Designing and Implementing an Information System for the Dental Office of Branckowitz & Young

This case provides students with the opportunity to create a functional information system (IS) for a service company. The case facilitates a guided hands‐on experience where students learn to analyze a business entity in the context of its environment; recognize what business processes comprise an entity's value chain; and develop, document, and implement a tailor‐made IS to support the entity's operation. In order to keep the amount of development realistic and the system transparent for students, the case focuses on a small service company: a dental office. The case uses a resource—events—agents (REA) analytical framework for modeling and Microsoft Access for IS implementation. The case is structured modularly, enabling instructors to either explain material or demonstrate analysis/development of a segment of an IS in class and then challenge the students to complete the module's development following the instructor's example. Instructors have the flexibility to give students fewer (or additional) directions in developing the information system, depending on the students' backgrounds and abilities. Instructors also have a choice to limit the scope of the development and implementation to any number of four business processes.     

Decision making using time‐dependent knowledge: knowledge augmentation using qualitative reasoning

In this paper we propose a method to enhance the performance of knowledge‐based decision‐support systems, knowledge of which is volatile and incomplete by nature in a dynamically changing situation, by providing meta‐knowledge augmented by the Qualitative Reasoning (QR) approach. The proposed system intends to overcome the potential problem of completeness of the knowledge base. Using the deep meta‐knowledge incorporated into the QR module, along with the knowledge we gain from applying inductive learning, we then identify the ongoing process and amplify the effects of each pending process to the attribute values. In doing so, we apply the QR models to enhance or reveal the patterns which are otherwise less obvious. The enhanced patterns can eventually be used to improve the classification of the data samples. The success factor hinges on the completeness of the QR process knowledge base. With enough processes taking place, the influences of each process will lead prediction in a direction that can reflect more of the current trend. The preliminary results are successful and shed light on the smooth introduction of Qualitative Reasoning to the business domain from the physical laboratory application. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An inductive reasoning approach for building system safety risk models of aviation accidents

An inductive reasoning approach is employed to develop a prototype hybrid decision support tool whose main objective is to build probabilistic causal models representing the safety risk involved in aviation accidents. In this context, 15 aircraft accidents representative of five major accident types are selected to build an initial seed for the case‐base of the prototype tool. Consequently, within each individual accident model, main clusters of causal factors are identified for inclusion in the initial seed, thereby improving, both quantitatively and qualitatively, the case‐base of the prototype tool. A new methodology developed specifically for indexing aviation accidents into databases is used for indexing the initial seed into the case‐base of the tool. The resulting product is a highly customized conversational decision support tool that provides solution possibilities in the form of probabilistic causal models of accident scenarios retrieved and ranked according to their similarity to the current accident that the intended user investigates.     

Collaborative Resource Solutions

Collaborative Resources Solutions (CRS) is based on a real situation outlining the issues related to buying a service organization. This instructional case requires students to provide advice to a client who is considering purchasing a 50 percent ownership of a similar consulting business with the vision of blending the two companies together and increasing the knowledge base of her current company; therefore improving the ability to target more to clients. The case requires the students to evaluate the strategic, valuation, and financial issues in considering the acquisition of the existing business. In order to do so, students are required to analyze the financial information provided, both historical and forecasted, as well as analyzing key internal operations issues that may impact the future success of the business. This case is suitable for use in upper‐level undergraduate business strategy courses and accounting courses, as well as in master‐level accounting courses. Assessment rubrics and teaching notes accompany the case for use by instructors.     

Evaluating business credit risk by means of approach‐integrating decision rules and case‐based learning

This research utilizes a new approach which uses a hybrid learning system that combines two representations of knowledge: the first in a form of decision rules referring to general knowledge, and the other of single cases corresponding to exceptions or untypical situations. The Explore algorithm was chosen as a tool for inducing general rules. It generates all simple and sufficiently strong general rules from a given data set. Examples discovered by these rules are then used to identify exceptions and untypical cases. The paper discusses problems connected with tuning parameters of this approach and introduces a new procedure for this task. This methodology is applied to solve the problem of evaluating the risk of business credit applications in a Polish commercial bank. Using information about business credit applications, as described by 35 economic parameters and using five groups of banking risk, a knowledge base consisting of 70 decision rules and 15 specific cases was induced. Testing this model in the standard ‘leaving‐one‐out’ way we achieved the best classification accuracy of 81%. A comparative study showed that results obtained by other machine‐learning algorithms resulted in significantly worse classification accuracy. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

INCASE: SIMULATING EXPERIENCE TO ACCELERATE EXPERTISE DEVELOPMENT BY KNOWLEDGE WORKERS

INCASE, a web‐based electronic learning (e‐learning) environment, has been built to enable rapid expertise development in novice‐level professional knowledge workers. This paper describes the theoretical underpinnings (constructivist epistemology) behind INCASE and uses a design science methodology to describe its design, construction, instantiation, and validation. The INCASE system addresses a fundamental problem in knowledge worker domains where experience is a necessary component of expertise development and a barrier to the rapid development of domain experts. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Using Goals,Rules and Methods to Support Reasoning in Business Process Reengineering

One step towards a more systematic approach to the design of business processes is to develop models that provide appropriate representations of the knowledge that is needed for understanding and for reasoning about business processes. We present a modelling framework which uses goals, rules and methods to support the systematic analysis and design of business processes. The frame-work consists of two main components—a Strategic Dependency model that describes a process organization in terms of intentional dependencies among actors, and a Strategic Rationale model that supports reasoning during process redesign. Formal representation of these models allows computer-based tools to be developed as extensions to, and eventually integrated with, other tools for supporting information systems development.     

Activity‐Based Costing in a Challenging Business Environment: An Instructional Case

This cross‐disciplinary case study uses the concept of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) in the upstream petroleum industry to demonstrate the application of activity‐based costing in a challenging international business environment. The case is designed and implemented to encourage students to critically address and solve legal, operational, and accounting challenges from a global perspective. This case is intended to be an appropriate hands‐on, experiential tool for undergraduate degree‐level managerial accounting classes. The learning objectives of this case include (i) to develop an understanding of the PSAs and identify their potential related challenges; (ii) to apply activity‐based costing using a multiple‐step approach in a unique, international, realistic, and challenging environment; and (iii) to identify the gaps between the current case activity‐based costing application and IFRS.     

Business process semi-automation based on business model management

It is important to respond to customers' requirements more rapidly than ever before due to the recent trend in e-business and its technologies. In order to achieve an agile response, we have to manage business models, to reflect the changes in the models and to develop or modify IT systems for further chances. This paper proposes a management framework of layered enterprise models. The proposed framework consists of a business model repository and a software repository, and defines three different grain sizes of modeling layers, namely business modeling, business process modeling and business application modeling, in order to support business modeling and application development. This framework helps us to develop business application in incremental deployment of analysis, design, and implementation to execute business processes. We have implemented a prototype environment using Java. Each repository's contents are described using XML so that the repositories are interoperable. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A knowledge‐based framework for incorporating investor's preference into portfolio decision‐making

This paper describes a framework for the integration of a rule‐based system capable of identifying an investor's risk preference into a quantitative portfolio model based on risk and expected return. By inferring rules consisting of an investor's objective and subjective risk preferences, the integrated methodology provides the assets suitable for the preferences. Through investment in the portfolio composed of the assets, the investor is able to obtain the following bene?ts: reduction of costs and time spent to determine target assets, and alleviation of anxiety from ‘out‐of‐favor’ assets. The framework is applied to the development of a knowledge‐based portfolio system for constructing an investor's preference‐oriented portfolio. In the procedure of the system for ?nding an optimal portfolio, the system uses an arti?cial intelligence method of a case‐based reasoning to obtain preference thresholds for an investor when the investor's past investment records are available. Experimental results show that the framework contributes signi?cantly to the construction of a better portfolio from the perspective of an investor's bene?t/cost ratio than that produced by the existing portfolio models. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Strategic IS planning practise in Croatia: Organizational and managerial challenges

In recent years, the role of information technology has grown in importance. Thus, strategic IS planning is evolving into a key part of a company's strategic business plan. This paper presents the results of a survey on the strategic IS planning practices of Croatian companies. The results of the survey are compared with similar surveys in Slovenia and Singapore. In Croatia, companies' IT is still considered just a tool for automation of present business processes, completely neglecting the challenging role of IT as a competitive resource in the market place. The research findings indicate that the source of this problem comes from lack of knowledge and interest in IT from top management structures of Croatian corporations. Thus, significant efforts must be taken by management to develop a new hybrid manager profile. Certainly, this type of manager must get additional knowledge in strategic business planning and IT management.     

Morgan Systems,Inc.: Application of Six Sigma to the finance function

This teaching case is based on a Six Sigma project undertaken by a subsidiary of a Fortune 100 company to improve its quarterly financial-reporting process. It is presented as a six-phase Problem-Based Learning (PBL) unfolding problem. The first five phases correspond to the stages of the Define–Measure–Analyze–Improve–Control (DMAIC) model, a process-improvement methodology used extensively in Six Sigma. The sixth phase focuses on Six Sigma as a way of doing business.     

Great Galway Goslings: Organizational Context of Managerial Accounting*

This case seeks to enhance student understanding of the relationship between accounting information and the order fulfllment and production activities of a manufacturing frm, Great Galway Goslings. Great Galway Goslings manufactures goose sculptures and has been suffering losses in recent years. Students draw on the skills they learned in financial accounting to analyze the company's order fulfllment activities, identify economic transactions, and prepare journal entries. The case provides a link to managerial accounting topics as students use segment financial statements to create contribution margin income statements, perform break‐even analyses, and recommend whether Great Galway Goslings should keep its retail business segment. Students will become familiar with the key features of business process management (BPM) and the extensive, real‐world activities that a manufacturing entity engages in to fll an order. Students will analyze the company's existing order fulfllment process and apply their knowledge of BPM to recommend process improvements for Great Galway. This case contributes to the accounting case literature by serving as a bridge from financial accounting to managerial accounting, intertwining many topics from managerial accounting into one cohesive case, and providing real‐world business process knowledge. Student feedback indicates that, overall, the case met its stated learning objectives. Great Galway Goslings is appropriate for an undergraduate introductory managerial accounting course but can be adapted to the equivalent graduate‐level course or an accounting information systems course.     

A methodology for modeling influence diagrams: a case-based reasoning approach

In this paper, a case-based reasoning approach to build an influence diagram is described. Building an influence diagram in decision analysis is known to be a most complicated and burdensome process. To overcome such a difficulty, decision class analysis is suggested, which treats a set of decisions having some degree of similarity as a single unit. This research suggests a case-based reasoning approach as a methodology to analyze a class of decisions. The candidate influence diagrams are retrieved from a set of similar influence diagrams, a case base. They are combined and modified by the node classification tree and DM’s preference for the given decision problem. For such a purpose, the case representation and retrieval process is explained with the adaptation process. We suggest using two measure, the fitness and garbage ratio for the case retrieval process. The basic concept of decision class analysis and case-based reasoning is very similar so the case-based reasoning approach is believed to be a better methodology to implement a decision class analysis. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Business risk perspectives on information systems outsourcing

Information systems (IS) outsourcing research has continued to evolve over the past decade to reflect changes in its practice and a deeper understanding of its business impact. Typically, the drivers of outsourcing decisions are both internal and external to the outsourcing organization and have been the basis for such studies. Since IS essentially represents an organization's implementation of its business processes, this paper approaches IS outsourcing by explicitly integrating issues related to business process outsourcing. The resulting business risk management framework provides a basis for effective IS outsourcing. The framework is further discussed within the context of outsourcing in e-business. By adopting a risk management perspective, this paper provides a strategic direction to further the field of IS outsourcing research.     

Building An Intelligent Business Process Reengineering System: A Case-Based Approach

The Intelligent Business Process Reengineering System (IBPRS) is an interactive expert system. This paper presents a framework for IBPRS which utilizes case-based planning and problem-solving techniques in identifying requirements and problems and in searching for alternative opportunities from previous experiences (cases). IBPRS comprises two major components: Planner and Constructor. The IBPRS Planner's problem solving consists of four stages: problem formulation, case retrieval, case refinement, and evaluation. In generating business process reengineering (BPR) alternatives, IBPRS identifies appropriate case(s) among previous BPR cases that are represented in the form of process model(s) using search algorithms and other rules stored in the Planner's knowledge base. In evaluating the generated BPR alternatives, various simulation models and economic analyses are used. The best BPR alternative is then selected through a multi-attribute criteria decision analysis. In the refinement stage, IBPRS employs case-based substitution method for case adaptation and refinement. The Planner Knowledge Base and the Case Repository are updated as new knowledge develops and new cases are built and entered into the system. The main benefits of IBPRS is to facilitate BPR efforts by identifying problems, evaluating alternatives, and choosing the most appropriate BPR alternative.     

The impact of unstructured case studies on surface learners: a study of second-year accounting students

The empirical study described here uses the R-SPQ-2F questionnaire [Biggs, J., Kember, D., & Leung, D. Y. (2001). The revised two-factor study process questionnaire: R-SPQ-2F. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 71(1), 133–149] to test deep and surface approaches to learning in a university intermediate-level accounting class that uses business cases in group presentations. Statistical testing of results for learning style before and after group presentations indicates an increase in surface learning over time, with no detectable change in deep learning style. The type of business case used has no effect, in this setting. Course grades, however, are significantly less for students who did not participate in the group presentation activity at all. The results support the claim that students focus on what is required; they may adopt a strategic approach to learning. In a similar way, accounting academics and workload models may be reacting to incentives that discourage reflective and formative feedback. If deeper approaches to learning are desirable, assessments need to reward this behaviour.     

LEGAL KNOWLEDGE AND AGILITY IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

To address agility in public administration, we have developed a knowledge acquisition infrastructure for legal knowledge, based on an implementation‐oriented conceptualization of the legal system. Our objective is to reframe legal knowledge as a knowledge source in a design‐oriented task ontology, building on insights from the CommonKADS methodology for intelligent system design. The main result is to make case law and legal expert knowledge of critical incidents in organizations, two diagnostic knowledge sources underutilized in modern management and engineering, more accessible as a resource for design of agile organizational structures and intelligent systems. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Enterprise Risk Management Through Strategic Allocation of Capital

This article presents a conceptual framework for operationalizing strategic enterprise risk management (ERM) in a general firm. We employ a risk‐constrained optimization approach to study the capital allocation decisions under ERM. Given the decision maker's risk appetite, the problem of holistically managing enterprise‐wide hazard, financial, operational, and real project risks is treated by maximizing the expected total return on capital, while trading off risks simultaneously in Value‐at‐Risk type of constraints. This approach explicitly quantifies the concepts of risk appetite and risk prioritization in light of the firm's default and financial distress avoidance reflected in its target credit rating. Our framework also allows the firm to consider a multiperiod planning horizon so that changing business environments can be accounted for. We illustrate the implementation of the framework through a numerical example. As an initial conceptual advancement, our formulation is capable of facilitating more general ERM modeling within a consistent strategic framework, where idiosyncratic variations of firms and different modeling assumptions can be accommodated. Managerial implications are also discussed.