Multiagent systems (MAS), long studied in artificial intelligence, have recently become popular in mainstream IS research. This resurgence in MAS research can be attributed to two phenomena: the spread of concurrent and distributed computing with the advent of the web; and a deeper integration of computing into organizations and the lives of people, which has led to increasing collaborations among large collections of interacting people and large groups of interacting machines. However, it is next to impossible to correctly and completely specify these systems a priori, especially in complex environments. The only feasible way of coping with this problem is to endow the agents with learning, i.e., an ability to improve their individual and/or system performance with time. Learning in MAS has therefore become one of the important areas of research within MAS. In this paper we present a survey of important contributions made by IS researchers to the field of learning in MAS, and present directions for future research in this area.
Contracting Global Virtual Teams as part of global IT outsourcing is currently en vogue. As might be expected when virtual team members are from different countries, cultural factors play an important role in the success of outsourcing. However, there have been very few studies that assess the effect of culture on IT outsourcing and virtual teams. This conceptual paper addresses this oversight by looking at the effect of cultural differences on IT outsourcing and virtual teams' performance. The applicable literature on outsourcing, virtual teams and culture is analyzed and a framework of offshore outsourcing success is developed. This framework includes the concept of psychic distance to better understand the phenomenon of virtual teams and outsourcing success. Adding this as a key research component provides a more realistic way of researching global virtual teams. Future directions for research based on the developed framework are also provided. By assessing the cultural differences of virtual teams in IT outsourcing, our research framework will help academics pursue this growing business phenomenon.
Corneal collagen crosslinking has been proven to be a useful technique to slow the progression of keratoconus. With its increasing use, we are encountering rare complications. We describe a case that developed bilateral viral keratitis after corneal collagen crosslinking with riboflavin and ultraviolet A for progressive keratoconus.An 18-year-old boy underwent corneal collagen crosslinking in both the eyes at the same setting for bilateral progressive keratoconus. He was discharged with a soft bandage contact lens and asked to follow up in 5 days. Seven days later, the patient returned with severe pain, redness, and photophobia for the last 2 days. The bandage contact lens was removed. There was a central corneal lesion in a branching dendritic pattern in both the eyes and the corneal sensation was reduced. Based on the findings, a clinical diagnosis of bilateral viral keratitis was made. The dendrite healed completely in 10 days with oral and topical acyclovir treatment, and the cornea had a faint scar at 1 month follow-up with best-corrected visual acuity of 6/9 in both eyes with a rigid gas permeable lens.Ultraviolet A light could be a stimulus to trigger reactivation of latent HSV infections even in patients with no history of clinically evident herpes virus ocular infections. Early diagnosis and timely treatment can have good visual outcome. Prophylactic antiviral medication may be useful to prevent this complication in individuals with prior history of viral keratitis.
The variety of new technologies available for classroom use requires a choice not just between the technological options, but among them as well, since an educator may choose a single option or include a mix of media. In this study we investigate a particular mix of advanced technology and its effect on student learning outcomes. Our experimental design compares outcomes from a traditional teaching format with those of a more advanced web-based format. Our model is based on cognitive load theory, is developed from perceptions of the students, and is analyzed using factor analysis. The results based on this qualitative model show promise for delving further into the assessment of learning. This would provide researchers with additional tools to help evaluate their results and educators with a basis on which to make decisions regarding which advanced technologies to use.
This paper proposes a model addressing the rebuilding of post-violation trust in B2C electronic commerce. The model uses expectation-confirmation theory and provides empirical verification for the factors affecting post-violation trust rebuilding and the association between them. The factors are perceived trustworthiness, confirmation by trust restoration, satisfaction and continuance trust intention. In accordance with exiting literature, perceived trustworthiness was found to have significant impact on continuance trust intention. The study also showed that confirmation by post-violation trust restoration activities had strong impact on satisfaction but satisfaction did not lead to post-violation continuance trust intention.
The variety of new technologies available for classroom use requires a choice not just between the technological options, but among them as well, since an educator may choose a single option or include a mix of media. In this study we investigate a particular mix of advanced technology and its effect on student learning outcomes. Our experimental design compares outcomes from a traditional teaching format with those of a more advanced web-based format. Our model is based on cognitive load theory, is developed from perceptions of the students, and is analyzed using factor analysis. The results based on this qualitative model show promise for delving further into the assessment of learning. This would provide researchers with additional tools to help evaluate their results and educators with a basis on which to make decisions regarding which advanced technologies to use.
The growth of mobile phones and the internet technologies have greatly improved access to information and encompassed the social and business world. From the Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICTD) perspective, researchers are interested in whether mobiles promote or enable economic growth or broader well-being. In developing countries, a successful model in one country cannot easily be replicated in another country. This study investigates the factors that may lead to adopting mobile commerce in a developing country in South Asia.
In the last few years, the amount of virtual work performed in organisations has increased significantly, effectively changing the traditional workplace environment. In this study, we used longitudinal data obtained from 324 university alumni to examine changes in attitudes towards virtual work over time. We predicted that the virtuality of an individual's job and the work family conflict experienced on the job would moderate attitudes towards virtual work over time. We found that degree of virtuality was a positive moderator of the relationship between attitudes towards virtual work in times 1 and 2. However, we did not find work family conflict to moderate the relationship between attitudes towards virtual work in times 1 and 2. Interestingly, however, we found the presence of a three-way interaction between attitudes towards virtual work, virtuality and work family conflict.
This article proposes a model addressing the rebuilding of post-violation trust in B2C electronic commerce. The model uses expectation-confirmation theory and provides empirical verification for the factors affecting post-violation trust rebuilding and the association between them. The factors are perceived trustworthiness, confirmation by trust restoration, satisfaction and continuance trust intention. In accordance with exiting literature, perceived trustworthiness was found to have significant impact on continuance trust intention. The study also showed that confirmation by post-violation trust restoration activities had strong impact on satisfaction but satisfaction did not lead to post-violation continuance trust intention.
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