Over the past decades, network technologies across supply chains have been introduced and promoted with the premised benefits for all participants. However industry experience with an adoption process of some technology suggests that some firms have a great amount of uncertainty in estimating the benefits of its adoption. This uncertainty will…

An invitation to participate in this panel discussion was sent to official representatives of organizations which had an expressed interest in information networks. Since some of the represented international bodies had started preliminary planning for network communication, the discussion was centered around systems design concepts. However, as…

Following a landmark organisational change event within the University of Western Sydney, when the university ceased operating as a federation of four distinct, inter-related elements and merged to become a single entity, four foundation College Managers made a strategic decision to form an alliance. This alliance significantly enhanced the…

Describes origin, development, and current state of Research Libraries Information Network's (RLIN) Command Analysis System, which digests large quantities of raw data on RLIN use and performance and produces useful graphs and reports. Recent results of system and pragmatic issues in analysis of online systems are noted. (7 references) (EJS)

This white paper proposes bringing the federal government, state governments, and the private sector together as part of a new approach to making high-speed Internet services available across the country. It proposes the creation of a new federal Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) that, together with matching funds from the states and the private…

The Minnesota Computer Aided Library System (MCALS) provides a basis of unification for library service program development in Minnesota for eventual linkage to the national information network. A prototype plan for communications functions is illustrated. A cost/benefits analysis was made to show the cost/effectiveness potential for MCALS. System…

Information transfer requirements were investigated and analyzed for the time period 1970 to 1985. Demands for information transfer services were identified and isolated in the order of their apparent relative importance, using the market potential of a particular information need as a major criterion. Relative potential payoff, and functional…

In this paper, an information processing model of social systems is developed with particular concern for large complex organizations. In explicating the sixteen assumptions and propositions of the model, the literature on environmental uncertainty, interorganizational communication, technology, and their effects on internal organizational…

The problem of quality service assurance in a computer networking environment is addressed. In the absence of any direct, well-defined, quantitative measure of service quality and reliability, error collection and analysis is the only basis for service quality control. Therefore, mechanisms are described which facilitate reporting of operational…

Examines problems in Web-site design from the perspective of network analysis. In view of the similarity between the hypertext structure of Web pages and a generic network, network analysis presents concepts and theories that provide insight for Web-site design. Describes the problem of home-page location and control of number of Web pages and…

Implementation of information systems has lagged in many areas of clinical healthcare for a variety of reasons. Economics, data complexity and resistance are among the often quoted roadblocks. Research suggests that physicians play a major part in the adoption, use and diffusion of information technology (IT) in clinical settings. There are also…

This digest describes proposed legislation for the implementation of the National Research and Education Network (NREN). Issues and implications for teachers, students, researchers, and librarians are suggested and the emergence of the electronic network as a general communication and research tool is described. Developments in electronic…

This compilation consists of various letters and documents issued for public comment during 1986-1987 by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) of the U.S. Department of Education, during its examination of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) system to determine any needed changes and improvements. This…

After discussing the nature of timeliness and its importance to the user of information systems, this document examines the factors which affect timeliness in three subsystems of the scientific communication system. The first subsystem moves a document from the existence of new knowledge to the point of entry into an information system; the second…

This cost study analyzes the operating costs of the Bibliographical Center so that the Center can adopt the best possible combination of procedures with which to achieve its service objectives at the lowest possible cost to its members. This study provides data, upon which a fee schedule can be based, that is derived from the form of the input and…