Jean-Paul Van Belle
- Research and Publications

Introduction

My current research efforts include the following:

Evaluation and ontological foundations of generic business models. I am currently pursuing my doctoral studies. Although I am in my third year of registration (at UCT), I have only recently begun writing the introductory chapter but I intend to complete my thesis in the middle of 2002.
Expert decision support systems in functional business management. This research builds on a unique database of SA expert systems which I built up in 1992 and which has been shared with various other SA researchers.
I am actively involved in the development of introductory information systems textbooks. I am co-author of two introductory textbooks for first year information systems students "Discovering Information Systems" as well as an introduction to MS-Office 97. I am also a co-author of other IS-related textbooks aimed at the tertiary educations.

Textbooks

Contributor of 250 IT-related keywords to: SASOL Science and Technology Resource: a resource for learners, students and trainees in science and technology. Published by New Africa Education publishing, Claremont, 2001. ISBN 1-919770-16-X (Interactive CD-ROM) ISBN 1-919770 17-8 (Book).
Van Belle & Seymour. Office XP for Business. Textbook, South African Universities Press, Durbanville, 2003.
Van Belle, Nash & Eccles. Discovering Information Systems An Exploratory Approach. South African Universities Press, Durbanville, 2003. ISBN 0-620-24194-2
Eccles MG, Julyan FW, Boot G & Van Belle JP. The Principles of Business Computing. Juta, Cape Town, 2000. ISBN 0-7021-5157-2
Van Belle J.P. & Hanou J. QuickStart to MS-Office 97. South African Universities Press, Durbanville, 1999. ISBN 0-620-24195-0

Journals

J.P. Van Belle. An Evaluation of Teaching Strategies for an Information Systems Foundations Course. Academy of Educational Leadership Journal, Volume 4 Number 1 (2000).
J.P. Van Belle & B. Price. A Proposed Framework for Evaluating Generic Enterprise Models. South African Computer Journal, Number 26, Nov 2000 pp. 69-76.
J.P. Van Belle & T. Wegner. Expert Decision Support Systems for Functional Area Management: A South African Overview in Management Dynamics: Contemporary Research, Vol 4 No 2 (Autumn 1995) pp. 55-71.

Papers & Conferences

Green, S. & Van Belle, J.P. Customer Expectations of Internet Banking in South Africa. Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Electronic Business (ICEB 2003), Singapore, 9-13 Dec 2003. (Presentation)
Van Belle, J.P. Visual Comparison of Enterprise Models Using Syntactic Model Information. Proceedings of the 13th Australasian Conference on Information Systems, Perth: 26-28 Nov 2003. (Presentation)
Van Belle, J.P; Fellstad, R.; Steele, C. & van Bakel, W. Multi-language Websites in a Multi Cultural Country: A South African Perspective. Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Electronic Business (ICEB 2003), Singapore, 9-13 Dec 2003. (Presentation)
Van Belle, J.P. & Brink, V. An Exploration of Personal Factors Influencing Disposition towards Knowledge Sharing in a South African Context. Proceedings of the Conference on Information Science, Technology & Management (CISTM2003), Cape Town, 28-29 October, 2003
Towards a Syntactic Signature for Domain Models: Proposed Descriptive Metrics for Visualizing the Entity Fan-out Frequency Distribution. SAICSIT, East-London, Sep 2002.
Van Belle J.P. & Stander A. Gender Differences in the Perceptions and Use of Email in Two South African Organisations. International Conference on Cultural Attitudes towards Technology and Communication The Net(s) of Power: Language, Culture and Technology, Montral, Canada, 12-15 July 2002.
Van Belle J.P. Web-based course delivery & Tools. Africa Connects Conference, Cape Town, 9-13 July, 2001.
Van Belle J.P. Teaching an Information Systems Foundation Course: What Works and What Doesn't. Proceedings of the International Conference of the Academy of Information and Management Sciences, Maui, 11-14 October 2000.
Van Belle J.P. Evaluation of Selected IS Course Delivery Options on Student Performance. 30th Conference of the SA Computing Lecturers Association, Strand: 29-30 June 2000.
Van Belle J.P. Moving towards Generic Enterprise Models: from Pacioli to Cyc. Proceedings of the 10th Australasian Conference on Information Systems, Wellington: 1-3 Nov 1999.
Van Belle J.P. Semantic Standardisation of High-level Enterprise Modelling. Arguments for an Ontological Approach. Proceedings of the 28th Conference of the SA Computing Lecturers Association, Stellenbosch: 28-30 June 1998.
Van Belle J.P. & Eccles M. Innovative Design and Delivery of an IS Foundation Course. Proceedings of the 28th Conference of the SA Computing Lecturers Association, Stellenbosch: 28-30 June 1998.
Van Belle J.P. Conceptual business models: a comparison of management science, systems theory and information engineering enterprise models. Proceedings of the 9th Annual Conference of the Southern Africa Institute for Management Scientists, Pietermaritzburg: 2-3 June 1997.
Van Belle J.P. A critique of Current Systems Engineering Methods: The Case for Ontology-Augmented Methodologies. Proceedings of EMMSAD96, Crete (Greece): May 20-21, 1996.
Van Belle J.P. Expert Decision Support Systems in Functional Business Management: A SA Status Report. The 6th SA Institute for Management Scientists Conference, 5-6 September 1994, Bellville.
Van Belle J.P. & Wegner T. Expert DSS in South Africa: A Survey. The XIII World Conference in Operations Research (IFORS), 10-16 July 1993, Lisbon (Portugal).
Van Belle J.P. Practical Applications of Expert System Technology in South Africa: A Survey. CISNA-93, 2-4 June 1993, Gaborone (Botswana).
Van Belle J.P. The Use of CBE in Business Economics: experiences at UWC. The Conference on "Voortreffelikheid in Onderrig en Leer in Tersire Onderwys", 2-4 April 1986, Stellenbosch.
Van Belle J.P. Computer-based Education in Financial Management. Conference in Management and Economic Sciences, 29-30 Oct '85, Bloemfontein.

Theses and Technical Reports

A Framework for the Analysis and Evaluation of Enterprise Models. Ph D Thesis submitted to the Dept of Information Systems, University of Cape Town, February 2003.
A survey of the current status of expert systems in South Africa. Technical Report, B.Com (Hons), University of Cape Town, May 1992.
The U.S.B. Growth Model. A Multi-variable Financial Computer Model for Growth Businesses. M.B.A., University of Stellenbosch, August 1988, 188 pages. (Old Mutual Gold Medal Award)
Toetsen van een aantal beursstrategien op de Brusselse Contantmarkt. Licentiate Economic Sciences, Rijksuniversiteit Gent, May 1983. (Best Licentiate Thesis of the Year Award)

Unpublished Research Papers of Interest

Some Thoughts on an Extended Accounting Model as the Basis for the Financial Information System. (1991)
Computer Viruses: Current Status, Future Trends and Possible Advantages. (1991)
Expert Systems for Investment Decision Support. (1991)
The Demise of a Dinosaur: Mainframe CBT. A Case Study Par Excellence in Downsizing. (1991)
Stepwise Linear Discriminant Analysis: a Statistical Technique Waiting for a MIS Application. (1991)

Editor

I've edited about 26 issues of the "JSE Shareware Magazine", a newsletter dedicated to Shareware and Public Domain software in South Africa, which was distributed to over 2000 members of the Joint Software Exchange. I've loaded a couple of issues FYI. Though the articles are somewhat/very dated from a technology point of view, they make for a good laugh and the magazines are sprinkled with some good jokes and one-liners in between articles. Note that I've deleted the catalogue descriptions of the shareware additions to the shareware library.

Other, non-academic publications

Please refer to my running page for the many running reports and stories I've written.

Jean-Paul Van Belle - Research and Publications