International Journal of Intercultural Information Management http://www.inderscience.com/browse/index.php?journalID=197&year=2012&vol=3&issue=1 Inderscience Publishers Ltd en-uk International Journal of Intercultural Information Management 1750-0028 1750-0036 © 2012 Inderscience Publishers Ltd editor@inderscience.com https://www.inderscience.com/images/files/coverImgs/ijiim_scoverijiim.jpg http://www.inderscience.com/browse/index.php?journalID=197&year=2012&vol=3&issue=1 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44458 Managing organisation is a challenge, especially when handling critical information for the normal functioning of systems; modern organisations demand progressive management since they are no longer like the one in the Industrial Era. People, processes and information must be handled with care, according to recommended procedures. Poor managed systems reinforce exposure to many risks that can be both natural and manmade. Hence, human behaviour influence the organisational cultures in order to make them viable so that one can prevent failures, and ensure that if risks cannot be avoided at least can be handled and preventive measure for mitigation and coping are in place. So, if viability and good management is one side of the coin, vulnerability to risk is the other. In this paper, we apply Stafford Beer's viable system model (VSM) as a management tool to evaluate the dynamic and interaction of an existing organisation with its surrounding environment. Behaviour conceptual modelling for vulnerability and risk management using viable system model framework
Avelino Isaias Mondlane
International Journal of Intercultural Information Management, Vol. 3, No. 1 (2012) pp. 1 - 14
Managing organisation is a challenge, especially when handling critical information for the normal functioning of systems; modern organisations demand progressive management since they are no longer like the one in the Industrial Era. People, processes and information must be handled with care, according to recommended procedures. Poor managed systems reinforce exposure to many risks that can be both natural and manmade. Hence, human behaviour influence the organisational cultures in order to make them viable so that one can prevent failures, and ensure that if risks cannot be avoided at least can be handled and preventive measure for mitigation and coping are in place. So, if viability and good management is one side of the coin, vulnerability to risk is the other. In this paper, we apply Stafford Beer's viable system model (VSM) as a management tool to evaluate the dynamic and interaction of an existing organisation with its surrounding environment.

]]> 10.1504/IJIIM.2012.044458 International Journal of Intercultural Information Management, Vol. 3, No. 1 (2012) pp. 1 - 14 Avelino Isaias Mondlane Stockholm University, Department of Computer and Systems Science, Forum 100, SE 164 40 Kista, Sweden viable system models VSM vulnerability Millennium Village expected utility risk management human behaviour organisational culture Stafford Beer behavioural modelling conceptual modelling. 2011-12-25T23:20:50-05:00 3 1 1 14 2011-12-25T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44459 Digital divide refers to 'inequalities' in access and use of information-communication technologies (ICT). This research classifies internet and cellular divides globally. Cluster analysis and a two-step classification process in organising data from 155 countries are used. Countries are classified by level of digital access then by digital access. This research shows that the importance of digital access is less pronounced for the internet than cellular use. Countries with lower access appear more homogeneous than those with a higher level. Finally, we show that the digital divide is relative to both the country and the type of technology studied. A myriad of digital divides: a global comparison of internet and cellular divides
Christine Bernadas; Jacques Verville; John Burton
International Journal of Intercultural Information Management, Vol. 3, No. 1 (2012) pp. 15 - 44
Digital divide refers to 'inequalities' in access and use of information-communication technologies (ICT). This research classifies internet and cellular divides globally. Cluster analysis and a two-step classification process in organising data from 155 countries are used. Countries are classified by level of digital access then by digital access. This research shows that the importance of digital access is less pronounced for the internet than cellular use. Countries with lower access appear more homogeneous than those with a higher level. Finally, we show that the digital divide is relative to both the country and the type of technology studied.

]]> 10.1504/IJIIM.2012.044459 International Journal of Intercultural Information Management, Vol. 3, No. 1 (2012) pp. 15 - 44 Christine Bernadas; Jacques Verville; John Burton EM Normandie, 25 Boulevard de la République, 14800 Deauville, France. ' School of Business, Auburn University Montgomery, Montgomery, AL 36117, USA. ' Faculty of Management, University of British Columbia Okanagan, 3333 University Drive, Kelowna, BC, V1V 1V7, Canada digital divide intercultural information management cluster analysis classification internet cell phones mobile phones cross-country comparison ICT. 2011-12-25T23:20:50-05:00 3 1 15 44 2011-12-25T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44460 This study examines the effect of the type of comment contributed using a group support system on automatic language translation. Three groups entered ideas in nine languages about the solution of the parking problem on campus while the electronic meeting system translated the text to English. The most important, relevant comments were translated more accurately (89.2% of the text was understood), but other comments in the discussion did not appear to help with this understanding. This research contributes to the literature of group support systems by demonstrating how multilingual meetings can now be supported effectively. Translation of relevant and irrelevant multilingual group support system comments
Milam Aiken; Mina Park; Bart Garner
International Journal of Intercultural Information Management, Vol. 3, No. 1 (2012) pp. 45 - 58
This study examines the effect of the type of comment contributed using a group support system on automatic language translation. Three groups entered ideas in nine languages about the solution of the parking problem on campus while the electronic meeting system translated the text to English. The most important, relevant comments were translated more accurately (89.2% of the text was understood), but other comments in the discussion did not appear to help with this understanding. This research contributes to the literature of group support systems by demonstrating how multilingual meetings can now be supported effectively.

]]> 10.1504/IJIIM.2012.044460 International Journal of Intercultural Information Management, Vol. 3, No. 1 (2012) pp. 45 - 58 Milam Aiken; Mina Park; Bart Garner School of Business Administration, University of Mississippi, P.O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677, USA. ' School of Business, Northern State University, 1200 S. Jay Street, Aberdeen, SD 57401, USA. ' School of Business Administration, University of Mississippi, P.O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677, USA comprehension machine translation electronic meetings group support systems GSS relevant comments irrelevant comments intercultural information management automatic language translation multilingual meetings. 2011-12-25T23:20:50-05:00 3 1 45 58 2011-12-25T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44461 This paper offers theoretical elaboration on, and demonstrates some empirical support for the patterns of knowledge transfer between buyers and suppliers in collaborative product development. The findings present that some knowledge transfer methods are very important in some phases of product development but not in others, and the different transfer methods can be used for different phases of product development. We conclude that knowledge transfer through electronic channels has an obvious influence, however communication like face-to-face is also very important. Of particular interest is the finding that one effective way for an organisation manages to transfer knowledge is to select an appropriate transfer method given a type of knowledge to be transferred in the right place at the right time. Knowledge transfer pattern in collaborative product development
Anyanitha Distanont; Harri Haapasalo; Bordin Rassameethes; Binshan Lin
International Journal of Intercultural Information Management, Vol. 3, No. 1 (2012) pp. 59 - 81
This paper offers theoretical elaboration on, and demonstrates some empirical support for the patterns of knowledge transfer between buyers and suppliers in collaborative product development. The findings present that some knowledge transfer methods are very important in some phases of product development but not in others, and the different transfer methods can be used for different phases of product development. We conclude that knowledge transfer through electronic channels has an obvious influence, however communication like face-to-face is also very important. Of particular interest is the finding that one effective way for an organisation manages to transfer knowledge is to select an appropriate transfer method given a type of knowledge to be transferred in the right place at the right time.

]]> 10.1504/IJIIM.2012.044461 International Journal of Intercultural Information Management, Vol. 3, No. 1 (2012) pp. 59 - 81 Anyanitha Distanont; Harri Haapasalo; Bordin Rassameethes; Binshan Lin Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4610, FI-90014, Finland. ' Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4610, FI-90014, Finland. ' Operations Management Department, Faculty of Business Administration, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand. ' Department of Management and Marketing, Louisiana State University in Shreveport, One University Place, Shreveport, LA 71115, USA knowledge transfer collaborative product development CPD intercultural information management managerial knowledge engineering knowledge. 2011-12-25T23:20:50-05:00 3 1 59 81 2011-12-25T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44462 This article addresses the decision of integration/decentralisation from manufacturers' perspective in competing supply chains under demand uncertainty. Two manufacturers are considered. Each manufacturer produces a substitutable product and sells it through either a decentralised or an integrated retail store, modelled as a price-setting newsvendor. An additive stochastic demand function is employed to characterise demand and its uncertainty. Results indicate that the impact of demand uncertainty on integration/decentralisation is complicated since it may favour either integration or decentralisation, depending on how demand uncertainty is characterised. Another important finding is that increase in horizontal competition does not necessarily hurt manufacturers and/or retailers. Vertical integration in competing supply chains under additive stochastic demand
Chongqi Wu; Hongwei Du; Xinjian Lu
International Journal of Intercultural Information Management, Vol. 3, No. 1 (2012) pp. 82 - 106
This article addresses the decision of integration/decentralisation from manufacturers' perspective in competing supply chains under demand uncertainty. Two manufacturers are considered. Each manufacturer produces a substitutable product and sells it through either a decentralised or an integrated retail store, modelled as a price-setting newsvendor. An additive stochastic demand function is employed to characterise demand and its uncertainty. Results indicate that the impact of demand uncertainty on integration/decentralisation is complicated since it may favour either integration or decentralisation, depending on how demand uncertainty is characterised. Another important finding is that increase in horizontal competition does not necessarily hurt manufacturers and/or retailers.

]]> 10.1504/IJIIM.2012.044462 International Journal of Intercultural Information Management, Vol. 3, No. 1 (2012) pp. 82 - 106 Chongqi Wu; Hongwei Du; Xinjian Lu Department of Management, California State University, East Bay, Hayward, CA 94542, USA. ' Department of Management, California State University, East Bay, Hayward, CA 94542, USA. ' Department of Management, California State University, East Bay, Hayward, CA 94542, USA competitive newsvendors supply channels game theory vertical integration additive stochastic demand supply chain competition demand uncertainty decentralisation. 2011-12-25T23:20:50-05:00 3 1 82 106 2011-12-25T23:20:50-05:00