AJIS Vol. 5 No. 2 May 1998

EDITORIAL

This is the second issue of volume 5 of The Australian Journal of Information Systems. As editor I am pleased to
report the ongoing interest in the journal both in Australia and overseas.
Our first paper - Opportunities for Knowledge Research in Spatio-Temporal Information Systems - Tamas
Abraham and John Roddick, School of Computer and Information Science, University of South Australia -
examines the exploration of large volumes of geo-referenced data. The authors examine how data mining
techniques not only aid in the examination of the data, but allow time to be added to the spatial applications.
Our second paper - Towards Guidelines for Development and Management of Transnational Information
Systems, Angele Cavaye, Department of Information Systems, University of Southern Queensland, Paul
Mantelaers, Department of Computer Science Delft University, Wander van de Berg, Department of Systems
Engineering, Delft University and Arre Zuurmond, Department of Public Relations, Delft University, examines
transnational information systems which cross both organisational as well as international boundaries. The paper
examines a number of transnational Information Systems and describes some of the problems encountered in
their implementation and use.
Andrea Engelhardt, Department of Information Systems, Friedrich-Alexander University provides our next paper
- A Fresh Look at Integrated Business Applications - Neither Package Nor Custom-Made. The paper begins by
describing the problems both with custom-made software as well as the package equivalent. The paper then goes
on to describe a possible middle ground solution.
Our fourth paper - Efficient Consumer Response (ECR): A Survey of the Australian Grocery Industry, by John
Harris and Paula Swatman, Electronic Commerce Research Group, Monash University - presents a summary of a
survey examining ECR knowledge and usage in the Australian grocery industry. The paper examines the
traditional grocery format, the supermarket and the supply chain, examining implementation strategies for ECR.
Barry Jackson and Sony Sulaksono, Department of Information Systems, Massey University present our next
paper - Going Soft on Information Systems Evaluation. The authors suggest that despite the rapid change of both
business and its accompanying technology, little real change has taken place in the techniques of systems design.
The paper proposes alternate approaches such that a wider share of the stakeholders of the information system are
included.
Our sixth paper - A CEO View of the Key Issues in Australian Information Systems Management, Graham
Pervan, School of Information Systems, Curtin University of Technology, examines those issues which over the
next five years appear as important, problematic and critical to chief executive officers. Among the most critical
issues were systems development and data management issues, in particular their effective use within the
organisation.
Our seventh paper - The Dynamics of Establishing Organisational Web Sites: Some Puzzling Findings, Celia
Romm and Jeanne Wong, Department of Business Systems, University of Wollongong - begins by re-examining
the model proposed by Jarvenpaa and Ives in 1996. The paper presents data gathered in an Australian university
and compares this data to the Jarvenpaa and Ives model, concluding that a more generic approach is applicable.
Our final paper - The Australian Information Systems Research Community: An Analysis of Mainstream
Publication Outlets, Gail Ridley, School of Information Systems, University of Tasmania, Paula Golding,
Department of Information Technology, Murdoch University, Glenn Lowrey, College of Business
Administration, University of Bahrain and Graham Pervan, School of Information Systems, Curtin University of
Technology - report on an investigation of the nature of and the interaction among IS academics. The paper
examined factors such as collaboration within and between departments and universities in Australian IS
research.
Once again I would like to pass on my thanks to the authors and consulting editors for the high quality of material
in this issue. I would also like to thank David Dodds for his assistance in producing final copy of the journal and
the maintenance of the Home page.

R. MacGregor
Editor