Describes the information systems strategy and network development of the Benetton clothing business. Applications in the areas of manufacturing, scheduling, centralized distribution, and centralized cash flow are discussed; the GEIS managed network service is described; and internal and external electronic data interchange (EDI) is explained.…

The distribution of databases physically separates users from those who administer the database and the administrators who perform database administration. By drawing on the work of social scientists in reliability and validity, a set of concepts and a list of questions to ensure data quality were developed. (Author/MLW)

The traditional autonomy of administrative work is disappearing as new information technologies bring about new concepts, such as "information systems," whose implementation through computerized systems introduce more efficient, more systematic and reliable working methods along with a new approach to management problems. (Author/MLW)

In an interview, Dorothy A. Durkin, a successful marketing specialist at a major university's school of continuing education, discusses her approach to marketing, specific strategies, and techniques for using and storing information. She offers five guiding principles for reaching prospects personally and persuasively. (MSE)

Cooperative education in an underused program despite demonstrated benefits for the integration of educational and career goals. Computerized program management can streamline operations and increase its use. (SK)

Environmental problems in Czechoslovakia are outlined, including information about existing organizational and legal structures in the country. Described is the proposed Integrated Information System for the Environment, which is designed to provide flexible and enhanced access to environmental information needed for decision making. (six…

An award-winning administrator of a college computer system discusses the role of networking and teamwork in successful information management, drawing on experiences during recent political upheavals in eastern Europe for illustration. Other success factors stressed include having and sharing a dream and developing future leaders. (MSE)

The Knowledge Innovation System is a management technique in which a networked enterprise uses knowledge flow as a collaborative advantage. Enterprise Management System-Architecture, which can be applied to collaborative activities, has five domains: economic, sociological, psychological, managerial, and technological. (SK)

Education is challenged to use technology efficiently, since few software programs can share data. Users' applications and data are isolated from one another. The Schools Interoperability Framework enables applications to communicate through a common interface and standard data formats regardless of the host platform. Costs, advantages, and…

In China, 24 undergraduate business students applied data flow diagrams (DFD) to a mini-case, and 20 used object-oriented analysis (OOA). DFD seemed easier to learn, but after training, those using the OOA method for systems analysis made fewer errors. (SK)

A management information systems (MIS) curriculum was developed through review of existing programs and feedback from 24 MIS practitioners. Key aspects of the role of the information systems professional were identified: knowledge of integrated business processes, programming skills, and technical skills in niche areas. (Contains 17 references.)…

This is the first report from an ongoing study of four urban school districts (New York, New Orleans, Chicago, and the District of Columbia) that are experimenting with new school designs and new ways of holding schools accountable for performance. This report introduces the idea of a "portfolio school district," and shows how some leading school…

Virtual worlds, computer-based simulated environments in which users interact via avatars, provide an opportunity for the highly realistic enactment of real life activities online. Unlike computer games, which have a pre-defined purpose, pay-off structure, and action patterns, virtual worlds can leave many of these elements for users to determine.…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe how, from 2004-2006, a New Zealand research team experimented with the "change laboratory" learning process to create a new method of government policy development and implementation, referred to as "practice-making". The apple industry in Hawke's Bay was chosen because of the…

Currently, e-learning systems are mainly web-based applications and tackle a wide range of users all over the world. Fitting learners' needs is considered as a key issue to guaranty the success of these systems. Many researches work on providing adaptive systems. Nevertheless, evaluation of the adaptivity is still in an exploratory phase.…