Understanding user's needs in information gathering in social networks

Abstract

Social Network Sites (SNSs) have become an important method for information exchange, and many people turn to these sites for their information needs. Users encounter a variety of challenges when performing information gathering on SNSs because the SNS messages are not organized like traditional documents. These challenges include small amounts of information in each message, unorganized messages, and lack of context in each message. In this work we focus specifically on how the information should be presented to a user to address these issues. We perform a study of SNS users to identify their preferences for such an interface and present the results.

A Framework for Developing Social Networks Enabling Systems to Enhance the Transparency and Visibility of Cross-border Food Supply Chains

“…Enterprises and Government Agencies Though in early stages, social networking technologies and mobile social applications are gaining wide adoption in enterprises and government agencies to engage with business partners, customers, prospects and the general public [6], [8], [9], [11], [13], [22], [23], [25], [28]- [30], [36], [38], [40], [41], [43], [46], [47], [49], [52], [53], [59], [69], [73], [82], [83], [92]. Gartner presents a full list of potential business applications of social software in its hype cycle report, such as social customer relationship management, social commerce, social shopping, social learning, social network payment, social business process management and social government management [40].…”

“…International organizations, non-government and government organizations, and industry consortiums have been pursuing the enforcement and reform of variable food guidelines, standards and legislations, promoting or forcing food producers, logistics providers and retailers to adopt specific management and operation practices, to safeguard food quality and safety [19]. Food companies are struggling to pilot innovative business practices and implement emerging technologies to establish flexible and efficient collaborations with upstream and downstream partners for sharing tracking and tracing information, thus improving the efficiency and transparency of their supply chains [3], [10], [16][17][18], [24], [49].…”

“…International organizations, non-government and government organizations, and industry consortiums have been pursuing the enforcement and reform of variable food guidelines, standards and legislations, promoting or forcing food producers, logistics providers and retailers to adopt specific management and operation practices, to safeguard food quality and safety [19]. Food companies are struggling to pilot innovative business practices and implement emerging technologies to establish flexible and efficient collaborations with upstream and downstream partners for sharing tracking and tracing information, thus improving the efficiency and transparency of their supply chains [3], [10], [16][17][18], [24], [49].Globalization, personalized food consumption behavior, and unprecedentedly increasing demands on quality and healthy foods from both developed countries and emerging economies DOI 10.7603/s40601-013-0051-8are imposing significant complexities and rising costs for achieving horizontal and vertical transparency in local or cross-border/global, 'closed' or 'open' food supply chains [63], [67]. Worldwide food and agricultural export had doubled to US$900 billion in 2007 compared to US$400 billion in 2000, which continues to increase [74].…”