Aurona Gerber

2011

Leenen L, Alberts R, Britz K, Gerber A, Meyer T. Developing a Knowledge System for Information Operations. In: 6th International Conference on Information Warfare and Security. Washington D.C., United States of America; 2011. doi:10204/4951.

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Leenen1_2011.pdf

In this paper we describe a research project to develop an optimal information retrieval system in an Information Operations domain. Information Operations is the application and management of information to gain an advantage over an opponent and to defend one’s own interests. Corporations, governments, and military forces are facing increasing exposure to strategic information-based actions. Most national defence and security organisations regard Information Operations as both a defensive and offensive tool, and some commercial institutions are also starting to recognise the value of Information Operations. An optimal information retrieval system should have the capability to extract relevant and reasonably complete information from different electronic data sources which should decrease information overload. Information should be classified in a way such that it can be searched and extracted effectively. The authors of this paper have completed an initial phase in the investigation and design of a knowledge system that can be used to extract relevant and complete knowledge for the planning and execution of Information Operations. During this initial phase of the project, we performed a needs analysis and problem analysis and our main finding is the recommendation of the use of logic-based ontologies: it has the advantage of an unambiguous semantics, facilitates intelligent search, provides an optimal trade-off between expressivity and complexity, and yields optimal recall of information. The risk of adopting this technology is its status as an emerging technology and therefore we include recommendations for the development of a prototype system.

@{465,
  author = {Louise Leenen and Ronell Alberts and Katarina Britz and Aurona Gerber and Tommie Meyer},
  title = {Developing a Knowledge System for Information Operations},
  abstract = {In this paper we describe a research project to develop an optimal information retrieval system in an Information Operations domain. Information Operations is the application and management of information to gain an advantage over an opponent and to defend one’s own interests. Corporations, governments, and military forces are facing increasing exposure to strategic information-based actions. Most national defence and security organisations regard Information Operations as both a defensive and offensive tool, and some commercial institutions are also starting to recognise the value of Information Operations. An optimal information retrieval system should have the capability to extract relevant and reasonably complete information from different electronic data sources which should decrease information overload. Information should be classified in a way such that it can be searched and extracted effectively. The authors of this paper have completed an initial phase in the investigation and design of a knowledge system that can be used to extract relevant and complete knowledge for the planning and execution of Information Operations. During this initial phase of the project, we performed a needs analysis and problem analysis and our main finding is the recommendation of the use of logic-based ontologies: it has the advantage of an unambiguous semantics, facilitates intelligent search, provides an optimal trade-off between expressivity and complexity, and yields optimal recall of information. The risk of adopting this technology is its status as an emerging technology and therefore we include recommendations for the development of a prototype system.},
  year = {2011},
  journal = {6th International Conference on Information Warfare and Security},
  month = {17/03-18/03},
  address = {Washington D.C., United States of America},
  isbn = {978-1-906638-93-1},
  doi = {10204/4951},
}

Gerber MC, Gerber A, van der Merwe A. Using Formal Ontologies for the Development of Consistent and Unambiguous Financial Accounting Standards. In: 3rd International Joint Conference on Knowledge Discovery, Knowledge Engineering and Knowledge Management. Paris, France; 2011.

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Gerber1_2011.pdf

The purpose of accounting is to gather financial data of a business or entity,to interpret this data and to report the results in financial statements to the different users thereof. The interpretation off financial data is regulated by financial accounting standards including a conceptual framework that we redeveloped to facilitate the reporting of financial information of entities. Due to the history of standards development as well as the mechanisms used, inconsistencies in the standards, framework and interpretations are part of the common legacy accountants are confronted with everyday. The development of unambiguous and principle based financial accounting standards is therefore a key initiative at present of international accounting standards bodies such as the FASB and the IASB. This paper is concerned with the question of how recently developed computer science technologies could assist in dealing with and eliminating inconsistencies and ambiguities within and between different financial accounting standards. In our research we developed a formal ontology for some of the basic elements, and in this paper we report on our findings as well as make some suggestions for a formal approach to the conceptual framework and financial accounting standards development.

@{464,
  author = {Marthinus Gerber and Aurona Gerber and Alta van der Merwe},
  title = {Using Formal Ontologies for the Development of Consistent and Unambiguous Financial Accounting Standards},
  abstract = {The purpose of accounting is to gather financial data of a business or entity,to interpret this data and to report the results in financial statements to the different users thereof. The interpretation off financial data is regulated by financial accounting standards including a conceptual framework that we redeveloped to facilitate the reporting of financial information of entities. Due to the history of standards development as well as the mechanisms used, inconsistencies in the standards, framework and interpretations are part of the common legacy accountants are confronted with everyday. The development of unambiguous and principle based financial accounting standards is therefore a key initiative at present of international accounting standards bodies such as the FASB and the IASB. This paper is concerned with the question of how recently developed computer science technologies could assist in dealing with and eliminating inconsistencies and ambiguities within and between different financial accounting standards. In our research we developed a formal ontology for some of the basic elements, and in this paper we report on our findings as well as make some suggestions for a formal approach to the conceptual framework and financial accounting standards development.},
  year = {2011},
  journal = {3rd International Joint Conference on Knowledge Discovery, Knowledge Engineering and Knowledge Management},
  month = {24/10-26/10},
  address = {Paris, France},
}

Gerber MC, Gerber A. Towards the Development of Consistent and Unambiguous Financial Accounting Standards using Ontology Technologies. In: International Association for Accounting Education & Research. Venice, Italy; 2011.

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Gerber2_2011.pdf

The purpose of accounting is to gather financial data of a business or entity, to interpret this data and to report the results in financial statements to the different users thereof. The interpretation of financial data is regulated by financial accounting standards including an conceptual framework that were developed to facilitate the reporting of financial information of entities so that investors, analysts, creditors as well as the entities themselves can make informed financial decisions. Due to the history as well as some of the mechanisms used to develop the financial accounting standards, conceptual framework and interpretations, inconsistencies and ambiguities are part of the common legacy accountants and auditors are confronted with every day. This is problematic because financial reports have to be clear, concise and unambiguous as the cornerstone of international economies. In order to address the inconsistency problems, the development of unambiguous and principle based financial accounting standards is a key initiative of international financial accounting standards bodies such as the FASB and the IASB at present. This paper is concerned with the question of how recent developments in computer science technologies, specifically within knowledge representation and ontology technologies, could assist in dealing with and eliminating inconsistencies and ambiguities within and between different financial accounting standards. In our research, we developed a formal ontology for some of the basic elements, and in this paper, we report on our findings as well as make some suggestions for a formal approach to the conceptual framework and financial accounting standards development.

@{463,
  author = {Marthinus Gerber and Aurona Gerber},
  title = {Towards the Development of Consistent and Unambiguous Financial Accounting Standards using Ontology Technologies},
  abstract = {The purpose of accounting is to gather financial data of a business or entity, to interpret this data and to report the results in financial statements to the different users thereof. The interpretation of financial data is regulated by financial accounting standards including an conceptual framework that were developed to facilitate the reporting of financial information of entities so that investors, analysts, creditors as well as the entities themselves can make informed financial decisions. Due to the history as well as some of the mechanisms used to develop the financial accounting standards, conceptual framework and interpretations, inconsistencies and ambiguities are part of the common legacy accountants and auditors are confronted with every day. This is problematic because financial reports have to be clear, concise and unambiguous as the cornerstone of international economies. In order to address the inconsistency problems, the development of unambiguous and principle based financial accounting standards is a key initiative of international financial accounting standards bodies such as the FASB and the IASB at present. This paper is concerned with the question of how recent developments in computer science technologies, specifically within knowledge representation and ontology technologies, could assist in dealing with and eliminating inconsistencies and ambiguities within and between different financial accounting standards. In our research, we developed a formal ontology for some of the basic elements, and in this paper, we report on our findings as well as make some suggestions for a formal approach to the conceptual framework and financial accounting standards development.},
  year = {2011},
  journal = {International Association for Accounting Education &amp; Research},
  month = {03/11-05/11},
  address = {Venice, Italy},
}

Bergh J, Gerber A, Meyer T, van Zijl L. Path analysis for ontology comprehension. Seventh Australasian Ontology Workshop. 2011.

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n.a.

@misc{462,
  author = {Johann Bergh and Aurona Gerber and Tommie Meyer and Lynette van Zijl},
  title = {Path analysis for ontology comprehension},
  abstract = {n.a.},
  year = {2011},
  journal = {Seventh Australasian Ontology Workshop},
  month = {12/11},
}

Jacobs D, Kotzé P, van der Merwe A, Gerber A. Enterprise Architecture for Small and Medium Enterprise Growth. In: 1st Enterprise Engineering Working Conference . Antwerp, Belgium: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg; 2011. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-21058-7_5.

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A key constraint for growing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is the business skills required to grow the enterprises through the stages of transformation. Criticism against growth stage models for SMEs is of concern, since these models contain the typical knowledge that appeals to managers of small enterprises as guidance in how to manage growth. In this article we propose the SMEAG model to explore the relevance of enterprise architecture (EA) for enhancing existing growth stage models in order to counteract some of this criticism. EA is well-known as a field that claims to manage change and complexity. The rationale to combine the concepts of growth stage models and EA is based on the level of change and complexity associated with the growth of small enterprises into medium enterprises. SMEAG combines the existing growth stage model of Scott and Bruce, the Enterprise Architecture Framework by Hoogervorst, and the EA as Foundation for Business Execution Model by Ross, Weill and Robertson.

@{461,
  author = {Dina Jacobs and Paula Kotzé and Alta van der Merwe and Aurona Gerber},
  title = {Enterprise Architecture for Small and Medium Enterprise Growth},
  abstract = {A key constraint for growing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is the business skills required to grow the enterprises through the stages of transformation. Criticism against growth stage models for SMEs is of concern, since these models contain the typical knowledge that appeals to managers of small enterprises as guidance in how to manage growth. In this article we propose the SMEAG model to explore the relevance of enterprise architecture (EA) for enhancing existing growth stage models in order to counteract some of this criticism. EA is well-known as a field that claims to manage change and complexity. The rationale to combine the concepts of growth stage models and EA is based on the level of change and complexity associated with the growth of small enterprises into medium enterprises. SMEAG combines the existing growth stage model of Scott and Bruce, the Enterprise Architecture Framework by Hoogervorst, and the EA as Foundation for Business Execution Model by Ross, Weill and Robertson.},
  year = {2011},
  journal = {1st Enterprise Engineering Working Conference},
  pages = {61-75},
  month = {16/05-20/05},
  publisher = {Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg},
  address = {Antwerp, Belgium},
  isbn = {978-3-642-21057-0},
  url = {https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-642-21058-7},
  doi = {10.1007/978-3-642-21058-7_5},
}

de Vries M, van der Merwe A, Kotzé P, Gerber A. Using the Interaction model to compare ontological similarity between business units. In: 1st International Conference on Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering & Engineering Management for Sustainable Global Development. Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa; 2011. doi:10204/5425.

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De Vries1_2011.pdf

Enterprise engineering is an enterprise design methodology that uses a process to create an organised whole, while mastering complexity. Dietz proposes an organisation theorem that reduces complexity by representing the heterogeneous enterprise system as a layered integration of three homogeneous aspect systems: the ontological, infological and datalogical. The ontological aspect system represents the essence of enterprise operation and a starting point for engineering a complex enterprise. This paper applies one of the key ontological models, namely the interaction model, to assess its ability to indentify replication potential due to ontological similarity. The case study environment for application of the interaction model was four departments at a tertiary education institution.

@{460,
  author = {Marne de Vries and Alta van der Merwe and Paula Kotzé and Aurona Gerber},
  title = {Using the Interaction model to compare ontological similarity between business units},
  abstract = {Enterprise engineering is an enterprise design methodology that uses a process to create an organised whole, while mastering complexity. Dietz proposes an organisation theorem that reduces complexity by representing the heterogeneous enterprise system as a layered integration of three homogeneous aspect systems: the ontological, infological and datalogical. The ontological aspect system represents the essence of enterprise operation and a starting point for engineering a complex enterprise. This paper applies one of the key ontological models, namely the interaction model, to assess its ability to indentify replication potential due to ontological similarity. The case study environment for application of the interaction model was four departments at a tertiary education institution.},
  year = {2011},
  journal = {1st International Conference on Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering &amp; Engineering Management for Sustainable Global Development},
  month = {21/09-23/09},
  address = {Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa},
  doi = {10204/5425},
}

de Vries M, van der Merwe A, Kotzé P, Gerber A. A Method for Identifying Process Reuse Opportunities to Enhance the Operating Model. In: IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management. Changchun, China; 2011.

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A_method_for_identifying_process_reuse_opportunities_to_enhance_the_operating_model.pdf

Staying competitive in the 21 st century requires enterprise unity and integration, allowing for agility to accommodate swift changes in strategy as markets evolve and new opportunities emerge. The foundation for execution approach acknowledges the volatility of strategy and suggests the use of an operating model (OM), which is a commitment to a way of doing business. The OM creates a company-wide vision for process standardization and data centralization and guides decisions about how a company implements processes and IT infrastructure. Although the OM provides senior management with a powerful decision-making tool in evolving the current IT landscape, the selection of an appropriate OM requires additional guidance. This article elaborates on current OM deficiencies, requirements for enhancement and a new method, mechanisms and practices to enable an enterprise architecture practitioner to identify the required process reuse opportunities for a specific OM.

@{459,
  author = {Marne de Vries and Alta van der Merwe and Paula Kotzé and Aurona Gerber},
  title = {A Method for Identifying Process Reuse Opportunities to Enhance the Operating Model},
  abstract = {Staying competitive in the 21 st century requires enterprise unity and integration, allowing for agility to accommodate swift changes in strategy as markets evolve and new opportunities emerge. The foundation for execution approach acknowledges the volatility of strategy and suggests the use of an operating model (OM), which is a commitment to a way of doing business. The OM creates a company-wide vision for process standardization and data centralization and guides decisions about how a company implements processes and IT infrastructure. Although the OM provides senior management with a powerful decision-making tool in evolving the current IT landscape, the selection of an appropriate OM requires additional guidance. This article elaborates on current OM deficiencies, requirements for enhancement and a new method, mechanisms and practices to enable an enterprise architecture practitioner to identify the required process reuse opportunities for a specific OM.},
  year = {2011},
  journal = {IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management},
  month = {03/09-05/09},
  address = {Changchun, China},
  isbn = {978-1-4577-0739-1},
}

Halland K, Britz K, Gerber A. Investigations into the use of SNOMED CT to enhance an Open-MRS health information system. South African Computer Journal. 2011;47.

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Halland_2011.pdf

No Abstract

@article{29,
  author = {Ken Halland and Katarina Britz and Aurona Gerber},
  title = {Investigations into the use of SNOMED CT to enhance an Open-MRS health information system},
  abstract = {No Abstract},
  year = {2011},
  journal = {South African Computer Journal},
  volume = {47},
  pages = {33-46},
}

Gous H, Gard J, Gerber A. Business architecture for inter-organisational innovation networks: A case study comparison from South Africa and Germany. In: Ice 2011. ; 2011.

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Gous-Gard-Baltes-Schutte-Gerber-Print-ready-final-paper.docx

The range of inter-organisational innovation networks existing in the global economy today show a wide variance in structure, purpose, location, lifespan and maturity. These differences between network instantiations highlight the need for deeper understanding of the operation of these networks in order to enable efforts to improve network performance. These efforts include strategic management routines for network leadership, as well as the development of appropriate support structures, e.g. information systems architectures. An important step towards a deeper understanding of inter-organisational innovation networks is to compare the business architectures of network case studies to identify similarities and differences in terms of scope and context, business concepts and underlying system logic. The Zachman framework for enterprise architecture provides an approach to structuring the business architecture of enterprises in a way that allows such comparisons to be drawn. This paper describes the business architecture of two contrasting network case studies from South Africa and Germany within the Zachman framework, and draws some conclusions based on the observed similarities and conclusions.

@{14,
  author = {Henno Gous and J. Gard and Aurona Gerber},
  title = {Business architecture for inter-organisational innovation networks:  A case study comparison from South Africa and Germany},
  abstract = {The range of inter-organisational innovation networks existing in the global economy today show a wide variance in structure, purpose, location, lifespan and maturity. These differences between network instantiations highlight the need for deeper understanding of the operation of these networks in order to enable efforts to improve network performance. These efforts include strategic management routines for network leadership, as well as the development of appropriate support structures, e.g. information systems architectures.
An important step towards a deeper understanding of inter-organisational innovation networks is to compare the business architectures of network case studies to identify similarities and differences in terms of scope and context, business concepts and underlying system logic. The Zachman framework for enterprise architecture provides an approach to structuring the business architecture of enterprises in a way that allows such comparisons to be drawn. This paper describes the business architecture of two contrasting network case studies from South Africa and Germany within the Zachman framework, and draws some conclusions based on the observed similarities and conclusions.},
  year = {2011},
  journal = {ICE 2011},
}

2010

Gerber A, van der Merwe A, Kotzé P. Towards the Formalisation of the TOGAF Content Metamodel using Ontologies. In: 12th International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems (ICEIS). Funchal, Madeira, Portugal; 2010. doi:10204/4075.

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Gerber_2010_0.pdf

Metamodels are abstractions that are used to specify characteristics of models. Such metamodels are generally included in specifications or framework descriptions. A metamodel is for instance used to inform the generation of enterprise architecture content in the Open Group’s TOGAF 9 Content Metamodel description. However, the description of metamodels is usually done in an ad-hoc manner with customised languages and this often results in ambiguities and inconsistencies. The authors are concerned with the question of how the quality of metamodel descriptions, specifically within the enterprise architecture domain, could be enhanced. Therefore we investigated whether formal ontology technologies could be used to enhance metamodel construction, specification and design. For this research, the authors constructed a formal ontology for the TOGAF 9 Content Metamodel, and in the process, gained valuable insight into metamodel quality. In particular, the current TOGAF 9 Content Metamodel contains ambiguities and inconsistencies, which could be eliminated using ontology technologies. In this paper the authors argue for the integration of formal ontologies and ontology technologies as tools into metamodel construction and specification. Ontologies allow for the construction of complex conceptual models, but more significant, ontologies can assist an architect by depicting all the consequences of a model, allowing for more precise and complete artifacts within enterprise architectures, and because these models use standardized languages, they should promote integration and interoperability.

@{469,
  author = {Aurona Gerber and Alta van der Merwe and Paula Kotzé},
  title = {Towards the Formalisation of the TOGAF Content Metamodel using Ontologies},
  abstract = {Metamodels are abstractions that are used to specify characteristics of models. Such metamodels are generally included in specifications or framework descriptions. A metamodel is for instance used to inform the generation of enterprise architecture content in the Open Group’s TOGAF 9 Content Metamodel description. However, the description of metamodels is usually done in an ad-hoc manner with customised languages and this often results in ambiguities and inconsistencies. The authors are concerned with the question of how the quality of metamodel descriptions, specifically within the enterprise architecture domain, could be enhanced. Therefore we investigated whether formal ontology technologies could be used to enhance metamodel construction, specification and design. For this research, the authors constructed a formal ontology for the TOGAF 9 Content Metamodel, and in the process, gained valuable insight into metamodel quality. In particular, the current TOGAF 9 Content Metamodel contains ambiguities and inconsistencies, which could be eliminated using ontology technologies. In this paper the authors argue for the integration of formal ontologies and ontology technologies as tools into metamodel construction and specification. Ontologies allow for the construction of complex conceptual models, but more significant, ontologies can assist an architect by depicting all the consequences of a model, allowing for more precise and complete artifacts within enterprise architectures, and because these models use standardized languages, they should promote integration and interoperability.},
  year = {2010},
  journal = {12th International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems (ICEIS)},
  pages = {54-64},
  month = {08/06-12/06},
  address = {Funchal, Madeira, Portugal},
  doi = {10204/4075},
}

de Vries M, van der Merwe A, Gerber A, Kotzé P. Refining The Operating Model Concept To Enable Systematic Growth In Operating Maturity. In: 24th Anuual SAIIE Conference. Muldersdrift, South Africa; 2010. doi:10204/4572.

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De Vries_2010.pdf

To stay competitive, enterprises of today need to rely on a sound foundation for execution that incorporates the infrastructure and digitised processes for automating a company’s core capabilities. Once this foundation has been established, management could move their attention away from focusing on lower-value activities to innovative ways to increase profits and growth. The Business-IT Alignment Framework (BIAF) defines business-IT alignment in terms of a paradigm of alignment, three dimensions for alignment, and mechanisms and practices. The BIAF could provide a business-IT alignment perspective on the foundation for execution approach. Using the BIAF perspective, this paper comments on some of the deficiencies related to the foundation for execution approach regarding the systematic identification of opportunities for enterprise-wide process standardisation. The goal is to define a list of requirements that should direct the design of appropriate mechanisms and practices to address the identification of process re-use opportunities for multiple levels of operating maturity.

@{468,
  author = {Marne de Vries and Alta van der Merwe and Aurona Gerber and Paula Kotzé},
  title = {Refining The Operating Model Concept To Enable Systematic Growth In Operating Maturity},
  abstract = {To stay competitive, enterprises of today need to rely on a sound foundation for execution that incorporates the infrastructure and digitised processes for automating a company’s core capabilities. Once this foundation has been established, management could move their attention away from focusing on lower-value activities to innovative ways to increase profits and growth. The Business-IT Alignment Framework (BIAF) defines business-IT alignment in terms of a paradigm of alignment, three dimensions for alignment, and mechanisms and practices. The BIAF could provide a business-IT alignment perspective on the foundation for execution approach. Using the BIAF perspective, this paper comments on some of the deficiencies related to the foundation for execution approach regarding the systematic identification of opportunities for enterprise-wide process standardisation. The goal is to define a list of requirements that should direct the design of appropriate mechanisms and practices to address the identification of process re-use opportunities for multiple levels of operating maturity.},
  year = {2010},
  journal = {24th Anuual SAIIE Conference},
  month = {6/10-8/10},
  address = {Muldersdrift, South Africa},
  doi = {10204/4572},
}

Gerber A, Molefo O, van der Merwe A. Documenting open source migration processes for re-use. In: Annual Research Conference of the South African Institute of Computer Scientists and Information Technologists (SAICSIT). Bela Bela, South Africa: ACM Press; 2010. doi:10.1145/1899503.1899512.

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1899503.1899512.pdf

There are several sources that indicate a remarkable increase in the adoption of open source software (OSS) into the technology infrastructure of organizations. In fact, the number of medium to large organizations without some OSS installations, is surprisingly low. This move to open source (OS), as well as the obvious advantages thereof, have motivated the CSIR of South Africa to investigate the adoption of OSS across the institution for all aspects of its operations. In launching this endeavour, it became apparent that there are very limited resources available, locally or internationally, that documented process related information about organizational OS migrations. This lack of information provides the motivation for this research that investigates the use of process reference models to capture the process related information for an organization-wide migration from proprietary software to OSS. In order to develop the necessary process reference models, the specific process models for the CSIR OS migration were captured, and, using a repeatable method based on reference model criteria, the generic process reference models for an organizational OS migration were extracted and documented. It is our firm belief that these process reference models would provide a baseline for the processes needed when any organization considers open source adoption or organization-wide OS migration.

@{467,
  author = {Aurona Gerber and Onkgopotse Molefo and Alta van der Merwe},
  title = {Documenting open source migration processes for re-use},
  abstract = {There are several sources that indicate a remarkable increase in the adoption of open source software (OSS) into the technology infrastructure of organizations. In fact, the number of medium to large organizations without some OSS installations, is surprisingly low. This move to open source (OS), as well as the obvious advantages thereof, have motivated the CSIR of South Africa to investigate the adoption of OSS across the institution for all aspects of its operations. In launching this endeavour, it became apparent that there are very limited resources available, locally or internationally, that documented process related information about organizational OS migrations. This lack of information provides the motivation for this research that investigates the use of process reference models to capture the process related information for an organization-wide migration from proprietary software to OSS. In order to develop the necessary process reference models, the specific process models for the CSIR OS migration were captured, and, using a repeatable method based on reference model criteria, the generic process reference models for an organizational OS migration were extracted and documented. It is our firm belief that these process reference models would provide a baseline for the processes needed when any organization considers open source adoption or organization-wide OS migration.},
  year = {2010},
  journal = {Annual Research Conference of the South African Institute of Computer Scientists and Information Technologists (SAICSIT)},
  pages = {75-85},
  month = {11/10-13/10},
  publisher = {ACM Press},
  address = {Bela Bela, South Africa},
  isbn = {9781605589503},
  url = {https://dl.acm.org/doi/proceedings/10.1145/1899503},
  doi = {10.1145/1899503.1899512},
}

Le Roux P, van der Merwe A, Gerber A. A Model for Teaching Distributed Computing in a Distance-based Educational Environment. International Workshop on Distance Education Technology (DET). 2010.

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le Roux2_2010.pdf

Due to the prolific growth in connectivity, the development and implementation of distributed systems receives a lot of attention. Several technologies and languages exist for the development and implementation of such distributed systems; however, teaching students in these new technologies remains a challenge. Even though several models for teaching computer programming and teaching programming in a distance-based educational environment (DEE) exist, limited literature is available on models for teaching distributed computing in a DEE. Here our research we examine how distributed computing should be taught in a DEE in order to ensure effective and quality learning for students, specifically by investigating both the specific characteristics of distributed systems technologies and the models used for teaching programming in DEE. The required effectiveness and quality should be comparable to those for students exposed to laboratories, as commonly found in residential universities. This led to the identification of the factors that contribute to the success of teaching distributed computing and determine how these factors can be integrated into a proposed distributed systems distance-based teaching model we call the Independent Distributed Learning Model (IDLM).

@misc{466,
  author = {Petra Le Roux and Alta van der Merwe and Aurona Gerber},
  title = {A Model for Teaching Distributed Computing in a Distance-based Educational Environment},
  abstract = {Due to the prolific growth in connectivity, the development and implementation of distributed systems receives a lot of attention. Several technologies and languages exist for the development and implementation of such distributed systems; however, teaching students in these new technologies remains a challenge. Even though several models for teaching computer programming and teaching programming in a distance-based educational environment (DEE) exist, limited literature is available on models for teaching distributed computing in a DEE. Here our research we examine how distributed computing should be taught in a DEE in order to ensure effective and quality learning for students, specifically by investigating both the specific characteristics of distributed systems technologies and the models used for teaching programming in DEE. The required effectiveness and quality should be comparable to those for students exposed to laboratories, as commonly found in residential universities. This led to the identification of the factors that contribute to the success of teaching distributed computing and determine how these factors can be integrated into a proposed distributed systems distance-based teaching model we call the Independent Distributed Learning Model (IDLM).},
  year = {2010},
  journal = {International Workshop on Distance Education Technology (DET)},
  month = {14/10-16/10},
}

2009

Mbaya IR, Gerber A, van der Merwe A. Requirements of a Security Framework for the Semantic Web. In: IASTED International Conference on Software Engineering. Innsbruck, Austria; 2009. doi:10204/3818.

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Mbaya_2009.pdf

The vision of the Semantic Web is to provide the World Wide Web the ability to automate interoperate and reason about resources and services on the Web. However, the autonomous dynamic open distributed and heterogeneous nature of the Semantic Web introduce new security challenges. Consequently, security becomes a crucial factor for the adoption of the Semantic Web. There are existing suggested security frameworks for the Semantic Web, however none of these address all issues related to the Semantic Web, neither have any requirements for such frameworks been established. Common criteria are therefore required to evaluate existing security frameworks. In this paper, the authors suggest a set of evaluation criteria that can be used to evaluate existing Semantic Web security frameworks

@{471,
  author = {Ibrahim Mbaya and Aurona Gerber and Alta van der Merwe},
  title = {Requirements of a Security Framework for the Semantic Web},
  abstract = {The vision of the Semantic Web is to provide the World Wide Web the ability to automate interoperate and reason about resources and services on the Web. However, the autonomous dynamic open distributed and heterogeneous nature of the Semantic Web introduce new security challenges. Consequently, security becomes a crucial factor for the adoption of the Semantic Web. There are existing suggested security frameworks for the Semantic Web, however none of these address all issues related to the Semantic Web, neither have any requirements for such frameworks been established. Common criteria are therefore required to evaluate existing security frameworks. In this paper, the authors suggest a set of evaluation criteria that can be used to evaluate existing Semantic Web security frameworks},
  year = {2009},
  journal = {IASTED International Conference on Software Engineering},
  pages = {106-113},
  month = {17/02/19/02},
  address = {Innsbruck, Austria},
  doi = {10204/3818},
}