Guest
Editors
Kalle Lyytinen, Case Western Reserve University, kalle@cwru.edu
Youngjin Yoo, Case Western Reserve University, yyoo@cwru.edu
Computing is becoming both
pervasive and nomadic. A manager’s or a knowledge worker’s
use of computing and communication services is less limited to solitary
moments at an office desk; it is extending to all aspects of organizational
life. Much of the organizational processes and tasks are mediated
through embedded computing devices that are part of the physical environment
or move around with the workers, physical objects and products. Consequently,
the experience of managing and organizing in the future will involve
multifaceted engagements with an “intelligent” computing
environment through a rich array of access methods including desk-top
devices, mobile communicators, digital assistants, wrist-watches,
play-consoles, clothing, RFIDs and motes, just to name a few. These
engagements amplify digitization of all types of information leading
to new forms of service, organization and strategy based on anytime,
any place computing. These ubiquitous information environments will
make possible new forms of organizing, communicating, working and
living.
The
field of ubiquitous computing is distributed across diverse research
and R&D communities and is critical for the future of several
industries and specialties including strategy and system integration,
telecommunications, software, logistics, construction, retail, and
media. In recent years new research challenges of organizing in and
for ubiquitous information environments have been identified. They
involve:
•
how the bodily and the virtual will mesh in novel and unanticipated
ways in the work and workplace;
• how to design applications that are easy-to-use, efficient,
robust and adaptable over a number of different access technologies
and devices;
• how to design and manage such applications in a globally
distributed environment;
• how varying access technologies and infrastructures can
be integrated and managed from both organizational and technological
points of view and how to design such infrastructures economically;
and
• how to design virtual teams, organizations, business processes
and management structures that can profitably deploy and draw upon
ubiquitous computing.
This
special issue of ISeB will focus on critical items on research agenda
for ubiquitous information environments that deal with challenges
of practically creating ubiquitous information environments and demonstrating
their value so that new forms of organization and distributed work
can emerge. To this end the special issue seeks original manuscripts
dealing with ubiquitous information environments in (but not limited
to) the following topics:
•
managerial and business challenges of creating and maintaining ubiquitous
computing environments;
• empirical studies of the utilization of ubiquitous computing
that have strategic, economic or business value;
• different types of applications and services to provide
seamless and flexible ubiquitous solutions;
• design principles and architectures that are appropriate
for developing and managing ubiquitous solutions; and
• new theories of organizing and coordination based on ubiquitous
environments.
Though
the above list is not intended to be restrictive and researchers are
encouraged to submit original manuscripts for the special issue that
relate to one or more of the above issues. The goal of the special
issues is to increase our understanding of ubiquitous computing business
impact and design principles given the recent technological developments
as well as the emergence of the first truly large scale applications.
We seek to publish manuscripts with a relatively quick turn around
as one of the first special issues on the design and management aspects
of ubiquitous computing. We invite papers, which conform to any type
of disciplinary approach, methodological approach or research methodology.
The main criteria for acceptance are novelty, theoretical content
and the rigor of the research methodology followed.
Submitted
papers will receive an initial screening form the Guest Editors before
they are entered into the review process. Important screening criteria
include fit with the theme of the special issue, significance of the
research and likelihood of moving forward acceptance in two rounds
of review. Papers that do not pass the initial screening will not
be considered further for special issue. Authors are expected to adhere
to the schedule of submission and revision. Unless special circumstances
arise accepted paper will appear on a single issue of the ISeB.
Manuscripts
must be electronically submitted to guest editors of the special issue
no later than January 31, 2004. Prospective authors are suggested
to contact guest editors concerning the appropriateness of their submission
for the special issue. Papers should not exceed 8000 words and should
be double spaced. Write authors’ affiliation and address on
a separate cover page (or file if you send pdf). Acceptable formats
are Ms-Word and pdf.
Important
Dates:
Deadline
for submissions: January 31, 2004
Notification of acceptance: March 31, 2004
Final Manuscripts Due: June 30, 2004
Publication of the Special Issue: October / November 2004
Editorial
board for special Issue
Mark
Ackerman, University of Michigan John Henderson, Boston University
Mike Shaw, University of Illinois John Krogstie, SINTEF, Norway
Anatol Gershman, Accenture Ora Lassila, Nokia Research
Guruduth Banavar, IBM Asim Smailagic, Carnegie-Mellon U.
C. Lee Giles, Penn State University Upkar Varshney, Georgia State
U.
Sandeep Purao, Penn State University Matt Germonprez, Case Western
Reserve U.
Submissions are to be sent to misq-stds@umich.edu.
