bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Exploratory Study and Design of Cross-Cultural Impact of Information Systems Managers' Performance, Job Satisfaction and Managerial Value
Authors: Choi Hae-Yeon , Choi Haiwook
Published: February 2011

This research is an exploratory study and design to find cross-cultural impact on information systems (IS) managers’ performance, job satisfaction and managerial value, particularly on American IS and Korean IS expatriate managers in the U.S. in the banking industry. Through the literature review, first, this study attempts to find frequently used variables to measure the magnitude of the cross-cultural impact on the two national IS managers. Second, a literature-derived research instrument was developed and pretested for content validity. Third, to examine the goals and objectives of the study, 14 hypotheses were developed through the literature research. And then the hypotheses were matched to the specific items in the research instrument in order to test them. Fourth, this paper presents a research design, which used the cultural variables to separate the influences of the cross-cultural impact on the IS managers from the other variables, followed by the research methodology in which the questionnaire’s reliability and validity were tested using Pearson’s correlation analysis, Cronbach’s a test and factor analysis. Fifth, based on the data analysis, the test results of the hypotheses were examined, and compared with the existing literature. Finally the research conclusion is presented.
Perceptions and Attitudes about E-Commerce Development in China
Authors: Stylianou Antonis C. , Robbins Stephanie S. , Jackson Pamela
Published: February 2011

It is widely recognized that eCommerce represents a critical resource for most business organizations. With over 1.25 billion people and double-digit economic growth, China could potentially emerge as the largest Internet and telecommunications market in the world if certain economic, environmental, and organizational barriers are effectively addressed. This paper develops a descriptive profile of Chinese business managers with respect to their awareness of the technological infrastructure as well as their perceptions and attitudes regarding eCommerce. Management’s viewpoint on a variety of environmental, organizational, and personal factors provides insight into the future of eCommerce in China within the framework of organizational commitment to eCommerce driven innovation. Findings indicate that firms interested in engaging in eCommerce in China will find a knowledgeable and supportive business climate; however, eCommerce initiatives may be hindered by constraints imposed by the current infrastructure.
Perceptions on IS Risks and Failure Types
Authors: Peterson Dane K. , Kim Chung
Published: February 2011

Information systems (IS) designers from the United States, Japan, and Korea were surveyed to explore potential similarities and differences in their views on two IS risk factors, various types of IS failure and the overall failure rate on IS projects. While there were only a few differences between the U.S. and Japan, there were a number of differences in the views of designers from the U.S. and Korea. The results revealed that a lack of user involvement and a lack of experienced IS personnel were perceived as greater risk factors in Korea than in the U.S. and Japan. The data also revealed that unmet project goals and missed deadlines were perceived by designers from Korea as more likely to contribute to IS failure than did the designers from Japan and the U.S. Finally, the designers from Korea perceived a higher overall failure rate on IS projects than did the designers from the U.S. The findings were discussed in terms of the importance of national differences in technology development and national culture.
A Taxonomy of Intranet Implementation Strategies
Authors: Karlsbjerg Jan , Damsgaard Jan , Scheepers Rens
Published: February 2011

The mid-1990s marked the widespread adoption of intranets by organizations to facilitate communication between geographically dispersed organizational units. Since then the knowledge barriers to adoption have been lowered by the emergence of advanced development tools and later the availability of ready-made “intranet-in-a-box” packages as well as an elevation of the general awareness and knowledge of Internet/intranet technologies among users. Based on an explorative study of intranet implementations in nine Danish and two South African organizations, this article presents a taxonomy of four archetypes of intranet implementation processes. The dimensions of the framework are sourcing (in-house vs. outsourced implementation) and technology (development tools or packaged intranet products). Using the taxonomy, we classify the strategic choices of the case organizations and make recommendations for organizations using or producing intranet technology products.
Lessons Learned Crossing Boundaries in an ICT-Supported Distributed Team
Authors: Pauleen David J.
Published: February 2011

Most so-called virtual teams are virtual by degree only. The dichotomy of face-to-face versus virtual teams is a research-led phenomenon. Many teams are using combinations of face-to-face communication and ICT, and can be considered transitional or semi-virtual teams. Many of these teams cross multiple boundaries, including those of time, distance, organization and culture. This paper takes an in-depth look at one such ICT-supported distributed team and investigates some of the key issues that arose as it operated across multiple boundaries, in particular ethnic cultural boundaries. This paper answers recent calls for more in-depth and creative cross-culturally framed information systems research, and the findings suggest that while traditional notions of culture are still valuable for lending insight into team member behavior, team culture may also be seen as emergent and negotiated based on a wide range of contextual elements. The paper concludes with an analysis of the important practical lessons learned in this case. The implications for cross-cultural IS research are briefly discussed.
Culture-Free or Culture-Bound? A Boundary Spanning Perspective on Learning in Knowledge Management Systems
Authors: Mason Robert M.
Published: February 2011

Knowledge management systems (KMSs) have been criticized as having a North American bias. The cultural dimension of KMSs, particularly the relationship of learning and culture in KM projects, are rarely discussed. This paper addresses these concerns in a review of the conceptual foundations for KM and by examining implementations of KM projects. Despite the evolutionary changes in how KM is viewed, KMSs, as they have been designed, implemented, and reported, do not appear to provide for cultural diversity among users. Instead, the reports of KMSs indicate that such systems seek to create and maintain a homogeneous organizational culture, and the adoption of such a shared culture appears to be a prerequisite for success. The paper discusses KMSs as systems that exhibit boundary spanning objects and processes in three different categories, and an analysis of reported projects reveals that boundary spanning across national and ethnic boundaries is rare.
The Management of Distributed Projects Across Cultures
Authors: Evaristo Roberto
Published: February 2011

A model of cross-cultural distributed project management is proposed. The model is based on recent theoretical developments regarding trust and team processes, and suggests that trust relates to cultural differences between distributed members. Trust affects project performance in two key ways: through the traditional view of main effects on performance, and via moderating effects on other determinants of performance in distributed projects. We also use a task characteristics categorization, together with several mini-case studies, to create a set of guidelines for best practices for management of cross-cultural distributed projects.
An Empirical Study of the Relationship of IT Intensity and Organizational Absorptive Capacity on CRM Performance
Authors: Chen Ja-Shen , Ching Russell K.H.
Published: February 2011

In recent years, e-business has emerged as a mainstream business practice for engaging in global markets. To gain a competitive advantage in these highly competitive markets, many business organizations have turned to customer relationship management (CRM), an integrated system that draws upon the strengths of IT, to allow them to gain greater insights into their customers’ needs. This study examines the relationship of information technology (IT) intensity and organizational absorptive capacity to CRM practices and performance. Data collected through a survey of Taiwanese financial service companies generally suggest that CRM practices mediate the effects of IT intensity and organizational absorptive capacity on CRM performance. Thus, it behooves organizations that seek to compete in global markets to invest in developing both their IT infrastructure and organizational absorptive capacity, and apply these resources toward building their marketing intelligence and innovating products and services that meet their customers’ needs and expectations.
Adaptive Strategies of Firms in High-Velocity Environments
Authors: Ganesh Jai , Madanmohan T.R. , Jose P.D. , Seshadri Sudhi
Published: February 2011

The adaptation-evolution strategies of firms have been a major area of interest. Internet based businesses operate in highly unstable environments witnessing shakeouts and changes in the industry structure. In this paper, we focus on the adaptive strategies and paths of adaptation of independent B2B marketplaces. The independent B2B marketplaces have undergone tremendous change with regard to their business models and products/services. Since their inception as pure market makers, these marketplaces have morphed into integration service providers with market making being one of the functions. What makes the adaptive strategies of B2B marketplaces interesting is the extremely short time period within which these changes happened. The research uses the case study methodology to identify the adaptive strategies of B2B marketplaces in terms of their product/service class evolution. The results based on the case studies suggest a three-stage adaptation model wherein the marketplaces progress through stages such as aggregation, transactions and integration.
How to Compete in a Global Education Market Effectively? A Conceptual Framework for Designing a Next Generation eEducation System
Authors: Huang Wayne , Yen David C. , Lin Z.X. , Huang J.H.
Published: February 2011

Computer-aided instruction (CAI) has existed for decades. Its third generation system using Internet and Web technologies to deliver university education (so called virtual universities) has been a hot research topic in recent years. However, few such virtual universities have been as successful as expected. Why didn’t eEducation systems turn out to be a silver bullet for virtual universities as expected? What are components and elements that have been missed in current eEducation systems? How can we learn from past experience and lessons so that a conceptual framework could be proposed to design a better next generation eEducation system that could help universities and corporations to gain competitive advantages in a global education market? This research paper tries to explore these important issues. Based upon a comprehensive literature review, a conceptual framework is proposed with the aim of guiding the design of a next generation eEducation system.
A Disconnect in Stakeholders' Perceptions from Emerging Realities of Teledensity Growth in Africa's Least Developed Countries
Authors: Mbarika Victor W. , Meso Peter N. , Musa Philip F.
Published: February 2011

With the dynamic and meteoric rise in teledensity diffusion across Sub Saharan Africa, one would expect a departure in the perceptions of stakeholders as they relate to the Bernt and Weiss framework that identifies organizational, financial, technological, and geographical factors as the key impediments to teledensity growth. The findings of this research show that there is disconnect between current happenings and perception of stakeholders. Specifically, there is no change in stakeholders’ perceptions with respect to the framework mentioned above. However, historical and recent teledensity data from Africa’s Least Developed Countries illustrate that the model is inconsistent with the emerging realities in these countries, and that it may be getting obsolete. This leads us to conjecture that in this new dispensation, there may be some emerging factors, issues, constraints, and opportunities that may be of greater importance to understanding telecommunications capabilities in these countries and the world at large.
Understanding Internet Banking Adoption and Use Behavior
Authors: Chan Siu-cheung , Lu Ming-te
Published: February 2011

This study investigates adoption/use behavior within the context of Hong Kong Internet Banking services. A research framework based on the extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM2) and Social Cognitive Theory is developed to identify factors that would influence the adoption and continue use of Internet Banking. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is employed to examine the entire pattern of inter-correlations among the eight proposed constructs, and to test related propositions empirically. A survey involving a total of 499 university students is conducted and confirmatory factor analysis used to determine the measurement efficacies. The results reveal that both subjective norm and computer self-efficacy indirectly play significant roles in influencing the intention to adopt Internet Banking. Perceived ease of use has a significant indirect effect on intention to adopt/use through perceived usefulness, while its direct effect on intention to adopt is not significant.
ICT and Business in the New Economy
Authors: Sagi John , Carayannis Elias , Dasgupta Subhashish , Thomas Gary
Published: February 2011

Many authors argue that information and communications technology (ICT) in this New Economy is causing a globalized, unified society. Others take the opposite stand, viewing local factors such as national culture as very important to the success of information technology (IT). Research indicates that related factors such as gender may also play important roles in the use and acceptance of IT. This paper uniquely examines these perspectives by using electronic commerce as the common technology. Business students from the U.S., Greece and England expressed opinions on the important issues of national control, privacy cost, property rights and consumer preferences. The authors find evidence that concludes that there are statistically significant differences in attitude about e-commerce among cultural groups, but not with gender.
Cultural Differences, Information and Code Systems
Authors: Corbitt Brian J. , Peszynski Konrad J. , Inthanond Saranond , Hill Byron , Thanasankit Theerasak
Published: February 2011

This paper explores an alternative way of framing information systems research on the role and impact of national culture. It argues that the widely accepted structural framework of Hofstede reduces interpretation to a simplistic categorical description which in many cases ignores differentiation within cultures. The alternative model suggests, that national culture can be better understood by seeking out the dominant codes that frame the discourse pervasive in a culture and understanding how that discourse affects the obvious social codes of ritual, custom and behavior and the textual codes which express the nature of that culture. This framework is applied to two different case studies—one in New Zealand and one in Thailand—to demonstrate its applicability.
IT Industry Development and the Knowledge Economy
Authors: Ein-Dor Phillip , Myers Michael , Raman K.S.
Published: February 2011

It is generally accepted that knowledge has become a third major factor of production, in addition to the traditional factors — labor and capital. Information technology production is a significant factor in the knowledge economy both because it is a major enabler of that economy and because it is itself highly knowledge intensive. Many countries around the world are looking for ways to promote the development of the knowledge economy, and information technology industries in particular. An important question is to what extent — and how — small developed countries might succeed in this endeavor. This study suggests a modified and more comprehensive version of the Ein-Dor et al. (1997) model of IT (information technology) industry success in small developed countries. Whereas the earlier model of IT industry success was based solely on the macro-economic theory of Grossman and Helpman (1991), the revised model suggested here incorporates Romer’s (1990) work in New Growth economics. A significant advance over earlier work in this area is the use of both longitudinal and time slice data. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the IT industry in four countries over a five-year period: Finland, Israel, New Zealand and Singapore. It analyses some changes that occurred over the period 1994 through 1998 and thus provides a reasonably comprehensive picture of the factors affecting the production of IT in these small developed countries. Our study reveals that four of the five endogenous variables studied have a close relationship to the development of IT industries in small developed countries. These variables are research and development, technological infrastructure, firm strategies, and capital availability. On the other hand, domestic IT use does not seem to be a major factor in IT industry development. Our analysis thus largely supports the more comprehensive model of IT industry success. These findings should be of interest to both researchers and policy makers seeking to develop the knowledge economy and information technology industries in particular.
The Impact of Mergers & Acquisitions on IT Governance Structures
Authors: Chin Pauline O. , Brown George A. , Hu Qing
Published: February 2011

Developing information technology (IT) governance structures within an organization has always been challenging. This is particularly the case in organizations that have achieved growth through mergers and acquisitions. When the acquired organizations are geographically located in different regions than the host enterprise, the factors affecting this integration and the choice of IT governance structures are quite different than when this situation does not exist. This study performs an exploratory examination of the factors that affect the choice of IT governance structures in organizations that grow through mergers and acquisitions in developing countries using the results of a case study of an international telecommunications company. We find that in addition to the commonly recognized factors such as government regulation, competition and market stability, organizational culture, and IT competence, top management’s predisposition toward a specific business strategy and governance structure can profoundly influence the choice of IT governance in organizations. Managerial implications are discussed.
An Investigation of Revenue Streams of New Zealand Online Content Providers
Authors: Vasisht Prateek , Gutierrez Jairo A.
Published: February 2011

This article describes an empirical investigation into the revenue streams of online content providers in New Zealand. It extends previous academic literature by taking a broader scope and a unique geographic focus (New Zealand). Framed according to a proposed integrated classification of revenue streams and supporting features, which identifies six revenue streams and four supporting features, the study investigates the satisfaction levels of content providers with the revenue stream(s) they use, the issues faced in generating revenue and whether the supporting features support the revenue generating capacity of content sites. After applying certain eligibility criteria, 36 sites comprised the target population of which 11 were represented. Web site examinations coupled with a mixture of face-to-face and e-mail interviews with senior managers comprised the data collection instruments. Respondents used all six revenue streams to monetize their online content. A profile of revenue stream usage, satisfaction levels with revenue stream performance, the issues surrounding revenue generation and the contributions of supporting features are presented.
Levels of Culture and Individual Behavior
Authors: Karahanna Elena , Evaristo J. Roberto , Srite Mark
Published: February 2011

In an organizational setting, national culture is not the only type of culture that influences managerial and work behavior. Rather, behavior is influenced by different levels of culture ranging from the supranational (regional, ethnic, religious, linguistic) level through the national, professional, and organizational levels to the group level. The objective of this study is to integrate these different levels of culture by explicitly recognizing that individuals’ workplace behavior is a function of all different cultures simultaneously. It is theorized that the relative influence of the different levels of culture on individual behavior varies depending on the nature of the behavior under investigation. Thus, for behaviors that include a strong social component or include terminal and moral values, supranational and national cultures might have a predominant effect. For behaviors with a strong task component or for those involving competence values or practices, organizational and professional cultures may dominate. These propositions are illustrated with examples from the IS field. This paper is a conceptual study and therefore extends theory and the current understanding of how culture is examined by not only explicitly recognizing that behaviors are simultaneously influenced by multiple levels of culture but by also specifying conditions under which certain levels of culture dominate. Such an approach has the potential to inform researchers and practitioners about the generalizability or universality of theories and techniques across national, organizational, and professional borders.
Analysis of Software Requirements Engineering Exercises in a Global Virtual Team Setup
Authors: Edwards H. Keith , Sridhar Varadharajan
Published: February 2011

Businesses that are involved in offshore software development often operate in a virtual project environment in which peer teams located at customer premise exchange project specifications with the offshore software development facility. To understand the complex issues in such a virtual project environment during the requirements definition phase of the software development cycle, we conducted an exploratory research study, involving 24 virtual teams based in Canada and India, working on defining business requirements for software projects, over a period of five weeks. The study indicates that trust between the teams and well-defined task structure positively influence the efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction level of global virtual teams.
Integration of E-Commerce by SMEs in the Manufacturing Sector
Authors: Beck Roman , Wigand Rolf T. , Konig Wolfgang
Published: February 2011

SMEs (small- to medium-sized enterprises) in the manufacturing industry are impacted by enormous changes in their business processes. E-commerce-related developments have reduced the importance of physical branches and moved it toward more sophisticated and e-commerce-enabled supply chains for products and services. This article analyzes the differences among SMEs in the manufacturing sector in four countries based on empirical data collected via a survey. Best-practice cases of efficient e-commerce performance such as in Denmark or the United States are identified in contrast to firms in France or Germany by using a data envelopment analysis (DEA). Leading SMEs in the sample have implemented a wide range of e-commerce applications, resulting in higher satisfaction rates. The results of this cross-country and multi-dimensional DEA research approach contribute to the literature of e-commerce adoption, usage and impact among SMEs in the manufacturing sector.
Effects of Knowledge Management on Electronic Commerce
Authors: Jih Wen-Jang Kenny , Helms Marilyn M. , Mayo Donna Taylor
Published: February 2011

The Internet-enabled e-commerce field provides capabilities for firms in all sectors to reach global buyers and suppliers. Knowledge management provides frameworks to manage intellectual capital as a valuable organizational and strategic resource. Current literature on e-commerce and knowledge management primarily emphasizes the benefit of knowledge management for innovative e-commerce operations. Do knowledge management practices significantly benefit electronic commerce? If so, does the relationship work in the other direction? Does a firm’s e-commerce applications significantly benefit knowledge management practices, as well? To test these exploratory propositions, empirical data were collected from companies in a variety of industries in Taiwan, a country emphasizing e-commerce initiatives. The results revealed significant relationships between the way businesses implement electronic commerce projects and how they experiment with knowledge management concepts, as well as interesting benefits and difficulties in implementation. These relationships were found to operate in both directions, offering reinforcing effects as well as connections.
An Evaluation System for IT Outsourcing Customer Satisfaction Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process
Authors: Yoon YongKi , Im Kun Shin
Published: February 2011

Many companies recently have been choosing information technology (IT) outsourcing in response to complicated information systems and various internal requirements. In order to monitor and maintain a high quality of IT outsourcing vendors’ services, it is necessary to develop a system to evaluate IT outsourcing customer satisfaction. The system can be used as a tool for choosing IT outsourcing providers. Through the literature reviews and expert interviews, we propose the evaluation system of the IT outsourcing customer satisfaction. Using AHP (analytic hierarchy process) technique, attributes associated with customer satisfaction in IT outsourcing environments are then rated in terms of their importance. The customer satisfaction evaluation system is applied to IT outsourcing service receivers in Korea to demonstrate its practical implications.
Culture's Impact on Technology Mediated Learning
Authors: Hornik Steven , Tupchiy Anna
Published: February 2011

The horizontal and vertical dimensions of individualism and collectivism are an important characteristic of cultures. These dimensions have many implications for the ways in which individual learners use and respond to interactive technologies. This article reports on a study that investigated the impact of culture, specifically horizontal individualism (HI), vertical individualism (VI), horizontal collectivism (HC), and vertical collectivism (VC) on the effectiveness of technology mediated learning. Results indicate that the four dimensional patterns have differing effects on the use of TML communication capabilities, feelings of sense of community, satisfaction with the TML experience, perceived learning, and declarative knowledge acquisition.
Internet Users' Privacy Concerns and Beliefs About Government Surveillance
Authors: Dinev Tamara , Bellotto Massimo , Hart Paul , Russo Vincenzo , Serra Ilaria
Published: February 2011

The study examines differences in individual’s privacy concerns and beliefs about government surveillance in Italy and the United States. By incorporating aspects of multiple cultural theories, we argue that for both countries, the user’s decision to conduct e-commerce transactions on the Internet is influenced by privacy concerns, perceived need for government surveillance that would secure the Internet environment from fraud, crime and terrorism, and balancing concerns about government intrusion. An empirical model was tested using LISREL structural equation modeling and multigroup analysis. The results support the hypotheses with regard to direction and relative magnitude of the relationships. Italians exhibit lower Internet privacy concerns than individuals in the U.S., lower perceived need for government surveillance, and higher concerns about government intrusion. The relationships among the model constructs are also different across the two countries. Implications of the findings and directions for future work are discussed.
Enhancing Negotiators' Performance with Computer Support for Pre-Negotiation Preparation and Negotiation
Authors: Lim John , Yang Yin Ping
Published: February 2011

Business negotiations, as a ubiquitous phenomenon in international marketplaces, are becoming more complex and prevalent as a result of globalization of today’s world economy. This has made the possibility of computer support very appealing. Whereas past studies of negotiation support systems (NSS) have examined the potential benefits of supporting negotiations, computer support for pre-negotiation activities has been largely ignored in so far as empirical work is concerned. The current article addresses this gap by categorizing negotiation activities into the pre-negotiation phase and the negotiation phase, and reports on an experimental study of the impact of NSS on the different phases of negotiation. Results show that both pre-negotiation and negotiation support improved gains in outcome with increased time in reaching agreement. In addition, pre-negotiation support led to more equal outcomes for negotiating dyads. The findings show the usefulness of NSS in enhancing the quality of differing stages of negotiation. Further, it is to note that this article recognizes the important role of culture in the negotiation setting, and discusses its pertinence with respect to the context of the current study. The corresponding implications and conclusions are highlighted.
IT Implementation in a Developing Country Municipality
Authors: Sanford Clive , Bhattacherjee Anol
Published: February 2011

This article presents an interpretive analysis of the key problems and challenges to technology implementation in developing countries, based on a three-year case analysis of an IT project in a city government in Ukraine. We employ the concept of technological frames of reference as an analytical tool for articulating the group-level structures related to the implementation context from the perspectives of key stakeholders and examine the degree of conflict between these frames using a Fishbone diagram. We report that conflict between technological frames held by key stakeholders in large-scale system implementation projects often create an unexpected, dysfunctional, and politically charged implementation environment, ultimately leading to project failures, even if the project enjoys a high level of financial and management support. This, in turn, creates unique challenges for technology implementation projects in developing countries that are often overlooked in the traditional academic and practitioner literatures based on experiences from developed countries.
Misaligned Market
Authors: Hsiao Ruey-Lin
Published: February 2011

This article examines e-marketplace adoption difficulties from a contextualist perspective. The analysis of industrial characteristics will unearth the adopter’s supply chain practices and the contextual features which are unfavorable for e-marketplace deployment. To gain a deeper understanding, this research examines an unsuccessful e-marketplace adoption for agricultural industry in China. The tension created by the these two incongruent contexts results in a misaligned market, as a free-market principle (assumed to be an integral part of the e-marketplace) is imposed on an agricultural market exchange which is characterized by a regulated business environment and a monopolistic market, and which emphasizes variances in product quality, tacit product specification, exclusive suppliers, and spotty purchasing. Practical and theoretical implications of the findings are discussed with reference to technology adoption and technology-organization alignment literature.
E-Government Payoffs
Authors: Srivastava Shirish C. , Teo Thompson S.H.
Published: February 2011

Using secondary data from 99 countries and IT impact literature as the guiding theoretical perspective; we examine the payoffs from e-government in the form of national performance. We do this by initially examining the relationship of e-government development with the first order government process efficiency parameters (resource spending efficiency and administrative process efficiency). Subsequently we examine the association of these first order efficiency outcomes with the two second order dimensions of national performance (reduction of social divide and business competitiveness). Our analysis reveals significant association of ‘e-government development’ with both the first order ‘government efficiency parameters’. Further analysis reveals significant relationships of ‘government efficiency parameters’ with the dimensions of ‘national performance’. Important role of ‘national business competitiveness’ in the reduction of ‘social divide’ is brought forth through post-hoc analysis. Through this research, we make some important contributions which have implications for researchers, practitioners, public administrators, and policy makers.
IT Governance Mechanisms in Public Sector Organisations
Authors: Ali Syaiful , Green Peter
Published: February 2011

Information technology plays a significant role enabling organisations to achieve their objectives. Accordingly, the governance mechanisms over the organisation’s IT resources must be in place and operating effectively if the organization is to achieve its objectives. The concern with IT governance is not only evident in the private sector but also in the public sector. This study attempts to examine empirically the individual IT governance mechanisms that influence the overall effectiveness of IT governance in Australian public sector organisations. Using sample data from auditors who currently work in Australian public sector organisations, this study examined the influence of four proposed individual IT governance mechanisms on the overall effectiveness of IT governance. This study found significant positive relationships between the existence of an IT strategy committee and corporate (organisational) communication systems, and the overall level of effective IT governance within Australian public sector organisations.
A Time Series Analysis of International ICT Spillover
Authors: Zhang Juan Juan , Lee Sang-Yong Tom
Published: February 2011

This article studies the role of international spillover of information and communication technology (ICT) in economic growth. We examine the performance of ten countries from 1982 to 1999. By empirically analyzing the relationship between total factor productivity (TFP) and domestic and foreign ICT investment with time series analysis tools, we find limited evidence that there exist international ICT spillovers for a group of countries. Further, we discuss the possible ICT policies to improve productivity and balance out a win-win situation for both ICT spillover sending and receiving countries.
A Variable Precision Fuzzy Rough Group Decision-Making Model for IT Offshore Outsourcing Risk Evaluation
Authors: Cong Guodond , Zhang Jinlong , Huazhong Tao Chen , Lai Kin-Keung
Published: February 2011

Risks evaluation is critical for the success of IT offshore outsourcing. Based on fuzzy group decision-making (FGDM) and variable precision fuzzy rough set (VPFRS), this article proposes a new integrated model, variable precision fuzzy rough group decision-making (VPFRGDM), to evaluate the risk in IT offshore outsourcing. This model can improve the capability to handle potential errors fairness and efficiency of risk evaluation, and is verified by a numerical case.
Evaluating E-Business Leadership and its Link to Firm Performance
Authors: Quan Jing
Published: February 2011

Electronic business (e-business) has been popularly lauded as “new economy.” As a result, firms are prompted to invest heavily in e-business related activities such as supplier/procurement and online exchanges. Whether the investments have actually paid off for the firms remain largely unknown. Using the data on the top 100 e-business leaders compiled by InternetWeek, the leaders are compared with their comparable counterparts in terms of profitability and cost in both the short-run and long-run. It is found that while the leaders have superior performance based on most of the profitability measurements, such superiority is not observed when cost measurements are used. Based on the findings, managerial implications are offered accordingly.
The Impact of Leadership Style on Knowledge-Sharing Intentions in China
Authors: Huang Qian , Davison Robert M. , Liu Hefu , Gu Jibao
Published: February 2011

Knowledge management (KM) is a dominant theme in the behavior of contemporary organizations. While KM has been extensively studied in developed economies, it is much less well understood in developing economies—notably, those that are characterized by different social and cultural traditions to the mainstream of Western societies; this is the case in China. In this article, we develop and test a theoretical model that explains the impact of leadership style and interpersonal trust on the intention of information and knowledge workers in China to share their knowledge with their peers. All the hypotheses are supported, showing that both initiating structure and consideration have a significant effect on employees’ intention to share knowledge through trust building: 28.2% of the variance in employees’ intention to share knowledge is explained. We discuss the theoretical contributions of the article, identify future research opportunities and highlight the implications for practicing managers.
Knowledge Management Systems Diffusion in Chinese Enterprises
Authors: Lee One-Ki ("Daniel") , Wang Mo ("Winnie") , Lim Kai H. , Peng Zeyu ("Jerry")
Published: February 2011

With the recognition of the importance of organizational knowledge management (KM), researchers have paid increasing attention to knowledge management systems (KMS). However, since most prior studies were conducted in the context of Western societies, we know little about KMS diffusion in other regional contexts. Moreover, even with the increasing recognition of the influence of social factors in KM practices, there is a dearth of studies that examine how unique social cultural factors affect KMS diffusion in specific countries. To fill in this gap, this study develops an integrated framework, with special consideration on the influence of social cultures, to understand KMS diffusion in Chinese enterprises. In our framework, we examine how specific technological, organizational, and social cultural factors can influence the three-stage KMS diffusion process, that is, initiation, adoption, and routinization. This study provides a holistic view of the KMS diffusion in Chinese enterprises with practical guidance for successful KMS implementation.
Factors Affecting Information Communication Technologies Usage and Satisfaction
Authors: Rouibah Kamel , Hamdy Hosni
Published: February 2011

Instant messaging (IM) technology has received extensive focus in the West while there is lack of knowledge of it in the Arab world. This study aims to shed light on factors affecting IM usage and user satisfaction in an Arab country (Kuwait). To achieve this objective, this study develops a theoretical model that is based on three well-known models. This model includes curiosity (from the theory of flow), compatibility (from the innovation diffusion theory), perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use (from the technology acceptance model), and individual characteristics in the form of prior similar experience. The proposed model was tested using survey data from 609 students, with the results lending support for the proposed model. Importantly, results highlight the impact of social effect on curiosity as a new mediator of technology adoption and satisfaction. This study contributes to the literature on technology adoption in the Arab word and aids educational institutions and companies to understand the social and technical nature of users’ attitudes with regard to ICT adoption and satisfaction.
Factors Influencing SME Compliance with Government Regulation on Use of IT
Authors: Kyobe Michael
Published: February 2011

This study investigated the factors influencing SME compliance with regulation on use of IT in South Africa. The researcher argues that these consist of a combination of business, industry, economic, technological, sociological, and psychological factors. The results show that cost of compliance was the main influencing factor and that both rural and urban SMEs make limited effort to develop policies and demonstrate compliance. Furthermore, a discriminant function analysis revealed that rural SMEs can be distinguished from their urban counterparts in terms of their disposition towards IT regulation by five factors. Perception of high compliance costs was the key distinguishing factor followed by lack of awareness, lack of training on compliance and security, perception of unfair regulation and possession of inadequate security controls. The author hopes that this research-based evidence will provide better understanding of SME compliance behaviors and guide the development of appropriate solutions to compliance challenges in these organizations.
The Contingent Role of Innovation between IT Management Sophistication and Strategic Alignment
Authors: Huang Leelien Ken
Published: February 2011

To provide deeper insight into IT managerial adaptive processes considered in strategic alignment mechanisms, we propose, using contingency theory, that the degree to which IT management sophistication contributes to a company’s success is contingent upon its adaptive innovated behavior. Results suggested that Taiwanese companies could succeed when IT management sophistication is appropriate for a certain innovation. Our research model was generic for foreign companies’ strategic behavior because, based on contingency theory, these companies make dynamic adaptations toward their particular environment for a competitive IT-based innovation. Implications of results are discussed.
The Influence of Organizational Communication Openness on the Post-Adoption of Computers
Authors: Al-Gahtani Said S. , Shih Hung-Pin
Published: February 2011

This study adopts social identity theory (SIT) to examine the post-adoption of computers using a research model that extends the theory of planned behavior (TPB) with two organizational cultural factors. Individual attitudes toward using computers and perceived behavioral control are TPB personal factors, while subjective norms can be viewed as the social factor. Empirical findings from 400 Arab end-users show that openness to superior-subordinate relationships (reducing organizational boundaries) significantly influences current computer usage only through personal factors. In contrast, openness to superior-subordinate relationships significantly influences continued use of computers through personal and social factors. However, openness to work communication (reducing communicative boundaries) does not significantly influence either current computer usage or continued use of computers through TPB beliefs. The implications for research and practice, and the limitations of this study, are discussed accordingly.
Economic Freedom and the Impact of Technology on Productivity
Authors: N’Da Koffi , Robin Ashok , Tribunella Thomas
Published: February 2011

A well-developed body of literature has detected positive effects of technology investments on economic growth. We contribute to this literature by studying the joint effects of technology and economic freedom on economic growth. Using two different time points, 1990 and 2000, and a sample of over 100 countries, we find that economic freedom enhances the effect of technology on economic growth. In fact, we find that the standalone effect of freedom is not as large as its interactive effect with technology.
Key Issues in Information Systems Management
Authors: Li D. , Huang W.W. , Luftman J. , Sha W.
Published: February 2011

There have been periodical studies on key IS management issues facing the IT industry in North America; however, an empirical investigation on key IS management issues in developing countries has been largely ad hoc and inadequate. This paper identifies and analyzes important issues faced by CIOs in the developing country of China. The results of this study are based on two national wide CIO surveys in China, where the first was conducted in 2004 and followed by a more recent survey in 2008. The authors provide insight for both IS practitioners and researchers who have interests in developing countries. Data analysis indentified key IS management issues and demonstrated similarities as well as differences between the two rounds of surveys. Although some strategic IS issues were still within the top 10 on both the 2004 and 2008 lists, their importance ratings were different. Implications of the findings are also discussed.
Outsourcing of Community Source
Authors: Liu Manlu , Wu Xiaobo , Zhao J. Leon , Zhu Ling
Published: February 2011

Community-based open source, or “community source”, has emerged as an innovative approach to developing open-source enterprise application software (EAS). Unlike the conventional model of in-house development, community source creates a virtual software development community that pools human, financial, and technological resources from multiple partner organizations to develop custom software solutions. The solution is available as open-source software to all end users. In this way, the community source model takes a step forward from outsourcing to third-party software vendors. By studying a real-world case of the Kuali community source project, the authors found that community source faced a number of challenges in project management, particularly in the areas of in-house staffing and project sustainability. The interview analysis further concludes that outsourcing the community source development to either domestic or foreign third-party vendors could be a viable solution. Finally, the authors propose a research framework and seven related propositions that warrant future investigation into the relationship between community source and software outsourcing.
Country Environments and the Adoption of IT Outsourcing
Authors: Qu Wen Guang , Pinsonneault Alain
Published: February 2011

Research on information technology (IT) outsourcing adoption has been confined to a single-country perspective. The understanding of how country-specific variables influence the adoption of IT outsourcing is limited. This study uses new institutional economics to build a framework that links country-level factors to the adoption of IT domestic outsourcing. The authors suggest that country-level factors, such as the maturity of the IT-related legal system, social trust, uncertainty avoidance, Internet penetration, and the maturity of the IT outsourcing market, affect the opportunism costs and coordination costs involved in domestic IT outsourcing and influence its adoption among firms. The results show that the maturity of the IT-related legal system, social trust, and the maturity of the IT outsourcing market are positively associated with IT outsourcing adoption. The authors conclude the paper with a discussion of the study’s implications for practice and future research.