Browsing by Author "Licker, Paul"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    A framework for the analysis and evaluation of enterprise models
    (2003) Van Belle, Jean-Paul; Miller, Jonathan; Licker, Paul; Hart, Mike
    The purpose of this study is the development and validation of a comprehensive framework for the analysis and evaluation of enterprise models. The study starts with an extensive literature review of modelling concepts and an overview of the various reference disciplines concerned with enterprise modelling. This overview is more extensive than usual in order to accommodate readers from different backgrounds. The proposed framework is based on the distinction between the syntactic, semantic and pragmatic model aspects and populated with evaluation criteria drawn from an extensive literature survey. In order to operationalize and empirically validate the framework, an exhaustive survey of enterprise models was conducted. From this survey, an XML database of more than twenty relatively large, publicly available enterprise models was constructed. A strong emphasis was placed on the interdisciplinary nature of this database and models were drawn from ontology research, linguistics, analysis patterns as well as the traditional fields of data modelling, data warehousing and enterprise systems. The resultant database forms the test bed for the detailed framework-based analysis and its public availability should constitute a useful contribution to the modelling research community. The bulk of the research is dedicated to implementing and validating specific analysis techniques to quantify the various model evaluation criteria of the framework. The aim for each of the analysis techniques is that it can, where possible, be automated and generalised to other modelling domains. The syntactic measures and analysis techniques originate largely from the disciplines of systems engineering, graph theory and computer science. Various metrics to measure model hierarchy, architecture and complexity are tested and discussed. It is found that many are not particularly useful or valid for enterprise models. Hence some new measures are proposed to assist with model visualization and an original "model signature" consisting of three key metrics is proposed.Perhaps the most significant contribution ofthe research lies in the development and validation of a significant number of semantic analysis techniques, drawing heavily on current developments in lexicography, linguistics and ontology research. Some novel and interesting techniques are proposed to measure, inter alia, domain coverage, model genericity, quality of documentation, perspicuity and model similarity. Especially model similarity is explored in depth by means of various similarity and clustering algorithms as well as ways to visualize the similarity between models. Finally, a number of pragmatic analyses techniques are applied to the models. These include face validity, degree of use, authority of model author, availability, cost, flexibility, adaptability, model currency, maturity and degree of support. This analysis relies mostly on the searching for and ranking of certain specific information details, often involving a degree of subjective interpretation, although more specific quantitative procedures are suggested for some of the criteria. To aid future researchers, a separate chapter lists some promising analysis techniques that were investigated but found to be problematic from methodological perspective. More interestingly, this chapter also presents a very strong conceptual case on how the proposed framework and the analysis techniques associated vrith its various criteria can be applied to many other information systems research areas. The case is presented on the grounds of the underlying isomorphism between the various research areas and illustrated by suggesting the application of the framework to evaluate web sites, algorithms, software applications, programming languages, system development methodologies and user interfaces.
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    The impact of information technology on knowledge creation in Woolworths
    (1999) Casarin, Paul; Licker, Paul
    The impact of Information Technology (IT) on knowledge creation (KC) in companies is both an interesting and challenging topic. This study investigated what the use of IT does to support KC and how it works to bring about that support. Two case studies on the development of Woolworths Financial Services (WFS) products were undertaken. By combining two existing theoretical models, a research framework was developed and used to collect data and interpret the findings. The findings suggested that as knowledge is created in companies, so the level of support provided by IT increases. That is, when sharing tacit knowledge, IT provided limited support. However, during the dissemination of knowledge throughout the organization, IT was seen to provide multiple levels of support. The study attempted to provide management with a framework to assess their suite of IT applications and how they provide support to the KC process. Further discussion and debate around the framework may lead to opportunities to increase the support provided by IT in companies.
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    A new estimation methodology for reusable component-based software development projects
    (1999) Court, Cliff; Licker, Paul
    Estimating the duration of software development projects is a difficult task. There are many factors that can derail software projects. However, estimation forms the fundamental part of planning and costing any project and is therefore very necessary. While several formal estimation methodologies exist, they all exhibit weaknesses in one form or another. The most established methodologies are based on early software development methods and it is questionable as to whether they can still address more modern development methods such as reusable component-based programming. Some researchers believe not and have proposed new methodologies that attempt to achieve this. Thus what is needed is a methodology that takes into account modern component-based development practices and, as a result, provides acceptable accuracy for the software organisation. This dissertation attempts to uniquely satisfy both of these requirements.
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    Partnering online : developing a value framework for e-tailers
    (2002) Munro, Ian; Licker, Paul
    This research aims to develop a framework within which to analyse and discuss the "e-tailing partnership" - a "horizontal" partnership model in which e-taiIers promote, sell and even bundle one another’s goods in a mutually beneficial partnership. At the core of the framework is the concept of "value". The research draws on marketing theory to structure value into a "value block" which enables firms to quantify gains or losses in e-tailing projects. The paper discusses e-tailing partnerships within the value block framework. The partnership contract and the distribution of value between partners are both analysed. Design requirements for theoretical partnering systems are deduced and reported. Risks and implications for related systems are considered. Finally, three commercial software candidates are empirically evaluated in terms of the partnership models presented. From this research it is apparent that the e-tailing partnership is worth serious contemplation and may prove to be a significant business model for firms in the New Internet Economy.
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    A resource-based view of the firm : integrating the role of IT as a strategic resource - an empirical study of South African personal financial services (Assurance) firms, 1999-2003
    (2004) April, Kurt; Feeny, David; Simpson, John; Licker, Paul
    This research explores an "inside the black box" view on how IT enables sustainable competitive advantage. Most researchers have investigated IT competitive competencies that make up a firm's strategic framework to understand competitive advantage. However, Resource-Based Theory (RBT) probes into the inner workings of a firm, suggesting that a firm's IT assets and resources are the basis of a firm's "rare" core competencies to compete successfully. Using RBT and research in the economics, strategy, and IT literatures, an initial "Framework of Sustainability" was created, against which the case studies were conducted. This framework was used as foundation to develop semi-structured questionnaires in which 45, 90 minute (on average) interviews were conducted with managers in the four firms. Both internal and external documents about the firms and the industry were used as sources of corroborating evidence. In addition, a "bottoms up" view was obtained with evidence gathered from a short questionnaire and focus groups discussions held with 178 staff employees in the four firms.
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    Using a conceptual framework to explore E-commerce and marketing appropriation in a rural South African development organization
    (2004) Rhodes, Joan Helen; Licker, Paul; Roode, Dewald
    This study uses a conceptual framework to enquire into the local appropriation of Information Communication Technologies (lCTs) within a rural, gender development organization. The purpose of this research has been to examine how lCTs can be integrated with an extant rural development organization to improve the effectiveness of trading activities. Three major viewpoints, development, technology and development and marketing were examined and these contributed to the conceptual framework, used in this study to guide and direct the research process. An interpretative field study using participative action research was the main data collection methodology.