2013 International Conference on Computer Applications Technology (ICCAT), 2013
The impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) on enhancing the quality of servic... more The impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) on enhancing the quality of services and decreasing the overall costs has been the focus of numerous studies in the last two decades. The introduction and employment of ICT in developing countries, however, has not been as fast and effective as in developed nations. In this paper, a case study is conducted regarding the existing issues and potential solutions for the ICT industry in Iran, as an example for a developing country. The study is based on interviews with a number of IT professional and government authorities. Additionally, the relevant literature to this topic is reviewed to generalize and extend the scope of the findings. This exploration is intended to identify the pertinent issues and challenges in developing countries and propose a fine-grained framework to encompass corresponding aspects and potential solutions.
Open production communities (OPCs) provide technical features and social norms for a vast but dis... more Open production communities (OPCs) provide technical features and social norms for a vast but dispersed and diverse crowd to collectively accumulate content. In OPCs, certain mechanisms, policies, and technologies are provided for voluntary users to participate in community-related activities including content generation, evaluation, qualification, and distribution and in some cases even community governance. Due to the known complexities and dynamism of online communities, designing a successful community is deemed more an art than a science. Numerous studies have investigated different aspects of certain types of OPCs. Most of these studies, however, fall short of delivering a general view or prescription due to their narrow focus on a certain type of OPCs. In contribution to theories on technology-mediated social participation (TMSP), this study synthesizes the streams of research in the particular area of OPCs and delivers a theoretical framework as a baseline for adapting findi...
Reputation systems are an important part of online production communities, for they provide both ... more Reputation systems are an important part of online production communities, for they provide both users and machine with proper metrics to assess the truthfulness and reliability of users, and their generated content. In multi-tier communities, in which users can be promoted to higher ranks, reputation systems are given a new role, which is helping the community to have a more meritocratic promotion process. This paper provides a design framework for reputation systems and promotion processes in the context of multi-tier production communities (MPCs). An apt promotion process based on a well-designed reputation system can be deemed as a valid practice to motivate users, enhance their level of trust and satisfaction, and increase the quantity and quality of contributions. We address different aspects and design elements of reputation systems and their association with and their impact on user participation in production communities, particularly those with a multi-tier structure.
We present an effective and fast method for static hand gesture recognition. This method is based... more We present an effective and fast method for static hand gesture recognition. This method is based on classifying the different gestures according to geometric-based invariants which are obtained from image data after segmentation; thus, unlike many other recognition methods, this method is not dependent on skin color. Gestures are extracted from each frame of the video, with a static background. The segmentation is done by dynamic extraction of background pixels according to the histogram of each image. Gestures are classified using a weighted K-Nearest Neighbors Algorithm which is combined with a naive Bayes approach to estimate the probability of each gesture type. When this method was tested in the domain of the JAST humanrobot dialog system, it classified more than 93% of the gestures correctly into one of three classes.
In rapidly growing global companies, comprehensive training programs as well as in depth sharing ... more In rapidly growing global companies, comprehensive training programs as well as in depth sharing of knowledge are essential factors to maintain the quality of human capital despite rapid expansion. Different dimensions of Knowledge management address the need and approach to leverage dispersed knowledge in order to make it visible and accessible for everyone to improve organizational performance. However, there has been a scarcity of successful and holistic models that define and categorize tacit knowledge in order to capture and distribute it for the benefit of others. This paper focuses on developing a framework in order to capture experiences regarding software project management and to provide a platform for managers to inherit knowledge from and bequeath their learning to others at large organizations. In order to build up and enhance the framework, the majority of information was gleaned from intensive interviews with top software project managers at Infosys, a well-known glob...
In the last decade, collaborative open production communities have provided an effective platform... more In the last decade, collaborative open production communities have provided an effective platform for geographically dispersed users to collaborate and generate content in a well-structured and consistent form. Wikipedia is a prominent example in this area. What is of great importance in production communities is the prioritization and evolution of features with regards to the community lifecycle. Users are the cornerstone of such communities and their needs and attitudes constantly change as communities grow. The increasing amount and versatility of content and users requires modifications in areas ranging from user roles and access levels to content quality standards and community policies and goals. In this paper, we draw on two pertinent theories in terms of the lifecycle of online communities and open collaborative communities in particular by focusing on the case of Wikipedia. We conceptualize three general stages (Rising, Organizing, and Stabilizing) within the lifecycle of c...
Successful design of open production communities (OPCs) is a delicate and complex issue. This is ... more Successful design of open production communities (OPCs) is a delicate and complex issue. This is due to the vibrant nature of OPCs, the constant interaction of technology, content, user and community dimensions and the underlying interdependencies between the attributes of these dimensions during their lifecycle. The conducted research in this thesis is on the pertinent aspects of OPCs to identify similar patterns and theorize a set of context-free and lifecycle-based design principles. A hybrid approach of critical literature review and Delphi method was carried out to conceptualize and finalize these generic principles. They provide a practical guideline for community designers and operators and act as a ‘rule of thumb’ for designing such fluid and complex systems.
We present an effective and fast method for static hand gesture recognition. This method is based... more We present an effective and fast method for static hand gesture recognition. This method is based on classifying the different gestures according to geometric-based invariants which are obtained from image data after segmentation; thus, unlike many other recognition methods, this method is not dependent on skin color. Gestures are extracted from each frame of the video, with a static background. The segmentation is done by dynamic extraction of background pixels according to the histogram of each image. Gestures are classified using a weighted K-Nearest Neighbors Algorithm which is combined with a nave Bayes approach to estimate the probability of each gesture type.
User participation is an inextricable part of online communities that live off user-generated con... more User participation is an inextricable part of online communities that live off user-generated content. Since these communities depend on sustained participation, they often employ various incentives to maximize the contributions and collective intelligence of users. Most prior research on user participation is focused on one specific type of production community (e.g. open source or Wikipedia) or on explicit incentives. However, despite the large body of literature devoted to this area, few systematic attempts have yet been made to identify common hidden or implicit factors. These factors sometimes have considerable impact on user commitment and participation. In this paper, we review and organize the pertinent literature and provide a generic list of implicit factors that account for a sustained flow of contributions. We also hypothesize a model that represents the interdependencies of some of these factors. The outcome provides community designers with a fine-grained knowledge fra...
Online production communities aim to realize the collective intelligence and leverage the potenti... more Online production communities aim to realize the collective intelligence and leverage the potential creativity, manpower, and knowledge of volunteer users to generate high quality, public content. Introducing appropriate incentives to sustain participation is not a trivial task for community designers due to the dynamic and multi-dimensional nature of such communities. In this paper, we review and synthesize the existing body of research pertaining to user participation and incentive systems and propose a novel approach towards incentive systems based on user desires and lifecycle-based community objectives. The identified relevant user desires drawn from Reiss?s theory of basic desires are self-importance, self-development, fun, vindication, socialization, group identity and uniqueness. By using this desire-based approach, we conceptualize a generalizable and target-oriented iterative design model for developing and adapting incentive systems. The theorized model extends the curren...
While IT benchmarking has grown considerably in the last few years, conventional benchmarking too... more While IT benchmarking has grown considerably in the last few years, conventional benchmarking tools have not been able to adequately respond to the rapid changes in technology and paradigm shifts in IT-related domains. This paper aims to review benchmarking methods and leverage design science methodology to present design elements for a novel software solution in the field of IT benchmar king. The solution, which introduces a concept for generic (service-independent) indicators is based on and re fined by a comprehensive case study that involved large enterprises and has been evolved in the last three years. In this p aper, we first review the theoretical background in the literature and highlight challenges within benchmarking processes in general and benchmarking of IT services in particular. We then explain how the initial design elements were extracted base d on these preliminary findings as well as a comprehensive case study. The case study was conducted with a group of 15 larg...
In this paper, a fast and robust approach for static hand gesture recognition is presented. The m... more In this paper, a fast and robust approach for static hand gesture recognition is presented. The method is an invariant-based approach and avails Hu moments for this purpose. The invariants are classified by means of a modified K-Nearest Neighbors classifier called Locally Weighted Naive Bayes classifier. The Hu moments are obtained from the outer-contour of the observed hand and then classified by the LWNB classifier. Three types of gestures (pointing, grasping and holding-out) were used in practice under different lighting conditions with different users. Given the experimental results in the domain of the Joint-Action Science and Technology (JAST) project which is a Human-Robot interaction system, this method has a considerable performance of about 93% correct classification results on average.
In rapidly growing global companies, comprehensive training programs as well as in depth sharing ... more In rapidly growing global companies, comprehensive training programs as well as in depth sharing of knowledge are essential factors to maintain the quality of human capital despite rapid expansion. Different dimensions of Knowledge management address the need and approach to leverage dispersed knowledge in order to make it visible and accessible for everyone to improve organizational performance. However, there has
While IT benchmarking has grown considerably in the last few years, conventional benchmarking too... more While IT benchmarking has grown considerably in the last few years, conventional benchmarking tools have not been able to adequately respond to the rapid changes in technology and paradigm shifts in IT-related domains. This paper aims to review benchmarking methods and leverage design science methodology to present design elements for a novel software solution in the field of IT benchmarking. The solution, which introduces a concept for generic (service-independent) indicators is based on and refined by a comprehensive case study that involved large enterprises and has been evolved in the last three years. In this paper, we first review the theoretical background in the literature and highlight challenges within benchmarking processes in general and benchmarking of IT services in particular. We then explain how the initial design elements were extracted based on these preliminary findings as well as a comprehensive case study. The case study was conducted with a group of 15 large en...
2013 International Conference on Computer Applications Technology (ICCAT), 2013
The impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) on enhancing the quality of servic... more The impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) on enhancing the quality of services and decreasing the overall costs has been the focus of numerous studies in the last two decades. The introduction and employment of ICT in developing countries, however, has not been as fast and effective as in developed nations. In this paper, a case study is conducted regarding the existing issues and potential solutions for the ICT industry in Iran, as an example for a developing country. The study is based on interviews with a number of IT professional and government authorities. Additionally, the relevant literature to this topic is reviewed to generalize and extend the scope of the findings. This exploration is intended to identify the pertinent issues and challenges in developing countries and propose a fine-grained framework to encompass corresponding aspects and potential solutions.
Open production communities (OPCs) provide technical features and social norms for a vast but dis... more Open production communities (OPCs) provide technical features and social norms for a vast but dispersed and diverse crowd to collectively accumulate content. In OPCs, certain mechanisms, policies, and technologies are provided for voluntary users to participate in community-related activities including content generation, evaluation, qualification, and distribution and in some cases even community governance. Due to the known complexities and dynamism of online communities, designing a successful community is deemed more an art than a science. Numerous studies have investigated different aspects of certain types of OPCs. Most of these studies, however, fall short of delivering a general view or prescription due to their narrow focus on a certain type of OPCs. In contribution to theories on technology-mediated social participation (TMSP), this study synthesizes the streams of research in the particular area of OPCs and delivers a theoretical framework as a baseline for adapting findi...
Reputation systems are an important part of online production communities, for they provide both ... more Reputation systems are an important part of online production communities, for they provide both users and machine with proper metrics to assess the truthfulness and reliability of users, and their generated content. In multi-tier communities, in which users can be promoted to higher ranks, reputation systems are given a new role, which is helping the community to have a more meritocratic promotion process. This paper provides a design framework for reputation systems and promotion processes in the context of multi-tier production communities (MPCs). An apt promotion process based on a well-designed reputation system can be deemed as a valid practice to motivate users, enhance their level of trust and satisfaction, and increase the quantity and quality of contributions. We address different aspects and design elements of reputation systems and their association with and their impact on user participation in production communities, particularly those with a multi-tier structure.
We present an effective and fast method for static hand gesture recognition. This method is based... more We present an effective and fast method for static hand gesture recognition. This method is based on classifying the different gestures according to geometric-based invariants which are obtained from image data after segmentation; thus, unlike many other recognition methods, this method is not dependent on skin color. Gestures are extracted from each frame of the video, with a static background. The segmentation is done by dynamic extraction of background pixels according to the histogram of each image. Gestures are classified using a weighted K-Nearest Neighbors Algorithm which is combined with a naive Bayes approach to estimate the probability of each gesture type. When this method was tested in the domain of the JAST humanrobot dialog system, it classified more than 93% of the gestures correctly into one of three classes.
In rapidly growing global companies, comprehensive training programs as well as in depth sharing ... more In rapidly growing global companies, comprehensive training programs as well as in depth sharing of knowledge are essential factors to maintain the quality of human capital despite rapid expansion. Different dimensions of Knowledge management address the need and approach to leverage dispersed knowledge in order to make it visible and accessible for everyone to improve organizational performance. However, there has been a scarcity of successful and holistic models that define and categorize tacit knowledge in order to capture and distribute it for the benefit of others. This paper focuses on developing a framework in order to capture experiences regarding software project management and to provide a platform for managers to inherit knowledge from and bequeath their learning to others at large organizations. In order to build up and enhance the framework, the majority of information was gleaned from intensive interviews with top software project managers at Infosys, a well-known glob...
In the last decade, collaborative open production communities have provided an effective platform... more In the last decade, collaborative open production communities have provided an effective platform for geographically dispersed users to collaborate and generate content in a well-structured and consistent form. Wikipedia is a prominent example in this area. What is of great importance in production communities is the prioritization and evolution of features with regards to the community lifecycle. Users are the cornerstone of such communities and their needs and attitudes constantly change as communities grow. The increasing amount and versatility of content and users requires modifications in areas ranging from user roles and access levels to content quality standards and community policies and goals. In this paper, we draw on two pertinent theories in terms of the lifecycle of online communities and open collaborative communities in particular by focusing on the case of Wikipedia. We conceptualize three general stages (Rising, Organizing, and Stabilizing) within the lifecycle of c...
Successful design of open production communities (OPCs) is a delicate and complex issue. This is ... more Successful design of open production communities (OPCs) is a delicate and complex issue. This is due to the vibrant nature of OPCs, the constant interaction of technology, content, user and community dimensions and the underlying interdependencies between the attributes of these dimensions during their lifecycle. The conducted research in this thesis is on the pertinent aspects of OPCs to identify similar patterns and theorize a set of context-free and lifecycle-based design principles. A hybrid approach of critical literature review and Delphi method was carried out to conceptualize and finalize these generic principles. They provide a practical guideline for community designers and operators and act as a ‘rule of thumb’ for designing such fluid and complex systems.
We present an effective and fast method for static hand gesture recognition. This method is based... more We present an effective and fast method for static hand gesture recognition. This method is based on classifying the different gestures according to geometric-based invariants which are obtained from image data after segmentation; thus, unlike many other recognition methods, this method is not dependent on skin color. Gestures are extracted from each frame of the video, with a static background. The segmentation is done by dynamic extraction of background pixels according to the histogram of each image. Gestures are classified using a weighted K-Nearest Neighbors Algorithm which is combined with a nave Bayes approach to estimate the probability of each gesture type.
User participation is an inextricable part of online communities that live off user-generated con... more User participation is an inextricable part of online communities that live off user-generated content. Since these communities depend on sustained participation, they often employ various incentives to maximize the contributions and collective intelligence of users. Most prior research on user participation is focused on one specific type of production community (e.g. open source or Wikipedia) or on explicit incentives. However, despite the large body of literature devoted to this area, few systematic attempts have yet been made to identify common hidden or implicit factors. These factors sometimes have considerable impact on user commitment and participation. In this paper, we review and organize the pertinent literature and provide a generic list of implicit factors that account for a sustained flow of contributions. We also hypothesize a model that represents the interdependencies of some of these factors. The outcome provides community designers with a fine-grained knowledge fra...
Online production communities aim to realize the collective intelligence and leverage the potenti... more Online production communities aim to realize the collective intelligence and leverage the potential creativity, manpower, and knowledge of volunteer users to generate high quality, public content. Introducing appropriate incentives to sustain participation is not a trivial task for community designers due to the dynamic and multi-dimensional nature of such communities. In this paper, we review and synthesize the existing body of research pertaining to user participation and incentive systems and propose a novel approach towards incentive systems based on user desires and lifecycle-based community objectives. The identified relevant user desires drawn from Reiss?s theory of basic desires are self-importance, self-development, fun, vindication, socialization, group identity and uniqueness. By using this desire-based approach, we conceptualize a generalizable and target-oriented iterative design model for developing and adapting incentive systems. The theorized model extends the curren...
While IT benchmarking has grown considerably in the last few years, conventional benchmarking too... more While IT benchmarking has grown considerably in the last few years, conventional benchmarking tools have not been able to adequately respond to the rapid changes in technology and paradigm shifts in IT-related domains. This paper aims to review benchmarking methods and leverage design science methodology to present design elements for a novel software solution in the field of IT benchmar king. The solution, which introduces a concept for generic (service-independent) indicators is based on and re fined by a comprehensive case study that involved large enterprises and has been evolved in the last three years. In this p aper, we first review the theoretical background in the literature and highlight challenges within benchmarking processes in general and benchmarking of IT services in particular. We then explain how the initial design elements were extracted base d on these preliminary findings as well as a comprehensive case study. The case study was conducted with a group of 15 larg...
In this paper, a fast and robust approach for static hand gesture recognition is presented. The m... more In this paper, a fast and robust approach for static hand gesture recognition is presented. The method is an invariant-based approach and avails Hu moments for this purpose. The invariants are classified by means of a modified K-Nearest Neighbors classifier called Locally Weighted Naive Bayes classifier. The Hu moments are obtained from the outer-contour of the observed hand and then classified by the LWNB classifier. Three types of gestures (pointing, grasping and holding-out) were used in practice under different lighting conditions with different users. Given the experimental results in the domain of the Joint-Action Science and Technology (JAST) project which is a Human-Robot interaction system, this method has a considerable performance of about 93% correct classification results on average.
In rapidly growing global companies, comprehensive training programs as well as in depth sharing ... more In rapidly growing global companies, comprehensive training programs as well as in depth sharing of knowledge are essential factors to maintain the quality of human capital despite rapid expansion. Different dimensions of Knowledge management address the need and approach to leverage dispersed knowledge in order to make it visible and accessible for everyone to improve organizational performance. However, there has
While IT benchmarking has grown considerably in the last few years, conventional benchmarking too... more While IT benchmarking has grown considerably in the last few years, conventional benchmarking tools have not been able to adequately respond to the rapid changes in technology and paradigm shifts in IT-related domains. This paper aims to review benchmarking methods and leverage design science methodology to present design elements for a novel software solution in the field of IT benchmarking. The solution, which introduces a concept for generic (service-independent) indicators is based on and refined by a comprehensive case study that involved large enterprises and has been evolved in the last three years. In this paper, we first review the theoretical background in the literature and highlight challenges within benchmarking processes in general and benchmarking of IT services in particular. We then explain how the initial design elements were extracted based on these preliminary findings as well as a comprehensive case study. The case study was conducted with a group of 15 large en...
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