IFIP Transactions A: Computer Science and Technology Series

This proceedings volume aims to consolidate current knowledge of research into the many fields of DSS, and to identify key issues which should be incorporated into the future research agenda. The main themes of this volume include: DSS for distributed decision processes, Embedding knowledge in DSS, and DSS and organizational change.

The proliferation of databases within organizations have made it imperative to allow effective sharing of information from these disparate database systems. In addition, it is desirable that the individual systems must maintain a certain degree of autonomy over their data in order to continue to provide for their existing applications and to support controlled access to their information. Thus it becomes necessary to develop new techniques and build new functionality to interoperate these autonomous database systems and to integrate them into an overall information system. Research into interoperable database systems has advanced substantially over recent years in response to this need. The papers presented in this volume cover a wide spectrum of both theoretical and pragmatic issues related to the semantics of interoperable database systems. Topics covered include techniques to support the translation between database schema and between database languages; object oriented frameworks for supporting interoperability of heterogeneous databases, knowledge base integration and techniques for overcoming schematic discrepancies in interoperable databases. In addition, there are papers addressing issues of security transaction processing, data modelling and object identification in interoperable database systems. It is hoped the publication will represent a valuable collective contribution to research and development in the field for database researchers, implementors, designers, application builders and users alike.

The vast flow of information to be considered by policy and decision makers in national and local governments is continuing to expand during the 1990s, whilst budgets for staff to process the information are being tightened. This publication provides a forum for the examination of the problem. It aims to focus the efforts of researchers and practitioners more effectively in applying information technology to increase the performance of decision makers in public administration despite the limited resources. Topics explored include the following: design considerations and approaches for, and practical experiences with, communication and information processing infrastructure and applications at the workplace level; the design and implementation of support systems for individual or group decision making in governmental and municipal settings; modelling and model management techniques, based on case reports of successful and unsuccessful modelling efforts; concepts, approaches and models for re-designing tasks and processes in public administration; issues and challenges in integrating the information systems of several governmental bodies. The book is divided into two parts for the discussion of these themes - the first section deals primarily with theoretical and conceptual issues; the second part contains papers with a stronger emphasis on systems, their functionality and experiences in their development and application. The authors' affiliations (17 organizations from 8 different countries) indicates the international nature of the contributions. The ideas put forward in their papers show that research into supporting decision making in public administration is well on its way but that the research area is vast, with yet many hills to scale.

This volume aims to pave the way to a greater understanding of the information system development process. Traditionally, information systems have been perceived as a slice of real world history. This has led to a strong emphasis on the development of conceptual models, the requirements specifications of which can readily be expressed. However, the route to such an expression, or the process of development, has not received any substantial attention. It is now agreed that a study of the development process affords notable benefits. Firstly, it helps to create an understanding of what a realistic development process is and how it proceeds from an initial specification to its acceptable representation. Secondly, the nature of guidance that can be provided by the next generation of CASE tools can be substantially improved. It can be expected that these tools will cease to be mere drafting aids and consistency checking programs. Instead it is likely that they will provide a procreative environment in which the development engineer will play an important role. This tool/user symbiosis should have a beneficial impact on both the productivity of the developer and on the quality of the product. In bringing together researchers and practitioners from such diverse areas as AI, Software Engineering, Decision Support and Information Systems, it is hoped this publication will take the quest to comprehend information system development processes a significant step forwards.

The complexity of large systems in public administration progresses in terms of both quality and quantity year after year. Mastering complex systems is therefore assuming an increasing dominance in this area. Learning to master evolving systems needs at least a foundation in science and engineering know-how. The relationship between the professionals, such as system engineers viewing from the outside and the beneficiaries, such as public administration officials using the computer systems on the inside is therefore of prime importance if the many problems are to be solved. This book does not attempt to provide definitive answers but rather aims to give shape to our visions and ideas and to stimulate further discussion and research.

Software engineering education is an important, often controversial, issue in the education of Information Technology professionals. It is of concern at all levels of education, whether undergraduate, post-graduate or during the working life of professionals in the field. This publication gives perspectives from academic institutions, industry and education bodies from many different countries. Several papers provide actual curricula based on innovative ideas and modern programming paradigms. Various aspects of project work, as an important component of the educational process, are also covered and the uses of software tools in the software industry and education are discussed. The book provides a valuable source of information for all those interested and involved in software engineering education.