy’s REA (Resource-Events-Agents) model as its basis, TrAM describes an enterprise architecture that captures the underlying ‘qualitative’ dimensions of business concepts and processes structured upon a transaction model that is emerging to be a design pattern. Key to underpinning the value of this transaction pattern however, the TrAM process needs to include automated model-checking. This automation tests the usefulness of the transaction pattern for enterprise systems applications across differing business domains. By simulating industrial practice that includes this automation through an experimental design conducted in an educational setting, the effectiveness of the transaction pattern is evaluated as an enterprise application, which we envisage as a multi-agent system in order to reflect the dynamic world of business activity. The study, which is still in progress, therefore assesses the value of TrAM to industry and enterprise systems education centred on the transaction pattern.

Intelligent Buildings for Sustainable Liveable Cities

Speaker: Professor Derek Clements-Croome

Title: Intelligent Buildings for Sustainable Liveable Cities

Abstract: An intelligent building is one that is responsive to occupants, organisational and society’s needs. It is sustainable in terms of energy and water consumptions besides being lowly polluting in terms of emissions and waste: healthy in terms of well-being for the people living and working within it; and functional according to the user needs.

Thank Prof. Derek Clements-Croome for his precious time to give us a presentation about his latest work. Derek is a Director and founder of MSc Intelligent Buildings Programme and Intelligent Buildings Research Group and Director of Research in the School of Construction Management and Engineering at the University of Reading.

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.

Digital infrastructure, management practices and the design organization

Speaker: Jennifer Whyte

Title: Digital infrastructure, management practices and the design organization

Abstract: Digital information presents new challenges to managing and organizing in the pluralistic, multi-firm contexts in which buildings and infrastructure are designed. The literatures on complex organizations indicate paradoxical requirements for tight coupling between tasks to deal with their interdependencies; and loose coupling to deal with the exceptions arising in day-to-day work. This talk draws on research on managing and organizing to consider digitally-enabled design work on a tightly constrained infrastructure project. The engineering consultant's team on this major station refurbishment has been pioneering model-centric ways of working. The empirical research was qualitative in nature and involved spending time with the design team, talking informally to stakeholders about the project and also conducting formal interviews. The research collaboration focused on understanding the design team’s experience and learning through using new digital tools; and it also sought to uncover processes and systems to improve effective use of these tools. By increasing the coupling between the various disciplines involved in design, the new digital tools and processes implied wider organizational changes across firm boundaries. They also challenge institutionalised understandings of process. The talk concludes by discussing potential future scenarios for their use on projects.