INFORMATION SYSTEMS & SERVICES
Year:2012 | Volume:1 | Issue:4 (4)|Papers Count:9

Purpose: This research aims to analyze human resources (HR) readiness in e-business based on demographic characteristics (such as gender, field of study, academic degree, background of employment, type of work in library, library type) at Isfahan governmental universities libraries.Methodology: A descriptive–survey method is used and statistical population of this research is composed of HRs (166 persons in number) working in Isfahan governmental universities' libraries in the academic year of 2011. The research tool is a researcher-developed questionnaire.Findings: The findings show that HR readiness is lower than average (mean=2.59). Awareness of e-business, the positive attitude to ICT and e-business, ICT and e-business skills and education of ICT and e-business are less than average. There is a significant difference between the rate of dimensions of HR readiness. Moreover, women are educated more than men. The people whose field of study is Library Science had more positive attitude to the use of ICT and e-business. The people with master degree have more awareness, positive attitude and needed skills than bachelor degree and Diploma. The people working in the public sector have less technical skills and positive attitudes than the people working in managerial and technical departments. There is also a significant difference between awareness and skills based on HRs employment background.Conclusion: HRs of Isfahan governmental universities doesn't have enough readiness to deal with e-business affairs.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine the status of information technology in public libraries located at Markazi Province.Methodology: The approach of the study is analytical survey method. To gather needed data a questionnaire was utilized. In relation to determining the sample size necessary decisions were made. For testing research hypotheses, the Mann–Whitney U test and spearman's correlation coefficient were used.Findings: All of the libraries had computer, printer, modem, speaker, Namay-e software, National Bibliography CD, and access to high speed internet connection. Also, none of them had electronic resources and websites. 48.3% of staff used electronic resources and internet for providing document delivery service. The most important problem hindering the use of information technology was shortage in the number of computers based on staff and users' view.Conclusion: The application of information technology in Markazi Province libraries has been developed. In spite of adequate software-hardware equipments and skillful staff, the number of computers should be increased and more training courses are required.

Purpose: This study seeks to analyze the Iranian librarians' opinion about mobile library services offered by cell phones.Methodology: Internet survey method is used in this research. To collect the required data a researcher-developed questionnaire was utilized. Finally, 288 individuals responded to it.Findings: 100% of respondents permanently used conversation facilities and SMS of cell phones, while 63% and 62% used other potentials of cell phones for listening music and taking photo and video, respectively. 63.5% of respondents agreed to allow mobile phone presence in the library environment and they believed that this is not an annoying action. Among several proposed services, with 98%, awareness via SMS alerts regarding library's new resources was the most favorable service.Conclusion: The implementation of mobile library services can lead to increased users' easiness and access to library services and facilities, and it is expected that the efficiency of library services will be more felt in users' daily life.

Purpose: The purpose of the present research is to analyze the elements and features of Pars Azarakhsh library softwares user interface and to determine of its users' general satisfaction.Methodology: The method used to carry out this applied research is survey. Data collection was done using a questionnaire. The sample size was determined via stratified random sampling. To analyze the collected data descriptive statistics, T-Test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and SPSS software version 16 were applied.Findings: The most satisfying feature of Pars Azarakhsh library software was ‘learning’ and ‘software application’ with average 2.17.Conclusion: Shahid Chamran University students have been moderately satisfied with Pars Azarakhsh library software. So, to improve the efficiency and utility of the software some attempts are necessary.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to determine the level of librarians' participation in decision-making process in public libraries in Yazd Province.Methodology: The research method is descriptive survey. The population includes 132 librarians working in public libraries in Yazd Province. Using simple random sampling, the sample was estimated 99 persons in number. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect data and using Cronbach's alpha the reliability of the questionnaire was estimated 0.93 percent.Findings: The mean of all components (collection development, resource protection and preservation, resource organization, information dissemination, and management) were higher than average level. The findings also showed that there is no significant difference based on demographic factors like gender, position, education, and years of experience, but there is a significant difference based on demographic factor ‘field of study’.Conclusion: The results of this study can help to identify the impact of IT on the level of librarians' participation in decision-making process in public libraries in Yazd Province.

Purpose: This research aimed in articulating critical factors (CF) in the implementation of Electronic Customer Relationship Management (ECRM) in private banking industry.Methodology: This survey was carried out using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) Model. Eight critical factors in successful implementation of ECRM including culture, top managers, staff, technology, system integration, organizational mechanism, customer-friendly attitude, and motivations were investigated which each of them comprised of its own sub-elements.Findings: Results indicate that all of the critical factors are effective in the successful implementation of ECRM.Conclusion: Among the factors, being customer friendly and motivations ranked on top, while organizational culture did not seem a highly valuable priority.

Purpose: In order to enhance information retrieval performance, new approaches have been developed. One of the most crucial approaches is the existing documents term weighting in information databases. The mentioned approach is used for ranking the documents. The purpose of this research was to determine the role of weighting in the improvement of retrieval systems.Methodology: the research method was documentary research (library research).Findings: the complicated weighting methods have better results in information retrieval, compared to the simple method that are based on the presence of the terms in the text. So in term weighting, researchers are seeking methods with higher efficiency that practically improve document retrieval. Conclusion: term weighting improves the performance of information retrieval systems. Though it is not the only way for improving their performance and it is affected by many other factors.

Purpose: The present research aims to investigate librarian's job characteristics based on their demographic analysis in Tehran academic libraries under the authority of Ministry of Health and Medical Education.Methodology: It has been carried out with survey method and two questionnaires (job characteristics and demographic characteristics) were used to collect the data. The research population includes 133 librarians of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, and University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences. Totally, 118 questionnaires were completed and returned.Findings: The findings indicate that job characteristics between librarians are evaluated on average level, and among demographic characteristics, there is only significant correlation between workplace and job identity, and other demographic variables are not significant predictors to librarians' job characteristics.Conclusion: Increased job autonomy between librarians gives them a sense of achievement, boosts their performance and productivity, and motivates them to try more for doing their best job. Also, with appropriate and professional application of librarians in different workplaces, their job identity will increase and their job gets meaningful and with intrinsic motivation they do the activities which gives high meaning to them and their workplace.