The Pseudoreticulatispora confluens–P. pseudoreticulata spore-pollen zonal datum typically coincides with the end of widespread Permian glacial deposits in Western Australia. Although previously attributed to the mid-Sakmarian, chemical abrasion isotope dilution thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS) dating of zircons from volcanic tuffs in the Ditji Formation of the Bonaparte Basin and the Grant Group in the Canning Basin point to an Asselian age of about 295.25 Ma for this datum. All dated zircons from the Ditji Formation came from petroleum well cuttings but the accompanying palynology was mostly from sidewall cores; however, all Grant Group samples were from conventional core. TIMS dates from the Ditji Formation range in age from 295.2 to 292.7 Ma whereas the only productive tuff from the Grant Group yielded a 296.26 Ma date. By comparison, there are no zircon dates to constrain the onset of glacial deposition in Australia. The Bonaparte Basin ages overlap with those for the Edie Tuff (296.1–294.5 Ma) in Queensland’s Galilee Basin, approximately 2000 km to the southeast, which also lies close to the base of the P. pseudoreticulata Zone. To date the only fossil group within the P. confluens Zone in Western Australia to provide independent age control, albeit loosely, are goniatites from the northern Perth Basin (Uraloceras irwinense and Juresanites jacksoni) that have consistently been attributed to the Sakmarian; these require a reassessment of their affinity with Russian faunas and therefore to global stratotypes. The position of the Carboniferous–Permian boundary is elusive in Australia and will remain so until additional volcanic tuffs containing young datable zircons are found; however, spore-pollen and zircon dates from Namibia place this boundary within the P. confluens Zone.

U–Pb dating of zircons from thin middle Permian tuffs in the Canning Basin of Western Australia by chemical abrasion-isotope dilution thermal ionisation mass spectrometry reveals a conflict with the established spore-pollen zonation. Normally, the first appearance datum of Dulhuntyispora granulata across the continent lies stratigraphically above assemblages assigned to the Microbaculispora villosa Zone. However, the youngest tuffs within non-marine facies from the M. villosa Zone in Pittston SD-1, drilled in the southwest of the Canning Basin, yielded an age of 267.04 ± 0.14 Ma, which is 1.7 million years younger than tuffs associated with the D. granulata Zone in marginal-marine facies from core holes 350–400 km to the northeast. The apparent conflict in ages is possibly due to the non-marine depositional environment having wielded a strong local influence on the palynoflora along the edge of this basin. Although the present information indicates an age 2.5 million years younger than the 266.6 Ma age previously suggested for the top of the M. villosa Zone, revisions to the ages of Roadian–Wordian spore-pollen zones are not considered justifiable without further supporting evidence. Furthermore, considerable care is needed when comparing palynological assemblages from significantly differing facies. Two basaltic sills (43.5 m and 20 m thick) immediately below the tuffaceous beds in Pittston SD-1 are coincidental, as Ar–Ar dating indicates a Late Triassic age for the intrusions.

Using the lens of Clegg's circuits of power (CoP) framework, this study examines the resistance to a UK information security certification scheme through three episodes of power that led to its withdrawal in 2000. The UK authorities sought to generate market competition between a generic certificate scheme with lower costs and international recognition and one based on technical rigor, but they failed in their objectives because of resistance from organizational players. This paper makes contributions to the understanding of the discursive nature of resistance to change in the research of standards and certification, and contributes to the literature by formulating the concept of discourse resilience: the property of discourses to resist change. It identifies the non-agentic nature of resistance in the absence of coercive power and presents a reflection on legitimacy as a required attribute for the acceptance of a certificate scheme. The research finds that what organizations deem to be legitimate is the result of power.

ABSTRACT The advent of chemical abrasion-isotope dilution thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (CA-IDTIMS) has revolutionised U–Pb dating of zircon, and the enhanced precision of eruption ages determined on volcanic layers within basin successions permits an improved calibration of biostratigraphic schemes to the numerical time-scale. The Guadalupian and Lopingian (Permian) successions in the Sydney, Gunnedah, Bowen and Canning basins are mostly non-marine and include numerous airfall tuff units, many of which contain zircon. The eastern Australian palynostratigraphic scheme provides the basis for much of the local correlation, but the present calibration of this scheme against the numerical time-scale depends on a correlation to Western Australia, using rare ammonoids and conodonts in that succession to link to the standard global marine biostratigraphic scheme. High-precision U–Pb zircon dating of tuff layers via CA-IDTIMS allows this tenuous correlation to be circumvented—the resulting direct calibration of the palynostratigraphy to the numerical time-scale highlights significant inaccuracies in the previous indirect correlation. The new data show: the top of the Praecolpatites sinuosus Zone (APP3.2) lies in the early Roadian, not the middle Kungurian; the top of the Microbaculispora villosa Zone (APP3.3) lies in the middle Roadian, not the early Roadian; the top of the Dulhuntyispora granulata Zone (APP4.1) lies in the Wordian, not in the latest Roadian; the top of the Didecitriletes ericianus Zone (APP4.2) lies in the first half of the Wuchiapingian, not the latest Wordian; the Dulhuntyispora dulhuntyi Zone (APP4.3) is exceptionally short and lies within the Wuchiapingian, not the early Capitanian; and the top of the Dulhuntyispora parvithola Zone (APP5) lies at or near the Permo-Triassic boundary, not in the latest Wuchiapingian.

This paper examines the development of operational risk management (ORM) in a financial organization, focusing in particular on the role of IT in institutionalizing the new regime. Through an interpretive case study in a major US financial institution, the paper uses Giddens’ structuration theory to examine how it adjusts to the demands of protecting itself against new operational risks. The discussion and results of our study are expressed in three propositions: (1) the regulatory context and technological development affect the shape and the outcome of ORM; (2) implementing ORM is a process of reflexive monitoring and transforming organizational practices in a financial institution; (3) the role of IT in ORM is contingent on the extant organizational structure and on the choice of risk management approach.

This paper offers an account of the perceptions of citizens from the U.K. and Germany on the subject of interoperable electronic identity (eID) systems. It draws on a grounded empirical analysis identifying the risks that citizens associate with online identity management systems: information risk, economic risk and socio–political risk. Our study suggests that the perceived risks derive from, and are amplified by, low trust beliefs in public authorities responsible for identity management. Three dimensions of trustworthiness in government were found — competence, integrity and benevolence — constructed from negative past experiences of IT failures, function creep, and political history of oppression. To theorise our findings we propose a model depicting the relationships between trust, risk and behavioral intentions. Practical implications deriving from the study concern trust enhancement and risk reduction strategies aimed at winning public acceptance of eID systems in electronic services.

As research into identity in the information society gets into its stride, with contributions from many scholarly disciplines such as technology, social sciences, the humanities and the law, a moment of intellectual stocktaking seems appropriate. This article seeks to provide a roadmap of research currently undertaken in the field of identity and identity management showing how the area is developing and how disparate contributions relate to each other. Five different perspectives are proposed through which work in the identity field can be seen: tensions, themes, application areas, research focus and disciplinary approaches and taken together they provide a comprehensive overview of the intellectual territory currently being tilled by academia on this subject. This attempt at a coherent overview is offered in the spirit of debate and discussion, and the authors invite criticism, development and improvement. Another purpose of this paper is to provide an introduction to the range and type of research that the new journal Identity in the Information Society will publish, giving researchers working in the field a clearer idea of the scope of multidisciplinary study that is envisaged.

This paper reports on research in progress that explores the perceptions of security and privacy of UK citizens regarding electronic identity cards. In the wake of the UK National Identity Scheme proposals and with the introduction of electronic identity cards in the coming years, it is important to understand the perspectives of UK citizens. The Scheme sparked furious public debate, but as yet public opinion on the issues has not been researched systematically. Following grounded theory methods of open-coding content analysis, the findings present an empirically-grounded framework depicting the prevailing perceptions held by UK citizens. Four high-level constructs and a set of sub-categories constitute the framework that emerged: Public authorities (Competence and Integrity), Personal privacy principles (Risk/Benefit Balance, Citizen Control and A priori Anti-ID card), Legal and regulatory, and, Systems and technology. Rather than simply indicating whether citizens were 'for' or 'against' eID, the findings from the analysis uncover the reasons behind citizens' attitudes, whether positive, ambivalent or negative, and testify to the diversity of issues and concerns preoccupying them. Preliminary implications are drawn from the findings, specifically as regards the management of information and identity risk to UK citizens brought about by new identity management systems. Further directions for development of this research in progress are signposted.

This paper focuses on the application of structuration theory, seeking to explicate analytical considerations by which key structurational constructs may be operationalized so as to guide a detailed empirical analysis. In so doing, the paper offers a methodological contribution in respect of the conduct of structurational-based IS research. Owing to its high level of abstraction, structuration theory raises difficulties at the level of empirical application and leaves the IS researcher with no obvious path to follow. Several key constructs have come from studies of the structurational modalities, but the issue of how these constructs may be operationalized remains obscure. An attempt is made here to overcome this deficiency by offering a number of elaborations of some of the central analytical dimensions, contributing to the creation of much needed clarity in terms of where and what to look for and which specifications to lay down at the operational level.

Profiles inform decision making and impact both on the individual being profiled and the organisation acting on the information. When there is no universal empirical support for the profile, decisions are made under conditions of ambiguity. This paper analyses the decision-making process for reporting money laundering suspicions using a framework that highlights the role of technical, formal and informal sub-system elements. We conclude that, in the absence of certainty regarding technical, economic and legal parameters, informal factors play a key role in determining whether systems are adopted and how much is spent.

The collection and analysis of financial data, referred to as financial intelligence, is gaining recognition as a key tool in the war on crime in general and terrorism in particular, and there is a burgeoning industry providing sophisticated computer technology and complex mathematical models to mine financial data and single out unusual patterns of transactions. The process to develop financial intelligence has quantitative roots, yet it gives rise to critical cognitive issues. By treating financial intelligence development as a communication process, the paper examines the role of signs, affordances and norms in determining the emerging profile. The discussion highlights the growing role of " management of meaning " as organisations strive to comply with regulatory requirements. Important insights emerge regarding the social and pragmatic aspects of financial intelligence development, and how technology affects both the content of the profiles that can be developed and the variety of crimes that can be monitored at any stage. Knowledge development and acquisition in organisations The social constructionist approach to knowledge creation in organisations views organisations' employees as social beings who construct their understanding of the world from social interaction with other employees (Gherardi and Nicolini 2000) within specific socio-cultural and material settings (Edmondson 1999). The individual members of the organisation contribute to the organisations' knowledge structures by communicating their knowledge to other members of the organisation. In turn, the actions and the knowledge structure of the members of the organisation are also influenced by the organisation's culture (Akgun, Lynn et al. 2003). Organisational knowledge is a combination of cognitive and social processes, and emerges as a result of the interaction of, among other factors, identities, rules, language, interests and artefacts (Easterby-Smith, Crossan et al. 2000). One particular aspect of the organisational context that has the potential to frame knowledge is technology. Technology may play a supporting role in organisations by assisting in the collection, administration and communication of information available technology may provide information about the relationship between different tasks Canhoto and Backhouse 2006 The role of personal and organisational circumstances in knowledge development and acquisition Page 3 and pieces of data, this way creating information where it did not exist before (Zuboff 1988; Griffith, Sawyer et al. 2003). Research regarding the role of technology in knowledge creation and/or management, however, has mostly focused on technical aspects such as database design and data warehousing, with insufficient consideration being given, in the organisational learning …

Systems risk refers to the likelihood that an Information System (IS) is inadequately protected against certain types of damage or loss. While risks are posed by acts of God, hackers and viruses, consideration should also be given to the ‘insider’ threat of dishonest employees, intent on undertaking some form of computer crime. Against this backdrop, a number of researchers have addressed the extent to which security managers are cognizant of the very nature of systems risk. In particular, they note how security practitioners' knowledge of local threats, which form part of such risk, is often fragmented. This shortcoming contributes to situations where risk reducing efforts are often less than effective. Security efforts are further complicated given that the task of managing systems risk requires input from a number of departments including, for example, HR, compliance, IS/IT and physical security. To complement existing research, and also to offer a fresh perspective, this paper addresses systems risk from the offender's perspective. If systems risk entails the likelihood that an IS is inadequately protected, this text considers those conditions, within the organisational context, which offer a criminal opportunity for the offender. To achieve this goal a model known as the ‘Crime-Specific Opportunity Structure’ is advanced. Focusing on the opportunities for computer crime, the model addresses the nature of such opportunities with regards to the organisational context and the threats posed by rogue employees. Drawing on a number of criminological theories, it is believed the model may help inform managers about local threats and, by so doing, enhance safeguard implementation.

This paper deals with the question of how intranets impact on employee perception and behavior. The study uses a 5 year longitudinal study following the evolution of an intranet in a UK bank to analyze how it changed the relationships between employees and between managers and employees. The discussion integrates two different research domains, the intranets literature and the organizational trust literature. Qualitative data is presented to show the impact of intranets on communication, sharing of information, collaboration, organizational bonding, feeling of empowerment, power distance, and sense of closeness. The discussion uses three metaphors to convey the key findings: The Plumbing System, the Iconic Building and the Soap Opera. The main contribution of this paper is in using constructs from the organizational trust literature to better understand how intranets impact on employee perception and behavior.

This paper addresses the role of power and politics in setting standards. It examines the interaction of external contingencies, powerful agents, resources, meaning, and membership of relevant social and institutional groupings in generating successful political outcomes. To study these interactions, the paper adopts the circuits of power, a theoretical framework taken from the social sciences, and applies it to understanding the creation and development of the first standard in information security management. An informal group of UK security chiefs sparked off a process which led first to BS7799, the British standard, and later to ISO 17799, the international standard. The case study portrays how the institutionalization of this ad hoc development process results from the interactions of power among the stakeholders involved. The case study also shows how the different interests and objectives of the stakeholders were influenced by exogenous contingencies and institutional forces. The paper discusses theoretical and practical implications for the future development of such standards.

Public key infrastructure (PKI) has emerged as a critical technology for identity management in e-commerce and e-government and over a hundred certification authorities (CAs) across the globe offer certification services. Despite the passing of legislation in many countries to give equal legal weight to electronic and handwritten signatures, the overall market for digital certificates has not expanded as much as it was originally expected to. The literature indicates a range of possible issues that are holding back wide-scale adoption of PKI, ranging from technical to policy, legal, and regulatory hindrances. In this paper, we focus on the question of quality uncertainty, and hence on trust, and use an economic theory, the lemons principle, to examine the market context for digital certificates. A review follows of three ways-brand names, guarantees, and licensing-to signal the quality of certificates and so engender some of the trust that is required for the relying party to accept and use certificates when they are offered.

Interoperability in Identity and Identity Management Systems is a mounting concern for European policymakers, governments and administrators. Plans are being discussed, for example, with respect to European eIDs. However, interoperability seems to be too focused on technical aspects at a time when privacy concerns are emerging as a major stumbling block. How can Europe achieve a more balanced approach? This article discusses the results of the current FIDIS research in the area of interoperability.