ALBERT

Notes: Discusses the profile of a learning organization as described bySenge. Describes the current organizational status of Brooksby College,Leicestershire, UK, in relation to a college-devised quality assuranceprogramme (QAP). Then applies the results of this research to Senge'sprofile of a learning organization to show that Brooksby College has theattributes, and means, of becoming a learning organization. Furthershows that the vehicle for this development is the QAP.

Notes: Purpose - This UK-based research aims to build on the US-based work of Keller and Aaker, which found a significant association between "company credibility" (via a brand's "expertise" and "trustworthiness") and brand extension acceptance, hypothesising that brand trust, measured via two correlate dimensions, is significantly related to brand extension acceptance. Design/methodology/approach - Discusses brand extension and various prior, validated influences on its success. Focuses on the construct of trust and develops hypotheses about the relationship of brand trust with brand extension acceptance. The hypotheses are then tested on data collected from consumers in the UK. Findings - This paper, using 368 consumer responses to nine, real, low involvement UK product and service brands, finds support for a significant association between the variables, comparable in strength with that between media weight and brand share, and greater than that delivered by the perceived quality level of the parent brand. Originality/value - The research findings, which develop a sparse literature in this linkage area, are of significance to marketing practitioners, since brand trust, already associated with brand equity and brand loyalty, and now with brand extension, needs to be managed and monitored with care. The paper prompts further investigation of the relationship between brand trust and brand extension acceptance in other geographic markets and with other higher involvement categories.

Notes: Purpose - Aims to explore the factorial structure of automobile brand image in the context of a cross-national study. More specifically, we intend to answer two questions: whether the factor structure of brand image perception differ across countries, and whether these differences are owing to nation's culture and level of economic development. Design/methodology/approach - An existing data set, which consists of data collected from survey research, was employed. Data covering the top 20 automobile markets consisting of 4,320 eligible new car owners. Perception of and attitude towards automobile brand associations were measured using nominal scales. Findings - Provides empirical evidence that supports the applicability of multiple brand image dimensions corresponding to the consumer's sensory, utilitarian, symbolic and economic needs at the global level. The study also suggested that factor structure of brand image differs across nations and these differences might be reflective to a nation's culture and its level of economic development. Research limitations/implications - As with any empirical study, this research inevitably has its limitations, which presents opportunities for further research: extensions of the present framework to other product categories; extensions of the national factors; extensions of the brand associations; and measurement improvement. Practical implications - Understanding the similarities or differences of the factor structure of brand image across the globe facilitates the formation of a successful global image strategy. First of all, by exploring brand image structure at the global level; and the specific interrelationships among the corresponding associations Originality/value - The results derived from the 20 diverse nations in the present study not only enhance our understanding of brand image structure but also provide a strong test of the empirical generalizability of automobile brand image dimensionality and factor structure in a global context.

Notes: Purpose - Innovation launch strategies are usually critical for innovation success. The main objective of this work consists of analysing the influence of the tactical launch decisions on new product performance Design/methodology/approach - Starts with a brief literature review. Then the results obtained in our study are compared with those obtained in other research. The data used in our research describes a new product launch in the Spanish agro-food sector. The method for collecting the information was through a mailed questionnaire. Because most of response variables were categorical, and in order to verify the proposed hypotheses, cross tabulation was used. We used Pearson's chi-squared (?2), likelihood ratio (H2) and the adjusted residuals too. Findings - The results propose a series of recommendations for the executives in charge of marketing new products. Specifically, suggests that it will be more likely to achieve success if, when launching a new product, skimming strategies are used, if intensive distribution is used for selling an innovation and the investment in the communication media is greater than that made by competitors. However, it is more possible to fail if the new product is marketed using an individual brand, penetration prices, push communication strategies and less expenditure on this concept than the competitors. Research limitations/implications - The literature review suggests that some of these tactical decisions seem to be related with other launch decisions (strategic launch decisions). As a result of this, it will be interesting to perform these similar analyses for those as well as to analyse the possible links that may exist between both and their influence on the results. Future research could explore these relationships in other industrial sector or countries. Perhaps, it would be possible provide a common perspective. Originality/value - In spite of the importance of the last phase of new product, there are few empirical works about it. This work tries to explain the transcendence of the tactical launch decisions and the influence of it on the success/failure of an innovation

Notes: Purpose - The paper attempts to answer "Will the shift from the locus of self to locus of others impact the magnitude of loss aversion?" and "Will different prices affect the self-other asymmetry in choice?". Design/methodology/approach - The design is a two (locus: self vs others) by two (anchoring price: $30 vs $90) between-subjects' factorial with both the locus of evaluation and the monthly service plan charges (anchoring prices) as the between-subjects' factors. Findings - The author finds that inertia equity is smaller when consumers evaluate peer customers than when they evaluate themselves to switch brands. It is also found that the locus effect is applicable to brands at various prices. Research limitations/implications - Further research should focus on the validations of the assumptions to support the empirical finding from the theoretical perspective. Practical implications - Price reductions should be made personally relevant to the consumer and price increases should be made relevant to other things. Originality/value - The locus effect expands the assessment of loss aversion from one (self or other) to two dimensions jointly (self and other). It demonstrates the impact of the locus of evaluation on the magnitude of loss aversion.

Notes: Purpose - The paper proposes investigating the timing of consumer requests for price-matching refunds, the relationship between the refund timing and consumer repeat store purchase and the reasons for buying from the price-matching store when a lower competitive price is found before purchase. Design/methodology/approach - In Study 1, qualitative research (consumer interviews) was conducted; Study 2 uses a shopping simulation in which the timing of consumer refund-seeking behavior is observed, and Study 3 involves a consumer survey in which information on consumer refund-seeking behavior at real stores is gathered. Findings - The paper finds that consumers request price-matching refunds more frequently at the time of purchase than after the purchase. Seeking (and receiving) the price-matching refund is associated with higher repeat store purchase behavior than not having had a refund-seeking experience. Key reasons for buying from the price-matching retailer when a lower competitive price is found before purchase include convenience, tangible extras, and store reputation/service quality. Research limitations/implications - A student convenience sample was used. In Study 2, fictitious stores were used. In Study 3, the timing of refund seeking may have been different on other (not reported) occasions. Ability to seek the refund was not accounted for. Practical implications - The majority of the retailer's price-matching cost will come from issuing at-the-time-of-purchase refunds, when consumers possess more bargaining power. A positive refund-seeking experience may create a more loyal customer. In addition to being a low-price signal, price-matching policies can serve as signs of retailers' customer orientation. Originality/value - This research fills the gap in understanding the consumer price-match refund-seeking behavior and offers practical implications for retailers employing price-matching guarantees.

Notes: Reviews the process of ISO 9000 registration for the construction industry, with insight from the author's rich experience in helping construction firms to register for this international standard. Addresses the questions: the first-meeting, the courting process, the relationship and a life-time together. Concludes that the paper challenges the fundamentals of the need for ISO 9000 for the UK construction industry.

Notes: Undertakes a comparative analysis of the evolution and development of own branding strategies in UK and French grocery markets. Primary research was carried out through semi-structured interviews with senior managers of French grocery companies to determine the nature of their own branding strategies and to draw out comparisons with the strategies of their UK counterparts. Results indicate that it is unlikely that French retailers will develop store brands on the scale of Sainsbury's, Tesco, Marks & Spencer and Safeway in the UK. The organizational structure of French grocery business is less conducive to centralized buying and distribution, and conflict between manufacturers and distributors has led to a less efficient supply chain than in the UK. These factors, coupled with a highly competitive price-driven market environment, have resulted in most French retailers using own brands as a defensive strategy to combat strong national brands. The exceptions are companies which are well represented in the high street (Monoprix, Casino and Prisunic) and Carrefour, the only hypermarket operator which has ventured down the route of the UK multiples with a more value-added, differentiation approach.

Notes: Brand managers face many challenges (including questions of brand strength, world-class culture, "glocal" branding, seeded marketing channels, "service smart" integration, brand architecture and brand organizing). A framework is presented for thinking about the challenges and how to deal with them. This process, called "brand chartering", has three principal elements: creating and communicating the brand, managing the brand organization, and directing and structuring the brand. Illustrates how this framework is of help in management practice and shows how it can be used as a stool for organizational learning.

Notes: Corporate reputation is formed by the firm's various publics on the basis of information and experience. Different publics consider different informational cues. Focusses on the cues considered by customers of a beverage firm. Uses focus groups and a survey among consumers to develop an instrument to measure corporate reputation. The instrument can be used to track the evolution of the corporate reputation of a firm over time. Discusses other implications in terms of the role of the "halo" effect on corporate reputation and indicates directions for future research.

Notes: Branding has traditionally been viewed as an essential tool for marketers to establish an identity for their products. Even products among the commodity range make use of branding to establish a position for themselves in the market. Unbranded or "generic" products, therefore, tend to go against this branding principle. These products, which are usually sold at a price which is lower than their branded equivalents, are most often found in the area of low-involvement grocery items. Previous studies of consumer perceptions of generic products tend to be broad in their scope by looking at generic products as a product category, rather than seeking consumer views on individual generic products. This paper identifies the characteristics of generic purchasers, and their broad perceptions of generic products as a group; and, the research extends previous work in the area by comparing a range of individual generic products to each other in terms of their value, quality and packaging. In addition, the research identifies how much importance consumers attach to value, quality and packaging when buying these individual products - in generic form or otherwise. A mail survey of 1,000 New Zealanders revealed that, in contrast to previous studies, generic consumers tend to be older and on a lower household income. In general, consumers do not believe that generics are substandard products. However, when looking at individual generic products, the less standardized generic products are not performing as well as others when it comes to consumers' perceptions and demands. Proposes that if generic products are to have a recognizable future, it may be necessary to embark on a program which enhances consumer perception of the quality and value of the less standardized generic products.

Notes: Outlines a new approach for managing brands that brings the process into line with recent advances in the management of flatter, customer-facing organizations. Argues that the traditional marketing and brand-building approach, characterized by a narrow, product-focussed selling proposition, no longer adds sufficient customer value. As a result, a gap has arisen between the value offered by the brand and the value expected by its customers. The factors which contribute to this value gap are discussed in the context of the changing customer and the changing organization where customer value is increasingly generated by business processes traditionally outside the remit of brand management. Introduces a management tool, the Unique Organization Proposition (UOP) to bridge this value gap by integrating the company's core business processes into a visible set of credentials that adds customer value through the supply chain. Identifies and discusses the ways in which the UOP links with each of five core business processes. In conclusion argues that if marketers are to regain their role in the heart of the value-adding process, they must lead in the management of the UOP and relegate their traditional brand engineering tools to an appropriate place in the overall UOP architecture.

Notes: The globalization of fashion brands has occurred as major fashion designer houses have expanded their product ranges and diversified into middle-market diffusion lines. Central London has been the target for some of this development activity in the 1990s. Charts the growth of designer outlets in the UK capital with particular attention to foreign companies and their market-entry strategies.

Notes: The help desk and user support industry has, over the last ten years, risen to prominence as one of the most important areas of the IT and customer services industry. However, it has also become clear that not all help desks have the same requirements, and help desks operating in academic environments find themselves with distinct circumstances and problems. Drawing on research published by the author, and a comprehensive review of recent literature and input from practitioners, addresses these issues which distinguish the help desk in academia. Also finds that it often suffers from difficulty in defining its role and obtaining resources, examines how some institutions have successfully tackled these problems and offers some suggestions for strategies, future developments and sources of expert advice.

Notes: The World Wide Web is the most significant advance in mass dissemination of information since the invention of the printing press. Because electronic information is largely display independent, it is accessible to persons with disabilities who have the use of a computer with adaptive technology. Unfortunately, some Web design erects new, needless barriers to the use of this medium. This article outlines some of the problems, describes international activities aimed to transcend these problems and also suggests some simple, immediate solutions.

Notes: Reports that the use of new technology in English composition courses is making it easier to teach and to learn how to write, according to instructors and students at the University of Oregon. A new computerized writing classroom and extensive training of instructors in use of the classroom, plus electronic mail and the Internet, are having positive results. About 35 instructors and 750 students benefited from use of the new instructional methods and technology in 1996, according to Ann Alskaya, director of the university's new Center for the Teaching of Writing. Eventually, the changes will affect all 4,000 freshman students who take English Composition at the UO. Later, the center will train faculty members outside the English department who want to incorporate technology and writing into their courses.

Notes: It is important to understand the organizational structures and decision making processes in the university and their relationship to the CWIS. This article describes, reviews and summarizes March and Cohens' theories on the university as a structured anarchy. It also raises a list of questions that CWISs struggle with regularly which may be best answered by this theory. A second part of the article describes the companion theory of garbage can decision making proposed by March, Cohen and Olsen. Besides proposing the decision making model, March and Cohen even offer tactics to use in a structured anarchy that can enhance chances of success. Although CWIS problems seem dominated by management of technical questions, the authors feel that the ability to understand the organizational model of an institution and to manage the decision making process may be equally important to success as technical expertise is.

Notes: Describes a Web-based service set up for authors and teachers at the library, Wake Forest University. It involves a Web site which facilitates copyright permission requests, thus encouraging the seeking of permission and freeing up library staff time which had previously been spent helping individual patrons through the process.

Notes: Summarizes a teaching strategy developed by three University of Wisconsin-Green Bay faculty members which employs e-mail and the World Wide Web to bring interactivity to large-section, introductory lecture classes.

Notes: This paper focuses on a multi-year effort to change the organizational culture of a very traditional IS unit into one that is "learning organization" and "client service" oriented. It describes the steps taken in the first two years within the context of John Kotter's "eight-stage process of creating major change". The paper sets forth the intent of each phase and the practical steps that have been taken to bring about the desired change. It approaches the process from the perspective of the CIO (the initiator of the process) with a practical appraisal of its success to date from the viewpoint of a long-time university staff member.

Notes: Without reliable electronic records, colleges and universities will be unable to manage and defend themselves - they will lose their memories and be at significant risk. The authors explain the problems associated with the continuing reliability of electronic systems, and define the difference between an "information system" and a "record-keeping system". Collaborative partnerships among information technology staff, archivists, records managers, auditors, lawyers, and others at each campus, and also among professional organizations, are proposed to address these needs.

Notes: Describes steps that can be taken by all members of the campus community to prevent software piracy. Details the application of copyright law for works of software, then goes on to advocate the development and implementation of a software policy and software audits.

Notes: Regardless of how they are budgeted, information technology (IT) costs must be paid. Most schools offer some computing services at no cost to the individual or unit and some that are charged back to users and units. Typically, common good services are centrally funded, and services that differentially benefit specific individuals or units are charged for. How services are funded often reflects a school's philosophy about IT and about finances. Preferably, IT funding mechanisms deliberately help shape and influence an institution's IT and services philosophy, as opposed to an IT or service philosophy being unintentionally shaped by fiscal policies that follow no particular strategy. Levying fees to users on an individual or departmental basis may yield a different demand and expectation of IT services than when costs are borne by a central budget. Quantity and quality, degree of centralization, and administrative complexity of services are major variables in determining funding. Also at stake is the degree to which an institution wishes to endorse, suppress, control or expand IT services. These issues are specifically illustrated through a case study of the formulation of a new budget and cost accounting model to both finance an institution-wide network upgrade and to maintain that network.

Notes: Administrators and funding agencies are legitimately asking whether our huge investment in information technology is improving higher education. Two surveys conducted at The College of Wooster gathered students' impressions of the impact of e-mail discussion groups and Web pages on their classes, and they show that overall students do see these technologies as beneficial. Other studies are also summarized. But what is the right question? Is it the technology that matters, or is the benefit in how it is used?

Notes: Multi-campus/large scale distance learning initiatives increase the complexity of issues, and affect the impact of various quality factors that must be considered in the design and implementation of programs. The impact and interactions of distance education quality factors differs when designing large-scale versus smaller-scale distances learning programs. This article will look at the various quality considerations within a large-scale model, and will look at how decisions were made to ensure quality in the design of the California Virtual University (CVU).

Notes: Describes work at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA, in developing information across the curriculum. Similar to writing competency programs, this approach will require students to take a number of information-intensive courses and necessitate a close partnership between librarians and teaching faculty in establishing requirements, integrating information skills into the curriculum, and evaluating outcomes.

Notes: The introduction of sophisticated information technology to higher education is now forcing faculty and administrators to reexamine the traditional allocations of ownership interests in course materials. This article has been prepared to alert educators and administrators in higher educational institutions to the issues surrounding ownership of electronic course materials. In particular, the article focuses on the allocation of copyright ownership in electronic course materials as between faculty and their sponsoring institutions. While copyright laws vary somewhat from country to country, basic ownership issues will be common to nearly all copyright regimes. Drawing on US copyright law as an example, the article briefly reviews relevant copyright basics, the work made for hire doctrine, and options for contractual allocations of copyright. The article concludes by laying out a series of criteria that should be considered in formulating an institution's intellectual property policy.

Notes: The authors describe the preparation and execution of a statistics and a fine arts course, each of which was offered in parallel to an on-campus classroom group and an online Internet group. The authors address the pedagogical, administrative, and political issues that must be resolved before one can legitimately offer a course of study to an Internet audience that the instructor will never physically see. Pedagogical issues are paramount if the goal is to achieve best teaching practice. In addition, there are numerous administrative hurdles to resolve where admission officers, registrars, and governing boards are working from a traditional mindset where rules and guidelines are based on local geography and physical presence. Further, political issues quickly present themselves, including time issues, faculty-colleague and administrator perceptions of "legitimate teaching activity", and valuations of the course.

Notes: Co-ordinated by their scholarly association, textile/apparel faculty from multiple universities have succeeded in establishing a World Wide Web server dedicated to providing information from across their disciplines to enhance instruction. The process of server establishment and Web-site creation including funding, determination of information for posting, problems encountered, and future plans are reviewed. Other faculty could use this as a guide in establishing servers and Web sites for their own disciplines.

Notes: With the Web sweeping through every aspect of campus services, how do you quickly deliver complex services without reinventing the wheel each time? The ability to quickly create support processes allows development staff to be more productive, and provides better service to clients. The use of collaborative development methodologies have been shown to be effective in the delivery of high customer satisfaction, fast prototyping of new services, and rapid deployment of operational processes. Discusses the aspects and benefits of rapidly developing and implementing Web-based services with limited resources, and our success with tools that support collaborative development.

Notes: This paper describes the experience of a globally distributed organization, as simulated across three MBA programs. The students, located in each of three countries, worked collaboratively in teams to create a common project, using technology as a means of communication. Observations were made of local team interaction, as well as the intergroup exchange that came about from merging the local teams into a larger global team. The project revealed some weaknesses in technology as a communication tool, as compared to face-to-face interaction. Nevertheless, the findings support traditional group theories - theories developed through observation of face-to-face groups. The existence of mutual accountability and evaluation, superordinate goals, and the tone of the initial group meeting were found to be key for successful task completion and group satisfaction. Building a team in a virtual setting was found to be more difficult than in a face-to-face environment, but not impossible. Team-building factors that might be implied in a local arrangement, had to be made explicit in the virtual setting, as opportunities did not exist for clarifying intentions outside of the meeting place. Additional experience in using the technology as a means of communication should reinforce this need for clarity, as managers become accustomed to fewer opportunities for communicating implications.

Notes: An original computer-based tool, dubbed CyberInteractor, is described. CyberInteractor is designed to facilitate immediate student feedback to an instructor and to other students in a classroom setting or via the World Wide Web. Feedback is saved in a database for educational research purposes. Students view a question that can include pictures, diagrams, a movie or sound clip, random numbers, and calculations involving the random numbers. After responding, they receive feedback showing how other students in the same class have responded. Newsgroups enable students to explain their reasoning. Instructors can give pre-tests and post-tests, and collect the answers and student discussions in files that can be analyzed later, thus facilitating the collection and processing of data from large numbers of students.

Notes: Describes results of efforts to find institutional models for preventing computer-related repetitive strain injury.

Notes: Multiple choice homework, including feedback on each incorrect answer, is administered over the Web using an in-house program. The large enrollments in lower division courses hinder the use of homework without the aid of a computer for grading, recording, and reporting. The current system permits faculty to create assignments using only a word processor, which allows the facile inclusion of symbols, pictures, and other non-textual information. This is particularly important in science classes, where such material is a major part of any assignment. The system includes security measures, and reports scores back to instructors in a form which can be easily included into a spreadsheet.

Notes: The identification of variables related to faculty publishing productivity is essential in promoting campus information and work environments that foster creativity. This study explores personal and institutional factors, especially the emerging role of the campus telecommunications environment, that support faculty productivity.

Notes: While the research literature is full of glowing reports of amazing success stories, this article enlightens the troops in the trenches with a disaster the author encountered in 1997 trying to implement distance learning of two classes in technology. Though we all want to hear success stories, many times we learn more from failure. This personal narrative explores what went wrong and what can be learned from the mistakes of others in the field

Notes: Discusses the need for a security firewall. Describes the different firewall technologies and models available for deploying security firewalls. Describes the set of specifications chosen to implement the security firewall at the Tata Energy Research Institute and the approach taken to implement these specifications. Also describes the resources on security mailing lists, including Web sites available on the Internet.

Notes: Describes a feedback system for distant students including the tools and documents to provide feedback on frequent fixed response assignments and on projects or essay response assignments. A distance feedback system depends upon carefully planned, written assignments; specified evaluation criteria; and technology. It includes documentation, progress tracking, standardized responses based upon the specified evaluation criteria, and multiple assessments during the course. The proposed feedback system accommodates technological limitations yet provides useful feedback to facilitate distant student learning. The system could be adapted to benefit students enrolled in traditional instruction. A description of the feedback system components follows a brief introduction to instructional feedback and feedback levels and functions.

Notes: University strategic planning for information systems and management was investigated for four Indonesian higher educational institutions. A combination of the case study approach and a survey of a small sample of academic staff who have used the systems, was undertaken. Staff perceptions of the service from information systems are described, and related to their perceptions of planning for these systems. A number of evaluations of specific information sources and delivery are given in detail. Policy document analysis showed little information systems planning as part of the university strategic planning. Some observations are made about the influence of strategic information system planning upon successful use of a university's information systems.

Notes: University students often enter physical laboratory sessions with minimal knowledge of the experiments to be conducted and little or no understanding of the underlying concepts that govern the investigations. As a result, lab time is used inefficiently; motivated students lose interest and routine procedures are followed with minimal learning. The authors have developed a set of multimedia modules meant to enhance, not replace, the technical laboratory experience. The modules are akin to well-conceived laboratory manuals applying multimedia tools, such as digital images and video clips, to better prepare the students for upcoming laboratory sessions. The modules are accessible through the Internet and include mechanisms for exchanging information.

Notes: As an instructional medium, the World Wide Web offers a multitude of options for educators. This paper highlights the design, implementation and use of the WWW to provide and evaluate library instruction including: a curriculum- integrated tutorial for learning online resources, critical thinking and other information literacy skills; "Ask a librarian" e-mail reference service; a multi-user object-oriented environment (MOO) for real-time course-integrated instruction and synchronous reference service.

Notes: Discusses the steps necessary to design an effective online course. Four essential steps are identified and considered: defining course objectives, providing access to information resources, developing and implementing effective learning strategies, and providing timely, context-specific feedback and motivational support to students. The aim of effective online course design is to produce a network learning environment in which students are able to construct progressively more adequate models of a targeted knowledge domain and acquire competence in using them in real-life situations. In order to accomplish this aim, technology must be used wisely, in pedagogically sound ways, within the context of a supportive institutional infrastructure, and in a manner that avoids some common obstacles to effective online learning.

Notes: For many educational institutions the World Wide Web has become a major avenue of communication with its constituencies. Students, potential students, faculty, staff, people at other institutions and the general public are all directing their questions to the e-mail address www@institution.edu The personnel that receive this mail are often ill-prepared for the quantity and variety of questions that arrive. This paper examines the evolution of this problem over the first four years of UC Davis' use of the Web, and presents some of the strategies that have proven useful for managing this onslaught.

Notes: Virtual reality (VR) is a new computational paradigm that redefines the interface between human and computer. VR may result in a significant improvement over traditional instruction because it is not only an interactive multimedia tool but also a learning environment that is extremely close to reality. Yet there have been few empirical studies on the use of VR compared to that of other computerized or non-computerized educational tools. Examines VR both in different scenarios and for different applications in learning and teaching. The evaluation plan reported here addresses one aspect of such an assessment specifically ± the effect of VR support compared to that of video support in tenth graders' learning of world geography. One world geography course (N = 36) selected for this experiment was composed of five units. A rotation treatment was used, each group using VR for two units and videos for two units; in addition, one unit was optional for every student. Three procedures were used for data collection and analysis: to determine the effect of VR support, competency tests were administered; to determine student attitudinal responses toward VR, students were required to complete a survey and be interviewed; and to determine the tendency of returning to VR, students were given the option of attending the VR lab. This investigation was limited in several respects (e.g. data from a sample of students in a single class may not be representative of the population).

Notes: Discusses the effect that campus-based systems have on institutional culture. Strategic planning and decisions regarding information technology (IT), one of the few things that touches every member and unit on campus, needs to consider how IT changes the very culture of the institution. Major changes impact not only those directly involved in its development and use, but non-users as well.

Notes: Today, foreign language teaching can find important resources in technology, the Internet, etc.; but how the teaching of foreign literature, or literature in general, might benefit from technology remains a more open question. The project "Writing La Fontaine" seeks to complement the traditional practice of literary imitation with technology that facilitates writing and peer-editing. The project allows for detailed study of the literary text and may provide a possible model for the use of technology in the teaching of literature.

Notes: Describes the development of a Web-based reference collection for an academic community. Includes such topics as collection development policies, tailoring the site to a specific audience, staff motivation, and site design. Discusses successes, failures and modifications during the first two years of the project.

Notes: This paper focuses on the development of an Internet-based distance learning model for teaching the introductory finance course in the Finance Department at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), America's newest institution of higher education which opened in August 1997. An important component of the mission of FGCU is the incorporation of technology and the needs of the regional community into curriculum design. The department felt it was important to develop a separate Internet-based course as an alternative to the traditional in-class introductory finance course. In this Internet-based course students are required to participate in a "boot camp" for the first few weeks, which covers only the most complex aspects of the course. After this initial period, the course is completely Web-based in design. The Web page for this course, located at http://www.tmag.com/sgarrison/courses/fin3240d/index.html, contains a variety of pedagogical materials to help students learn and comprehend course content.

Notes: Describes how a core group of faculty built the Lucid Chemistry Web Site over four years and how students in large first and second year chemistry courses have started to use it (slowly at first, and now to near 100 percent participation in some classes). The facility has been developed for use by key administrative units (Testing and Evaluation, Computer Services). Now coming to the Lucid Chemistry Web Site are roughly one-half of the chemistry department instructors and tenure-track faculty. Asks whether the task of teaching needs more "builders". Argues that more administrative involvement is needed with material creation and distribution. Will more users come? Yes, 100 percent participation by both teachers and students is a possibility. Mechanisms for achieving this goal are explored.

Notes: Purpose - The paper aims to report the findings of research into perceptions of what makes the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) attractive or unattractive as a procurement system for projects in the UK. Design/methodology/approach - The research uses a postal survey questionnaire technique for primary data collection. Literature review is used to identify relevant factors, which are then incorporated into the design of the survey instrument. Survey response data is subjected to descriptive statistical analysis and subsequently to rotated factor analysis. Findings - Public/private partnerships (PPP)/PFI project procurement is perceived as most attractive in terms of positive factors relating to better project technology and economy, greater public benefit, public sector avoidance of regulatory and financial constraints, and public sector saving in transaction costs. Negative aspects, relating to factors such as the inexperience of the participants, the over-commercialisation of projects, and high participation cost and time, make PPP/PFI procurement less attractive. Originality/value - The procurement of public facilities and services under arrangements involving partnerships between the public and private sectors is claimed to provide a wide variety of net benefits to the public sector and to the private sector participants. In the project development process, the parties have to make decisions based on suitable evaluation criteria. At the early stage of preparing a business case, a clear and common understanding of the positive and negative factors surrounding PPP/PFI procurement will provide a more informed basis for decision making.

Notes: Purpose - Housing Associations in the UK are being encouraged to change the way in which they procure their building projects. This work aims to provide a snapshot of current practice in relation to the use of partnering as a procurement approach. Design/methodology/approach - Accordingly a quantitative research design was used to capture data from a sample of 100 of the largest Housing Associations involved in the commissioning of new house building projects in 2003. Two administrations of the survey generated a 43 per cent response rate. Findings - The findings of the study revealed that two differing types of partnering alliance could be identified. The types of partnering alliance identified were considered to have either a "supply side" or "demand side" focus. The results show that partnering practice, open-book cost management, risk analysis and the use of standardised and pre-fabricated components are now widespread and believed to deliver benefits in project costs, delivery times and quality levels. Research limitations/implications - The work is limited due to the size of the sample frame and the measuring instrument used which could not uncover reasons for the current practices that were revealed. Practical implications - The outcomes of the work provide practice with benchmarks that can be used to evaluate organisational approach and if necessary develop alternative approaches to the delivery of partnered projects. Originality/value - The paper contributes to the body of knowledge available on partnering practice in a client group that has been identified as being key in driving forward the post-Egan agenda in the construction industry.

Notes: Purpose - The selection and use of the most appropriate building project contract price forecasting model contribute to the provision of strategic advice that clients can use to make value-for-money business decisions. This work seeks to provide a snapshot of current practice in model selection by practitioners based in large-sized quantity surveying, project management and multi-disciplinary practices based in the UK. Design/methodology/approach - A quantitative research design was used to capture data from a sample of 300 such organisations in 2004. An initial and follow-up administration of the postal survey generated an overall response of 54 per cent. Findings - The findings of the study revealed that the traditional types of forecasting model continue to be in widespread use irrespective of organisational type. Lifecycle cost models and in-house knowledge-based systems were also found to be in use, but not on such a widespread scale. Newly developed models such as artificial neural nets, fuzzy logic nets, as well as environmental and sustainability cost models were found, as yet, to have only very limited application in practice. Practitioner assessment of model accuracy and value in-use provided statistically insignificant levels of variance between the organisational types and the models found to be in use. Research limitations/implications - The work is limited due to the size of the sample frame and the measuring instrument used which could not uncover reasons for the selection of particular types of models. Originality/value - The outcomes of the work provide benchmarks that can be used to evaluate organisational approach and future research. The paper contributes to the body of knowledge available on the process of building project contract price forecasting that is fundamental to the assessment of project value.

Notes: Purpose - The research presented in this paper aims to investigate highway construction/maintenance professionals' perceptions of the effects of night-time construction conditions on worker visibility and of issues associated with safety vests in night-time activities. Design/methodology/approach - The research was conducted by administering a questionnaire survey to Illinois Department of Transportation operations personnel, resident engineers, contractors, and construction/maintenance professionals involved in night-time construction in the Departments of Transportation of states other than Illinois. Findings - It was found that most accidents in night-time construction work areas are caused by the condition of the vehicle operator, that accidents are caused by through-traffic and construction equipment operating inside the work area, and that the poor visibility of the workers plays an important role in accidents. Research limitations/implications - A national survey (rather than mostly Illinois personnel) would certainly increase the sample size and therefore allow researchers to validate the findings of this study and to conduct extensive statistical analyses. Practical implications - Night-time construction/maintenance operations on highways may be hazardous for both drivers and construction personnel because of poor visibility at night. It is recommended that the design of safety vests adhere to existing standards issued by the American National Standards Institute and the International Safety Equipment Association. It is particularly important to ensure adequate performance in wet weather conditions. Originality/value - If safety vests are perceived by workers to be effective, the frequency and severity of night-time accidents can be reduced and labor productivity can be enhanced.

Notes: Purpose - Process mapping can lead to a more holistic understanding of how an organisation works. This paper seeks to discuss how an engineering design consultancy, which had developed a series of process maps on the design of steel frame buildings, developed a powerful management tool, the Management Briefing Sheet which has yielded numerous additional benefits enabling practice to be improved and quality procedures more easily accessed. Design/methodology/approach - To maximise the knowledge and expertise of its supply chain partners and to better understand how it designed steel-framed buildings, the engineering design consultancy undertook a process-mapping exercise. Various techniques for documenting the process were considered, but a modified IDEF notation was chosen for its ability to capture the iterative nature of the design process and its methodical approach for deconstructing complicated activities. Findings - Process-mapping exercises can change the way organisations work and make them more efficient, but to do this the changes that would lead to improvements need to be implemented successfully. Carrying out a process-mapping exercise in isolation from the end-user can lead to complications. Research limitations/implications - The key obstacle to implementing change identified by the engineering design consultancy, with whom the MBS was developed, was delivering the knowledge acquired from the process analysis in a format that end-users could understand easily and adopt effectively. Originality/value - This article will be of significant use to any organisation wishing to maximise the knowledge and expertise of its supply chain partners and identify inefficient working practices.

Notes: Purpose - Different process models have been developed by academia and industry to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the design and construction activity in response to the need for improving performance. However, the effective and widespread adoption and use of process models have been limited, and the benefits resulting from these endeavours have been ambiguous at best and non-existent at worst. This paper synthesises the key general and construction-specific literature related to process model implementation around a generic model, providing a systematic picture on the current knowledge on implementation. Design/methodology/approach - Secondary data sources were reviewed, criticised and synthesised. The books and academic papers identified focused on the areas of process management in construction and manufacturing, change management and knowledge/technology transfer. Findings - The paper concludes that the body of literature related to process model implementation lacks an integrated focus and cohesion, and the need to appropriately locate and operate the implementation strategy within a visible organisational context is not adequately addressed. Research limitations/implications - The paper review and synthesis are limited to relevant literature within the context of implementation of process models. Practical implications - Gaps in the literature are identified and discussed, and a set of questions proposed to stipulate future research. Originality/value - The paper originality relates to providing a broad, systemic perspective on the complexity of process models implementation, analysing it from different but interrelated conceptual lenses.

Notes: Purpose - Popularity in knowledge management has, unfortunately, not been matched by parallel empirical research on the processes, challenges and benefits of knowledge capture in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the construction industry, given the fact that 99 per cent of firms in the UK construction industry can be classified as SMEs. This paper aims to discuss the output of a research study, which is focused on knowledge capture in SMEs in construction industry. The paper also aims to present and discuss a computer-based awareness tool on knowledge capture underpinned by Kolb's experiential learning theory. Design/methodology/approach - The empirical study involved a total of 51 professionals from 26 SMEs in the construction industry. Grounded theory approach was adopted. Also, a content analysis was considered. Findings - The results show that there is lack of awareness of complex issues associated with an effective knowledge capture process as well as ensuing benefits for SMEs in the construction industry. The effective implementation of knowledge capture in SMEs is partly dependent on the vision and flair of the owner/partners of the organisation. It is also determined by culture, structure, people, finance and technology, which warrants a coherent and structured approach. Originality/value - A computer-based awareness tool which is underpinned by Kolb's experiential learning theory.

Notes: Purpose - The main objective of this study is to develop a framework for: identifying the reasons for using e-commerce; understanding the implications of e-commerce in companies; and implementing and applying e-commerce successfully for improved organizational competitiveness and success. Design/methodology/approach - A structured questionnaire was designed, pre-tested, modified, and used to capture data on e-commerce in Hong Kong. Based on the feedback from the pilot-test, the questionnaire was modified and a final questionnaire was developed and mailed to companies in Hong Kong. In the survey, conducted with Hong Kong companies, the perceived benefits and perceived barriers of e-commerce implementation are discussed. Findings - The conceptual model based on the analysis of literature and some reported case experiences is developed using the current issues that have been highlighted as important e-commerce success factors of implementation. The major factors that influence the application and implementation of e-commerce are: perceived usefulness of web; perceived barriers of the internet for e-commerce; usage of the internet; and perceived benefits of the internet for e-commerce. In addition to this, country-specific factors such as culture, technology competency, government policy, educational level, influence the level of application of e-commerce. Practical implications - The framework is the result of the validation of the theoretical model, together with the conclusions of the empirical analysis conducted in Hong Kong. The empirical analysis supported some of the assumptions of the theoretical model, whereas others were not supported. Based on the feedback received from respondents, the model has been revised to reflect these practical considerations. Originality/value - Little research has been done to address the perceived benefits and potential barriers to e-commerce implementation in Hong Kong. This study is a timely and important one in that examines the current status of e-commerce implementation in Hong Kong. A generic framework is presented with the objective of supporting the application and implementation of the internet for e-commerce.

Notes: Purpose - Although the wireless internet attracts more and more interest from marketers and researchers, there is little empirical evidence of multinational corporations' (MNCs) adoption of push-type mobile advertising in global markets. The aim of this study is to fill this research gap, by conducting an empirical survey of the perceptions of MNCs operating in Europe regarding SMS-based mobile advertising adoption. Design/methodology/approach - The study proposes six basic constructs which are thought to influence MNCs' decision-making process on mobile advertising adoption. On this base, a structured questionnaire is developed. The data are obtained by telephone interviews from 53 senior executives of MNCs' subsidiaries in Spain. Findings - Hierarchical regression analysis reveals that branding strategy, facilitating conditions, and security and costs are the strongest determinants of MNCs' mobile advertising adoption. Furthermore, discriminant analysis indicates that Japanese, American, and European firms are statistically classifiable according to their cultural affiliation in terms of their perceptions of mobile advertising adoption. Japanese firms are the least willing to use mobile advertising, while their American counterparts are the most motivated in this regard. Originality/value - While SMS-based mobile marketing has been receiving an increasing attention from both academics and practitioners, there exists little empirical research on this area. In this vein, this study contributes to the literature in two ways. First, the study proposes a conceptual research model based on six basic constructs, which incorporate both theoretical and practical perspectives. Second, the model is tested by empirical data obtained from top managers of MNCs' subsidiaries operating in a European market. The findings of this study thus offer useful insights based on their "hands-on" experience.

Notes: Purpose - To describe consumers' heuristic and analytical searches for a pre-purchase information acquisition, and to assess the correspondence of flexibility of information task and the information found with a search. Design/methodology/approach - Propositions based on current research in web use and consumer studies. Tracked records of searches are used for descriptive analysis of transitional patterns in the data. Regression is used for statistical verification of the information provided by searches. Findings - Consumer searches center on chaining events, indicating heavy reliance on hyperlink navigation between web sites. Formal searches are seldom used, although when employed, tend to have a high level of diagnosticity. The emphasis on heuristic behavior is logical, as the way consumer information is currently presented on the internet rewards for this type of behavior. Use of heuristic search increases the likelihood of access to flexibly presented information. Research limitations/implications - Consumers favor heuristic trial-and-error searches even in focused fact-finding search tasks, which are typically considered the domain of analytical seeking. Consumers seem to benefit most from apparently inefficient, reactive and heuristic searches, because these are more likely to provide information in a format that the consumer can adapt. Convenience sample limits generalizability of findings. Originality/value - While there is an increasing body of knowledge concerning internet use for finding information, fewer studies have focused on consumer uses of the web in search. This paper provides new information of online consumers, an increasingly important topic.

Notes: Purpose - To provide a thorough analysis of the role of the internet in survey research and to discuss the implications of online surveys becoming such a major force in research. Design/methodology/approach - The paper is divided into four major sections: an analysis of the strengths and potential weaknesses of online surveys; a comparison of online surveys with other survey formats; a discussion on the best uses for online surveys and how their potential weaknesses may be moderated; and an overview of the online survey services being offered by the world's largest research firms. Findings - If conducted properly, online surveys have significant advantages over other formats. However, it is imperative that the potential weaknesses of online surveys be mitigated and that online surveys only be used when appropriate. Outsourcing of online survey functions is growing in popularity. Practical implications - The paper provides a very useful source of information and impartial advice for any professional who is considering the use of online surveys. Originality/value - The paper synthesizes the vast literature related to online surveys, presents original material related to survey methodology, and offers a number of recommendations.

Notes: Purpose - To arouse the public awareness of online gaming-related crimes and other societal influences so that these problems can be solved through education, laws and appropriate technologies. Design/methodology/approach - A total of 613 criminal cases of online gaming crimes that happened in Taiwan during 2002 were gathered and analyzed. They were analyzed for special features then focusing on the tendency for online gaming crime. Related prosecutions, offenders, victims, criminal methods, and so on, were analyzed. Findings - According to our analysis of online gaming characteristics in Taiwan, the majority of online gaming crime is theft (73.7 percent) and fraud (20.2 percent). The crime scene is mainly in internet cafés (54.8 percent). Most crimes are committed within the 12:00 to 14:00 time period (11.9 percent). Identity theft (43.4 percent) and social engineering (43.9 percent) are the major criminal means. The offenders (95.8 percent) and victims (87.8 percent) are mainly male and offenders always proceed alone (88.3 percent). The age of offenders is quite low (63.3 percent in the age range of 15-20), and 8.3 percent of offenders are under 15 years old. The offenders are mostly students (46.7 percent) and the unemployed (24 percent), most of them (81.9 percent) not having criminal records. The type of game giving rise to most of the criminal cases is Lineage Online (93.3 percent). The average value of the online gaming loss is about US$459 and 34.3 percent of criminal loss is between $100 and $300. Research limitations/implications - These criminal cases were retrieved from Taiwan in 2002. Some criminal behavior may have been limited to a certain area or a certain period. Practical implications - Provides a useful source of information and constructive advice for the public who will sense the seriousness and influence of online gaming crimes. Further, this topic may have implications on e-commence, e-services, or web-based activities beyond gaming. Originality/value - Since there is little published research in this area, this paper provides the public with a good and original introduction to a topic of growing importance.

Notes: Purpose - This work aims to probe how interface designers concerned with human-computer interaction of community networks might use the theoretical constructs of social capital and activity awareness. Design/methodology/approach - A design model for community network interfaces is introduced that reconciles various computer-mediated communication research contributions with support for typical community network scenarios of use. Using this model, an inspection is performed on existing community network implementations (available December 2002) and then the adequacy of the model for informing the design process is examined. Findings - Based on the insight gained through this analysis, a generic prototype and new user evaluation method are introduced that allow survey of user reaction to community network design elements under differing conditions. It is shown how results obtained through this method frame a value-chain understanding of conceptual tradeoffs. Research limitations/implications - To demonstrate the new user evaluation method in an analysis of critical design tradeoffs, the issues of persistent virtual identity implementation and usage motivation are probed. However, the evaluation method must be validated with other issues and tested by researchers that were not part of its creation process. Practical implications - Contributions from this paper include tools (a design model, a generic prototype, and an evaluation method) linking theory with community design artifacts, building on previous work. Evaluators now have indicators for assessing community informatics. Originality/value - Interface designers of community networks and those interested in social capital theory will appreciate the link between practice and theory provided by this approach.

Notes: Purpose - E-consumers consistently complain that the internet is frustratingly slow. Most existing research on this phenomenon is based on the concept of "download delay", that is, the time required for a web page to fully download to the e-consumer's computer screen. This paper reports on an exploratory study of the phenomenon of waiting for service on the internet with the intention of extending the narrow conceptualisation of the phenomenon of "download delay" to a more user-based perspective of waiting on the internet. Design/methodology/approach - The study is based on a qualitative research methodology. The research methods are seven asynchronous virtual focus groups involving 126 intensive internet users over 17 days and 92 participants who maintained personal diaries of waiting on the internet over a nine-week period. Findings - A new definition of waiting on the internet is proposed based on extensive virtual focus group research. Subsequently, 14 distinct types of internet waiting situations are identified based on the analysis of a total of 1,041 waiting situations as reported by the participants in the study. Practical implications - A number of practical implications for various functional areas of the business are outlined. Conceptual and methodological contributions are also made. Originality/value - The study is the first to present a broader conceptualisation of waiting on the internet from an e-consumer perspective and based on empirical research. All previous research has been based on just one type of online waiting, i.e. waiting for web pages to download to the user's screen. This paper presents 13 "new" types of waiting situations on the internet.

Notes: Purpose - Using Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, higher education web sites were retrospectively analyzed to study the effects that technological advances in web design have had on accessibility for persons with disabilities. Design/methodology/approach - A convenience sample of higher education web sites was studied for years 1997-2002. The homepage and pages 1-level down were evaluated. Web accessibility barrier (WAB) and complexity scores were calculated. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine trends in the data and Pearson's correlation (r) was computed to evaluate the relationship between accessibility and complexity. Findings - Higher education web sites become progressively inaccessible as complexity increases. Research limitations/implications - The WAB score is a proxy of web accessibility. While the WAB score can give an indication of the accessibility of a web site, it cannot differentiate between barriers posing minimal limitations and those posing absolute inaccessibility. A future study is planned to have users with disabilities examine web sites with differing WAB scores to correlate how well the WAB score is gauging accessibility of web sites from the perspective of the user. Practical implications - Findings from studies such as this can lead to improved guidelines, policies, and overall awareness of web accessibility for persons with disabilities. Originality/value - There are limited studies that have taken a longitudinal look at the accessibility of web sites and explored the reasons for the trend of decreasing accessibility.

Notes: Purpose - The objective of the paper is to identify the factors that encourage consumers to adopt internet banking services in Thailand and to use the study's findings to develop strategies for banks on how to maximize the rate of adoption. Design/methodology/approach - Quantitative research with a sample size of 600 achieved by sending questionnaires to 15 people in each of 40 large companies in Bangkok. The study is based on the Decomposed Planned Behaviour. Findings - The attitudinal factors that appear to encourage the adoption of internet banking in Thailand most are "Features of the web site" and "Perceived usefulness", while the most significant impediment to adoption is a perceived behavioural control, namely "External environment". The significant moderating factors are gender, educational level, income, internet experience and internet banking experience, but not age. Research limitations/implications - In this study, encouragement factors are those that are able to be controlled by banks, while impediment factors are those that are not able to be controlled. Practical implications - It is essential for banks to facilitate encouragement and restrict impediment factors. In addition to the direct "push" from internet banks (in respect of the encouragement factors), indirect persuasion should be carried out as a "pull" mechanism (in respect of the impediment factors). Originality/value - The study identified a number of specific strategies that Thai banks could follow to maximize the adoption of internet banking.

Notes: Purpose - The purposes of this study are to examine internet users' perception of potential harm among a list of products available on internet auction sites, to discuss the influence of the third-person effect on internet users' pro-regulatory attitudes, and to investigate the effects of users' characteristics and perceived harm on their attitudes toward regulation of online auction industry. Design/methodology/approach - An online questionnaire survey was designed and employed to collect information about internet users' third-person effect perception, pro-regulatory attitudes toward internet auction sites, and control variables such as demographics, internet usage, and innovative characteristics. A convenience sample of 592 internet users was recruited to take part in this study. Findings - Internet users' perceptual differences are statistically significant between the estimated influence on self, teenagers, and other adults for each product. Perceived harm to self consistently predicts internet users' pro-regulatory attitudes, but not for teenagers and other adults. Perceived harm to self also predicts pro-regulatory attitudes toward these web sites, even after controlling for potential confounding variables. Research limitations/implications - The study is limited by its convenient sampling method and measurement of internet users' actual and intended behavior. Nevertheless, because internet users play a complex role of buyers, sellers, and possible victims on auction sites, it is important to examine perceptions and motivations underlying their support for regulating online auction industry. Originality/value - The integrated approach of mass communication, electronic commerce activities, and public policy-making perspectives ensures that future regulatory proposal of online auction industry will be comprehensive.

Notes: Purpose - First, to theoretically justify and empirically test the sequence of effects based on the standard learning hierarchy to explain consumers' online buying-related responses. Second, to analyse the moderating role that consumers' internet expertise can play on the formation of both their affective and buying-related responses towards this medium. Design/methodology/approach - This study poses a conceptual model which is tested by means of LISREL. The data used come from a questionnaire applied to American and Spanish internet users. These two countries have been selected taking into account their differences regarding their degree of internet expertise. Findings - The modelling approach appears to be adequate to explain online consumer behaviour. Moreover, different levels of consumers' internet expertise determines, in general, the predominance of the central or the peripheral route within the formation of their affective and behavioural responses to this medium. Research limitations/implications - This study provides a relevant contribution to the field of consumer behaviour on the internet. It presents an extensive literature review; it introduces new concepts and new relations among them; it successfully adapts classic consumer theories, i.e. the CAB paradigm and the Elaboration Likelihood Model - to the electronic market context; and it has a cross-national vision. Practical implications - It shows how any virtual firm which endeavours to understand consumers' shopping behaviour in its web site should consider these general issues in conjunction with the rest of the specific factors and variables related to it. Originality/value - This is one of the first studies which, on the one hand, theoretically integrates in a model the following concepts: beliefs and attitude towards the internet, trust in internet shopping and online shopping, and on the other, demonstrates that the degree of internet expertise plays an essential role in determining how consumers process and form their affective and buying-related responses on the internet.

Notes: Purpose - To propose a model of a privacy-enhanced catalogue search system (PECSS) in an attempt to address privacy threats to consumers, who search for products and services on the world wide web. Design/methodology/approach - The model extends an agent-based architecture for electronic catalogue mediation by supplementing it with a privacy enhancement mechanism. This mechanism introduces fake queries into the original stream of user queries, in an attempt to reduce the similarity between the actual interests of users ("internal user profile") and the interests as observed by potential eavesdroppers on the web ("external user profile"). A prototype was constructed to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the model. Findings - The evaluation of the model indicates that, by generating five fake queries per each original user query, the user's profile is hidden most effectively from any potential eavesdropper. Future research is needed to identify the optimal glossary of fake queries for various clients. The model also should be tested against various attacks perpetrated against the mixed stream of original and fake queries (i.e. statistical clustering). Research limitations/implications - The model's feasibility was evaluated through a prototype. It was not empirically tested against various statistical methods used by intruders to reveal the original queries. Practical implications - A useful architecture for electronic commerce providers, internet service providers (ISP) and individual clients who are concerned with their privacy and wish to minimize their dependencies on third-party security providers. Originality/value - The contribution of the PECSS model stems from the fact that, as the internet gradually transforms into a non-free service, anonymous browsing cannot be employed any more to protect consumers' privacy, and therefore other approaches should be explored. Moreover, unlike other approaches, our model does not rely on the honesty of any third mediators and proxies that are also exposed to the interests of the client. In addition, the proposed model is scalable as it is installed on the user's computer.

Notes: Purpose - To use the theory of planned behavior (TPB) as a theoretical framework to explore in depth the range of beliefs held by consumers about internet shopping in general and internet grocery shopping in particular. Design/methodology/approach - Seven focus group interviews, four in the United Kingdom and three in Denmark, were conducted among consumers with different degrees of experience with internet grocery shopping. This diversification of respondents was chosen to capture a broad range of the consumer beliefs that predict intentions to buy groceries online or not. The TPB framework was used to construct the interview guide that was followed in all focus groups. Findings - An unexpected result of the explorative study was that the seven groups consisting of more or less experienced internet shoppers differed only little in their pool of beliefs (outcome and control beliefs). Beliefs about internet grocery shopping, positive as well as negative, were remarkably congruent across groups. In the minds of consumers, internet grocery shopping is an advantage compared with conventional grocery shopping in terms of convenience, product range and price. Disadvantages, which could act as mental barriers, are, for instance, the risk of receiving inferior quality groceries and the loss of the recreational aspect of grocery shopping. Research limitations/implications - An important potential limitation of this research is the choice of focus groups as research methodology, which can prevent the elicitation of certain types of beliefs. If important beliefs concern issues of a more sensitive, personal character they are not likely to be mentioned in a focus group. Another limitation is the explorative nature of the research, which makes it impossible to attach weights to the importance of the elicited beliefs in predicting internet shopping behavior. Practical implications - The findings could be used to direct attention to consumer beliefs about internet grocery shopping which have the potential of acting as barriers to this line of e-commerce. Originality/value - To shed some light on the role of consumers in an underperforming and understudied branch of internet retailing. Barriers in the consumers' minds to shop for groceries online are identified using an established theoretical framework.

Notes: Purpose - The objective of this paper is to investigate the legal and technical reasons why a declaration of will, denoted by a digital signature, can be cancelled and how this cancellation can be technically achieved. Design/methodology/approach - Proposes a technical framework for establishing a signature revocation mechanism based on special data structures, the signature revocation tokens (SRT), and investigates the alternatives for disseminating the signature status information (SSI) to the relying parties. Findings - A relying party has to take into consideration the possible existence of a signature revocation, in order to decide on the validity of a digital signature. A scheme based on a central public repository for the archival and distribution of signature revocation tokens exhibits significant advantages against other alternatives. Originality/value - Identifies various intrinsic problems of the digital signature creation process that raise several questions on whether the signer performs a conscious and wilful act, although he/she is held liable for this action. The law faces the eventual right of the signer to claim a revocation of a previously made declaration of will, especially in cases of an error, fraud or duress.

Notes: Purpose - To analyze the relationship between corporate image and consumer trust in the context of financial services distribution. Design/methodology/approach - This paper analyzes the causal relationship that exists between corporate image and consumer trust in the financial services distribution through traditional channels, as well as over the internet. This paper also analyzes the moderating effect of relationship duration on the influence of the corporate image on trust. Findings - The results obtained show that in distribution through traditional channels no significant differences exist in the intensity of the effect of the image on trust in terms of the relationship duration. Nevertheless, significant differences in the financial services distribution over the internet have been observed. Practical implications - The significant influence that image exerts on consumer trust shows us that corporate image becomes a key tool for the management of trust in financial services distribution. Originality/value - Despite the importance that researchers have assigned to the variables of corporate image and trust, much of the work so far is in the initial phase of development. Thus, the majority of the works have been approached from a fundamentally theoretical perspective, or else the empirical testing has been carried out in an indirect way, based on factors that form part of the image or are related to it. Because of this, today there is no research that has empirically evaluated the role played by corporate image in the levels of trust of the consumer of financial services.

Notes: Describes a networked virtual environment, a type of virtualreality most commonly known as a "MUD" or a"MOO", which was used at an internationally-attendedscientific conference held on the Internet. Interviews with conferenceattendees indicated enthusiasm for the effectiveness of the medium, andrevealed how the virtual environment can be modified to improveconferencing efficacy. Such alterations included: novel input-outputcontrol management; automation of conference registration; control ofanonymous or guest connections; simplification of conference centertopography; an improved methodology for recording discussion sessions;use of moderated rooms to compensate for network lag; and providingbuffers to update late arriving participants. Concludes that networkedvirtual environments provide an inexpensive means for effectiveinternational conferencing on the Internet.

Notes: Provides a guide to the increasing number of zoos and associatedsites now using the Internet. Investigates the multiple roles of theInternet for zoos, their staff and visitors, in helping them tocommunicate science and provide a cultural service to the public, inaddition to serving as a means of marketing and publicity.

Notes: Discusses electronic peer review of academic papers on the Internet. Looks at the changes which may occur with the shift from paper to electronic media. Proposes some guidelines for authors, editors and reviewers using electronic publishing.

Notes: Outlines the principle of the Dutch auction, whereby the price begins at a high level and decreases by steps until a bid is made. Describes an integrated hardware and software system which uses Internet communications to enable remotely created bidders to participate in real-time Dutch auctions and which meets the stringent requirement that synchrony be maintained among bidders' terminals to ensure that each bidder has a fair chance to bid at the current offer price. Defines the principal functions of the system and characterizes its available resources. Illustrates implementation using a prototype design. Pays particular attention to bidder terminal synchronization, bidder authentication, and auction client security. Includes the possibility of a system variant using ISDN interconnect and PC-based bidders' terminals.

Notes: As the set of people using computers becomes larger and less cohesive, it is becoming important to educate users about their ethical responsibilities. Design of an effective campus computer ethics policy requires awareness of numerous cultural, technical and legal issues. Especially important are the cultural splits between power users and utilitarian users, and between "old world" and "new world" philosophies of computer ethics. Discusses those issues and presents the University of Georgia's ethics policy as a model to aid those developing similar policies at other institutions.

Notes: Provides a new answer to the resource discovery problem, which arises because although the Internet makes it possible for users to retrieve enormous amounts of information, it provides insufficient support for locating the specific information that is needed. ALIBI (Adaptive Location of Internetworked Bases of Information) is a new tool that succeeds in locating information without the use of centralized resource catalogs, navigation, or costly searching. Its powerful query-based interface eliminates the need for the user to connect to one network site after another to find information or to wrestle with overloaded centralized catalogs and archives. This functionality was made possible by an assortment of significant new algorithms and techniques, including classification-based query routing, fully distributed cooperative caching, and a query language that combines the practicality of Boolean logic with the expressive power of text retrieval. The resulting information system is capable of providing fully automatic resource discovery and retrieval access to a limitless variety of information bases.

Notes: Today, information technology is fundamental to the operation of most businesses, whether they are small companies or multinational corporations. In recent times, the implementation of local and wide area networks and the installation of computing equipment in office areas has brought information technology to nearly every working environment. The result is an increasing dependence on the availability, integrity and confidentiality of information stored and processed by these systems. As the trend shifts from "fortress" style central computer facilities to distributed systems located in generally less secure office environments, the risk of disruption increases, owing to lack of physical security, support services limitations and absence of site monitoring. The net result is higher business impact coupled with greater exposure. Identifies the elements that are at risk, discusses the issues businesses face when seeking to minimize exposures, suggests some practical solutions and describes some selected events that illustrate the hazards associated with having inadequate protection.

Notes: Discusses the problems created by shortfalls in the performance of certain information highway services, Asyncrous Transfer Mode, and in the behavior of users. Describes individual attempts which are being made to iron out these problems, in effect introducing a system of "policing" the network.

Notes: Refers to the growing popularity of "Fidonet" in Africa and compares it with the Internet. Acknowledges that developing countries may miss the information revolution because they lack national information infrastructures and the knowledge and skills required to provide the relevant content for them. Argues that global information should promote human development in areas such as education, health, social services and commercial activity. The Conference of African Ministers recently declared support for the building of Africa's information highway, recognizing the need for African countries to develop information networks for full Internet connectivity, enabling access to the same information systems for Africa's economic recovery and sustainable development.

Notes: The Internet is increasingly used by management professionals to support information gathering and research activities. However, the different sources of information on the Internet (i.e. electronic journals, online databases, messages posted to groups of readers, and e-mail) must be carefully utilized by the prudent manager. In particular, examines three issues surrounding the use and citation of information received via the Internet. The first issue addresses problems surrounding the accuracy and recency of information obtained on the Internet. The second issue focusses on properly categorizing the type of information received. The last issue examines how to reference properly information obtained from the Internet that is used in academic and industrial research. Concludes with a section on ethical issues related to electronic media.

Notes: Examines the challenges that shopping and other commercial transactions on the Internet pose for the retail industry. An increasing number of shopping malls, selling an ever-widening selection of products, are becoming available on the Internet. There are, however, still a number of challenges facing the Internet retailer and shopper. These include: locating the shops, comparison shopping, security, especially in relation to financial transactions, the customer base and profile, the nature of the shopping experience, and legal and marketplace control or lack of them. It is possible to make money on the Internet without selling, but by using the Internet to support other business processes. Currently, many retailers are exploring the potential of the Internet, but the market is still in its infancy. Retailers do, however, report increasing sales and a positive contribution to marketing from visibility on the Internet.

Notes: Electronic publishing needs a strong input of marketing thinking. Technological hype has created a sales fetish which has little evidence to support its claims. The substantive benefits when a broader perspective is taken for authors and readers are very significant, including considerably faster publication and much wider dissemination via Internet. Archival knowledge and current awareness/browsing of the body of knowledge and information require quite different marketing approaches. Little attention has been given to their discrete needs. Draws comparisons from retailing theory and from the emerging range of experimental cases from Internet pioneers to identify robust strategies for short- and medium-term action by publishers. They imply a determined effort to avoid hard selling and product-driven mindsets in favor of exploitation of the scope for interactive and integrated marketing to authors and readers alike.

Notes: Proposes the "cyberpunk librarian" as an identity for the librarian able to operate in the emerging cyberspace. Describes the properties and culture of this electronic frontier. Reviews a broad range of literature to identify future directions for libraries and librarians who will have to seek a response to the major social impact of technology-driven change. Argues that librarians are presented with an opportunity to reaffirm and assert their professional values and beliefs. They can help to shape a vision of cyberspace that provides benefits to society and individuals based on a fair and equitable distribution of information resources.

Notes: Briefly assesses the growth and impact of the Internet, which provides an opportunity for all businesses to use it as a cheap source of communication for more focussed strategic advantage. Outlines some of its benefits and disadvantages if it is used in this way.

Notes: Outlines the reasons for the formation of an Internet-based bank in 1995. States that financial services providers must take any opportunity to provide easier customer access.

Notes: Defines intellectual property rights and infringement. Looks at the current relevant legislation; assesses the extent to which right owners can seek redress, and prevent adaptation of a work, making of transient or incidental copies and the storing of works in any medium by electronic means. Discusses how the inherent territoriality of law and remedy relates to the online world.

Notes: Discusses some of the problems designers face in building catalogs in large networks and relates them back to the resource discovery problem. Currently many catalogs tend to be built in an ad hoc fashion - which leads to a great variety in the quality of publicly accessible network catalogs. Furthermore, the research surrounding these catalogs tends to focus on narrow technical issues - resulting in difficult-to-use catalogs. Addresses this problem by providing a usability framework based on the library science and human computer interaction literature, and demonstrates some of those principles via an example of a prototype. Results are interesting to resource discovery tool developers in that a framework for understanding the general resource discovery problem is provided and some techniques for dealing with those problems are presented.

Notes: Reviews the growth of TayNet, a local service provider which was established to support the development of businesses in Tayside by providing local access to the Internet. Describes the computer, communication and software components of the TayNet Point of Presence along with the technical and end-user evaluation of the pilot phase. Provides sample performance figures along with connection statistics for 45 active participants during an audit week. Describes technical problems experienced and end-user requested features and end-user perceptions and opinions of TayNet and the Internet.

Notes: Explains how the NASA Technical Report Server, a World Wide Web report distribution NASA technical publications service, has been modified for performance enhancement, greater protocol support and human interface optimization. Results include: parallel database queries, significantly decreasing user access times by an average factor of 2.3; access from clients behind firewalls and/or proxies which truncate excessively long Uniform Resource Locators; access to non-Wide Area Information Server (WAIS) databases and compatibility with the Z39-50.3 protocol; and a streamlined user interface.

Notes: Looks at the possible directions in which the information superhighway could take us, considering both the benefits of increased knowledge and subsequent increased participation and also the dangers such as the excess of raw information. Suggests that this information needs to be structured and packaged if it is to have a positive effect. Considers these points in a global sense in terms of humanity as a whole.

Notes: Suggests that the discussion of online payments, while ultimately being a key issue for the future Information SuperHighway, is as significant now as it ever will be. The explosive increase in the use of the Internet has seen the emergence of commercial services and pressures previously restricted to Compuserve and the like. Many predictions see this burgeoning electronic marketplace becoming a significant component of the world economy. However, this can only happen once two key problems have been addressed, namely, protecting property rights, and making payments. This has led to a frantic battle for payment mechanisms that can provide the new medium with the means of conducting transactions. Identifies the key commercial requirements that successful use of the Internet will impose on a payment mechanism. Identifies the different types of mechanisms that are proposed, on trial or in use on the Internet. Evaluates each of these mechanisms against the requirements to determine which (if any) are really suitable for electronic commerce.

Notes: An estimated 30 million people make use of the Internet not only for electronic mail (e-mail), but also to peruse databases, view photographs and videos and find travel information and weather reports. Innovative data systems managers can offer business solutions by integrating the capabilities of the Internet into their business environment. The Internet offers vast communication resources to enhance product development and system support. Offers an introduction to the communication resources of the Internet and provides several specific examples of business solutions in the areas of e-mail communications, business applications software support, system design and databases. An awareness of these global solutions by today's managers may stimulate an increased appreciation of the power of electronic communications and an encouragement of co-operative work, using electronic media.

Notes: Explains that an on-line ISO 9001-based management system has been developed using the World Wide Web (WWW), a hypermedia system and part of the Internet. Subject matter is presented as an alphabetical list of linked encyclopedia-style entries. Numerous navigational techniques are available, and the system allows the user several different routes to particular information. ISO 9001 and Tickit cross-references are incorporated, together with linked process diagrams, a topic-based change log and electronic forms. The level of detail presented on screen may be controlled by users.

Notes: Suggests that with the increasing sophistication and complexity of Web sites, and the prospect of serious business being done through them, a review of the legal aspects of the site should be an integral part of the site design process. Discusses different ways of setting up a Web site, some of the legal consequences that attach to each and some ways of managing the risk of liability.

Notes: By the year 2000 over a billion people will be connected to the electronic network commonly known as the Internet. Already the Internet can easily be accessed by anyone who has a reasonably configured PC with Netscape Mosaic software and a modem. This network constitutes a whole new marketplace in its own right. Already thousands of firms are marketing their products and services on the Internet. Asks will marketing change in this new electronic environment? Will firms and their networks change as they become involved in this new environment? Suggests there is some evidence that the traditional manipulation of the marketing mix has to be modified for the new environment, value chains may become multidimensional and significant disintermediation may occur as customers link directly electronically with their suppliers. Discusses these issues emphasizing transformation of firms and their networks as they move into the new electronic environment.

Notes: Investigates whether faculty who use computer mediated communication (CMC) achieve greater scholarly productivity as measured by publications and a higher incidence in the following prestige factors: receipt of awards; service on a regional or national committee of a professional organization; service on an editorial board of a refereed journal; service as a principal investigator on an externally funded project; or performance of other research on an externally funded project. Also investigates whether faculty who use CMC at less research-oriented institutions realize disproportional benefit from their use of CMC. Data were collected in Fall 1994. A positive relationship was found between the frequency of use of CMC and publications, including coauthored publications. CMC users also had a higher incidence of prestige factors. In addition to statistically significant relationships between CMC use and productivity measures, faculty judged CMC to be of some utility to their productivity. Nevertheless, there did not appear to be a "democratizing effect" which would yield disproportionate benefit to those from less research-oriented institutions.

Notes: Explains that a corporate Web application is a corporate information system that uses World Wide Web technology to provide easy access to a wide variety of corporate information resources for internal and external users on a wide variety of platforms in geographically distributed locations. Corporate Web applications go beyond corporate web pages in that they serve a specific set of business objectives beyond providing a presence on the World Wide Web. As with all types of information systems, there are two approaches to Web application development: top-down and evolutionary. Evolutionary development is exploratory and appropriate for learning about the technology and the application domain. However, evolutionary development leads to complex applications that are difficult to use and difficult to maintain. Top-down development organizes the complexity of these applications and produces applications that can: meet business objectives; be developed by a programming team; and be maintained by people other than the developers. Provides a methodology for top-down development of corporate Web applications.

Notes: Points out that there is a growing trend to delivering more efficient and more effective products and services with fewer and fewer resources. This trend is reflected in both the commercial and government sectors. The Internet is being viewed as the vehicle that could resolve many of these business delivery challenges. With the advent of public key security and certification, the transition from current business delivery to future Internet-based systems is now possible. Deals with how public key cryptography may be used for business applications in the future, and also considers the theoretical applications of public key technology and certification processes. Examples of current technical solutions will be addressed in a future paper.

Notes: Suggests that one reason for the relative lack of commercial success of the information superhighway may be lack of precise information. This has led Ernst & Young to provide a thorough appraisal of the benefits and associated risks. Summarizes the concepts managers need to understand in order to assess the impact of the information superhighway. Outlines some steps managers can take in order to ensure that their organizations are prepared for future changes.