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Quality circles (QCir) method is one tool of favorable effects on organisational change. However, usage of the QCir method for the development of education is still a perplexing, scattered and scarcely attended domain. This paper aims at defining boundaries of categories of topics that could be considered relevant discussions to this domain.

With the basis of Soft Systems Methodology theory and concept development research method, this paper structured a taxonomy of categories of topics. Additionally, this paper afterwards performed a structured analysis, based on the taxonomy, of the total literature relevant to the “quality circles for education” domain.

The results revealed that this line of interest, although limitedly researched, is still alive today, and not dead as was claimed in some studies. However, the core and amount of empirical evidence is yet insufficient for the necessary progress of knowledge of this domain due to the type of research methods used most of the time. Also, fortunately, because of the tabulated structure, the analysis clearly showed the niche topics under this area that are ripe ground for new research. Furthermore, this paper has shed light on another possible future line of research that plugs this domain into a set of synonym circles used in the pedagogy realm.

This paper introduced land marks and border for a subject that was left limitedly visited and scattered for some time, although it was positively praised in several studies. This paper developed a taxonomy as well as drawn the landscape of the subject via performing a comprehensive structured analysis of the relevant literature.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the connection between the various layers of roles and tasks of librarians with the various knowledge types and methods. Although there are multiple benefits anticipated with knowledge management (KM) schemes in libraries, the practical side of it among Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals is not yet notable or evident.

Taxonomy building and Delphi method were two means of research deployed to achieve the declared purpose.

It was possible to achieve several steps into structuring a taxonomy but yet further work has to be accomplished in order to consummate the taxonomy. For this, means of group interviewing method along with perhaps sponsorship of association relevant to librarianship might be an appropriate approach.

Delphi process was not possible to be fully exercised and completed due to limitations of limited number of participants as well the overwhelming feeling of participants had toward the unfamiliar content. It would have been more rewarding to have physical meeting in groups to overcome such limitations.

This paper lays the foundation stone of a multi-layer taxonomy for roles of librarians toward KM. The taxonomy also unveils a dimension that librarians often miss when discussing KM. It also models the categories of knowledge types for LIS. Thus, the LIS community is urged to contribute in the development of this taxonomy which could become the handbook of reference in KM for librarianship.

Teaching management information systems (MIS) fundamental course remains a challenging task to date, encountering several continuing complaints from students as well as instructors, as per several studies. Several reasons are reported, some of which are related to little embrace of more innovative non-traditional techniques, and limited literature guidance on selection and effective use of appropriate strategies to various settings. Toward instructional innovation, this paper proposes and tests a pedagogical instrument. By introducing this tool, the ultimate objective is to minimize the confusion that students usually encounter during this course and to empower the instructors in the delivery of its interdisciplinary knowledge.

A triangulation of four methods is being employed: conceptual development, experimentation for 12 years, assessment in light of the self-regulated learning theory, and empirical analysis. For the latter method, an open-ended questionnaire as well as group interviewing were carried out.

The proposed instrument (need-function instrument [NFI]) was found to be in support of self-regulated learning to a promising extent in terms of its four core aspects. The participants were more inclined to accept as well as appreciate the instrument than report drawbacks. Yet, there are few complaints for the inability to distinguish between two introduced terms, ‘Information Problem’ and ‘Operations Problem’. Therefore, a future effort is deemed necessary to explore this aspect.

The results are based on a single case of educational institution which is not enough to generalize for other educational environments. Future research is necessary for testing in a variety of settings in terms of type of classroom, number of students enrolled, type of institution (public or private), etc.

Whereas the instrument is anticipated to render improvements in the students’ understanding of MIS content and to alleviate the task of the course leader in delivering the course, there are possible practical implications that should be paid careful attention to. They were analyzed in terms of four dimensions: the Instructor, the Student, the Classroom and Time.

The paper introduces a new pedagogical instrument/tool for teaching the MIS fundamental course.

There are accelerating trends for the implementation of electronic commerce (e‐commerce) as an extra marketing channel for selling products globally via the access of the Internet. This is expected to influence the shape of future cities and the conservation of natural resources. This paper critically reviews the current research work to date regarding the environmental implications of e‐commerce. The main observation is that there are difficulties to generalise the results. There is a general agreement that it is highly difficult, if not impossible, to state if the damaging effects of e‐commerce on the environment can weigh over the advantageous effects or the contrary. One proposition in this context is that instead of looking at e‐commerce as “a vehicle driving towards freely satisfying the market needs”, we should look at e‐commerce as “a cart attached to our vehicle towards sustainable development”.