Information intermediation is the foundation stone of some of the most successful Internet companies, and is perhaps second only to the Internet Infrastructure companies. On the heels of information integration and interoperability, this book on information brokering discusses the next step in information interoperability and integration. The emerging Internet economy based on burgeoning B2B and B2C trading will soon demand semantics-based information intermediation for its feasibility and success. B2B ventures are involved in the rationalization' of new vertical markets and construction of domain specific product catalogs. This book provides approaches for re-use of existing vocabularies and domain ontologies as a basis for this rationalization and provides a framework based on inter-ontology interoperation. Infrastructural trade-offs that identify optimizations in performance and scalability of web sites will soon give way to information based trade-offs as alternate rationalization schemes come into play and the necessity of interoperating across these schemes is realized. Information Brokering Across Heterogeneous Digital Data's intended readers are researchers, software architects and CTOs, advanced product developers dealing with information intermediation issues in the context of e-commerce (B2B and B2C), information technology professionals in various vertical markets (e.g., geo-spatial information, medicine, auto), and all librarians interested in information brokering.

Much has been said about the proliferation of eGovernance projects in developing countries and their impact on local communities. In this book, Shirin Madon draws on 18 years of research in India in which time many changes have occurred in terms of development ideology and in governance reform for achieving development goals.

The ultimate guide to how to redesign and rethink - reframe - your projects, initiatives and even your very business model, Cyber Commerce Reframing (CCR) shows you how to turn your company around in the Cyber Economy towards maximum use of information technology by additionally saving investments already made. In his vivid and hands-on book, the author provides you the insights of what went wrong with web-based business by examining failed companies all over the world. CCR constitutes an alternative to business process reengineering and optimization, which were partly not as successful as during the 80s and 90s in delivering expected results as they precondition too much additional investments, neglect organizations' uniqueness and often miss the starting point. Having designed, planned, supported and implemented CCR solutions at various companies of different size, the description of the work with corporate clients facilitates the task of incorporating CCR's novel ideas in your company.

Information Systems: The e-Business Challenge Indisputable, e-Business is shaping the future inspiring a growing range of innovative business models. To bring it to the point: the Internet has redefined the way electronic business is performed. In an electronic supported business all relationships are transformed -may it be a seller-to buyer relationship or a an agency-to-citizen relationship. So for instance in commerce new business models incorporate various activities: promoting and communicating company and product information to a global user base; accepting orders and payments for goods and services; providing ongoing customer support; getting feedback and spurring collaboration for a new product development. There are several ways of further differentiating e-Business such as sketching some diversions on various levels: e-Commerce, e-Government; B2C, B2B, B2G, G2C; Customer Relationship Management, Business Intelligence and so on. Further distinctions may follow divergent criteria such as separating in business stages. Thus particular problem domains emerge. They all state of its own guiding the development of adequate information systems."

This book comes at a time when virtual organizations (VO), are proliferating exponentially due to the twin catalysts of globalization and technological enablement. It provides conceptual frameworks and simple tools for identifying and addressing the complexities of managing geographically dispersed, virtually linked organizations, which may have grown organically or inorganically into a potpourri of multiple cultures, capabilities and practices. These can help to scientifically assess the impact of virtualization, balance the physical with the virtual and manage risks using early indicators. The book provides mechanisms to recognize, localize, measure and address vulnerabilities. Ensuring knowledge transfer effectiveness (KTE) is vital in VOs. A diagnostic tool has been evolved to measure KTE, isolate problems and weak links and plan effective interventions. A set of critical factors to increase the probability of success of globalization strategies have been identified. This book interleaves theory with practice and provides insights drawn from conversations with business leaders, exploratory surveys, and in-depth research using a large sample. The solid methodological underpinnings serve as a useful template for researchers, while the models can be contextualized to suit any organization. Foreword by Mr. Ajit Balakrishnan, Chairman and CEO, Rediff.com; Chairman, Board of Governors, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta.

Since 1990, direct sales have attracted over two million recruits in Mexico and are characterized by a belief in the power of positive thinking. Through an ethnographic portrait, Cahn demonstrates that the quasi-religious commission of self-empowerment--more than any economic commission--accounts for the explosive growth of commission-based sales in the developing world.

With the modernization of services offered through the internet, many traditional face-to-face services have adopted new e-service phenomena. Especially prevalent among the younger generations, this change in service has promoted many industries to rethink how to best reach their consumers using modern technology. Structural Equation Modeling Approaches to E-Service Adoption is a pivotal reference source that aims to share the latest empirical research findings within technology acceptance, information systems, information technology, human-computer interaction, and management information systems. While highlighting topics such as e-commerce, internet banking, and technology acceptance, this publication explores the understanding of today's e-services in a dynamic and complex environment, as well as the methods within the field of information systems and information technologies. This book is ideally designed for academics, students, managers, and scholars interested in the up-and-coming research surrounding the field of information technology.

USA Today Bestseller In his sixth business book, bestselling author, entrepreneur, and investor Gary Vaynerchuk explores the twelve essential emotional skills that are integral to his life-and business-success and provides today's (and tomorrow's) leaders with critical tools to acquire and develop these traits. For decades, leaders have relied on "hard" skills to make smart decisions, while dismissing the importance of emotional intelligence. Soft skills like self-awareness and curiosity aren't quantifiable; they can't be measured on a spreadsheet and aren't taught in B-schools or emphasized in institutions. We've been taught that emotional intelligence is a "nice to have" in business, not a requirement. But soft skills can actually accelerate business success, Gary Vaynerchuk argues. For analytical minds, it's challenging to understand how to get "better" at being self-aware, curious, or empathetic-or even why it's important to try. In this wise and practical book, Gary explores the 12 human ingredients that have led to his success and happiness and provides exercises to help you develop these traits yourself. He also shares what the "half" is-that emotional ingredient of leadership he's weakest at and makes the most effort to improve. Working through the ideas and exercises in the book, he teaches you how to discover your own "halves" and offers insight on how to strengthen them. Gary's secret to success is using these twelve traits in varying mixtures, depending on the situation. But how do we know when to balance patience with ambition? Humility with conviction? Gary provides real-life examples involving common business scenarios to show you how to use them together for optimum results. This iconoclastic book will help you refine your ingredients and improve your leadership capabilities. When implemented in the proper situation, these ingredients can help leaders land promotions, retain core employees, move faster than competitors, win the loyalty of customers, and build successful organizations that last.

The Internet has revolutionized the way consumers and firms interact in the marketplace, and it has dramatically changed the information enjoyed by market participants at various points in the value chain. This volume on the Internet and e-commerce provides academics and practitioners with useful research on the 'glue' that holds the new economy together. The first six chapters of the text examine four broad issues: the role of the Internet in fostering competition, its impact on price dispersion and on business-to-business transactions, and the importance of reputation and trust in the new economy. The last four chapters examine the impact of the Internet on the organization of firms, the efficiency of auctions in the Internet age, how consumers choose websites and acquire product information, and the growing problem of congestion on the Internet. This volume is part of Emerald's "Advances in Applied Microeconomics" series - an annual research volume that seeks to disseminate frontier research well in advance of journals and other outlets.

This book contains the best papers of the First International Conference on e-Business and Telecommunication Networks held in 2004. The book presents recent research on e-business and telecommunication networks. It includes analyses aspects of global communication information systems and services, and describes security and reliability problems and solutions in information systems and networks.

With the onset of a knowledge economy, modern nations are hard at work using ever more sophisticated information systems to power a "technology revolution" that is transforming our lives. This book is based on the work of the TechCast Project, conducted over the past decade at the George Washington University. Pooling the knowledge of 100 high-tech CEOs, scientists, engineers, academics, consultants, futurists, and other experts from around the world, the resulting book is the best forecast data ever assembled, covering the entire span of scientific and technological innovation.