Thursday, December 17, 2009

Paper on Collaborative Sensemaking accepted at the CSCW 2010 CIS Workshop

Paper Title: Requirements to support Collaborative Sensemaking

Abstract:
Collaborative sensemaking occurs when a group of people with diverse backgrounds engage in the process of making sense of information rich, complex and dynamic situations. Our understanding of collaborative sensemaking and critical functionalities to support such sensemaking is limited. In this paper, based on review of relevant literature, we outline a set of broad requirements critical for supporting collaborative sensemaking. Requirements identified are: support for creating explicit representations, support co-existence of different representations, support for developing shared representation, support for creating representations using templates, providing workspace for developing shared representations, support for building consensus and reaching agreement, support for facilitating and moderating interactions, support for exchanging documents, and support for retrieving and visualizing information. We argue that a collaborative systems designed to satisfy above requirements would provide better support for collaborative sensemaking activities.

Conference Link: http://workshops.fxpal.com/cscw2010cis/

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Paper on Standardization Activities accepted at the WEB 2009

Paper Title: Analyzing Processes behind Web Service Standards Development

Abstract:
Anticipatory standards such as Web service standards are artifacts ‘designed’ by consortium-based standards development organizations. Intricate processes followed to develop anticipatory standards are not well-understood. Recently, the D-S-N model was developed to explain these processes, and suggested that these processes contain cycles of design (D), sense-making (S), and negotiation (N) activities. In this paper, we provide an initial report of a case study that empirically analyzes archival documents of SOAP standard development. Our findings reveal that the D-S-N model is applicable to the Web service standardization process followed at W3C but this model provides only partial explanation of the process, and that design and sense-making are the core activities of the process. Our findings also show that participants spent most of their time discussing technical issues and identifying action items to be performed, large organizations dominated the process, and negotiation is the least frequent activity.

Authors: Karthikeyan Umapathy, Sandeep Purao, and John Bagby

Conference Link: http://www.som.buffalo.edu/isinterface/Web09/

Paper on W3C Standardization Process accepted at the AIS SIGPrag 2009

Paper Title: An Investigation of W3C Standardization Processes Using Rational Discourse

Abstract:
Standards, in particular Web standards, have become critical and complex information technologies as they influence our everyday activities. Standards making is a social practice where in experts engage in discussions to develop standards by weighing various alternative design solutions. Processes followed to develop these standards and how decisions for core features are made is not well understood. In this paper, we drawn on concepts of rational discourse described by Habermas to examine whether processes followed at W3C meets requirements of rational discourse. Our investigation shows that processes followed at W3C do exhibit an approximation of rational discourse, while some concerns exist.

Conference Link: http://www.sigprag.org/phoenix_2009.html

Friday, September 18, 2009

Paper on Computing Professional Association Membership accepted at the CONISAR 2009

Paper Title: Factors that Persuade and Deter Membership in Professional Computing Associations

Abstract:
A decision to join a professional computing association is, generally, considered a decision to affiliate with a group. The value of a professional association can be measured in terms of services it offers. Professional computing associations play a critical role in advancing professional growth of its members by offering a variety of services such as career development, networking opportunities, and dissemination on current advancements in the profession. In particular, the computing discipline consists of several sub-disciplines each having substantial differences among them, which creates considerable differences among computing professionals. Due to differences among computing professionals, it is important for computing professional associations to identify services that are valuable for its members and help in retaining their membership. Towards that, in this paper, we identify factors that persuade and deter membership in professional computing associations. We present results of a survey conducted with the Association of Information Technology Professionals’ members, with primary focus on qualitative analysis of responses to open-ended questions. Persuading factors identified are networking opportunities, dissemination of technical information and advancement in the field, professional development programs, advocacy opportunities, leadership and community service opportunities, and reputation of the association. Deterring factors are solicitation and unwarranted emails, timing and location constraints of events, lack of a local chapter, and behavior and characteristics of peer members in the association.

Authors: Karthikeyan Umapathy, Lisa Jamba, and Albert D. Ritzhaupt.

Conference link: http://conisar.org/

Paper accepted at the ISECON 2009 Conference

Paper Title: Role of Web Server in Capstone Course

Abstract:
Web applications has become commonplace in the information systems curriculum. Much of the discussion about Web development for capstone courses has centered on the scripting tools. Very little has been discussed about different ways of incorporating Web server into Web application development courses. In this paper, three different ways of incorporating Web server are discussed: shared Web server (minimal student control), managed Web server (configuration control), and controlled Web server (full student control). This paper argues that capstone courses oriented towards Web applications development should provide certain amount of Web server control to students as it is an important skill set to acquire.

Authors: Karthikeyan Umapathy, and F. Layne Wallace

Conference link: http://www.isecon.org/

Monday, April 06, 2009

Paper on Web Services Choreography accepted at the AMCIS 2009

Paper Title:From Service Conversation Models to WS-CDL

Abstract: Changing business environments are forcing organizations to develop flexible and adaptable enterprise systems. To accomplish this and to solve associated systems integration issues, many are moving towards web service technology. Two key ingredients of web services based solution are service composition and service choreography. While there has been lot of advancement in respect to service composition, service choreography rather largely remains an open problem. WS-CDL specification is considered to be a candidate standard for service choreography; however, consensus on support mechanisms to develop conversation models depicting peer-to-peer interactions are yet to be reached. In this paper, we develop an approach as well required heuristics for identifying service interaction patterns from business process models and using them to develop conversation models. We provide detailed discussion on heuristics, illustrate our approach through an example, as well as indicate how these conversation models can be used for generating WS-CDL specifications.

http://www.amcis2009.org/

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Paper accepted at the SAIS 2009 Conference

Paper Title: Information Extraction From Different Data Representation Forms: Charts and Tables

Abstract:
Presenting data in the form of graphs and tables has long been considered as an important tool for decision making. Extracting information from these presentation forms are considered to be cognitively intensive tasks. Prior research works on aspects of presentation forms have produced inconsistent and conflicting results. In this study, we examine effects of tabular and graphical (bar, line, and pie) forms on information extraction. Graphs were examined with solid and textured patterns as well. We conducted a laboratory experiment where in subjects answered set of questions which would require them to extract information from the presentation display. Our study reveals that tables, even though they have higher response rate, produced more accurate results than graphs. Comparison within graphs showed that bar charts had a lower response rate than pie and line charts, while pie charts produced the least accurate results. Comparison of solid and textured patterns in graphs revealed that they are not an influencing factor in regards to information extraction. We also provide detailed comparison of current research findings against to prior research results.

Authors: Janice M. Engberg, Karthikeyan Umapathy, and F. Layne Wallace

Conference Link: http://sais.aisnet.org/2009/