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  • After his PhD from Concordia University, Dr. Saade was awarded the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council ... moreedit
Negotiation is a powerful mechanism for facilitating effective economic exchanges. Electronic negotiations allow participants to negotiate online and use analytical support tools in making their decisions. Software agents offer the... more
Negotiation is a powerful mechanism for facilitating effective economic exchanges. Electronic negotiations allow participants to negotiate online and use analytical support tools in making their decisions. Software agents offer the possibility of automating negotiation process using these tools. This paper aims at investigating the prospects of agent-to-human negotiations in B2C contexts using experiments with human subjects. Various types of agents have been configured and paired up with human counterparts for negotiating product sale. The paper discusses the results obtained both in terms of objective, as well as subjective measures.
Negotiation is a powerful mechanism for facilitating effective economic exchanges. Electronic negotiations allow participants to negotiate online and use analytical support tools in making their decisions. Software agents offer the... more
Negotiation is a powerful mechanism for facilitating effective economic exchanges. Electronic negotiations allow participants to negotiate online and use analytical support tools in making their decisions. Software agents offer the possibility of automating negotiation process using these tools. This paper aims at investigating the prospects of agent-to-human negotiations in B2C contexts using experiments with human subjects. Various types of agents have been configured and paired up with human counterparts for negotiating product sale. The paper discusses the results obtained both in terms of objective, as well as subjective measures.
Learning analytics is receiving a growing attention from both machine learning and education communities, where support vector machines (SVM) are gaining popularity over existing data mining techniques. In the scope of this work, we... more
Learning analytics is receiving a growing attention from both machine learning and education communities, where support vector machines (SVM) are gaining popularity over existing data mining techniques. In the scope of this work, we employ SVM to predict student success in mathematics course in Portugal under two common nonlinear kernel functions: polynomial and radial basis function kernel. In addition, we employ the k-nearest-neighbor (kNN) algorithm as a reference model since it is known to be fast and effective in various classification problems. Furthermore, we adopt the Bayesian optimization (BO) technique in a cross-validation framework to optimize SVM key parameters; namely, the slack parameter and penalty coefficient. The obtained experimental results show that the SVM outperform k-nearest-neighbor algorithm under both nonlinear kernel functions. Additionally, processing time associated with SVM optimization process increases with polynomial order. Furthermore, the SVM trained with third-order polynomial kernel performs the best. Finally, k-nearest-neighbor algorithm is found to be faster compared to all SVM classifiers.
While computers are known to facilitate lower levels of learning, such as rote memorization of facts, measurable through electronically administered and graded multiple-choice questions, yes/no, and true/false answers, the imparting and... more
While computers are known to facilitate lower levels of learning, such as rote memorization of facts, measurable through electronically administered and graded multiple-choice questions, yes/no, and true/false answers, the imparting and measurement of higher-level cognitive skills is more vexing. These require more open-ended delivery and answers, and may be more problematic in an entirely virtual environment, notwithstanding the advances in technologies such as wikis, blogs, discussion boards, etc. As with the integration of all technology, merit is based more on the instructional design of the course than on the technology employed in, and of, itself. With this in mind, this study examined the perceptions of online students in an introductory Computer Information Systems course regarding the fostering of various higher-order thinking and team-building skills as a result of the activities, resources and technologies (ART) used in the course.
Advances in computer technologies have made it possible to develop computer-aided learning tools for enhanced learning. Today, most researchers in the field of educational technology seem to be preoccupied with either the development of... more
Advances in computer technologies have made it possible to develop computer-aided learning tools for enhanced learning. Today, most researchers in the field of educational technology seem to be preoccupied with either the development of Artificial Intelligence applications or the representation of various learning theories such as constructivism by a computer program. The enthusiasm to develop technologically advanced learning tools resulted in technologies with limited application. The need to develop simple computer-based tools to assist instruction and demonstrate its effectiveness to enhance learning is paramount. Moreover, those tools need to be designed and integrated into a pedagogical framework. As a result, the instructor transforms into a content facilitator with altered needs. This paper presents the design and use of an interactive computer-aided learning tool for enhanced learning. Two participant groups were randomly selected. One group was allowed to use the interacti...
Cryptocurrencies are digital assets gaining popularity and generating huge transactions on electronic platforms. We develop an ensemble predictive system based on artificial neural networks to forecast Bitcoin daily trading volume level.... more
Cryptocurrencies are digital assets gaining popularity and generating huge transactions on electronic platforms. We develop an ensemble predictive system based on artificial neural networks to forecast Bitcoin daily trading volume level. Indeed, although ensemble forecasts are increasingly employed in various forecasting tasks, developing an intelligent predictive system for Bitcoin trading volume based on ensemble forecasts has not been addressed yet. Ensemble Bitcoin trading volume are forecasted using two specific artificial neural networks; namely, radial basis function neural networks (RBFNN) and generalized regression neural networks (GRNN). They are adopted to respectively capture local and general patterns in Bitcoin trading volume data. Finally, the feedforward artificial neural network (FFNN) is implemented to generate Bitcoin final trading volume after having aggregated the forecasts from RBFNN and GRNN. In this regard, FFNN is executed to merge local and global forecasts in a nonlinear framework. Overall, our proposed ensemble predictive system reduced the forecasting errors by 18.81% and 62.86% when compared to its components RBFNN and GRNN, respectively. In addition, the ensemble system reduced the forecasting error by 90.49% when compared to a single FFNN used as a basic reference model. Thus, the empirical outcomes show that our proposed ensemble predictive model allows achieving an improvement in terms of forecasting. Regarding the practical results of this work, while being fast, applying the artificial neural networks to develop an ensemble predictive system to forecast Bitcoin daily trading volume is recommended to apply for addressing simultaneously local and global patterns used to characterize Bitcoin trading data. We conclude that the proposed artificial neural networks ensemble forecasting model is easy to implement and efficient for Bitcoin daily volume forecasting.
This study investigates perceived ease of use and overall computer/internet experience as emotional factors that affect e-learning. Results suggest that online learning systems design should address typical software interfaces so that... more
This study investigates perceived ease of use and overall computer/internet experience as emotional factors that affect e-learning. Results suggest that online learning systems design should address typical software interfaces so that students feel more comfortable using them.
Aim/Purpose: To understand readiness of students for learning in online environments across different age groups. Background: Online learners today are diverse in age due to increasing adult/mature students who continue their higher... more
Aim/Purpose: To understand readiness of students for learning in online environments across different age groups. Background: Online learners today are diverse in age due to increasing adult/mature students who continue their higher education while they are working. Understanding the influence of the learners’ age on their online learning experience is limited. Methodology: A survey methodology approach was followed. A sample of one thousand nine hundred and twenty surveys were used. Correlation analysis was performed. Contribution: The study contributes by adding to the limited body of knowledge in this area and adds to the dimensions of the Online Learning Readiness Survey additional dimensions such as usefulness, tendency, anxiety, and attitudes. Findings: Older students have more confidence than younger ones in computer proficiency and learning skills. They are more motivated, show better attitudes and are less anxious. Recommendations for Practitioners: Practitioners should con...
Overall, climate concerns have been on the global agenda for many years now. However, the aviation sector’s impact on climate change has been receiving increased attention recently. This is primarily due to the adoption of the 2016 carbon... more
Overall, climate concerns have been on the global agenda for many years now. However, the aviation sector’s impact on climate change has been receiving increased attention recently. This is primarily due to the adoption of the 2016 carbon offsetting and reduction scheme for international civil aviation (CORSIA) which was introduced by the international civil aviation organization (ICAO). The aims of our study are to analyze ICAO’s carbon offsetting reduction scheme through the lens of the triple bottom line (TBL) value creation dimensions and to explore implementation issues relevant to its success and alignment between regulatory and commercial capabilities. Findings from our analysis were presented to a pilot focus group to further our understanding of the area. After cross-examination of the carbon emission reduction implementation issues against the TBL dimensions, we show the gap between regulatory schemes and the realities of the sustainable commercial aviation sector to meet ...
In this study, we present a strategic change theoretical model and empirically validate it in the context of inter-governmental organizations. We followed a survey methodology approach and tested our model hypotheses using exploratory and... more
In this study, we present a strategic change theoretical model and empirically validate it in the context of inter-governmental organizations. We followed a survey methodology approach and tested our model hypotheses using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Traditional strategic management models were created primarily with the private sector in mind. Therefore, validation of the model constructs for their appropriateness to the present construct is essential, especially that these types of organizations, such as those of the United Nations agencies, face major challenges when it comes to change. We found significant re-groupings of items, leading to the necessity to reformulate the constructs, as the context of our study is significantly different. We found that institutional pressures have a significant influence on strategic change and were mediated by strategic formulation. We also found that strategic pressures did not have any influence on strategic intent. Our rese...
Aim/Purpose: Using United Nations as the backdrop, this article present a theory-based conceptual model. The results of this empirical study also identify the most influence factors to the success of change management to the United... more
Aim/Purpose: Using United Nations as the backdrop, this article present a theory-based conceptual model. The results of this empirical study also identify the most influence factors to the success of change management to the United Nations. Background: In 2000, the issue of management reform started taking center stage in the United Nations, and change efforts were presented to various governing bodies regularly as an indicator of organizational performance. However, existing change theories put many efforts on addressing the institutional management and behavior problems. Only a few answered the phenomenon existing in the U.N. context. Methodology: Using the data collected from seven United Nations organizations, we assess the psychometric properties of validated survey items, followed by EFA and then CFA. Contribution: Change management in the United Nations context is rarely being studied. Fifteen items in five constructs describing impact factors for current change process in th...
In this study we combine an immersive learning environment, an evidence based management method and the knowledge management SECI mindset to investigate students’ learning from scientific journal articles. The study entailed the use of a... more
In this study we combine an immersive learning environment, an evidence based management method and the knowledge management SECI mindset to investigate students’ learning from scientific journal articles. The study entailed the use of a web-based peer to peer system (P2PS) that, gives an identified subject matter, engages students in extracting knowledge from a source, processes that knowledge to create new knowledge, assesses each other’s works, and then creates a test on the subject matter. We found that the immersive learning environment engaged students and improved their examination performance. However, comparing two groups, exposed versus not exposed to scientific journal article, both focused on keywords alone for the knowledge processing. This was not a desirable outcome from the knowledge management process and the tool. We believe this outcome is a result of engrained traditional learning and driven by our wish to make a change in educational practice, we propose our e-p...
Research Interests:
ABSTRACT
There is much interest in the study of online learning in higher education. Student beliefs towards online learning may influence intentions and ultimately performance. Many studies have flaws in their research design and fall short in... more
There is much interest in the study of online learning in higher education. Student beliefs towards online learning may influence intentions and ultimately performance. Many studies have flaws in their research design and fall short in providing useful insight for decision making. In this regard, the need for developing practical e-learning implementation framework(s) is crucial. The main objective of this study is to employ the cognitive map technique to causal relationships among belief factors, and investigating various impact chains via simulations. The authors identify optimal e-learning design and implementation, while a partial least squares approach was performed to validate the proposed research model anchored in the Technology Acceptance Model. A survey was carried out and data were collected from 102 respondents. The proposed research model was tested and subsequent cognitive mapping simulations were performed. This study provides designers, instructors and decision maker...
Digital information product producers have not taken advantage of the e-supply chain paradigm of today. However, in this information-based sector, a different set of supply chain management challenges exist. Very little research has been... more
Digital information product producers have not taken advantage of the e-supply chain paradigm of today. However, in this information-based sector, a different set of supply chain management challenges exist. Very little research has been done in the supply chain of information products. This study focuses on the process analysis of the supply chain paradigm for digital information products. A framework for digital information products production in e-learning is proposed followed by an example of its implementation. Benefits, barriers, and challenges faced by different stakeholders are discussed.
This paper describes a prototype of a decision support system developed to assess patients with osteoporosis. The system was embedded into the clinical workflow environment. This system is being used in two clinics and one hospital center... more
This paper describes a prototype of a decision support system developed to assess patients with osteoporosis. The system was embedded into the clinical workflow environment. This system is being used in two clinics and one hospital center in Canada. Osteoporosis is a disorder with major physical and economical implications. Assessing and properly managing patients with osteoporosis is complex and requires
HighlightsGrain inverters minimized fissuring of rice kernels closest to the heated air plenum at plenum air temperatures =55°C.Grain inverters had no effect on rice kernel fissuring across a grain column at plenum air temperatures... more
HighlightsGrain inverters minimized fissuring of rice kernels closest to the heated air plenum at plenum air temperatures =55°C.Grain inverters had no effect on rice kernel fissuring across a grain column at plenum air temperatures <55°C.Grain inverters decreased head rice yield reduction of samples dried at plenum air temperatures >55°C but had no effect on head rice yield reduction at plenum air temperatures =55°C.One or two grain inverters in a cross-flow dryer can help reduce kernel fissuring and minimize head rice yield reduction.. Industrial-scale cross-flow dryers are commonly equipped with grain inverters to facilitate uniform drying across the column thickness, but limited information is available on the effect of grain inverters on rice milling quality. In this study, lab-scale drying experiments were performed to investigate the effect of grain inverters on kernel fissuring and head rice yield reduction. Rice samples of long-grain cultivar Roy J were dried for 60 mi...
Electronic commerce allows for design of flexible and effective mechanisms of exchange between economic parties. Electronic negotiations let the geographically and temporally separated participants to engage in offer exchange in search... more
Electronic commerce allows for design of flexible and effective mechanisms of exchange between economic parties. Electronic negotiations let the geographically and temporally separated participants to engage in offer exchange in search for acceptable agreements. The digital medium enables the designers to build software agents that can take over the time and effort consuming negotiation tasks. The current work assesses the prospects of utilizing software agents in negotiations with the human counterparts. It describes an experiment in B2C settings where human subjects acted as buyers shopping for a mobile phone service. The experimental treatments included various agent concession-making strategies, as well as the complexity of the task.
We are in the midst of a healthcare paradigm shift driven by the wide adoption of ubiquitous computing and various modes of information communications technologies. As a result, cities worldwide are undergoing a major process of... more
We are in the midst of a healthcare paradigm shift driven by the wide adoption of ubiquitous computing and various modes of information communications technologies. As a result, cities worldwide are undergoing a major process of urbanization with ever increasing wealth of sensing capabilities-hence the Internet of Things (IoT). These trends impose great pressure on how healthcare is done. This paper describes the design and implementation of a situated clinical decision support (SCDSS) system, most appropriate for smart cities. The SCDSS was prototyped and enhanced in a clinic. The SCDSS was then used in a clinic as well as in a university hospital centre. In this article, the system's architecture, subcomponents and integrated workflow are described. The systems' design was the result of a knowledge acquisition process involving interviews with five specialists and testing with 50 patients. The reports (specialist consultation report) generated by the SCDSS were shown to ge...
Over the past few decades, more and more students choose to enroll in online classes instead of attending in-class lectures. While past studies consider students' attitudes towards online education and how their grades differed from... more
Over the past few decades, more and more students choose to enroll in online classes instead of attending in-class lectures. While past studies consider students' attitudes towards online education and how their grades differed from in-class lectures, the profile of the online student remains a blur. To shed light on this, an online survey was administered to about 1,500 students enrolled in an undergraduate Fundamental Business Technology course at a Canadian University. The survey was comprised of questions on students' demographics, their reasons for choosing online courses, their expectations towards the course, the communication channels they use for the course with fellow students and with the instructor. This paper focused on the research question: Do the perspectives of online students concerning the online experience, in general, and in the course in particular, differ according to age profile? After several statistical analyses, it was found that age does have an i...
Aim/Purpose This article presents the results of reviewing journal outlets where research in digital innovation and transformation are published. Our aim is to make the case for a much-needed journal dedicated research and practice in the... more
Aim/Purpose This article presents the results of reviewing journal outlets where research in digital innovation and transformation are published. Our aim is to make the case for a much-needed journal dedicated research and practice in the digital innovation / transformation and human / humanity sphere. Background Digital innovation has become part of our daily lives whether we are aware of it or not. Over 4 billion people are using blockchain, IoT, cloud computing, mobile technologies, social media and artificial intelligence, yet very little is understood of their effects on humans. Research in this area is relatively scarce and dispersed across diverse types of journals. The few articles published in the area of digital innovation and humanity provide just a hint on the importance of the subject matter. Ultimately, we need to understand what technology is for humans. Is the digitalization phenomenon a utopia or a dystopia? What we really need is a truly human-centered transformati...
Background Studying the experience of customers, employees, and partners remain the focus of a lot of research. Integrated information systems paradigms such as digital platforms and enterprise resources planning is still not well... more
Background Studying the experience of customers, employees, and partners remain the focus of a lot of research. Integrated information systems paradigms such as digital platforms and enterprise resources planning is still not well understood. It seems however, that companies continue to face challenges to get its stakeholders on board. The recent new paradigm of digital platforms present enhanced opportunities to traditional ERP in the form of organizations rethinking (yet again) how they do business and in remodeling the experiences of their human ecosystem, namely their customers, employees and partners.
This article investigates the relationship between Web-based learning and Problem-solving in a web-based course on the fundamentals of Information Technology at a university in Montreal, Canada. We assess for the different learning... more
This article investigates the relationship between Web-based learning and Problem-solving in a web-based course on the fundamentals of Information Technology at a university in Montreal, Canada. We assess for the different learning components of the course, the extent of problemsolving skills acquisition including research, creativity and critical thinking skills. The course entailed two categories of learning, namely resources-based and interactive components. The study aimed at answering the following questions: (1) To what extent is problem-solving skill acquisition explained by the acquisition of the other three skills? (2) To what extent do students understand the definitions of Problem-solving, Research and Creative Idea Generation skills, and Critical Thinking skills? (3) What is the effect of the learning modules in the course on these skills? and, (4) What is the relative contribution of the various learning modules to the acquisition of Problem-Solving, Research, and Creat...
Aim/Purpose Although the latest review on digital innovation was made in 2018 (included articles up to 2017), the purpose of this study is to explore and examine opportunities for research in digital innovation and transformation for both... more
Aim/Purpose Although the latest review on digital innovation was made in 2018 (included articles up to 2017), the purpose of this study is to explore and examine opportunities for research in digital innovation and transformation for both researchers (including graduate students) and practitioners. A conceptual model is proposed. Background Digital innovation is omnipresent today, as it has penetrated deep into the structure and psyche of individuals, communities, organizations, institutions and governments. We find ourselves in a quagmire of opportunities risks and uncertainties, where ubiquitous technological interconnectedness form a new paradigm enabling industry to innovate and grow. All humanity is faced with these disruptive digital pressures. Yet, relatively there is little research done. Unfortunately, a coordinated effort for such a seriously important phenome-non does not exist. Methodology A structured literature review approach was conducted, the results of which were u...
HighlightsX-ray imaging allows visualization of the fissuring that occurs at various drying air conditions.Drying air conditions that create severe intra-kernel material state gradients during drying result in kernel fissuring.The glass... more
HighlightsX-ray imaging allows visualization of the fissuring that occurs at various drying air conditions.Drying air conditions that create severe intra-kernel material state gradients during drying result in kernel fissuring.The glass transition hypothesis was validated for explaining the fissuring of rice kernels during drying.. Fissured rice kernels tend to break during milling, leading to milling yield reductions. A hypothesis involving changes in material state properties has been proposed to predict kernel fissuring during the drying process. The hypothesis, referred to as the glass transition hypothesis, has been used to explain kernel fissuring during the drying process and has been supported by various milling studies. However, this hypothesis has not been validated from a fundamental fissuring standpoint. In this study, experiments were performed using drying air temperatures of 45°C, 50°C, 55°C, 60°C, and 65°C with relative humidity values that produced equilibrium moist...
Aim/Purpose: A grounded research study to understand ERP implementation failure. This study was done in a United Nations agency. Background: An organization mid-size ERP system (AGRESSO) was implemented over a period of 6 years in a... more
Aim/Purpose: A grounded research study to understand ERP implementation failure. This study was done in a United Nations agency. Background: An organization mid-size ERP system (AGRESSO) was implemented over a period of 6 years in a United Nations agency, under conditions of political pressures and limited budget. Methodology : Observations and quasi-structured interview method was used to collect the data. Contribution: ERP implementation success is still difficult to frame. This study looks at this problem in terms of the causes of failure. Moreover, ERP research studies are relatively few and dispersed, especially for the UN context – which to our knowledge has not been published. Findings: The major finding is that the political nature of the UN fosters a hierarchical culture that is detrimental for Information Systems implementation in general, excluding the end-user from the functional requirements engineering process. There seems to be a lack of vision and strategic direction...
Web-based courses are being introduced by higher education institutions at an increasing rate, such that a systematic shift from face-to-face teaching to web-based teaching has become evident. This enthusiasm in web-based education is... more
Web-based courses are being introduced by higher education institutions at an increasing rate, such that a systematic shift from face-to-face teaching to web-based teaching has become evident. This enthusiasm in web-based education is primarily driven by cost savings and bottom line net profits to institutions. However, research work in the field still has a long way to demonstrate the effectiveness and benefits of web-based learning in general and more specifically, which student can benefit most. Regardless of all the benefits reported, difficulties are still encountered by students, professors, and institutions alike. In fact, many studies show that the web environment for learning is not appropriate for everyone. Therefore, the primary question should be “who is appropriate to take web-based courses?” This of course is in the context of success as it relates to enhanced learning experience and improved performance. Considering the reported benefits and difficulties, this paper i...
Despite the fact that money has been and always will be a hot topic, research has ignored it especially when it comes to payment issues in online commerce. It seems that people in the money business are busy making and spending it and... more
Despite the fact that money has been and always will be a hot topic, research has ignored it especially when it comes to payment issues in online commerce. It seems that people in the money business are busy making and spending it and have no time to study it and publish their findings. Come to think of it, why would one publish a methodology to save money when he/she can use it solely for themselves? To that effect, this paper investigates the Pay Pal e-payment system, identifies fraudulent activities that have occurred in this system, proposes a simple process to reduce these frauds and reports the results of a Canadian company before and after the application of this process.
There are relatively few empirical studies that examine cultural differences in students’ beliefs and use of web-based learning systems. Asian and Western countries have different systems of thought which are rooted in their respective... more
There are relatively few empirical studies that examine cultural differences in students’ beliefs and use of web-based learning systems. Asian and Western countries have different systems of thought which are rooted in their respective national culture. Although there are a number of theories to explain individuals’ behavior within different cultures, there are few that focused on web-based learning differences. In this study, we investigate the motivational differences among Chinese and Canadian online learners. We enhance our body of knowledge in two respects: moderating and mediating effects of intrinsic motivation in the two groups and the use of the ‘cognitive system of thought’ theory to extract meaning from the results.
Aim/Purpose: To investigate the state of anxiety and associated expected performance in online courses at the undergraduate level. Background: Online courses continue to increase dramatically. Computer related anxieties remain an... more
Aim/Purpose: To investigate the state of anxiety and associated expected performance in online courses at the undergraduate level. Background: Online courses continue to increase dramatically. Computer related anxieties remain an important issue, and, in this context, it has evolved to online learning anxieties with deeper psychological states involved. Consequently, performance is compromised. Methodology: A first semester online course in information technology was used for the study. A survey methodology approach was used for the anxiety scale measurements. A sample of 1377 participants was obtained. Contribution: Although there are many technology and internet related anxieties studies, they are relatively scarce. Characteristics of educational performance as they relate to anxiety have not matured and are still controversial. We contribute to this body of literature. Findings: 30% of students seem to experience some sort of anxiety with online courses. Female students are more ...

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