WAYS OF USING THE WEB 2.0 SERVICE MODELS WITHIN THE NATIONAL SYSTEM OF DEFENSE, PUBLIC ORDER AND  NATIONAL SECURITY

Radu-Mihai OANȚĂ,

PhD. Student, National Defense University “Carol I”,

radu.oanta @mai.gov.ro

Abstract: Knowledge is a major factor success in the contemporary society. In order to grow successfully, organizations must excel in the use of knowledge. At present, at the organizational level, knowledge management models are used at a very high frequency. Among these, the most representative models are the technological models that include novelty in the use of information technology tools, namely Web 2.0 service models.

In the given article I will briefly outline the main features of the four Web 2.0 service models, namely: Exchanger, Aggregator, Collaborator, and Liberator. I will analyze the ways of using these service models within the National Defense, Public Order and National Security System, especially at the level of the integrated IT systems endowed by the Minister of National Defense and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Key words: knowledge, knowledge management, web 2.0

Nowadays we are facing a rapid shift from an „industrial society” to a „knowledge-based society”, while the latter mainly relies on the knowledge as a production factor. Actually, the „knowledge-based society” started in the ninth decade of the 20th century and deals with concepts such as: knowledge-based society, knowledge-based economy, knowledge-based organization and knowledge-based management. Out of the previously mentioned concepts, the most widely used is the knowledge-based society, which actually means that the role of the information and technology tools has turned from a means of technological change into a means of enhancing knowledge, thus offering a new potential of combining TIC stored information with human creative potential.[1]

Research shows first that data, information and implicitly knowledge found on the Internet actually doubles in size every four years. Accessing data and information stored on servers from all over the world takes place instantly due to huge transfer speed and signal propagation media. Due to technological evolution, search engines have become even more intelligent, as they combine human intelligence with advanced mathematical algorithms, based on users’ behavior, thus having improved search outcome.[2]

The Web 2.0 platform was formulated during a debate on the topic of business models, being supported by the information and communication technologies, between Tim O’Reilly and MediaLive International, during a brainstorming session of a 2005 conference.[3]

The Web 2.0 concept is actually a network whose members contribute to the developing tools and Internet communities. The Web 2.0 term is meant to distinguish between knowledge-creation activities on the Internet and the traditional static and passive Web pages. On such a platform users simultaneously contribute to developing knowledge bases.[4]

In 2011, Shari Shang and collaborators analyzed Web 2.0 services and developed a framework for ranking existing service models from a knowledge creating perspective. Such services offer various levels of knowledge exploitation on two types of platforms: experience-socialization and intelligence proliferation, implying four service models called: Exchanger, Aggregator, Collaborator and Liberalization[5]. At present, the Web 2.0 service models go in line with the directions identified by Shari Shang.

The four Web 2.0 service models are the following:

(i) Exchanger: it is a platform that enables knowledge socialization and externalization. This is, as a rule, a web site that has instant-messaging functions to facilitate exchange of shared experiences via online communication. This kind of service provides a platform such as MSN or Skype that allows users to exchange information via written or voice messages.

(ii) Aggregator: This is a platform that enables the knowledge creating cycle from socialization and externalization quadrants to combine with low control mechanisms. Its Website can aggregate syndicated web content, such as news headlines, blogs, podcasts and video logs into a single location for easy viewing. It provides a storage platform such as Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter for sharing user’s information in an allocated space that is easily accessible over the Internet’

(iii) Collaborator: This is a platform that enables the knowledge creating cycle from socialization, externalization through combination to internalization with high control mechanisms in place. On such a platform, the mode of internalized knowledge is reflected in two forms: recreated contents or recreated applications. The former provides functions for organizing complex information into specific categories and enables participants to review, edit, recreate, and generate contents. These services enable an ongoing knowledge-creating process from socializing and externalizing knowledge with peers through combining specific knowledge within a collective intelligence to reflecting the knowledge internalization through digitized content or applications.

(iv) Liberalization: This is a platform that provides for the knowledge creating cycles from socialization, externalization through combination to internalization with low control mechanisms. These communities focus on opening their source code to scrutiny to and to allow upgrading of its quality. Taking Open Office and Linux as examples, users can share the applications they download, as well as revise and update them on the open source community’s Web Sites’.[6]

Focusing on the SECI models, researchers have noticed that „although people can go through the entire process of learning Socialization-Externalization-Combination-Internalization (SECI), Web 2.0 services have been developed to support various phases of such a process a knowledge-based perspective has been adopted in order to define different types of services through analyzing activities of web 2.0 applications”[7]. The proposed model can be seen in Fig.1.

Fig. 1 The creating cycle of knowledge management (source: adapted from Shari S.C. Shang, Eldon Y. Li, Ya-Ling Wub și Oliver C.L. Hou, 2011)

Researchers have eventually concluded the fact that ”once the Web 2.0 concept emerged, creating knowledge services requires various efforts on the part of both clients and of service suppliers. Although applying the Web 2.0 platform is in its initial phase, with different progresses, knowledge creating processes on this platform require a dynamic and contextual management for an adequate using of knowledge and for reducing the negative impact of created knowledge”.[8]

Next, I will be briefly presenting different site applications of the Web 2.0 platforms:

  1. Chats – Chat Websites establish Web-based communication among Websites users;
  2. E-mails – Email Websites allow users to manage their email accounts from any computer or electronic device, such as a smartphone or a tablet, both through a browser or dedicated applications, and to offer a Web mail service with a number of features such as connection with photographs, tags, email and voice;
  3. Bookmarking – Bookmarking Websites collect, organize and share various types of content that users discover while browsing on the Web
  4. Games – Game Websites provide a browser-based interactive game and allow players to compete against one another and share achievements and scores;
  5. Wikis – Wiki Websites allow users to create and share content, Web pages, images and much more;
  6. Travels – Travel Websites enable everyone to explore. Users may want to share advice about local restaurants, or perhaps search the widest possible choice of airline flights and prices;
  7. Video – Video Websites allow user to receive Internet Videos;
  8. Music – Music Websites are media-centric social networks in which users interact with one other by watching, posting and sharing content of all media types, such as blogs, photographs, audio and video;
  9. Programming – Programming Websites enable individuals to generate and share Web 2.0 content code, or other Web applications with one another;
  10. Office (services) – Office Websites bring to the Web many of the functionalities of office tools such as MS Word(Word, Excel, etc.);
  11. Blogs – Blog Websites are social networks built around the telling of life stories;
  12. Calls and VoIP –Calls and VOIP Websites allow users to call other people using IP software such as Skype;
  13. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) – RSS (Really Simple Syndication) Websites are Web-based, news-feed aggregators designed to allow users to read news from many sources;
  14. Photos (photographs) – Photograph Websites provide online photograph services allowing users to manage and share photographs;
  15. Network – A network Website is a social utility for connecting people with friends and others who work study or live around them.
  16. E-Business – Business Websites can help an organization manage and share tasks –(e.g. Web-based project management or financial management) in a team or group in an effective and transparent manner using management tools;
  17. Web 2.0 Tools – Web 2.0 tools Websites offer management tools (e.g. a unique tool to access and manage several DBs through a simple Web interface) through Web 2.0 sites.[9]

Among the main dimensions of the System of National Defense, Public Order and National Security, we would like to mention the defense dimension, the public order dimension, the intelligence dimension, the counterintelligence dimension and the security dimension.[10] The defense dimension is represented by the Ministry of National Defense, the public order and the national security dimension is represented by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the intelligence, counterintelligence and the security dimensions are represented by the External Intelligence Service, the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Guard and Protection Service and the Special Telecommunication Service.[11] At the moment, there is no integrated informatic system able to take over all the needs of such a complex system. With each dimension, there is an Intranet informatic system. For instance, the defense system relies on the Ministry of National Defense Intranet network, the public order dimension relies on the Ministry of Internal Affairs intranet, while the other above-mentioned dimensions rely on the intranet network of the External Intelligence Service, the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Guard and Protection Service and the Special Telecommunication Service.

Next, I will briefly review means of using various site applications contained on the Web 2.0 platform within the informatic systems of the Ministry of the National Defense and the Ministry of the Internal Affairs.

At present, there is an Integrated Informatic System (SIIMAN) in the Ministry of the National Defense, which consists of the following elements:

  • The private MoND network – the military INTRANET (INTRAMAN);
  • The functional informatic systems (SIF)
  • The public MoND network (INTERMAN)  

The private MoND network – INTRAMAN is made up of:

  • The transport network:
  • STAR
  • The data networks:
  • Metropolitan, campus;
  • Local;
  • The CCIS networks
  • The SIIMAN management centers (at central, regional and local level)
  • The common operating environment ( MOC)

The functional informatic systems (SIF) are the following:

  • The Joint Informatic System C4I (SC4I);
  • The Military Operations Support Informatic System (SISAM);
  • The Defense Intelligence Informatic System (SIA);
  • The Simulating, Modelling and Informatic System (SISMIM);
  • The Armament System (SISARM);
  • The Informatic System Assisting Military Education (SIMIL)

The Public MoND network – INTERMAN offers the following services: w.w.w., electronic commerce, e-licitaţie, e-gouverment applications, e-mail, document transfer. This network ensures public interest data to internet users regarding MoND activities.[12]

            Within the MoND informatic systems the following Web 2.0 platform applications can be found: chats, e-mails, games as a means of teaching and training, programming – FTP sites, Office – open-sources, calls and VoIP – videoconference services, network – local networks, e-business – e-auction, SICAP, web 2.0 tools – RESMIL.

            The MoIA informatic system consists of the Integrated Voice-Data Communication Network (called RCVD), the Videoconference National System (called SNV) and the Wide Area Network (called WAN), organized and coordinated by the General Direction of Communication and Information Technology.[13] The Integrated Voice-Data Network provides INTRANET and INTERNET services.

            The MoIA informatic systems comprise the following Web 2.0 applications: chats, e-mails, bookmarkings – marking, programming – FTP sites, Office – open-office (Word, Excel, etc.), calls and VoIP – the videoconference services, RSS – on the ministery’s site, network – local networks, e-business – e-auction, SICAP, web 2.0 tools – eMRU, etc.

            In conclusion, the Web 2.0 service models theories can be employed by the National System of Defense, Public Order and National Security as we could see in the analysis above, and most of the Web 2.0 platform sites have already been successfully used by existing MoND and MoIA informatic networks.

            My future research will be focusing on building up a knowledge bank to be at use within the National System of Defense, Public Order and National Security, based on the Web 2.0 service technological models.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

  1. Cristea, D., Sistemul Informatic Integrat al MApN, Suport pentru dezvoltarea sistemului educațional ADL, București, la adresa https://adlunap.ro/modules/mydownloads/cache/files/40_cristea.pdf;
  2. Ghidul Strategiei Naţionale de Apărare a țării pentru perioada 2015-2019, 2015, București, 2015, la adresa: http://old.presidency.ro/static/Ghid%20SNApT_2015-2019_AP.pdf 
  3. Levy, M., A Holistic Approach to Lessons Learned, How organizations can benefit from their own knowledge, Boca Raton. S.U.A., 2018;
  4. Levy, M., Web 2.0 implications on knowledge management, Journal of Knowledge Management 13 (1), 2009;
  5. Mustaţă, M.,A., Andronie, M., Barbălată, Ş., Exploring alternative ways of teaching metacognitive and epistemic skills, The International Scientific Conference eLearning and Software for Education, vol. 4, București, 2014;
  6. Pandey, K., N., Paradigms of Knowledge Management, With Systems Modelling Case Studies, Springer, India, 2016;
  7. Regulamentul de organizare şi funcţionare a Direcţiei Generale pentru Comunicaţii şi Tehnologia Informaţiei, București, p.2, la adresa http://81.181.207.101/frontend/documente_transparenta/28_1490187175_ROF%20DGCTI.pdf ;
  8. Shang, S.,S.,C., Understanding web 2.0 service models: a knowledge-creating perspective, Information and Management  48, 2011, la adresa http:// http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.453.7195&rep=rep1&type=pdf
  9. Strategia Naţională de Apărare a ţării pentru perioada 2015 ‐ 2019 ‐ O Românie puternică în Europa şi în lume,.București, 2015, la adresa: http://www.presidency.ro/files/userfiles/Strategia_Nationala_de_Aparare_a_Tarii_1.pdf

[1] Mustaţă, M.,A., Andronie, M., Barbălată, Ş., Exploring alternative ways of teaching metacognitive and epistemic skills, The International Scientific Conference eLearning and Software for Education, vol. 4, București, 2014, pp. 350-355;

[2] Levy, M., A Holistic Approach to Lessons Learned, How organizations can benefit from their own knowledge, Boca Raton. S.U.A., 2018, p.p. 6-7

[3] Levy, M., Web 2.0 implications on knowledge management, Journal of Knowledge Management 13 (1), 2009, pp. 120–134.

[4] Pandey, K., N., Paradigms of Knowledge Management, With Systems Modelling Case Studies, Springer, India, 2016, pp.29;

[5] Shang, S.,S.,C., Understanding web 2.0 service models: a knowledge-creating perspective, Information and Management  48, 2011, pp. 179–182, la adresa http:// http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.453.7195&rep=rep1&type=pdf, accesat la data de 10.01.2019

[6] Pandey, K., N., Paradigms of Knowledge Management, With Systems Modelling Case Studies, Springer, India, 2016, pp.29-30;

[7] Shang, S.,S.,C., Op. cit., 179

[8]Ibidem, p. 184

[9]Ibidem, p. 180

[10] Strategia Naţională de Apărare a ţării pentru perioada 2015 ‐ 2019 ‐ O Românie puternică în Europa şi în lume,.București, 2015 accesat la data de 23.01.2019 la adresa http://www.presidency.ro/files/userfiles/Strategia_Nationala_de_Aparare_a_Tarii_1.pdf

[11] Ghidul Strategiei Naţionale de Apărare a țării pentru perioada 2015-2019, 2015, București, 2015, accesat la data de 23.01.2019 la adresa: http://old.presidency.ro/static/Ghid%20SNApT_2015-2019_AP.pdf  

[12] Cristea, D., Sistemul Informatic Integrat al MApN, Suport pentru dezvoltarea sistemului educațional ADL, București, pp. 4-9 accesat la data de 23.01.2019 la adresa https://adlunap.ro/modules/mydownloads/cache/files/40_cristea.pdf

[13] Regulamentul de organizare şi funcţionare a Direcţiei Generale pentru Comunicaţii şi Tehnologia Informaţiei, București, p.2, accesat la 24.01.2019 la adresa http://81.181.207.101/frontend/documente_transparenta/28_1490187175_ROF%20DGCTI.pdf

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