Journal Articles by Emre Erturk
Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research
Blockchain ledgers and the Cloud are a perfect match. On the one hand, there is an inherent requi... more Blockchain ledgers and the Cloud are a perfect match. On the one hand, there is an inherent requirement for multiple separate authentication nodes to validate every Blockchain transaction with each node requiring substantial encryption calculation capability. On the other hand, massive economies of scale can bring down the cost per transaction, and provide service continuity. Additionally, the Cloud provides a perfect incubator for proof-of-concept projects. This paper considers the future implications of Blockchain, as the concept of disintermediated trustless ledgers stimulates the imagination of computer scientists and innovators. The Cloud’s role in implementing this new paradigm is also highlighted, as a new decentralized P2P-Cloud model. Finally, this paper discusses how Blockchain may be integrated into the university level computer science and information technology curriculum.
Business and Management Research, 2017
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the most common barriers facing the greater adoption ... more The purpose of this paper is to investigate the most common barriers facing the greater adoption of Agile approaches to project management, and ways to overcome these barriers during an Agile transition. First, based on a literature review, this paper describes the Agile approaches and practices in general. The review also covers the previous work around the adoption of Agile, which provides considerable information about the challenges of doing so. This includes some prerequisites, key decisions, transitional frameworks, and recommendations to overcome organisational, cultural, and structural barriers. Next, this paper reports on a recently conducted Agile project management survey. Using this method, this research project gathered information about the important issues that software development companies have to overcome in order to be successful in an Agile transition. The survey was given to Scrum masters, project managers, chief executive officers, and IT professionals, who have participated in companies that have migrated from a traditional methodology to an Agile methodology. Several barriers were highlighted: general organisational resistance to change, lack of user/customer availability, pre-existing rigid framework, not enough personnel with Agile experience, concerns about loss of management control, concerns about lack of upfront planning, insufficient management support, concerns about the ability to scale Agile, need for development team support, and the perceived time and cost to make the transition. Finally, the paper offers concise recommendations to overcome each of the barriers as well as ideas for future research.
Business and Management Research, 2019
Every organisation needs access to fast online data in order to meet increasing customer demands.... more Every organisation needs access to fast online data in order to meet increasing customer demands. The information architecture of a company, how it is designed, and how information is managed are very important. Because the amount of content is growing at a precipitous rate, an online content management system is recommended to manage it with efficacy. How a business content management system is designed and implemented (e.g. with SharePoint, G Suite, or SAP OpenText) determines its adoption and success, especially when using Agile approaches during design and implementation. This conceptual research paper looks into the current context of Enterprise Content Management (ECM) and the desirable qualities of an Agile approach. First, the literature review explores the definitions, elements, benefits, and recent trends around ECM. Then, the paper discusses the major characteristics of Agile project management. Thirdly, the paper describes how an Agile ECM system should be (e.g., takes advantage of the growing Internet, cloud services, and mobile computing). This paper covers possible methodologies which can encourage a flexible development approach to ECM implementation, while promoting end user involvement and their needs. An ECM system should be dynamic enough to meet the demands of future organisational growth and the business environment. It should allow integration with other new software, including internal ones and those in the Cloud. Two methodologies, Scrum and MIKE2.0, are explained. One recommendation is to synthesize these. MIKE2.0 can guide information governance, while Scrum can provide an innovative team-based approach and user empowerment for implementing Content Services rapidly.
Technology, Education, Management, and Informatics, 2017
Many organizations that use cloud computing services intend to increase this commitment. A survey... more Many organizations that use cloud computing services intend to increase this commitment. A survey was distributed to organizations in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand to understand their adoption of cloud solutions, in comparison with global trends and practices. The survey also included questions on the benefits and challenges, and which delivery model(s) they have adopted and are planning to adopt. One aim is to contribute to the cloud computing literature and build on the existing adoption models. This study also highlights additional aspects applicable to various organizations (small, medium, large and regional). Finally, recommendations are provided for related future research projects.
Cloud computing and virtualization are new but indispensable components of computer engineering a... more Cloud computing and virtualization are new but indispensable components of computer engineering and information systems curricula for universities and higher education institutions. Learning about these topics is important for students preparing to work in the IT industry. In many companies, information technology operates under tight financial constraints. Virtualization, (for example storage, desktop, and server virtualization), reduces overall IT costs through the consolidation of systems. It also results in reduced loads and energy savings in terms of the power and cooling infrastructure. Therefore it is important to investigate the practical aspects of this topic both for industry practice and for teaching purposes. This paper demonstrates some activities undertaken recently by students at the Eastern Institute of Technology New Zealand and concludes with general recommendations for IT educators, software developers, and other IT professionals.
The purpose of this conceptual paper is to develop an original framework that summarizes the appl... more The purpose of this conceptual paper is to develop an original framework that summarizes the applicable software model, and guiding approaches and principles for designing a comprehensive information system for a mobile learning institute. Artificial intelligence has played a role in various strands of computer-mediated education, including e-learning learning platforms. In adaptive delivery mode, learning applications simulate the behavior and interaction of human teachers. AI functionality can be incorporated into mobile learning because mobile devices have the processing power and operate in wireless networks. In addition, the individual elements of the framework are illustrated in industry-standard Unified Modeling Language diagrams. A review of educational and artificial intelligence literatures shows how these fields are related and helps identify techniques to develop smart mobile learning applications. An overview of mobile learning application design helps build a theoretical foundation in this area. The individual parts of the proposed framework are: the architectural framework, cognitive framework, project definition framework, application design framework, and organizational framework. The organizational framework lays the conceptual foundation for creating and implementing an information system within a newly established mobile learning institute. This paper fills a gap in the literature as there is currently no comprehensive overview of this topic. Furthermore, there are currently no existing schools, organizations, or individual departments within that focus only on and provide mobile learning. In addition to fostering the development of such a mobile learning institute, the proposed framework is also useful for guiding technical work on content design.
Cloud Computing and Big Data are important and related current trends in the world of information... more Cloud Computing and Big Data are important and related current trends in the world of information technology. They will have significant impact on the curricula of computer engineering and information systems at universities and higher education institutions. Learning about big data is useful for both working database professionals and students, in accordance with the increase in jobs requiring these skills. It is also important to address a broad gamut of database engineering skills, i.e. database design, installation, and operation. Therefore the authors have investigated MongoDB, a popular application, both from the perspective of industry retraining for database specialists and for teaching. This paper demonstrates some practical activities that can be done by students at the Eastern Institute of Technology New Zealand. In addition to testing and preparing new content for future students, this paper contributes to the very recent and emerging academic literature in this area. This paper concludes with general recommendations for IT educators, database engineers, and other IT professionals.
There is a growing relationship between academic libraries and cloud computing. Therefore, unders... more There is a growing relationship between academic libraries and cloud computing. Therefore, understanding the beginnings and the current use of cloud base services in libraries is important. This will help understand the factors that libraries should consider in the future. The purpose of this paper is to better understand the future implementation of the cloud based software in academic settings. Using cloud based, web based, and other remote services may bring both advantages and disadvantages, some of which this paper will bring out. First, a brief literature review of the academic literature, and a review of available general-purpose cloud-based library products are conducted. Next, a real-life scenario for a mid-sized New Zealand institution of higher education is evaluated. This case involves moving from a locally hosted version of EZproxy to a cloud based version with support from the vendor. As this information system decision is an important one, this paper makes a contribution to the available literature and can be informative for librarians. In conclusion, academic libraries will gradually involve more pervasive use of cloud based systems. The examples of important factors to be considered in future decisions include timing and staffing.
The goal of this paper is to analyze the behavior and intent of recent types of privacy-invasive ... more The goal of this paper is to analyze the behavior and intent of recent types of privacy-invasive Android adware. There are two recent trends in this area: more financial (rather than ego) motives, and the development of more dynamic analysis tools. This paper starts with a review of Android mobile operating system security, and also addresses the pros and cons of open source operating system security. Static analysis of malware provides high quality results and leads to a good understanding as shown in this paper. However, as malware grows in number and complexity, there have been recent efforts to automate the detection mechanisms and many of the static tasks. As Android's market share is rapidly growing around the world, Android security will be a crucial area of research for IT security professionals and their academic counterparts. The upside of the current situation is that malware is being quickly exposed, thanks to open-source software development tools. This cooperation is important in curbing the widespread theft of personal information with monetary value.
This paper discusses the general state of information technology in New Zealand society, current ... more This paper discusses the general state of information technology in New Zealand society, current issues, and policies. It is a qualitative study that reviews recent scholarly articles, periodicals, and surveys in order to create an understanding of some of the information technology issues and trends in New Zealand. After reviewing previous research, it assesses the potential existence and nature of a 'digital divide' in New Zealand society whilst also evaluating possible strategic responses to the issue. New Zealand society has rapidly accepted emerging online trends as well as achieving an overall high level of Internet provision nationally. Through government policy and education, this small island nation has remained at the forefront of information technology and can be considered somewhat of an e-democracy. However, despite these positives, there is a risk of low-income communities being left behind as New Zealand society becomes increasingly dependent on IT in the workplace and in governmental administration.
The goal of learning design is to help create educational settings and sessions that are learner ... more The goal of learning design is to help create educational settings and sessions that are learner and activity centred. Authentic learning activities can better engage learners. Role playing is an interesting example of an active learning and teaching strategy. It can incorporate drama, simulations, games, and demonstrations of real life cases related to any topic. This strategy has been applied recently (from 2013 through 2015) at the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) in New Zealand tertiary, in the systems analysis and design course. It has involved students in the computing and information technology bachelor’s degree programme. Learning design plans were prepared with the expectation that role play activities would contribute positively to this course. First, this paper describes how the role play sessions were carried out. Next, the paper discusses the effectiveness of this strategy. This reflection is not only from a pedagogical perspective, but also in terms of its benefits as a useful information technology (IT) analytical practice. Furthermore, the paper presents the findings from this applied and reflective research, along with practical suggestions for teachers interested in practising this approach. An important recommendation is to begin with short role plays and move gradually to longer activities, while giving students advanced notice and time to prepare and become familiar with their roles.
Journal of Knowledge Management
Intellectual property infringement has been a concern for business and academic research. Interne... more Intellectual property infringement has been a concern for business and academic research. Internet piracy is a contemporary problem in the knowledge economy. It is controversial in New Zealand, where the Infringing File Sharing Act has been in effect since September 2011. Proponents expect the changing of attitudes and the decrease of illegal downloading, while opponents are disappointed with the interference in users' freedom to share. Students are an important group, as they possess computer skills and are interested in movies, games, and music. They are also significant, as the regulation impacts schools that provide Internet access to their students. A better understanding of students' perceptions and opinions can help educators better deliver the concepts of intellectual property to students. This study uses a survey to collect data on student norms and attitudes. The subsequent analysis looks at common attitudes shortly after the new law and specific implications relat...
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita is a general economic measurement, and more specific ... more The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita is a general economic measurement, and more specific indicators are often used in conjunction to understand national economic trends. The Global Footprint Network recommends the use of the Ecological Footprint (EF) as a complement to the GDP, and provides data pertaining to each country. The EF measures the human demand for natural resources in a country, the amount of the country's natural resources, and the net surplus or deficit. Therefore the EF is an important indicator of long-term economic sustainability. Countries with a lower income (GDP) per capita tend to have an ecological surplus whereas countries with a higher income per capita tend to have ecological deficits. This may be explained by the fact that economic development and production use up natural resources. However, there are countries such as New Zealand, Finland, and Canada which are exceptions. These countries (each representing a different continent) deserve attention because of both their large ecological surplus and high income per capita. This study aims to augment our theoretical knowledge about the EF and economic sustainability by analyzing the similarities and other trends in these countries. Population density, geographic location, the nature of land and water resources, climate, political and economic relations with the world's large economies, and economic industrialization patterns are briefly discussed as reasons leading up to the ecological surplus. Next, this study analyzes the economic consequences of having an ecological surplus especially in relations with countries with ecological deficits. Factors such as international trade, immigration, tourism, and foreign investment are briefly discussed from the perspective of logical economic implications. Finally, these findings from scholarly literature and recent trends are summarized in order to contribute to a more enhanced understanding of economic sustainability, especially as it pertains to these three countries.
In order to effectively prepare the next generation of IT professionals and systems analysts, it ... more In order to effectively prepare the next generation of IT professionals and systems analysts, it is important to incorporate cloud based online collaboration tools into the coursework for developing the students' cooperative skills as well as for storing and sharing content. For these pedagogical and practical reasons, Google Drive has been used at a medium-sized institution of higher education in New Zealand during the Systems Analysis and Design course. Ongoing and successful use of any learning technology requires gathering meaningful feedback from students, and acting as a mentor during their learning journey. This study has been developed and implemented to help students enjoy the collaborative technology and to help increase their satisfaction and commitment. In order to overcome the obstacles that may prevent students from using Google Drive optimally, an initial survey has been conducted to better understand the influential factors and issues. Furthermore, this study aims at promoting various types of collaboration and sharing: seeing and learning from other students' work, receiving direct suggestions from others, and allowing others to edit documents that belong to them. Following the results of the first quantitative survey, numerous teaching strategies were formulated and implemented. A final qualitative survey was done at the end of the course for students to evaluate their project work. The results of this study also provide original practical and theoretical implications that may be of interest to other researchers, course designers, and teachers.
Conference Papers by Emre Erturk
A systems analysis and design course teaches a methodical approach to solving complex problems. A... more A systems analysis and design course teaches a methodical approach to solving complex problems. A similarly
meticulous and critical approach is necessary for a computing department to analyse and redesign its own systems
analysis and design course. At the same time, pedagogical best practices and developments in e-learning are influencing
learners, teachers, and institutions to take charge of their own resources and systems. The purpose of this paper is to find
and recommend practical ideas to guide the delivery and content of a systems analysis and design course. This includes
looking at the problem from three distinct and essential perspectives: effective student learning, improving the use of
learning technology, and making informed decisions regarding the content of a systems analysis and design course. The
paper concludes with a discussion of the findings, reflections on the course, and recommendations for future research.
The aim of this paper is to get a better understanding of user experience (UX) design, how this i... more The aim of this paper is to get a better understanding of user experience (UX) design, how this is used in the software
industry, and how lucrative a career in UX may be for a new degree graduate. UX and HCD (Human Centred Design)
approaches go beyond traditional interface design and have yet to leave their mark on IT bachelor’s degree curricula.
Furthermore, ‘agile’ development is also popular in the IT industry, and is often used together with UX in prototyping and
product development. Those interested in UX must acknowledge the constant and rapid change in order to remain
competitive and innovative. This research paper relies on interviews with IT professionals, review of current literature, and
reflections from hands on experience. The paper concludes with recommendations for tertiary institutions as well as
interested students. This paper aims to be helpful by providing a better understanding of the profession and the benefits,
risks, and opportunities within this field.
EXTENDED ABSTRACT Due to its popularity and cost-free nature, Google Drive is a natural collabora... more EXTENDED ABSTRACT Due to its popularity and cost-free nature, Google Drive is a natural collaboration tool among students, and a practical repository for systems development and documentation. Meanwhile, effective group work is an essential skill for students for becoming work ready. Information technology (IT) students are often involved in sharing and editing documents together. In the Bachelor of Computing Systems degree at the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) New Zealand, students form small teams, in which they carry out a group project in Systems Analysis and Design (SA&D). On the other hand, the eventual success of these teams is not a foregone conclusion, especially in a challenging project requiring both good social and IT skills. Easy to use and featuring a range of supporting applications, Google Drive has been advocated to facilitate the SA&D process. Furthermore, there have been other institutions that have reported positive experiences with Google Drive (previousl...
Teaching at tertiary institutions implies a responsibility to provide an experience to the studen... more Teaching at tertiary institutions implies a responsibility to provide an experience to the students that resembles and prepares them for the professional world. Agile software and systems development methods are increasingly prevalent in IT and other companies. Furthermore, modern teaching practices involve game like and collaborative activities in the classroom. This is also in line with the agile development philosophy as agile software projects have been early adopters of active learning, communication, and team work. This paper showcases agile practices and activities that were implemented earlier this year in a New Zealand tertiary institution in two distinct IT courses, by two different lecturers. The paper outlines the motivations and innovative ways that agile practices can be implemented within an IT programme.
This presentation is for educators who would like to consider different ways of using their onlin... more This presentation is for educators who would like to consider different ways of using their online courses to build connections among learners, staff, and external stakeholders, in a pragmatic, achievable way. It is important to remember: "He aha te mea nui o te ao. He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata. What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people." An online course is a great way to build connections between staff, students, the community, and industry. First, activity-based learning can involve group reflection and feedback. Similarly, social learning allows for observation and instructor-student interaction, and student-student interaction. Other important connections are between faculty, between campuses, with the wider community, with industry and employers, and within and across diverse cultures. Clear contact information and Moodle appointment schedulers help students connect with their instructor as needed. Forum interactions between students help scaffold assignments, can encourage reticent students to interact, and encourage students to act as critical friends. Study groups can have online collaborative spaces to work together and get to know each other. Programme-wide course sites help build wider connections and communities. These are further enhanced through social media groups on LinkedIn and Facebook which also allow interactions with industry and employers. These and other examples of connection-building approaches by the presenters and other attendees will be shown. However, competing time pressures demand a pragmatic approach to course design. Educators can incorporate these sorts of changes to their online courses in small, achievable, and yet powerful changes using strategies drawn from agile software development methods, including focussing on impactful changes, implementing them incrementally and over several iterations, and responding to online student activity and feedback.
During my role as an ethics committee member, I have come across fewer requests for approval from... more During my role as an ethics committee member, I have come across fewer requests for approval from computing and information technology related research projects and papers, especially in comparison with other schools and faculties. Furthermore, ethics approval requests for IT related research may be relatively simple and free from dispute. However, the reasons for this situation need to be investigated and discussed. First, it is possible that the body of formal or academic research on IT ethics in general is smaller in volume than similar research in business ethics or health science ethics. In addition, significant amount of current publication and discourse on ethical issues in the IT field can be found on informal online forums, commercial computer magazines, or authors' personal web sites or blogs. There are also many IT research endeavors that do not involve human subjects – such as those that are focused on computer hardware and networks. On the other hand, the computing field is not absent from disputes.
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Journal Articles by Emre Erturk
Conference Papers by Emre Erturk
meticulous and critical approach is necessary for a computing department to analyse and redesign its own systems
analysis and design course. At the same time, pedagogical best practices and developments in e-learning are influencing
learners, teachers, and institutions to take charge of their own resources and systems. The purpose of this paper is to find
and recommend practical ideas to guide the delivery and content of a systems analysis and design course. This includes
looking at the problem from three distinct and essential perspectives: effective student learning, improving the use of
learning technology, and making informed decisions regarding the content of a systems analysis and design course. The
paper concludes with a discussion of the findings, reflections on the course, and recommendations for future research.
industry, and how lucrative a career in UX may be for a new degree graduate. UX and HCD (Human Centred Design)
approaches go beyond traditional interface design and have yet to leave their mark on IT bachelor’s degree curricula.
Furthermore, ‘agile’ development is also popular in the IT industry, and is often used together with UX in prototyping and
product development. Those interested in UX must acknowledge the constant and rapid change in order to remain
competitive and innovative. This research paper relies on interviews with IT professionals, review of current literature, and
reflections from hands on experience. The paper concludes with recommendations for tertiary institutions as well as
interested students. This paper aims to be helpful by providing a better understanding of the profession and the benefits,
risks, and opportunities within this field.
meticulous and critical approach is necessary for a computing department to analyse and redesign its own systems
analysis and design course. At the same time, pedagogical best practices and developments in e-learning are influencing
learners, teachers, and institutions to take charge of their own resources and systems. The purpose of this paper is to find
and recommend practical ideas to guide the delivery and content of a systems analysis and design course. This includes
looking at the problem from three distinct and essential perspectives: effective student learning, improving the use of
learning technology, and making informed decisions regarding the content of a systems analysis and design course. The
paper concludes with a discussion of the findings, reflections on the course, and recommendations for future research.
industry, and how lucrative a career in UX may be for a new degree graduate. UX and HCD (Human Centred Design)
approaches go beyond traditional interface design and have yet to leave their mark on IT bachelor’s degree curricula.
Furthermore, ‘agile’ development is also popular in the IT industry, and is often used together with UX in prototyping and
product development. Those interested in UX must acknowledge the constant and rapid change in order to remain
competitive and innovative. This research paper relies on interviews with IT professionals, review of current literature, and
reflections from hands on experience. The paper concludes with recommendations for tertiary institutions as well as
interested students. This paper aims to be helpful by providing a better understanding of the profession and the benefits,
risks, and opportunities within this field.
This study explores the literature for existing methods and learning activities that can make these topics more enjoyable and relevant to students. Then the study (partly drawing from the author’s own personal experience in international economic affairs) suggests three new learning activities, especially those involving computers, mobile devices, and online information resources. The three new activities are described, including the mechanics and the learning objectives behind them. Finally, the study concludes with additional factors that need to be considered and recommendations for future research.