A-2010-2 Turkka Näppilä, Katja Moilanen and Timo Niemi, RXQL: An SQL-like Query Language
for Selecting, Harmonizing, and Aggregating Data from Heterogeneous XML Data Sources. February 2010.
Abstract.
Until now, the applications that process of both (structured) relational and
(semi-structured) XML data presuppose that two incompatible query
languages--relational (e.g. SQL) and path-oriented (e.g. XQuery)--are
synchronized. In this paper, we introduce an expressive XML query language,
called RXQL, through which XML data can be manipulated relationally. The basis
for the design and implementation of RXQL is the XML relation representation
developed in our previous work. It gives an exact and unambiguous relational
representation for any XML document. The query formulation in RXQL is
declarative and the user avoids the use of XML notation, iterative structures,
and path expressions unlike in typical XML languages. Data grouping and
aggregation assume that the data in autonomous and heterogeneous data sources
are represented in one uniform way, that is, they are harmonized. Due to the
semi-structured nature of XML data, their harmonization is more demanding
compared with the harmonization of structured data. However, RXQL supports the
specification of data harmonization, grouping, and aggregation at a high
abstraction level. We show that the efficient processing and storage facilities
of the existing relational database management systems can be directly utilized
in the various phases of the implementation of RXQL, since the XML relation
representation behind our query language is compatible with the relational
model.
A-2010-3 Taina Kaapu, Reaching the Diversity of Users' Understandings:
A Methodological Renewal. September 2010.
Abstract.
"Youngsters often share their own pictures and information about
themselves in the Internet" or "To support their buying decisions,
Finnish people eagerly use discussion groups and web pages for price
comparisons" are quotations the like of which can again and again be
seen in the media. Often also in the scientific discussions the users
of computers are described through diverse groups. However,
"youngsters" or "Finnish people" as such cannot use computers. The
users of computers are individuals.
The goal of this dissertation is to examine how individual users'
diversity of understandings can be studied in the information systems
science. An interpretative research approach called phenomenography
has been used for collecting and analysing the diversity of users'
interpretations. The users of information technology have been studied
empirically in the context of e-commerce.
The users have varied understandings of information technology.
Thinking of users as a single group may lead to incorrect
interpretations. The user tests and interviews included in this study
show the diversity of individuals' understandings. For example,
privacy in electronic commerce may mean to some users only threats,
even though in general privacy and its protection are seen as
something positive. Another example is that when discussing virtual
prototypes of products the user can concentrate mainly on the
possibilities of the presentation technology. In this situation the
user bypasses the primary product features.
The results of this study show that the research approach employed
here has the advantage of reaching a multilevel understanding of
users' conceptions. By moving from one level to another the researcher
can: 1) report individuals' conceptions, 2) present classifications of
individuals' conceptions, 3) present categorizations using aspects of
conceptions, and 4) create forms of thought. All of these levels can
comprise relevant research results. When the researcher creates forms
of thought the result represents a model of the studied phenomenon in
a multilevel fashion.
Keywords: users, information systems, experiences, views of technology,
understandingtechnology, trust, privacy,virtual product experience, virtual
prototypes of products, electronic commerce, consumers, information systems
science, research methods, interpretativestudies, phenomenography
Ph. D. Dissertation.
A-2010-3 has appeared electronically in
Acta Electronica Universitatis
Tamperensis, vol. 991
A-2010-4 Martti Karjalainen, Large-scale migration to an open source office suite: An innovation
adoption study in Finland. September 2010.
Abstract.
This study investigates the
largest transition in Finland to an open source office suite and to an open
standard for office documents. The IT environment of the open source
OpenOffice.org migration involves more than 10 000 workstations in the Finnish
Ministry of Justice and its administrative sector.
Methodologically, the
research is a longitudinal innovation adoption study covering the 7year time
span from 2003 to 2010. The study applies and tests the organizational
innovation adoption process model originally developed by Everett Rogers. In
addition to the theory-testing approach, the study includes artifact-building
and artifact-evaluation activities of design research. The research view of the
study introduces a participatory researcher's implementation perspective where
the researcher as a staff member of the organization has been in charge of the
adoption of the innovation in the organization.
The findings of the study
provide contributions both to IS research and practice. The events of the study
give reason to suggest that the characteristics of the open source software
with low-cost licenses call for improvements in the organizational innovation
adoption stage model. The findings suggest that the predefined order of stages
in the innovation process and sharp distinctions between stages should not be
expected in organizational innovation adoption. As a new model and method, the
study provides a complementary framework for the instrumentation and
documentation of the open source innovation process in the organizational
context. The study confirms several results from previous research and
practice, especially the importance of top management support, systematic open
source skill building and the presence of innovation champions in the adoption
of open source solutions.
For IS practice, the study
shows that the transition to an open source office suite is feasible in a
large-scale context and that substantial benefits can be achieved as the result
of the transition. For the user organizations of open source software, lower
cost has been the most commonly cited benefit and one of the main reasons for
adopting open source. Other often cited considerations include strategic goals
like the facilitation of more sovereign IT governance and the reduction of
vendor dependence through open source solutions and open standards. The study
addresses several practically important issues involved in the adoption of open
source, e.g., the analysis of software functionality and interoperability, cost
evaluations, installation and configuration issues, local language support issues,
additional tools to support the migration, user training and support, technical
support, and software usage measurements. The evaluation of costs in the study
indicates that the migration to the open source office suite platform will
benefit the target organization of the study with impressive cost savings when
compared to the deployment of a comparative proprietary office suite platform.
The study applies numerous best practice approaches which together with the
rich insight provided by the research should benefit other organizations
considering open source office suite adoptions both from the perspectives of
management and implementation.
Keywords: Innovation adoption, open source migration, office suite, OpenOffice.org, ODF
Ph. D. Dissertation.
A-2010-4 has appeared electronically in
Acta Electronica Universitatis
Tamperensis, vol. 997