Business firms have been expressing a strong interest in an effective structure of computing resources. In this respect previous studies provide some guidelines about the deployment of hardware, but the question of which information systems (IS) would be run under the dispersed hardware is still unanswered. The main purpose of the study is to analyze the relationship between various IS characteristics and the distribution of IS. The IS characteristics studied in this research include the usage frequency of IS in a dispersed plant, the currency of information required by the headquarter, the data volume processed in the plant, the relatedness of IS with other information systems in the plant. The survey was performed over the domestic, large manufacturing firms. The most noticeable finding is that the more the updated information is required in the headquarter, or the more related IS is to other information systems in the plant, the more IS is distributed.

The topic of microcoputer sofrware ethics in the field of information systems (IS) has gained an increasing amount of attention from IS researchers and practicing managers. This paper compares the attitudes of IS faculty members with those of IS managers toward microcomputer software pirating. This study also examines professional related ethical attitudes in detail.

The purpose of this study is to assess and develop effective MIS planning method by applying the CSF method. With the comparative analysis of the Rockart's basic concept of CSF and the examples of the corporations which employed CSF methodology, a new CSF method more suitable to Korean business environment is proposed and applied to another company for evaluation. The new CSF methodology consists of three steps. The first step is to preexamine the business conditions. The second step contains an Introductory Workshop, interview with the managers, survey questionnaire, Focusing Workshop, and decision of the priorities for system development. The third step is a real development of an information system out of the first and second steps. As a result of this study, it is found that revised CSF method can induce top management to participate more in the activities of information system development and that it can make top management to focus on the critical area. The fulfillment of the information requirement out of the enhanced MIS planning will lead to more successful management activities.

This paper examines the problems of database partitioning and file allocation in a fixed topology distributed computer network. The design objective is to make files as collections of attributes and to allocate these files to network nodes so that a minimum total transmission cost is achieved subject to storage capacity constraints. A mathematical model for solving the problem is formulated and, the resulting optimization problem is shown to fall in a class of NP-complete problems. A new heuristic algorithm is developed which uses the idea of allocating attributes according to the transaction requirements at each computer node and then making files using the allocated attributes. Numerical results indicate that the heuristic algorithm yields practicable low cost solutions in comparison with the existing methods which deal with the file allocation problems and database partitioning problems independently.

In this paper, our concern is the artificial neural network-based patten classification, when can resolve the difficulties in the Autoregressive Moving Average(ARMA) model identification problem To effectively classify a time series into an approriate ARMA model, we adopt the Multi-layered Backpropagation Network (MLBPN) as a pattern classifier, and Extended Sample Autocorrelation Function (ESACF) as a feature extractor. To improve the classification power of MLBPN's we suggest an integrated neural network system which consists of an AR Network and many small-sized MA Networks. The output of AR Network which will gives the MA order. A step-by-step training strategy is also suggested so that the learned MLBPN's can effectively ESACF patterns contaminated by the high level of noises. The experiment with the artificially generated test data and real world data showed the promising results. Our approach, combined with a statistical parameter estimation method, will provide a way to the automation of ARMA modeling.

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate a robust search methodology that could be used in full-text information retrieval systems. A robust search methodology is one that can be easily used by a variety of users (particularly naive users) and it will give them comparable search performance regardless of their different expertise or interests In order to develop a possibly robust search methodology, a fully functional prototype of a fuzzy knowledge based information retrieval system was developed. Also, an experiment that used this prototype information retreival system was designed to investigate the performance of that search methodology over a small exploratory sample of user queries To probe the relatonships between the possibly robust search performance and the query organization using fuzzy inference logic, the search performance of a shallow query structure was analyzes. Consequently the following several noteworthy findings were obtained: 1) the hierachical(tree type) query structure might be a better query organization than the linear type query structure 2) comparing with the complex tree query structure, the simple tree query structure that has at most three levels of query might provide better search performance 3) the fuzzy search methodology that employs a proper levels of cut-off value might provide more efficient search performance than the boolean search methodology. Even though findings could not be statistically verified because the experiments were done using a single replication, it is worth noting however, that the research findings provided valuable information for developing a possibly robust search methodology in full-text information retrieval.

End-User Computing (EUC) is one of the most significant developments in corporate computing in the 1980's. An information center (IC) supports EUC by providing end-users with technical assistance and consulting services. This study investigates the effective management and implementation of an IC in an organization with respect to the three sociotechnical factors : characteristics of end-users, social relationships with the DP/MIS department, and 3) technological infrastructure of EUC. An exploratory framework for managing IC is developed based on extensive literature review and results from interviews with IC directors of 17 large companies in the midwestern region in U.S.A.

IS changeback is regarded as an offective way to control the usage of computers and communication systems which are very much limited resources and whose costs are very high, In this paper, the problem of combining the optimal chargeback system which guarantees the efficiency with the Rawls'(1971) concept of fairness. Primary conclusion of this paper is that if the value function which represents the contributions of IS user to the firm's profit is evidit and there is no uncertainty about this contribution information, optimality can be achived without any loss of fairness using full cost allocation pricing. But if there is no significant differences among contribution of each user and there is no significant differences among users because of the managerial arbitrariness, From this point of view contingent chargeback system with which manager can find the golden middle between optimality and fairness by adjusting the 'efficiency coefficient' according to his/her organizational characterisics and environments is proposed. A heuristic of finding the appropriate efficiency coefficient is also suggested.

The insurance industry is highly competitive since it is difficult to differentiate one company's service from another. This paper examines how Ankuk Fire & Marine Insurance has differentiated its service and improved its competitive edge against others by using electronic data interchange (EDI). In order to improve its service level, Ankuk Fire Insurance has significantly reduced paper work by transmitting information electronically to its customers. This was possible with standardized product codes and databases which were installed both on the Ankuk and customer premises. Ankuk Fire Insurance transmits its customer's insurance information to the customer's database instead of hand-carrying or mailing it. The main benefits of this has been: (1) fewer errors as data does not need to be re-entered, (2) faster customer service with electronic data delivery, and (3) better quality customer service due to highly structured relationships with customers. EDI will soon be available to all insurance companies due to the goverment's aggressive promotion of a KTNet plan. Ankuk Insurance, therefore, needs to adopt the standardized protocol recommended by KTNet and develop new products which will give them a competitive edge and minimize the possibilities of losing their clients to other insurance firms.

This paper presents a developmental approach undertaken by Asiana Airlines to implement computerized reservation system (CRS), Asiana Airlines is a new entrant into the once monopolized airline business in Korea. As a new entrant, it was absolutely necessary to develop CRS fast to begin the business in a relatively short period of time. By taking the risk of choosing Airline Control System which no airlines has yet implemented CRS with, Asiana Airlines was able to shorten development time considerably as well as integrate CRS with internal management information systems. This enhances system flexibility greatly. It is initially viewed that developing CRS is not to get competitive advantage but to overcome competitive disadvantage at Asiana Airlines. The paper also surveys the changing environment of CRS in general and the future implementation plan for ARTIS(Asiana Airline Reservation and Travel Information System) to be more of a competitive weapon in increasingly competitive international air travel market.