IE 594:IE 594:Research Methods in Research Methods in

EngineeringEngineeringInformation Systems Engineering Information Systems Engineering

(ISE)(ISE)Research MethodsResearch Methods

May 11, 2009May 11, 2009

AgendaAgenda• Introduction to ISEIntroduction to ISE• ISE Clustered Research AreasISE Clustered Research Areas• Research Trends in ISEResearch Trends in ISE• ISE Research in MIMEISE Research in MIME• Discussion of articlesDiscussion of articles• Q & AQ & A

Introduction to ISEIntroduction to ISE• Information Systems Engineering (ISE)Information Systems Engineering (ISE)

– Important and growing area within the IE Important and growing area within the IE professionprofession

• Fairly large and diverse divisionFairly large and diverse division– Both manufacturing and service industriesBoth manufacturing and service industries– Both academia and industryBoth academia and industry– Job descriptions include consulting, Job descriptions include consulting,

management, engineering, etc.management, engineering, etc.

ISE Clustered Research ISE Clustered Research AreasAreas

IE Applications Decision Support SystemsFactory Layout Artificial IntelligenceISO Data MiningLine Balancing Data Structures and AlgorithmsSimulation Data WarehousingSix Sigma Quality Expert SystemsSupply Chain Management Fuzzy Reasoning and Fuzzy SystemsTime Studies Genetic AlgorithmsWork Instructions Knowledge Management, Knowledge Fusion, Knowledge Logistics

Neural NetworksManufacturing Management Systems

Data Integration and Migration Software DevelopmentKanban Sizing/Systems AlgorithmsLean Manufacturing Data ModelingManufacturing Costing Data StructuresManufacturing Enterprise Modeling Object-oriented ParadigmsManufacturing Execution Systems Programming LanguagesManufacturing Information Systems System OntologiesMiddleware design System TaxonomiesMRP II and ERP

ISE Clustered Research ISE Clustered Research AreasAreas

Web-based Systems Analysis and Management of InformationASP/Subscription Applications Information EconomicsE-Commerce Information EngineeringEnterprise Computing Information Quality and ReliabilityEnterprise-wide Information Architectures Information SecurityFile Sharing Legacy SystemsProduct Data Exchange Technologies Performance Analysis of Information SystemsWeb Services Prediction and Evaluation of Information SystemsWeb-based Design and Analysis (Semantic Webs) Real-time Data Acquisition, Computation, and Control Systems

Simulation of Information SystemsNew Technology

Automatic Identification and Data CaptureMobile ComputingRadio Frequency Identification (RFID)Sensor NetworksWireless Networking

Research Trends in ISEResearch Trends in ISE• What constitutes appropriate What constitutes appropriate

research in the field of ISE?research in the field of ISE?– First, consider the nature of information First, consider the nature of information

systems themselvessystems themselves– Then look at what you hope to gain from Then look at what you hope to gain from

undertaking research in the areaundertaking research in the area• Traditionally, the topic has often Traditionally, the topic has often

been viewed as residing within the been viewed as residing within the realm of realm of technologytechnology

Research Trends in ISE Research Trends in ISE (cont’d)(cont’d)

• Increasingly, however, the focus of Increasingly, however, the focus of study has extended to include study has extended to include behavioralbehavioral and and organizationalorganizational considerationsconsiderations

• This is explained by our wish to:This is explained by our wish to:– Improve the effectiveness of IS Improve the effectiveness of IS

implementations in organizations, andimplementations in organizations, and– Assess that impact on individuals or Assess that impact on individuals or

organizationsorganizations

Research Trends in ISE Research Trends in ISE (cont’d)(cont’d)

• This wider view of ISE research brings This wider view of ISE research brings with it:with it:– Added complexityAdded complexity– Greater imprecisionGreater imprecision– The possibility of different interpretations The possibility of different interpretations

of the same phenomena, andof the same phenomena, and– The The needneed to take these issues into to take these issues into

account when considering an appropriate account when considering an appropriate research approachresearch approach

Research Trends in ISE Research Trends in ISE (cont’d)(cont’d)

Galliers, R.D., Land, F.F. (1987). Choosing Appropriate Information Systems Research Methodologies, Communications of the ACM, 30(11), pp. 900-902.

ISE Research in MIMEISE Research in MIME

ISE Research in MIMEISE Research in MIME• Focus is on technologyFocus is on technology

– Analysis of the effect on a system as a result of the Analysis of the effect on a system as a result of the implementation of a specific automatic implementation of a specific automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) technologyidentification and data capture (AIDC) technology

– Performance characterization of an AIDC Performance characterization of an AIDC technology under certain environmental technology under certain environmental conditionsconditions

– Optimization of system performance enabled by an Optimization of system performance enabled by an AIDC technologyAIDC technology

• Technologies change with timeTechnologies change with time– Bar codesBar codes– Wireless data collectionWireless data collection

• Radio Frequency Data Communications (e.g., 802.11)Radio Frequency Data Communications (e.g., 802.11)• Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

– What’s next?What’s next?

ISE Research in MIME ISE Research in MIME (cont’d)(cont’d)

Galliers, R.D., Land, F.F. (1987). Choosing Appropriate Information Systems Research Methodologies, Communications of the ACM, 30(11), pp. 900-902.

ISE Research in MIME ISE Research in MIME (cont’d)(cont’d)

• MethodsMethods– Design of ExperimentsDesign of Experiments– Mathematical or computational modelsMathematical or computational models– Global optimization heuristicsGlobal optimization heuristics

• e.g., Genetic algorithmse.g., Genetic algorithms

Discussion of ArticlesDiscussion of Articles• Artificial Neural Network Approach to Artificial Neural Network Approach to

Data Matrix Laser Direct Part MarkingData Matrix Laser Direct Part Marking• Performance Evaluation of Performance Evaluation of

Heterogeneous Wireless Local Area Heterogeneous Wireless Local Area NetworksNetworks

• Effect of Active Interference on the Effect of Active Interference on the Performance of Radio Frequency Performance of Radio Frequency Identification SystemsIdentification Systems

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?