30 March 2007

Call for papers: Hysteresis Modelling and Control of Smart Materials

Call for papers: Hysteresis Modelling and Control of Smart Materials

A special issue of International Journal of Intelligent Systems Technologies and Applications

Smart materials are responsive materials that possess adaptive capabilities to changes in external stimuli. Electrostrictive polymers, piezoelectric materials, electro-rheological and magneto-rheological fluids, shape memory alloys and magneto-strictive materials fall within this category. The field of smart materials has advanced rapidly due to an increasing awareness of their capabilities and numerous potential applications in various ectors, namely aerospace, aeronautic, industrial, automotive, biomedical, and micro and nano-systems.

Smart materials are known to exhibit various degrees of hysteresis and nonlinear dynamics, which poses considerable challenges for controller design. The accurate and efficient quantification of these effects form the primary requirements for controller design in order to exploit full capabilities of various materials.

The primary purpose of this special issue is to document the current state-of-the-art works on characterisation of hysteresis effects, modelling techniques and corresponding control methods for smart materials through a collection of original and high-quality papers.

This special issue will focus on all aspects of modelling and control issues concerning smart materials with hysteresis.

Important Date

Contributed papers should be submitted online by: 30 March, 2008

Call for papers: Sculptured surface machining

Call for papers: Sculptured surface machining

A special issue of International Journal of Machining and Machinability of Materials

At the present time, the milling of sculptured and complex surfaces is an important topic from both industrial and technological points of view. Several problems coincide in the same workpiece, for instance, a difficult-to-cut steel or superalloy, a complex geometry and narrow tolerances to be achieved. Usually success comes from a holistic view of the design and manufacturing process, where milling in three or five-axis is critical.

The mould and die manufacturers are placed in all the industrialised or emerging countries, with strong competition among firms and even among countries. This fact has brought new machining approaches for roughing, semi finishing and finishing, new polishing and surface treatment technologies and new process planning. This special issue aims to include works about several of these topics, especially in machining. Another important industrial sector involves aircraft engine components, some of them with complex ruled or sculptured surfaces. In this case, the rotational parts must be studied for the influence of the machining on the in-service component behaviour. Finally, various new applications of ceramics or sintered materials for tool manufacturing have increased the use of non-conventional techniques such as electrodischarge machining or ultrasonic machining.

This special issue invites the submission of high quality research articles related to milling and surface finishing of sculptured surfaces, including moulds, dies, blades, and other complex surfaces.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Milling of moulds, dies or blades
  • Three-axis and five-axis milling of complex surfaces
  • Surface finish and surface polishing
  • Machinability of tool materials or related materials
  • Nontraditional machining processes of complex surfaces
  • Behaviour of machines and CNC when milling complex surfaces
  • CAM programming of sculptured surfaces
  • Effect of machining on the surface integrity and residual stresses
  • Errors in sculptured surface machining
  • Micromilling for micromould or microdies
  • Models for ball-end milling, bull-nose milling or flank milling
  • Optimisation of design and manufacturing of moulds or dies
Important Dates

Submission: 30 June 2008
Decision: 30 September 2008
Revised manuscripts: 30 November 2008

Call for papers: Innovative University Programs in Technology Business Incubation

Call for papers: Innovative University Programs in Technology Business Incubation

A special issue of International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management

To compete in the new economy, a number of universities have been actively involved in designing and implementing innovative programmes for promoting regional innovation and entrepreneurship. Over the past three decades, one salient approach has been the development of formal technology business incubation mechanisms. The goal of these university-based and university-sponsored organisational mechanisms is to serve as conduits facilitating the spillover of university knowledge through enterprise creation and commercialisation of research results.

Some of these technology business incubation mechanisms are developed and run by the universities themselves; others are offered in partnership with public and private organisations in the community. In all cases, their objective is to create more comprehensive and integrative incubation spaces in and around the university campuses aimed at providing seamless innovation milieus.

This special issue will feature high quality research that explores various innovative models of these formal university incubation mechanisms in developed as well as emerging regions of the world. Preferred submissions will chronicle cases where an entrepreneurial university serves as the initiator and/or locus of regional innovation and entrepreneurship.

Potential topic areas suitable for review articles include but are not limited to:
  • Business/technology incubators
  • Science/research/technology parks
  • Technology trampolines
  • Technology/business accelerators
  • Business/industry/venture centres
  • Technology/research centres
  • Venture funding institutes
  • Technology transfer programmes/offices
  • Other formal enterprise development/support mechanisms
Important Dates

Manuscript submission: 30 September, 2007
Notification of acceptance: 30 August, 2008

Featured article: P2P file sharing and the law: a brief survey of legislation and jurisprudence

P2P file sharing and the law: a brief survey of legislation and jurisprudence
Brett J.L. Landry, University of Dallas, Irving, Texas, USA
Dinah Payne, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
International Journal of Services and Standards 3(2) 2007, 169-187

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) applications are easy to use and pervasive at a variety of institutions, both public and private, business, governmental and academic. They cause major problems with the networks upon which they are applied: viruses, worms, spyware and adware can cause crippling congestion of the network resources. Additionally, P2P file sharing applications typically violate the copyright law, as well as create legal liability through the concepts found in tort law. This paper will present very basic definitions of P2P technology, a review of the pervasiveness of the use of IP2PFS and a brief survey of legal measures designed to prevent illegal usage.

26 March 2007

Call for papers: 4D Medical Imaging and 4D Radiation Therapy

Call for papers: 4D Medical Imaging and 4D Radiation Therapy

A special issue of International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology

This special issue presents a collection of manuscripts that discuss novel and innovative applications of 4D medical imaging in radiation oncology, called 4D radiation therapy. It focuses on critical issues pertaining to 4D medical imaging, including time-resolved volumetric CT, MRI, MRSI, PET, PET/CT, and SPECT imaging and other emerging imaging modalities. Particular emphasis will be put on novel and unique applications of these 4D imaging modalities in 4D radiation therapy, including 4D simulation, 4D treatment planning, 4D pre-treatment verification, and 4D treatment delivery.

Subjects include, but are not limited to the following topics:
  • 4D computed tomography (CT)
  • 4D multi-detector-row CT (MDCT)
  • 4D cone-beam CT (CBCT)
  • 4D Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  • 4D magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI)
  • 4D positron emission tomography (PET)
  • 4D single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
  • 4D PET/CT
  • 4D ultrasound (US)
  • Other emerging imaging modalities
  • 4D image reconstruction
  • 4D image enhancement, registration, segmentation, and visualization
  • 4D radiation therapy simulation
  • 4D treatment planning
  • 4D pre-treatment verification
  • 4D treatment delivery
Important Dates

One page proposal deadline: 10 May, 2007
Paper submission deadline: 20 July, 2007
Review results and notification: 20 September, 2007
Submission of Revised Papers: 20 October, 2007
Final Acceptance of Papers: 20 November, 2007

Special issue: Public affairs informatics research

International Journal of Public Policy 2(3/4) 2007 is a special issue: Public affairs informatics research.

Article titles:
* Minority elderly and timely hospice care: caregiver status
* Is public health expenditure in Ecuador progressive or regressive?
* Social capital and use of folk and herbal medicine by older women in Almaty, Kazakhstan
* The role of government in tobacco leaf production in China: national and local interventions
* Research driven Medicaid reform: the case of managed care
*The effect of Taiwan's National Health Insurance programme on hospital physicians' perceptions of their careers: a survey
* Health information technology: will it make higher quality and more efficient healthcare delivery possible?
* Development of Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIOs): knowledge networks and collaboration
* Factors associated with hospital preference among rural Medicaid beneficiaries
* Differential effects of hospital case mix on hospital costs and revenues, with a focus on Medicaid patients
* Comparing four estimation methods for uninsurance in Florida
* The impact of quality and efficiency on federal healthcare

First issue: European Journal of International Management

The first issue of European Journal of International Management has just been published

This is the first international journal devoted entirely to fostering an understanding of issues in international management theory and practice in the newly expanded European arena – including the underrepresented regions of Northern, Central and Eastern Europe – and to providing both conceptual and functional implications useful for the further development of research, teaching practices, and managerial techniques.

It also solicits literature that allows for a broader interpretation of research – it welcomes not only papers which adhere to the most common research standards (i.e., largely based on hypothesis testing using quantitative methods), but also those that introduce a more European perspective through qualitative and interdisciplinary contributions.

The main objective of the journal is to establish an outlet for scholars interested in a variety of topics in international management in Europe. Papers are aimed not only at the academic community preoccupied with purely conceptual research, but also at other academics actively involved in transferring theoretical wisdom into actionable knowledge.

In general, EJIM is designed to serve a slightly wider segment of the academic audience by containing strong implications for both teaching and practicing communities, while still maintaining both academic quality and rigor.

25 March 2007

Newly announced journal: International Journal of Management and Network Economics

International Journal of Management and Network Economics - to begin publication in 2008 - is devoted to the study of network industries (e.g. telecommunications, energy, air transport). Advanced managerial, financial and economic findings and research related to the development of interconnected networks attempt to modify the modern debate regarding network industries. Their importance relies on expectations of growth of several and differing private and public sectors, especially in the light of market liberalisation and increasing attention to quality management, customer satisfaction, technological innovation and value creation. Accordingly, financial markets, customers, public authorities and companies are looking for advances in network management and economics that can provide long-term benefits for both private and public stakeholders. New and adapted theories, models and frameworks are necessary to understand such a dynamic, complex and evolving scenario.

Call for papers: Materials Characterization

Call for papers: Materials Characterization

A special issue of International Journal of Materials and Product Technology

This special issue deals with materials characterization in all industries comprising various areas such as mechanical testing, electrical and electronic measurements, electrochemical techniques, optical imaging and spectroscopy, and resonance methods.

The aim is to provide an international forum for academics, industry leaders, and policy makers to investigate and exchange novel ideas and disseminate knowledge and information covering the broad range of characterization concepts and techniques from idea through engineering to marketing.

Fields of interest include, but are not limited to:
  • Computers and electronics engineering
  • Materials science and engineering
  • Nanomaterials and nanotechnology
  • Petroleum science and engineering
  • Medicine
  • Materials economics
  • Risk assessment and management
Important Dates

Paper due: 1 May, 2007
Acceptance notification: 1 June, 2007
Final paper version due: 1 July, 2007

Call for papers: Information Society in China and EU: Synergies and Cooperation

Call for papers: Information Society in China and EU: Synergies and Cooperation

A special issue of International Journal of Chinese Culture and Management

In order to strengthen high-level dialogue about the information society between China and the EU, the EU-China Information Society project has been launched as part of the EU technical assistance programme in China, to promote economic and social reform through informatisation.

With this aim, the EU designed a regulatory framework by introducing best practises from the EU; the project supports the Chinese Government in enacting and implementing essential laws, regulations and policies to improve the legal and regulatory environment for e-commerce, e-government and convergence. Specific topics cover telecommunications policy, access to government information, data protection, online copyright, electronic signature, electronic contracts, information security and online arbitration.

This Special Issue aims to offer readers the state of the art in terms of synergies and cooperation on the information society in China and EU.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Access to government information
  • Data protection
  • E-commerce
  • E-government
  • Electronic signature
  • Information security
  • Online arbitration
  • Online copyright
  • ICT
  • IT innovation
  • Managing service Innovation
  • Telecommunications policy
Important Dates

1-2 Page Abstract: 30 April 2007
Submission of Manuscripts: 15 October 2007
Notification to Authors: 15 November 2007
Final Versions Due: 10 December 2007

Call for papers: Business Excellence in New Zealand: Role of Leadership in Managing Corporate Governance and Knowledge Culture in the Global Village

Call for papers: Business Excellence in New Zealand: Role of Leadership in Managing Corporate Governance and Knowledge Culture in the Global Village

A special issue of World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development

Quality has been one of the corner stones of businesses and evolved to total quality management and then to business excellence as a means of operational excellence in organisations which want to survive the global competition. One of the main requirements for attaining business excellence is leadership that gives proper guidance, encourages improvement and generally steers the ship, i.e. the whole organisation, to change from traditional management thinking towards continuous improvement through best practices in corporate governance and fosters a knowledge culture for the organisation to survive and thrive in the global village we are living in.

New Zealand (Aotearoa) is a multicultural nation that has most of the ingredients to evolve its social, economic and environmental policies to deliver the best qualities of life, which sets the scene for its businesses. Organisational identity and culture is shaped by its leadership and how it inspires and engages people, champions innovation and leads organisational change. This is evident in the recent reforms taking place in many sectors (e.g. corporate governance framework, environmental education in New Zealand schools, education for sustainability, tertiary education reforms) to help New Zealand businesses meet the global challenges and demonstrates the nation’s capabilities in competing internationally.

This special issue will provide an insight in the role of leadership and the strategies used by NZ business in managing business excellence through their corporate governance. It will also provide a platform for discussion on the different perceptions of knowledge, the resultant challenges and how it is managed in a diverse and multi-cultural nation like New Zealand.

Contributions are welcomed to address the following and related topics:
  • Evolution of business excellence trends in New Zealand businesses
  • Review of leadership practices in New Zealand businesses and its role and contributions to organisational performance
  • The role of leadership in a multi-cultural organisations
  • Studies of best practices in corporate governance
  • Knowledge management in organisations
Important Date

Submissions should be sent no later than: 10 August 2007

Call for papers: Advanced Production System, Production Design and Production Management

Call for papers: Advanced Production System, Production Design and Production Management

A special issue of International Journal of Product Development

Production engineering is an important and often necessary step in product development. Research in this area has yielded many promising approaches and strategies. Extensive literature related to a) manufacturing technology, b) CAD/CAM, c) production management, etc., has been built up over the years.

This special issue aims at presenting the state-of-the-art in the area of production engineering, and promoting further research in the area of developing new products and production lines. The issue will focus on theories and methods on manufacturing technology, product design, production control, intelligent systems and optimisation systems.

Topics of interests include but are not limited to:
  • Next-generation manufacturing systems (intelligent systems, scheduling, CAPP, MRP, JIT cell production, FMS, FTL, etc.),
  • CAD/CAM
  • Lean production (LP),
  • Die and mould manufacturing technologies
  • Advanced machine tools and machine elements
  • 3D-CAD
  • Concurrent engineering
  • Integrated framework for design and management of manufacturing systems
  • Integration of the design of lines, production policies and maintenance strategies
  • Applications (multi-function machine tools, multi-axis control, intelligent machine tools, CAM, monitoring, etc.)
Important Dates

Submission of full paper before: 30 September 2007
Notification of acceptance before: 31 October 2007
Submission of final and revised manuscripts: 1 December 2007

22 March 2007

Special issue: Clusters and regional innovation systems

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management 7(2/3/4/5) 2007 is a special issue: Clusters and regional innovation systems.

Article titles:
* Regional innovation, entrepreneurship and talent systems
* Constructing knowledge-based regional advantage: implications for regional innovation policy
* Economic policy from an evolutionary perspective: the case of Finland
* Coordination of interactions in innovative environments
* Resources development and actors coordination: what role for innovative milieus?
* The clustering and spatial distribution of economic activities in eight Canadian cities
* Network positions and efforts to innovate in a small Canadian optics and photonics clusters
* Path dependence and cluster adaptation: a case study of Toronto's new media industry
* The uniqueness of the Montreal fur industry in an apparel sector adrift: the role of proximity
* Entrepreneurship, knowledge and learning in cluster formation and evolution: the Windsor Ontario tool, die and mould cluster
* Knowledge links in high-technology industries: markets, networks or milieu? The case of the Vienna biotechnology cluster
* Clusters, innovation and the local learning paradox
* Universities as entrepreneurship engines in the periphery: more than wishful thinking? The example of Kiel in Northern Germany
* Institutional structure and modes of governance in non-metropolitan innovation systems
* Institutional features, path dependencies and regional industrial change: comparing mature and embryonic clusters in an old industrial region
* Innovative new firms, embeddedness and regional development
* Promoting regional networking and cluster formation in East Germany: a chance for setting up new regional growth regimes in an economically volatile environment?

21 March 2007

Call for papers: Intellectual Capital Reporting and Contextual Influences in Organisational Learning

Call for papers: Intellectual Capital Reporting and Contextual Influences in Organisational Learning

A special issue of International Journal of Learning and Intellectual Capital

Organisational learning theory has made great progress from its early conceptions by Cangolosi and Dill (1965), and Argyris and Schon (1978). While early scholars established strong links between thinking and action (Argyris, 1993), and the relationships between individual and organisational learning (Fiol and Lyles, 1985; Kim, 1993), more contemporary inquiry has advanced the field from strategic renewal (Crossan, Lane, and White, 1999), to dynamic capabilities (Prieto and Easterby-Smith, 2006; Eisenhardt and Martin, 2000), to leadership (Vera and Crossan, 2004), and to improvisation (Vera and Crossan, 2004:2005).

Indeed, organisational learning has now become a contemporary linking pin (so it appears) between cognitive thinking, behavioural action, and organisational strategy and change, and as a foundation for understanding organisational processes. Contextual influences thus appear to be many but remain somewhat elusive and fuzzy as a unifying whole and in terms of their influence on the organisational learning process.

This special issue seeks to address the various learning contexts that influence the organisational learning processes. What is of particular interest is how contexts influence the quality of learning, learning routines and capabilities, and the capacity of the firm to embed them (if at all) within the 4I framework, and learning outcomes. At the expense of a more discursive and interpretive perspective, to what extent are scholars using structure and prescription as a reductionist fallacy that glosses over contextual effects? To what extent is the field grounded in contextual fact and how does this influence learning processes and outcomes?

Papers from a variety of perspectives are welcomed, consistent with the theme. We encourage theoretical pieces that link context to theory, empirical works, and case studies. While many contextual influences are a matter of interpretation, scholars might particularly examine those that influence cognition, behavioural routines, and organisational processes. These might be drawn from a variety of fields such as strategic capability, organisation change, leadership, and strategy. We welcome inquiries from broader but related fields including organisational psychology and organisational studies, as a basis for extending organisational learning frameworks and typologies.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to:
  • Individual and organisational capabilities
  • Time and improvisation
  • Strategic capabilities
  • Power and control
  • Technical and operating core
  • Psychology of learning
  • Change
  • Learning routines
  • Cognition
  • Fiction and Story telling
  • Culture
  • Leadership
Important Dates

1-2 Page Abstract: 30 April 2007
Submission of Manuscripts: 15 October 2007
Notification to Authors: 15 November 2007
Final Versions Due: 10 December 2007

Call for papers: Innovation and Knowledge Management: Challenges for the Firm

Call for papers: Innovation and Knowledge Management: Challenges for the Firm

A special issue of International Journal of Learning and Intellectual Capital

The subjects of innovation and learning are receiving increased interest both from the academic community and from companies because of the influence of innovation and learning on the achievement of a sustained competitive advantage for the firm in the knowledge-based economy. Literature on innovation and learning suggest that competitive advantage flow from the creation, ownership, protection and use of certain knowledge-base organisational resources. Superior organisational performance depends on firm’s ability to be good at innovation, learning, protecting, using and amplifying these strategic intangible resources.

That being so, the UK's Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has fuelled interest in innovation topics, designating innovation as one of the nine research areas in their initiative agenda.

The aim of this Special Issue is to offer a holistic view of the resources, tools, techniques, strategies and technologies necessary for the effective implementation of innovation and learning in organisations.


Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Dynamic capabilities and routines
  • Human capital, relational capital, social capital and organisational capital
  • Intangible resources and sustained competitive advantage
  • Innovation and knowledge management
  • Innovation and leadership
  • Organisational learning
  • Product and process innovation
  • Technology and innovation management
Important Dates

1-2 Page Abstract: 30 April 2007
Submission of Manuscripts: 15 October 2007
Notification to Authors: 15 November 2007
Final Versions Due: 10 December 2007

Call for papers: Tourism and Development in China - Key Issues

Call for papers: Tourism and Development in China - Key Issues

A special issue of International Journal of Chinese Culture and Management

China is a vast land, rich in tourism resources. It has scenic spots and historical sites, spectacular landscapes and colorful and varied national customs. China's continuing economic reforms since 1978 have substantially altered its economic structure, expanding the service sector and in particular the tourist industry. These reforms have generated a spectacular economic growth as well a boom in tourism development. Under these circumstances, the ability of tourism to counteract the uneven development and promote regionally decentralised development in China is a strategic issue. It is also important for the sustainability of regional tourism, which depends on nature conservation and the presence of minority cultures.

This Special Issue deals with issues such as the sustainability of tourism, the convergence and divergence in regional tourism development and economic growth and the ecotourism strategies in China.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Ecotourism
  • Regional economic disparity and tourism development
  • Spatial distribution of tourism in China
  • Tourism and economic growth
  • Tourism and economic growth and sustainable development
  • Tourism development and policies in China
  • Touristic strategies in China
  • Trends in the regional distribution of tourism in China
Important Dates

1-2 Page Abstract: 30 April 2007
Submission of Manuscripts: 15 October 2007
Notification to Authors: 15 November 2007
Final Versions Due: 10 December 2007

20 March 2007

Call for papers: Web 2.0 for Technology Enhanced Learning Social Dynamics and Social Engineering for Learning

Call for papers: Web 2.0 for Technology Enhanced Learning Social Dynamics and Social Engineering for Learning - a New Era for Learning Content Creation and Exploitation

A special issue of International Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning

One of the most significant deficits in technology enhanced learning (TEL) or e-learning approaches has always been the capacity of systems to provide means of knowledge creation and renewal of learning content through the exploitation of social interactions and learning experiences. In a way, it seems that e-learning was incapable of exploiting and capitalising on the “knowledge and learning assets” generated in the context of the unique e-learning experience. The contribution on learning objects metadata, learning designs and adaptive hypermedia as well as semantic web in this really problematic area is significant.

However, nowadays the scientific field of TEL or advanced learning technologies has true momentum: Web 2.0 sets new milestones for the exploitation of collective intelligence, social engineering and social networks and especially for TEL.

In this special issue, we explore the potential of Web 2.0 and the synergies of Web 2.0 and Semantic Web for TEL and we provide the state of the art in theoretical foundations and technological applications. We also differentiate within the development process. We apply the collaborative community enhancement model.

The issue will also host two interviews with academics and practitioners who have produced seminal work on Web 2.0/social and learning networks.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Web 2.0 for Learning: theoretical foundations, practices, technologies, strategies
  • Design variables and conditions for social networks
  • New forms of interaction in social systems
  • Blogging as a social activity and approaches to semantic blogs
  • Collaborative filtering in social settings
  • Analysing social interaction for finding knowledge on Web users
  • Semantic desktops
  • Social network analysis enabled by the semantic web
  • Learning and knowledge communities
  • Analysis of large online communities web communities of practice
  • Network analysis for building social networks
  • Implicit, formal, and powerful semantics in communities
  • Semantic social networks metadata and annotation techniques
  • Metadata schema describing individuals and social ties
  • Folksonomies, tagging and other collaboration-based categorisation systems
  • Wikis, semantic Wikis and other collaborative knowledge creation systems
  • Online social networking
  • Applications of online semantic networks
  • Knowledge management with semantic networks
  • Emerging human experiences in social networks
  • Analysis of human behaviour in semantic social networks
Important Dates

4-5 Pages Extended Abstract: 30 April 2007
Notification to Authors: 15 July 2007
Final Versions Due: 30 September 2007

Call for papers: Technology Enhanced Learning for People with Disabilities: Visions, Strategies, Applications, and Policies

Call for papers: Technology Enhanced Learning for People with Disabilities: Visions, Strategies, Applications, and Policies

A special issue of International Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning

One of the most interesting application domains of technology enhanced learning (TEL) is related to the adoption of learning technologies and designs for people with disabilities. It is clear that while a lot of effort has been paid to this context, there is considerable room for new, creative and “human” centric approaches.

The special issue is organised around four key pillars:
  1. Analysis of various types of disabilities [e.g. learning, mental, cognitive, kinetic, etc] and discussion of TEL support in each different context
  2. Demonstration of innovations in the adoption of TEL for people with disabilities: cases studies, pilot projects, best practices, emerging technologies
  3. Discussion of work/skills/competencies/deployment issues - linkage of TEL and tele-working
  4. Sound propositions on government policies, regulations and community programmes
Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Technology enhanced learning applications/approaches/strategies for people with disabilities
  • Analysis of disability contexts and reflective learning strategies as well as TEL adoption strategies
  • Demonstration of innovations in the adoption of TEL for people with disabilities
  • Cases studies, pilot projects, best practices, emerging technologies
  • Discussion of work/skills/competencies/deployment issues
  • Linkage of TEL and tele-working for people with disabilities
  • Government policies
  • Regulations
  • Community programmes
Important Dates

4-5 Pages Extended Abstract: 30 April 2007
Notification to Authors: 15 July 2007
Final Versions Due: 30 September 2007

Call for papers: Technology Enhanced Learning in FP5-FP6 and FP7 Programmes of the European Union: A European Citizen/Learner Perspective

Call for papers: Technology Enhanced Learning in FP5-FP6 and FP7 Programmes of the European Union: A European Citizen/Learner Perspective – Real World Learning Services – Missing Opportunities – Great Challenges

A special issue of International Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning

Research in Europe is a key pillar of a highly competitive European Union. It is a fact that billions of Euros are invested in innovative research projects in various domains the last decade. But as always there is a social concern: how fast the research outcomes reach the potential beneficiaries and how well designed and implemented the dissemination outcomes are that will transform leading edge research to high development rates and real services adopted by European citizens. In other words, at a basic level, there is a key question about demonstrating best practices and innovative services which are open and available to all European citizens.

This special issue emphasises on the research in technology enhanced learning at European level. With FP5 completed couple years ago and FP6 near to completion, it is timely to investigate, from a European learner perspective, the real outcomes as well as the challenges for the future.

The key reason for this special issue is this: in most of cases, people like to "undervalue" the significance of research contributions; e.g. the typical critique that is made about R&D projects at a European level relates to the day after the end of budgeted timeline. What happens with the deliverables, how many of the systems are commercialised or adopted in target markets, how many consortiums continue to offer their services after the end of projects?

But as always the reality is not black or white. Brilliant researchers, high capacity teams are working in TEL at European level and this special issue aims to honour their contribution in the vision for learning for anyone, at any time, at any place in Europe.

With the previous concerns in mind, this special issue is organised around four key pillars:
  1. Investigation/survey of real world learning services offered from FP5 & FP6 projects - demonstration of innovation
  2. Best practices in dissemination of scientific research outcomes in the context of TEL R&D projects
  3. Commercialisation cases
  4. Analysis of return on investments: integration of research outcomes in industry, etc
Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Learning services at European level
  • Learning objects portals
  • Best practice in TEL
  • Qualitative analysis of TEL cluster projects: A meta-analysis of deliverables and value offerings
  • Performance gaps in TEL projects: proposal promises versus real, delivered systems
  • Case studies, lessons learned
  • Knowledge dissemination strategies
  • European learners' perspectives
  • Challenges for TEL in FP7
Important Dates

4-5 Pages Extended Abstract: 30 October 2007
Notification to Authors: 15 November 2007
Final Versions Due: 15 December 2007

Call for papers: Intellectual Capital Reporting and Knowledge Management: a European Perspective

Call for papers: Intellectual Capital Reporting and Knowledge Management: a European Perspective

A special issue of International Journal of Learning and Intellectual Capital

While human capital has always been a primary focus in human resource management research, a recent trend has witnessed increased consideration of intellectual capital rather than sole focus on human capital. Intellectual capital can be broadly conceptualised as the sum of all knowledge an organization is able to leverage in the process of conducting business to gain competitive advantage.

More specifically, intellectual capital may comprise of at least three forms of capital – human, social, and organisational. Human capital refers to individual employee capabilities – their knowledge, skills, and abilities. Social capital, in contrast, does not reside with any individual. Rather, it reflects the aggregate of resources embedded within, available through, and derived from the network of relationships. Finally, organisational capital refers to institutionalised knowledge and codified experience stored in processes, routines, databases, patents, manuals, structures, and the like.

While still in its infancy, this growing focus on social and organisational capital in conjunction with human capital presents a much different understanding for the role of HRM in organisations and raises many important questions such as:
  • If intellectual capital involves relationships with institutionalised knowledge, as well as human capital, how should HRM systems be designed to maximise the potential of a firm's intellectual capital?
  • What are the relationships between human capital, social capital, and organisational capital?
  • Intellectual capital often implies a focus on knowledge management - with an increased focus on knowledge, how do we encourage learning, knowledge creation, and knowledge sharing among employees?
  • Where does intellectual capital reside? Is it within a company, across companies, across countries? How is knowledge from disparate locations coordinated and leveraged?
  • How does the management of intellectual capital influence innovation, value creation, performance, and competitive advantage? What are the global implications of these effects?
This Special Issue aims to address this question from a European perspective.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Human resource management
  • Innovation
  • Intellectual capital management
  • Intellectual capital reports
  • Knowledge management
  • Organizational learning
  • Social capital
Important Dates

1-2 Page Abstract: 30 April 2007
Submission of Manuscripts: 15 October 2007
Notification to Authors: 15 November 2007
Final Versions Due: 10 December 2007

Featured article: Technology in the service development process: a missing dimension

Technology in the service development process: a missing dimension
Gaurav K. Agrawal, Daniel Berg, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY , USA
International Journal of Services Technology and Management 8(2/3) 2007, 107 - 122
The service sector being the leading part of any country's economic growth, demands an increasingly growing attention. The literature related to services discusses several aspects of the service sector but lacks in explaining the role of technology in the service development process. This paper analyses the literature pertinent to services, and establishes the important relationship of technology to the service development process. This discussion prepares a platform to study the service development process from a different perspective, which raises the need to revise the generic service development models to match the current and variable needs of the market. Recommendations are posed to enhance the service development experience by including technology as an important (driving) dimension in the service development process by categorising them for different service segments.

19 March 2007

Call for papers: Mobile Learning and Knowledge Management: Issues in Intellectual Proximity

Call for papers: Mobile Learning and Knowledge Management: Issues in Intellectual Proximity

A special issue of International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation

Enterprises have turned to explicit - and even conceptualising on tacit - knowledge management to elaborate a systematic approach to develop and sustain the intellectual capital needed to succeed, the knowledge normally attributed to knowledge workers. This is complemented by structural capital, i.e. the structures, technologies, practices put in place by an organisation as an attempt to manage their specialist knowledge. Mobile learning would equally come under such an umbrella, enticing knowledge workers and managers within organisations to conduct work in a mobile manner.

One of the challenges for future mobile organisations will deal with how they can enhance communication channels and collaborate within and between their employees, customers and stakeholders. According to Liebowitz (Liebowitz, 2006), one technique that can help address this issue is social network analysis. Mobile organisations also need to develop new knowledge and learning strategies possibly under the umbrella of a knowledge exchange or sharing system, and especially as related to recognition and reward systems. Uden (Uden, 2006) suggests that activity theory, as a social and cultural psychological theory, can be used to design a mobile learning environment.

Existing theoretical work has paid limited attention to the role of intellectual proximity in facilitating knowledge exchange within clusters of organisations that operate within the same domain of knowledge.

A consensus suggests that users build a mental model from their interactions with artificial systems. Design of mobile devices needs tp to take into consideration the existence of a gap between the user’s viewpoint [interaction-oriented] and the designer’s viewpoint [development-oriented]. Enhancing mobile learning effectiveness requires narrowing this gap between execution and conception. Implementing new solutions for improving the effective use of mobile systems needs new methodological tools and a better understanding of the complexity of user’s mental construction, in line with their containment of the domain knowledge.

The purpose of this special issue is to expose writers and the eventual readership to topics aiming at the facilitation of mobile learning for knowledge workers, from differing and multidisciplinary perspectives.

This special issue aims at presenting a selection of papers addressing the topics indicated below, but is not limited to them:
  • Knowledge management and mobile learning
  • Knowledge flow and mobile learning
  • Dissemination of practice and mobile learning
  • Currently implemented applications for mobile learning
  • Technologies that directly support mobile learning systems (devices, networks, tools etc.)
  • Studies of mobile learning in practice
  • Reviews of the application of mobile learning in multiple contexts
  • Uses of mobile learning in professional learning environments, e.g., mobile health, mobile commerce
  • Constraints in the delivery of mobile learning, e.g., human-computer interaction issues in mobile learning environments
  • Mobile games for learning
  • The role of Wikis, blogs, podcasts, messaging, other on-line tools and Web 2.0 components in mobile learning systems and as mechanisms to exchange/distribute knowledgeSupport for learner interaction and mobile collaborative learning
  • Privacy and security issues in mobile learning
  • Knowledge expropriation or hoarding issues in mobile learning
  • The role of location based services in learning and sharing knowledge
  • Organisational structures and mobile learning
  • Management issues from mobile learning
  • Design of user-friendly mobile devices
  • Mental models emerging from interactions with mobile systems
  • User's characteristics (age, gender, culture, expertise, etc.) and mobile learning
  • Graphic user interface (GUI) design and mobile learning
  • Mobile learning interactions and cognitive modeling
Important Dates

Full paper deadline: 1 September, 2007
Notification of acceptance and review results: 1 November, 2007
Camera-ready version deadline: 6 January, 2008

Call for papers: Emerging Mobile Learning Environments for Industries and Pedagogies

Call for papers: Emerging Mobile Learning Environments for Industries and Pedagogies

A special issue of International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation

Mobile learning (m-learning) is the acquisition of knowledge and skills by using mobile technologies anywhere and anytime. M-learning covers a wide range of possible domains by the convergence of emerging mobile technologies such as wireless communication infrastructure and mobile devices, and mobile applications such as online learning tools and mobile connectivity.

The Internet and emerging information communication technology (ICT) infrastructure has improved the quality and reduced the costs of the online learning experience in industries and institutions. The adoption of m-learning will enhance the flexibility and effectiveness of learning due to its mobile component made possible by the inheritance of a variety of mobile devices, including cell phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs).

However, the adoption of m-learning in industries and institutions is still slow and has not been widely implemented. The development of effective mobile learning environments is important to accelerate the adoption of m-learning in industries and education. Therefore, this special issue will be timely for both industries and institutions who are interested in the development of effective mobile learning environments. It provides a global forum for presenting authoritative references, academically rigorous research and case studies in both theoretical development and applied research. Its purpose is to discuss the effective and timely development of state-of-the-art mobile learning environments in order to accelerate the adoption of m-learning in industries and educational institutions.

Specifically, it intends to disseminate research and studies in the emerging m-learning environments including emerging mobile learning technologies in mobile environments, practical experiences on the design of m-learning environments, applications of the mobile technologies to m-learning system development in industry and institutions, economic and social contexts of m-learning development, and the effective interaction between users and m-learning environments.

The subject coverage of this special issue includes, but is not limited to:
  • Effective design of m-learning environments
  • Emerging mobile technologies such as wireless network and mobile devices that directly facilitate learning
  • Application of m-learning systems in industries (such as personalised dietary information, quitting smoking programs through mobile devices in healthcare industry)
  • Application of m-learning systems in learning institutions (e.g. online Master's programs)
  • Development of m-learning tools for in-classroom teaching and learning
  • Supply chain and value chain on m-learning
  • Currently implemented m-learning applications
  • Studies of mobile learning in practice
  • Reviews of the application of m-learning in multiple contexts
  • Uses of m-learning in mobile commerce learning environments
  • Human computer interaction issues in m-learning
  • Mobile games for learning
  • M-learning in classroom
  • Support for interaction among mobile learners
  • Mobile collaborative learning
  • Privacy and security issues and requirements in m-learning
  • Comparison of m-learning with e-learning applications
  • Assessment of m-learning in multiple contexts
  • Critical success factors for mobile learning diffusion
  • Cross-cultural mobile learning issues
  • Knowledge management and learning strategies in mobile organisations
  • M-learning data warehouse and data mining
  • M-learning enterprise systems
  • Field-based m-learning
  • M-learning software development
Important Dates

Proposal deadline (optional): 1 November, 2007
Early submission deadline [*]: 15 February, 2008
Full paper deadline: 15 May, 2008
Notification of status & acceptance of paper: 15 August, 2008
Final version of paper: 15 October, 2008
[*] Completed manuscripts that meet the early submission deadline will be provided an opportunity for revision. If the revision is completed by the full paper deadline (May 15, 2008), these manuscripts will be entered into a second round of peer review.

Special issue: Voluntary approaches for environmental protection in agriculture: theoretical and empirical advances

International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology 6(3) 2007 is a special issue: Voluntary approaches for environmental protection in agriculture: theoretical and empirical advances.
Article titles:
* Assessing the role of voluntary environmental management arrangements in agriculture: an Australian perspective
* Effect of urbanisation on the adoption of environmental management systems in Canadian agriculture
* Enhancing the social content of environmental management systems in Australian agriculture
* Farm management systems and voluntary action: what can Germany learn from Canada?
* Impacts of voluntary agri-environmental measures on Austria's agriculture
* Insurance regarding radical uncertainty: approaches in France and in Germany for sewage sludge land spreading
* Certification of sustainable forest management: differentiation strategies and asymmetric information
* From public to private safety regulation? The case of negotiated agreements in the French fresh produce import industry

18 March 2007

Call for papers: XBRL and Financial Reporting

Call for papers: XBRL and Financial Reporting

A special issue of International Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation

Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) is a computer language designed to transfer and store financial and operational business data, including the complex hierarchies, data-processing rules, and descriptions that offer assistance with analysis and distribution. It represents a business and reporting language with the ability to tag all the reporting data with standard definitions. In September 2006, the US SEC announced that it would be allocating $54 million for the further development of XBRL. A number of securities regulatory bodies across the world have recommended the adoption of XBRL for companies to submit their financial reports.

While XBRL is widely expected to affect the future of financial reporting, academic research on XBRL and its impact on financial reporting is very limited. The main objective of this special issue is to establish an outlet for scholars interested in a variety of topics in XBRL and its impact on financial reporting. In particular, the issue will focus on research into XBRL as the future of financial reporting, specifically on how XBRL and related technologies influence the disclosure and reporting of financial information.

It also aims to present state-of-the-art research and applications of XBRL financial reporting with particular reference to taxonomy, data presentation, methodologies and techniques as well as relevant legislation, public policy, institutional efforts that foster the development of XBRL reporting.

Suitable topics include but are not limited to:
  • The development of XBRL and XBRL-based financial reporting
  • The impacts of XBRL on the future of financial reporting and accounting harmonisation
  • XBRL taxonomies
  • Database accounting
  • Transformation of financial data into XBRL and security issues
  • XBRL configuration platforms, customisation and standardisation
  • Economic consequences of XBRL financial reporting
  • Risks related to XBRL
  • Assurance and auditing of XBRL
  • Artificial intelligence techniques related to XBRL
  • Global adoption and institutional initiatives
  • Users perception of XBRL financial reporting, and data interpretation and adaptation
  • Legal issues related to XBRL and financial reporting
Important Date

Manuscripts should be submitted by: 15 May 2008

Call for papers: Enterprise Resource Planning Systems in the Banking Industry - Reengineering of Process and Exploitation of Emerging Technologies

Call for papers: Enterprise Resource Planning Systems in the Banking Industry - Reengineering of Process and Exploitation of Emerging Technologies

A special issue of International Journal of Electronic Banking

Each year in the banking sector, billions of dollars are invested in various forms of enterprise resource planning systems (ERPs). In most of cases, the business justification of these applications is anchored to various highly promising concepts such as competitive advantage, increased customer value, better management of internal processes, better customer service. On the other hand, is obvious that ERPs are not a panacea for the various aspects of a multifold enterprise performance.

In this special issue, we focus on the emerging agenda for the adoption of ERP systems in the banking industry. We apply a balanced theoretical/business and applied/technological perspective, targeting the development of an excellent quality reference edition for all those interested in the adoption of ERP in the banking sector.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Business process reengineering in banking industry
  • New banking industry dynamics
  • ERPs for e-banking: modules and applications
  • Customer relationship management for e-banking
  • Web services and advanced approaches to customer support
  • Design variables and application of social network analysis to the personalisation of services
  • Outsourcing
  • Strategic management of ERPs within banks
  • Advanced applications of semantic web and Web 2.0 for e-banking
  • Integration of legacy systems in ERPs
  • Enterprise application integration in banking industry
  • Enterprise portals
  • Decision support and ERPs
  • Executive information systems and ERPs
  • Value chain analysis and ERP integration
  • Frameworks and strategies for ERP implementation
  • Advanced database approaches: multidimensional and OLAP
  • Workflow management
Important Dates

1-2 Page Abstract: 15 May 2007
Submission of Manuscripts: 15 October 2007
Notification to Authors: 15 November 2007
Final Versions Due: 15 February 2008

Call for papers: Advances in Knowledge Management for E-banking - Towards High Performance Banking Systems

Call for papers: Advances in Knowledge Management for E-banking - Towards High Performance Banking Systems

A special issue of International Journal of Electronic Banking

The banking industry is characterised as one of the most knowledge intensive sectors. From this perspective, banks’ performance is directly related to the performance of knowledge.

Knowledge management has been used as a high-promise business concept. In an era of business transition, the effective management of knowledge is proposed as a strategy that exploits the organisational intangible assets. However, the term ‘knowledge management’ has been used in order to describe many different applications. In some cases, the tag of ‘knowledge management product’ is attached to several software programs purely for marketing reasons.

We recognise knowledge management as a socio-technical phenomenon where the basic social constructs such as person, team and organisation require support from ICT applications. In this special issue, we investigate the full range of knowledge management technologies and the latest developments as promoted by the advent of the semantic web and Web 2.0

This issue brings together academics, practitioners, researchers, and aims to deliver a reference edition for all those interested in the exploitation of knowledge management for the banking industry.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

SECTION A: ARTIFACT LEVEL
Managing documents
Managing metadata and semantics
Managing taxonomies

SECTION B: INDIVIDUAL LEVEL
Constructing yellow pages of experts
Managing individual profiles
Managing tacit knowledge

SECTION C: TEAM LEVEL
Managing workflows
Managing discussion forums
Exploiting collaborative work systems
Managing team dynamics

SECTION D: ORGANISATIONAL LEVEL
Building best practices
Developing knowledge maps/ontologies
Managing competencies
Managing organisational memory

SECTION E: INTER-ORGANISATIONAL LEVEL
Managing inter-organisational network
Managing projects
Future technologies

Important Dates

1-2 Page Abstract: 15 May 2007
Submission of Manuscripts: 15 October 2007
Notification to Authors: 15 November 2007
Final Versions Due: 15 February 2008

Call for papers: Business Culture and Management in China

Call for papers: Business Culture and Management in China

A special issue of International Journal of Chinese Culture and Management

China is not the only fast-growing emerging economy that is making waves around the world. China’s current economic growth rate is approximately 9 percent annually, which is impressive economically. Its contribution to global GDP growth since 2000 has been almost twice as large as that of the next three biggest emerging economies (India, Brazil and Russia) combined. Some even refer to China as the mother of emerging markets and transition economies.

Directly or indirectly, the Chinese economy has influenced interest rates, prices for raw materials and wages in the western established economies. Currently China is the most R&D intense of emerging market countries and is seventh of all countries in the world. Its economic power is exemplified by the fact that it is expected to be the fifth largest source of outward foreign direct investment during 2004-2007. Working with Chinese firms has become a reality for a majority of managers in Western countries. With its high growth rate, the presence and impact of the Chinese economy will only become larger.

With China’s importance on the global scale set to grow faster than ever, this Special Issue offers a unique window to observe the state of the art of innovation and technology management that will chart the course of the future in this region of the world.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Business etiquette
  • Human resource management
  • Internationalisation
  • National culture and management
  • Organizational culture and management
  • Social corporate responsibility
  • Strategic management
Important Dates

1-2 Page Abstract: 30 April 2007
Submission of Manuscripts: 15 October 2007
Notification to Authors: 15 November 2007
Final Versions Due: 10 December 2007

Call for papers: Strategic Management of E-Banking: Business Strategies and Beyond – Alternative Channels and New Core Businesses

Call for papers: Strategic Management of E-Banking: Business Strategies and Beyond – Alternative Channels and New Core Businesses.

A special issue of International Journal of Electronic Banking

The evolution of e-banking in the last decade has been significant. Every bank, in parallel with the traditional business offerings, provides more or less advanced e-banking services to various categories of customers. Nowadays it seems that we have reach a first point of maturity. The initial perception of e-banking as an alternative channel issue seems to be inadequate to summarise the emerging challenges for e-banking.

New strategic considerations for e-banking initiate a dialogue for a new era of services and required infrastructures. All the forecasts concerning e-banking are very optimistic. A very promising future for e-banking sector sets new challenges for the strategic management of e-banking divisions within banking organisations.

This special issue brings together academics, practitioners, researchers, and aims to deliver a reference edition for all those interested in the strategic management of e-banking.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Business strategies for e-banking
  • Strategic management of IT component
  • Human factor of e-banking
  • Strategising social networks in e-banking
  • Strategic clustering
  • Modelling of strategic business processes
  • Information provision gap analysis
  • IT-enabled competitive advantage
  • Competition analysis in e-banking
  • Reflective strategies
  • Understanding e-banking business environment
  • Challenges from globalisation
  • The role of emerging technologies: intelligent agents, recommendation systems, semantic web, web 2.0, collaborative technologies
  • Strategic considerations of security in e-banking
  • Strategic management of competencies
  • Strategic management for technology enhance learning in e-banking
  • Collaborative life
Important Dates

1-2 Page Abstract: 15 May 2007
Submission of Manuscripts: 15 November 2007
Notification to Authors: 15 December 2007
Final Versions Due: 15 March 2008

Special issue: Pollution prevention through simulation and optimisation

International Journal of Environment and Pollution 29(1-3) 2007 is a special issue: Pollution prevention through simulation and optimisation.

Article titles:
* An algebraic targeting approach to resource conservation via material recycle/reuse
* Flare minimisation via dynamic simulation
* Simultaneous treatment of environmental and financial risk in process design
* Optimum waste interception in Liquefied Natural Gas processes
* Multi-objective integrated solvent selection and solvent recycling under uncertainty using a new genetic algorithm
* Application of the water cascade analysis technique for water minimisation in a paper mill plant
* Leasing and extended producer responsibility for personal computer component reuse
* Multiobjective optimisation for environment-related decision making in paper mill processes
* Optimal regulations for sustainable chemical manufacturing
* Modelling and simulation framework for pollution control of chemical processes
* A conceptual decomposition of MINLP models for the design of water-using systems
* Pollution prevention through reactor network synthesis: the IDEAS approach
* Effect of different waste recovery systems on the overall waste generation rates for an Advanced Life Support System
* A mixed-integer non-linear programming model for CO2 emission reduction in the power generation sector
* An integrated approach to the optimisation of water usage and discharge in pulp and paper plants

Special issue: Computer and network security

International Journal of Security and Networks 2(1/2) 2007 is a special issue: Computer and network security, comprising substantially enhanced versions of papers presented at the IEEE GLOBECOM 2005 Computer and Network Security Symposium, St Louis, USA.

Article titles:
* DKMS: distributed hierarchical access control for multimedia networks
* Adaptive trust-based anonymous network
* Securing Wi-Fi networks with position verification: extended version
* On pairwise connectivity of wireless multihop networks
* Hash-AV: fast virus signature scanning by cache-resident filters
* Secure message delivery in publish/subscribe networks using overlay multicast
* Optimal worm-scanning method using vulnerable-host distributions
* Vulnerabilities in distance-indexed IP traceback schemes
* Single packet IP traceback in AS-level partial deployment scenario
* End-to-end pairwise key establishment using node disjoint secure paths in wireless sensor networks
* Design and analysis of a multipacket signature detection system
* Analysis of flow-correlation attacks in anonymity network
* Defence against packet injection in ad hoc networks

15 March 2007

Call for papers: The Role of Information Systems in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs): The Context within Developing Countries and Economies

Call for papers: The Role of Information Systems in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs): The Context within Developing Countries and Economies

A special issue of International Journal of Enterprise Network Management

In modern business environments characterised by ever-increasing competition and globalisation, companies have been exploiting innovative technologies and strategies to achieve sustain competitive advantage. As an effective business philosophy, the information system has gained a significant amount of attention from both the academics and practitioners community in the recent years.

The effects of information systems on globalisation of economic activities have created opportunity as well as threat to the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). While much has been written about the theory and practices of information systems generally, not much has been written about it in relation to SMEs in developing countries. The purpose of this special issue is to provide a forum for discussion of topics relating to information system issues, concerns and challenges faced by SMEs in developing countries.

Topics suitable for this special issue include but are not limited to:
  • Information system-related practices in SMEs
  • Role of the information system in SMEs in e-business
  • Role of top management in adopting information systems in SMEs
  • Information system architecture in SMEs
  • Role of information systems in SMEs networks and clusters
  • Information systems for supply chain management in SMEs
  • Information and communication technology (ICT) in information systems
  • Performance measurement of information systems in SMEs
  • Role of information technology professionals in information systems in SMEs
  • Barriers in snformation systems in SMEs
  • Benefits observed/perceived for information systems in SMEs
  • Strengths and weaknesses of SMEs with respect to information systems
  • Challenges and issues in adoption of information systems in SMEs
  • Threats of information systems in SMEs
  • Role of incubators, science park, associations, institutions and universities in information systems
  • Government policy and information systems
Important Dates

Deadline for submission of manuscripts: 30 June 2007
Notification of peer review to authors: 31 August 2007
Deadline for submitting revised manuscripts: 31 October 2007

Newly announced title: International Journal of Immunological Studies

International Journal of Immunological Studies - to begin publication in 2008 - is a refereed quarterly international journal which publishes a broad range of original experimental and theoretical papers on all aspects of immunology. It welcomes high-quality research papers from scientists in academic and non-academic organisations as well as business and government from any part of the world; it aspires to facilitate the exchange of information and collaboration among scientists and serve as essential reading for all interested. The journal is open to submissions and occasionally it publishes pre-announced special issues on themes in vogue edited by guest editors.

It is the flagship journal of the new Frontiers in Immunology Research Network.

Call for papers: Participation in Democracy for All - the Society of Active Citizens, an E-Democracy Primer

Call for papers: Participation in Democracy for All - the Society of Active Citizens, an E-Democracy Primer

A special issue of International Journal of Electronic Democracy

In modern democracies, the concept of participation is an excellent theme for a debate at the society level for the real meaning of participatory democracy. Various diverse opinions converge to a simple but significant conclusion. Unfortunately, nowadays, democracy needs to refocus on participation mechanisms for all in a variety of contexts and levels and most certainly not only in the “narrow” context of elections.

This special issue brings together open minds, academics, researchers, activists, policy makers, and politicians and aims to deliver a manifesto for the open democracy.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Participatory democracy
  • Participation in policies, programmes and plans
  • Open access to democracy
  • Access to information
  • Public participation
  • Access to justice
  • Access to learning/health/education/work
  • Participation in drafting of laws and regulations
  • Social forums
  • Internet voting
  • Effective participation models
  • Emerging technologies and participation [Web 2.0]
  • Developing new methods of consultation
  • Developing new ways for communities to create a shared future though visioning
  • Creating new democratic spaces in which people can meet, learn about and discuss issues
  • Showing the benefits of participative approaches
  • Anti-apathy approaches
Important Dates

1-2 Page Abstract: 15 May 2007
Submission of Manuscripts: 15 October 2007
Notification to Authors: 15 November 2007
Final Versions Due: 15 February 2008

Call for papers: Free/Libre and Open Source Software as a Foundation for E-Democracy

Call for papers: Free/Libre and Open Source Software as a Foundation for E-Democracy

A special issue of International Journal of Electronic Democracy

Free- and open-source software (FOSS) has received growing attention in recent years from various perspectives. The thriving numbers behind open-source software (OSS) adoption and contribution have captured the attention of various researchers who have been trying to decipher the phenomenon of OSS, its relation to already-conducted research, and its implications for new research opportunities that effect democracy.

The current OSS landscape presents a very interesting picture. Although the idea behind OSS dates back to the 1960s and the Unix era in the 1980s, the official term was only coined in 1998. Since then, the OSS movement has evolved at a very fast pace.

Prime examples of successful OSS projects include operating systems (Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD), Web browsers (Firefox, Konqueror), graphical environments (KDE, Gnome), productivity applications (OpenOffice), programming languages and infrastructure (Apache, MySQL), and development tools (GNU toolchain, Eclipse). These widely-accepted OSS endeavours demonstrate that a wide range of OSS applications are available and present a viable and robust alternative to proprietary software solutions.

A great number of applications of free and open software for democracy are evident. The objective of the special issue is to communicate and disseminate recent research, ideas, sound propositions and success stories that demonstrate the power of open-source software to improve e-democracy. Its purpose is to demonstrate state-of-the art approaches of open-source software systems that have had successful application at the democracy/society level and to show how new, advanced, models and strategies can expand the frontiers in electronic democracy.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Understanding the FOSS community as a democratic foundation
  • Use of FOSS for e-democracy Systems
  • Strategies for the deployment of FOSS tools in government
  • Case studies
  • Open-democracy systems
Important Dates

1-2 Page Abstract: 30 April 2007
Submission of Manuscripts: 15 October 2007
Notification to Authors: 15 November 2007
Final Versions Due: 15 February 2008

Call for papers: Democratic Internet - Foundations, Ideas, Approaches, and New Perspectives

Call for papers: Democratic Internet - Foundations, Ideas, Approaches, and New Perspectives

A special issue of International Journal of Electronic Democracy

These days, a critical shift in the interaction of humanity with the digital world is taking place. The advent of collaborative technologies, Web 2.0, blogs, wikis, folksonomies, social networks and online communities define a global information space where the diffusion of ideas, the development of communities, the promotion of beliefs and political opinions and the interaction of people in context is a new reality.

Within this space, democratic and open internet is not an expression. Humanity must investigate ways through which the diffusion of ideas will be based on rules, openness and synthesis. The main objective of this special issue is to analyse in depth the vision of the democratic internet and to facilitate a debate between academics, politicians, open minds, and society towards sound propositions for the democratic internet.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Foundations of democratic internet
  • Requirements for democratic internet
  • Policies
  • Open forums
  • Approaches to the democratic internet
  • New models of interaction
  • Blogs, wikis, folksonomies, social networks and online communities
  • Marketplace of ideas
  • Access to technology and the digital divide
  • Effects of technology on social interactions, families, communities
  • Social capital
  • Blogs and public conversation
  • Virtual versus real communities
  • Anonymity and freedom of expression
  • Privacy
  • Databases and their effect on an individual's privacy
  • Intellectual property, file sharing, software piracy
  • Effects of globalisation
  • Citizen journalists
  • Cyberactivism
  • NGOs (nonprofits) in today's global information sphere
  • Web 2.0 and Social Web Approaches to Democratic Internet
  • Actions against cyber terrorism
Important Dates

1-2 Page Abstract: 30 April 2007
Submission of manuscripts: 15 October 2007
Notification to authors: 15 November 2007
Final versions due: 10 December 2007

Special Issue: Computational methods and techniques for nanoscale technology computer aided design

International Journal of Computational Science and Engineering 2(3/4) 2006 is a special Issue: Computational methods and techniques for nanoscale technology computer aided design. It includes papers from the International Workshop on Computational Nano-Science and Technology held in conjunction with the 2005 International Conference on Computational Science in Atlanta, USA, on 22–25 May 2005.

Article titles:
* Wigner function approach to nano device simulation
* Quantum corrections: a multilevel solver for the density-gradient equation
* Fast algorithm for bandstructure calculation in silicon nanowires using supercell approach
* Simulation of material and processing effects on photoresist line-edge roughness
* A drain-current model for DG PMOSFETs with fabricated 35 nm device comparison
* Energy-balance modelling of short channel single-GB thin-film transistors
* Optimising an inductor circuit and a two-stage operational transconductance amplifier using evolutionary and classical algorithms
* Semi-deterministic versus genetic algorithms for global optimisation of multichannel optical filters
* Design and simulation of logic gates using single electron transistors at room temperature
* Bandstructure and electronic states in terahertz quantum cascade lasers
* Terahertz harmonic generation in miniband semiconductor superlattices
* Modelling and simulation of electronic relaxation processes in phosphorescent molecules in organic light emitting diodes
* Conjugate-gradient eigenvalue solvers in computing electronic properties of nanostructure architectures
* A meshfree particle method with stress points and its applications at the nanoscale
* A material approach for the computation of electrostatic forces in MEMS structures
* Computational mechanics modelling of nanoparticle-reinforced composite materials across the length scales
* What's so special about nanocrystalline semiconductors?

14 March 2007

Call for papers: National Tourism Organisations and Exploitation of Information Technologies - Tourism Portals in the Web 2.0 and Semantic Web Era

Call for papers: National Tourism Organisations and Exploitation of Information Technologies - Tourism Portals in the Web 2.0 and Semantic Web Era

A special issue of International Journal of Digital Culture and Electronic Tourism

National tourism organisations invest each year billions of dollars for the promotion of national tourism in targeted markets. Within this overall context, one of the most significant aspects of promotional activities relates to the design, implementation and provision of tourism portals.

Nowadays, the evolution of technologies such as tourism portal technologies, push/pull technologies, Web 2.0, semantic web, adaptive and personalised technologies, metadata and content standards, free and open source software, ubiquitous and pervasive technologies, intelligent agents, content/knowledge management systems, emerging technologies and grid technologies, set new challenges for tourism portals and the promotion of content worldwide.

This special issue aims to deliver sound propositions for the exploitation of the emerging technologies in national tourism organisations towards better models of information provision to the beneficiaries of the tourism product.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Tourism portals
  • Push/pull technologies for tourism portals
  • Web 2.0 and tourism portals
  • Semantic web and tourism portals
  • Adaptive and personalised technologies
  • Metadata and content standards
  • Free and open source software
  • Ubiquitous and pervasive technologies
  • Intelligent agents
  • Content/knowledge management systems
  • Emerging technologies
  • Grid technologies
  • Domain applications: tourism portals for national government tourism organisations, hotels, marketplaces, etc
  • Tools/emerging technologies and new generation applications
  • Challenges for the future; specification of government policies for the promotion of tourism portals
  • Roadmaps for the future
  • Collaborative tools for tourism
  • Design variables and conditions for knowledge sharing and creation systems in tourism
  • Blogging for tourism
  • Collaborative filtering of tourism content
  • Analysing social interaction for finding knowledge among web users
  • Semantic desktops
  • Social network analysis to support implicit learning and sharing within tourism environments
  • Analysis of large online tourism communities
  • Folksonomies, tagging and other collaboration-based categorisation systems in tourism portals
  • Wikis, semantic wikis and other collaborative knowledge creation systems
  • Online social networking at all levels of tourism
  • Applications of online semantic networks to tourism
Important Dates

1-2 Page Abstract: 30 April 2007
Submission of Manuscripts: 15 October 2007
Notification to Authors: 15 November 2007
Final Versions Due: 15 December 2007

Call for papers: Digital Culture and Cultural Heritage: Archives, Museums and Art - New Technologies, New Channels, New Culture

Call for papers: Digital Culture and Cultural Heritage: Archives, Museums and Art - New Technologies, New Channels, New Culture

A special issue of International Journal of Digital Culture and Electronic Tourism

In the digital world of the knowledge society, the development of infrastructures for the provision of access to cultural content and the prevention of cultural heritage requires a multifold analysis of social, business, and technological factors. In the context of the knowledge society, the key inquiry is to go beyond the traditional barriers for the open and equal access to cultural content and to integrate cultural content with learning and education.

In a global perspective, the new capacities of emerging technologies, such as pervasive and ubiquitous computing, semantic knowledge portals, broadband and satellite networks, Web 2.0 and semantic web, and open source software, set new challenges, define new horizons for human creativity and connectivity. Our strategic fit is that culture requires an integrated approach emphasising content, context and multiple, dynamic views of interactions.

This special issue focuses on digital culture as a domain where multiple and diverse scientific areas interact, new ideas of human creativity are applied and new services demonstrate the capacities of new technologies to define new digital ways of cultural content provision.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Culture portals
  • Advanced systems for digital culture in museums, archives and art institutions
  • Digitalisation of cultural property
  • Worldwide initiatives for the protection of cultural heritage
  • Linking digital culture and learning
  • Annotation of cultural content
  • Web 2.0 and development of social networks on the top of cultural heritage portals
  • Applications of mobile technologies for digital culture and cultural heritage
  • Ubiquitous and pervasive computing for digital culture and cultural heritage
  • Integration of digital culture and education
  • A diverse and multilingual cultural heritage
  • Changing meanings of culture:
  • Cultural diversity and multilingualism
  • Methodologies and approaches to digitisation
  • Cost and access to digital culture heritage resources
  • Science portals
  • Schools portals
  • Virtual reality and digital culture
  • Emerging forms of digitisation
  • Sustainable cultural heritage
  • Long term planning for protecting digital resources
  • Access to archives in Europe
  • Books and electronic publishing
  • Cultural policy and cultural diversity
  • Culture and neighbourhoods
  • Culture, creativity and the young
  • Case studies: cinema, dance, arts, tales and legends, tourism
  • New information technologies
  • Training of cultural administrators
Important Dates

1-2 Page Abstract: 30 April 2007
Submission of manuscripts: 30 September 2007
Notification to authors: 30 October 2007
Final versions due: 15 December 2007

Call for papers: Digital Libraries: From Alexandria to YouTube and Wikipedia – Embedding Social Dynamics

Call for papers: Digital Libraries: From Alexandria to YouTube and Wikipedia – Embedding Social Dynamics

A special issue of International Journal of Digital Culture and Electronic Tourism

In the context of libraries, various emerging technologies such as Semantic Web and Web 2.0 can be viewed as an extension of existing metadata-intensive approaches to the concept of the “digital library”. Such an extension should be appreciated in two dimensions:
On the one hand, the Semantic Web builds on a common logics-based framework adapted to the Web, which eases technology adoption while preserving a strong commitment to a formal foundation for metadata
At the same time, the sharing of ontologies as public Web resources offers new opportunities for interoperability across institutional repositories (libraries, cultural heritage institutions and the like) and personal or organisational records.

In addition, the representation of information resources can be easily linked to metadata describing personal or group preferences, objectives or links, and even to personal relationships, as described by the Friend-of-a-Friend (FOAF) framework.

These specific characteristics of the Semantic Web and Web 2.0 approach conform to a paradigm for building library systems that go a step beyond the existing technological infrastructure.

Currently in the context of FP7 of European Commission’s ICTs Program, http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ict/, the Challenge 4, of Digital Libraries and Content sets, specific priorities:

"…In today’s society individuals and organisations are confronted with an ever-growing load and diversity of information and content, and with increasing demands for knowledge and skills. Coping with these demands requires progress in three closely related domains.
  • First, content should be made available through digital libraries and its long-term preservation, accessibility and usability must be ensured.
  • Second, we need more effective technologies for intelligent content creation and management, and for supporting the capture of knowledge and its sharing and reuse.
  • Third, individuals and organisations have to find new ways to acquire, contribute and exploit knowledge, and thereby learn. The challenge, therefore, is to harness the synergies made possible by linking content, knowledge and learning; to make content and knowledge abundant, accessible, interactive and usable over time by humans and machines alike.
This should take into account current trends in content production and consumption and particularly the move from few-to-many to many-to- many models. Europe, with its unique cultural heritage and creative potential, is well placed to take advantage of this paradigm shift and to be a key actor in the knowledge economy. The research is expected to firmly establish digital libraries services as a key component of digital content infrastructures, allowing content and knowledge to be produced, stored, managed, personalised, transmitted, preserved and used reliably, efficiently, at low cost and according to widely accepted standards. The support of more personalised and collaborative services, particularly within self-organising communities, will lead to more creative approaches to content and knowledge production. Improvements are also expected in terms of the usability, accessibility, scalability and cost-effectiveness of the resulting methods, technologies and applications with respect to large amounts of data and concurrent users]…"

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Semantic Web approaches to digital libraries
  • Web 2.0 and social web approaches to digital libraries
  • Collaborative/community annotations of content in digital libraries
  • Collaborative filtering
  • Integration of digital libraries with knowledge management and technology enhanced learning systems
  • Ontologies for cataloguing and retrieving digital resources
  • Semantic Web-enabled resource retrieval in electronic libraries
  • Managing catalogues through ontologies
  • Approaches to annotation of resources and its cost
  • Regulatory ontologies: implications for library management
  • Scientific knowledge organisation and ontologies
  • New roles and competencies of librarians in semantic, metadata-intensive institutions
  • Concepts of digital libraries and digital documents
  • System architectures, integration and interoperability
  • Information organisation, search and usage
  • Digital preservation
  • Frameworks, technical architectures and reference models
  • Evaluation of repository models
  • Digital repositories and open access
  • Workflows and dataflows
  • Common and shared repository services
  • Ingest and metadata capture
  • Automated metadata creation
  • Policy and organisational issues
  • Trust, audit and certification, authenticity, validation
  • Rights management
Important Dates

1-2 Page Abstract: 30 March 2007
Submission of manuscripts: 15 June 2007
Notification to authors: 15 July 2007
Final versions due: 25 September 2007

13 March 2007

Call for papers: Cross-cultural leadership

Call for papers: Cross-cultural leadership

A special issue of International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management

As the speed of globalisation increases, as companies become flatter, and as firms engage in temporary organisations like JVs, there is a corresponding increase in the need for cross-cultural leadership. This goal of this publication is to explore cross-cultural leadership in the 21st century.

Is cross-cultural leadership a learned behaviour, and if it is what are its attributes and dimensions? If people are to learn this behaviour, what genetic personal characteristics should they have, if any, and what skills must they learn? In learning cross-cultural leadership skills, what metrics and techniques would be useful in training and preparing leaders to function in this new global market place?

Cross-cultural leaders must be flexible, and must be able to have an impact on followers outside of their own physical workplace, and their own firm. They will need to know how to lead, but they must also understand how to lay down the mantle of leadership and then follow when the situation requires.

Are there a common similar attributes of cross-cultural leadership regardless of culture? How might a Chinese leader view cross-cultural leadership, and would the dimensions be compatible with those of a leader from the UK? Do people raised in multiple cultures have any lessons to teach regarding the skill set required to function effectively in a cross-cultural environment?

These are some of the themes to be explored in this publication. The goal is to seek out theory, practice and research on cross-cultural leadership.

The following is a list of topics that address that are suggested. The list is not intended to be exhaustive, and is not intended to limit the range of exploration. Authors who wish to provide work on other aspects of cross-cultural leadership are encouraged to submit abstracts.
  • Cross-cultural leadership in flat organisations
  • Cross-cultural leadership in temporary organisations such as JVs, consortiums, partnerships, etc.
  • Cross-cultural leadership in domestic multi-cultural firms
  • Cross-cultural leadership in multinational, global and transnational firms.
  • Cross-cultural leadership characteristics and their portability to multiple countries or business models
  • Cross-cultural leadership characteristics for leader-follower-leader business models
  • Cross-cultural leadership intelligence, and metrics
  • Emotional intelligence and cross-cultural leadership
  • Cultural intelligence and cross-cultural leadership
  • Teaching cross-cultural leadership
  • Perceptions of cultural distance and leadership consequences
  • Cross-cultural leadership styles and virtues
  • Selecting collaborators in other cultures
  • Cross-cultural leadership and cultural distances
  • Cross-cultural leadership competence
  • Cross-cultural leadership and personality testing
  • Cross-cultural leadership and conflict management
  • Cross-cultural leadership and communications
  • Cross-cultural leadership, the Asian viewpoint
  • Cross-cultural leadership, the African viewpoint
  • Cross-cultural leadership, the European and Russian viewpoint
  • Cross-cultural leadership, the Middle East viewpoint
  • Cross-cultural leadership, the South American viewpoint
  • Cross-cultural leadership, the Subcontinent and Central Asia viewpoint
Important Date

Submissions must be sent before: 1 August, 2007

Call for papers: Anti-Poverty: Information Technology for Social and Human Networks Against Poverty

Call for papers: Anti-Poverty: Information Technology for Social and Human Networks Against Poverty

A special issue of International Journal of Social and Humanistic Computing

Our civilized world very often seems to close its eyes to real problems. It is not just a question of postponing actions in the future, but also a demonstration of poor reflective mechanisms. On the other hand, a vast humanistic network against poverty, consisting of volunteers, inspired minds and organisations with social responsibility, has an excellent performance. Worldwide action focuses on aspects of poverty, analyses various underlying factors and recommends actions while focusing its full capacities on anti-poverty visions.

This special issue promotes the role of the IT as a key enabler of anti-poverty actions. The following are the four pillars of the editing strategy:
  1. Discussion of the key agenda of poverty in our civilized world
  2. Discussion of the key reflective actions for anti-poverty, including policies, government regulations, community programmes, efficient management of resources, involvement, etc
  3. Discussion of the role of information technology as key enabler of anti-poverty initiatives worldwide.
  4. Sound Propositions for things we must do.
The special issue aims at helping communication and dissemination of the vision of a better world based on education. The issue is intended to initiate a dialogue between the governments and the research community based on a well-defined context. This special issue aims to cover the international perspective, i.e. not only discussions on approaches in advanced economies but also in Africa, and other regions of world where poverty eliminates the access to education and schools.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Education against poverty and programmes of poverty reduction through human development
  • Modern technologies for employment creation and poverty reduction
  • Facilitating access for poor populations to literacy programmes, basic education and vocational training
  • Smart community projects
  • Agro-food production activities and IT
  • Management of resources against poverty
  • International IT-enabled networks of support against poverty
  • Tele-working
  • Focus surveys
  • Human and social networks
  • Prototypes and development of information systems focused on poverty reduction
  • Non-governmental organisations' strategic plans and actions
  • Requirements analysis for information technology infrastructures in rural areas, required for poverty reduction
  • Policies and strategies against poverty through ICTs
  • Interfaces between the information needs of the poor and ICT capabilities
  • ICT infrastructures for the delivery of basic services including education and health for the poor in the networked economy
  • Analysis of social impact of community programmes
  • ICT training for the rural poor - information skills development strategies for poor youth to ensure that tomorrow's poor can compete effectively in an integrated market
  • Women's access to ICT-enabled help, promoting their participation in democracy, governance, and fight against poverty
Important Dates

1-2 Page Abstract: 15 September 2007
Submission of manuscripts: 15 October 2007
Notification to authors: 15 November 2007
Final versions due: 15 February 2008