bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Criticality of Transformational Leadership to Advancing United States Government Enterprise Architecture Adoption
Authors: Boddie William S.
Published: April 2011

An effective enterprise architecture (EA) capability enables an organization to develop sound enterprise plans, make informed human, materiel, and technology resource investment and management decisions, and optimize key business processes. Despite U.S. Congressional legislation, U.S. Office of Management and Budget guidance, and U.S. Government Accountability Office reports and recommendations, many U.S. government leaders struggle in advancing EA adoption in their organizations. U.S. Government leaders must embrace transformational leadership to advance EA adoption. The author presents the Vision, Integrity, Communication, Inspiration, and Empowerment Transformational Leadership Model that describes competencies U.S. Government leaders need to advance EA adoption. The author also presents the Transformational Leadership and Enterprise Management Integration Framework that describes the relationship between transformational leadership and enterprise management functions. U.S. Government leaders must adopt this framework to realize improved enterprise performance.
People-Led Enterprise Architecture
Authors: Fairhead Neil , Good John
Published: April 2011

This chapter provides an approach to Enterprise Architecture that is people-led, as a contrast to being led by technology or modelling methodology. It identifies the major stakeholders in Enterprise Architecture and suggests where in the organisation they may be found and how they may be connected with the Enterprise Architecture. It highlights the roles of stakeholders throughout the process of defining and implementing an Enterprise Architecture. The view of stakeholders managing the EA effort is described through the complete lifecycle, from setting the EA mission to sustaining the benefits after implementation. In proposing the adoption of such an approach, we aim to encourage a more direct link between Enterprise Architecture, the needs of the stakeholders it serves, and the pubic policy outcomes it enables.
Architecture Based Engineering of Enterprises with Government Involvement
Authors: Mo John , Nemes Laszlo
Published: April 2011

With a plethora of architectures, modelling techniques and methodologies on offer, it is difficult to decide how to begin building an enterprise and achieving seamless integration. This difficulty is most noticeable in consortia that need to deal with government participation. Various government projects have different objectives and agenda. In addition, changes in business environment (or) as well as government policies impose extra conditions onto the project. Failure to comply with the project requirement can lead to loss of business and sometimes unexpected penalty. We use three case studies to show various ways of government involvements in our projects. Based on the experiences of these cases, we discuss how enterprise engineering can help creating and managing the enterprise that can engage government services successfully.
Employing Graph Network Analysis for Web Service Composition
Authors: Gekas John , Fasli Maria
Published: April 2011

The Web services paradigm has enabled an increasing number of providers to host remotely accessible services. However, the true potential of such a distributed infrastructure can only be reached when such autonomic services can be combined together as parts of a workflow, in order to collectively achieve combined functionality. In this paper we present our work in the area of automatic workflow composition among Web services with semantically described functionality capabilities. For this purpose, we use a set of heuristics derived from the connectivity structure of the service repository in order to effectively guide the composition process. The methodologies presented in this paper have been inspired by research in areas such as graph network analysis, social network analysis and bibliometrics. In addition, we present comparative experimentation results in order to evaluate the presented techniques.
A Multi-Agent Temporal Constraint Satisfaction System Based on Allen's Interval Algebra and Probabilities
Authors: Shakshuki Elhadi , Trudel André , Xu Yiqing
Published: April 2011

Many real-world problems can be viewed and represented as a constraint satisfaction problem (CSP). In addition, many of these problems are distributed in nature. To this end, we combine agents with a special type of CSP called an Interval Algebra network (IA network). An IA network is a graph where each node represents an interval. Directed edges in the network are labelled with temporal interval relations. A probabilistic IA network has probabilities associated with the relations on the edges that can be used to capture preferences. A probabilistic IA agent (PIA-Agent) is assigned a probabilistic IA network. PIA-Agent’s networks are connected via edges. The overall goal is to make each PIA-Agent’s network consistent and optimal. Each PIA-Agent is independent and has sole control over its network. But, it must communicate and coordinate with other PIA-Agents when modifying or updating edges that are shared between two PIA-Agents. We present an algorithm which allows the PIA-Agents to collaboratively solve and recommend a temporal schedule. At the agent level, this schedule is optimal under the given local constraints. Although the global solution may not be optimal, we try to generate near optimal ones. Note that our distributed system is not centrally controlled. Our algorithm decides which PIA-Agent should be given an opportunity to update the solution next. Also, when a conflict is detected, the algorithm modifies the PIA-Agent execution order in order to deal with the inconsistency.
E-Portfolio to Promote the Virtual Learning Group Communities on the Grid
Authors: Conté Emilie , Gouardères Guy
Published: April 2011

In Vocational and Educational Training, new trends are to social learning and more precisely to informal learning. In such settings, the article introduces a process - the e-Qualification - to manage informal learning on the “Learning Grid”. It argues that this process must occur in a social context such as Virtual Communities. On the one hand, it describes their necessary characteristics and proprieties, which lead to the creation of a new kind of virtual community: the Virtual Learning Grid Community. On the other hand, e-qualification cannot occur without the help of a kind of user’s profile, which is called e-Portfolio. Moreover, the e-Portfolio is also a process, which is used to manage the Virtual Learning Grid Communities. The e-Qualification and the Virtual Learning Grid Communities’ management will probably rely on the co-operation of different distributed, autonomous, goal-oriented entities, which are Mobile Peer-to-Peer Agents. Furthermore, the authors hope that implementing these services will decrease the lacks of informal learning treatment on the Grid and will become the bases for new services on the Learning Grid.
Incremental Learning for Interactive E-Mail Filtering
Authors: Chen Ding-Yi , Li Xue , Dong Zhao Yang , Chen Xia
Published: April 2011

In this paper, we propose a framework namely, Prediction-Learning-Distillation (PLD) for interactive document classification and distilling the misclassified documents. Whenever a user points out misclassified documents, the PLD learns from the mistakes and identifies the same mistakes from all other classified documents. The PLD then enforces this learning for future classifications. If the classifier fails to accept relevant documents or reject irrelevant documents on certain categories, then PLD will assign those documents as new positive/negative training instances. The classifier can then strengthen its weakness by learning from these new training instances. Our experiments results have demonstrated that the proposed algorithm can learn from user identified misclassified documents, and then distil the rest successfully.
eDAR Algorithm for Continuous KNN Queries Based on Pine
Authors: Safar Maytham , Ebrahimi Dariush
Published: April 2011

The continuous K nearest neighbor (CKNN) query is an important type of query that finds continuously the KNN to a query point on a given path. We focus on moving queries issued on stationary objects in Spatial Network Database (SNDB) The result of this type of query is a set of intervals (defined by split points) and their corresponding KNNs. This means that the KNN of an object traveling on one interval of the path remains the same all through that interval, until it reaches a split point where its KNNs change. Existing methods for CKNN are based on Euclidean distances. In this paper we propose a new algorithm for answering CKNN in SNDB where the important measure for the shortest path is network distances rather than Euclidean distances. We propose DAR and eDAR algorithms to address CKNN queries based on the progressive incremental network expansion (PINE) technique. Our experiments show that the eDAR approach has better response time, and requires fewer shortest distance computations and KNN queries than approaches that are based on VN3 using IE.
Building a Semantic-Rich Service-Oriented Manufacturing Environment
Authors: Yang Zhonghua , Zhang Jing Bing , Gay Robert , Zhuang Liqun
Published: April 2011

Service-orientation has emerged as a new promising paradigm for enterprise integration in the manufacturing sector. In this paper, we focus on the approach and technologies for constructing a service oriented manufacturing environment. The service orientation is achieved via virtualization in which every thing, including machines, equipments, devices, various data sources, applications, and processes, are virtualized as standard-based Web services. The virtualization approach is based on the emerging Web Services Resource Framework (WS-RF). A case study of virtualizing an AGV system using WS-RF is described. The use of Semantic Web Services technologies to enhance manufacturing Web services for a semantic-rich environment is discussed, focusing on OWL-S for semantic markup of manufacturing Web services and OWL for the development of ontologies in the manufacturing domain. An enterprise integration architecture enabled by Semantic Web service composition is also discussed.
A Survey of Web Service Discovery Systems
Authors: Ngane Le Duy , Goh Angela , Tru Cao Hoang
Published: April 2011

Web services form the core of e-business and hence, have experienced a rapid development in the past few years. This has led to a demand for a discovery mechanism for Web services. Discovery is the most important task in the Web service model because Web services are useless if they cannot be discovered. A large number of Web service discovery systems have been developed. Universal Description, Discovery and Integration (UDDI) is a typical mechanism that stores indexes to Web services but it does not support semantics. Semantic Web service discovery systems that have been developed include systems that support matching Web services using the same ontology, systems that support matching Web services using different ontologies, and systems that support limitations of UDDI. This paper presents a survey of Web service discovery systems, focusing on systems that support semantics. The paper also elaborates on open issues relating to such discovery systems.
Introducing Computer-Based Telemedicine in Three Rural Missouri Counties
Authors: Harris Kimberly D. , Donaldson Joseph F. , Campbell James D.
Published: April 2011

This study investigated predictors of utilization of the computer-based telemedicine in three rural Missouri counties. Participating health care agencies were given computers and access to an Internet-based workstation that provided e-mail and World Wide Web (WWW) services. Utilization data for e-mail messages sent and WWW pages accessed were collected through proxy servers. A survey was distributed to those employees who are enrolled in the Rural Telemedicine Evaluation Project (RTEP), which addressed perceptions of the Internet-based RTEP workstation. The results of the survey were analyzed to see how perceptions and demographic variables predicted actual utilization. The findings of the study revealed that for e-mail, behavioral intentions/attitude, age, organizational support, and time were the most significant predictors. For WWW, only the behavioral intentions/attitude subscale predicted utilization. The majority of respondents did not utilize the e-mail technology. Strategies need to be developed through training interventions and organizational policies to address non-utilization.
Experiences from Health Information System Implementation Projects Reported in Canada Between 1991 and 1997
Authors: Lau Francis , Hebert Marilynne
Published: April 2011

Canada’s Health Informatics Association has been hosting annual conferences since the 1970’s as a way of bringing information systems professionals, health practitioners, policy makers, researchers, and industry together to share their ideas and experiences in the use of information systems in the health sector. This paper describes our findings on the outcome of information systems implementation projects reported at these conferences in the 1990’s. Fifty implementation projects published in the conference proceedings were reviewed, and the authors or designates of 24 of these projects were interviewed. The overall experiences, which are consistent with existing implementation literature, suggest the need for organizational commitment; resource support and training; managing project, change process, and communication; organizational/user involvement and teams approach; system capability; information quality; and demonstrable positive consequences from computerization.
VDT Health Hazards
Authors: Clark Carol
Published: April 2011

Managers must strive for a healthy and productive working environment for end users. Eliminating or reducing lost work days and improving worker productivity in turn relates to the organization’s profitability. VDT related health issues are important to end users, managers, and the organization as a whole. End user computing is becoming commonplace in most businesses. In 1993 more than forty-five percent of the US population used computers at work according to the US Department of Labor (1997). The proliferation of end user computing creates a host of management issues. One such issue involves the potential health hazards associated with video display terminal (VDT) use. Both managers and end users must address this issue if a healthy and productive work environment is to exist.
The Human Side of Information Systems Development
Authors: Lehaney Brian , Clarke Steve , Spencer-Matthews Sarah , Kimberlee Vikki
Published: April 2011

Information systems (IS) are growing in importance within the tourism industry, where one key application is database marketing. Evidence from the IS domain suggests systems failure may be due, at least in part, to concentration on technical rather than human issues in the development process. Through an empirical study of visitor attractions in the United Kingdom, the need for a more human-centered approach to IS development is supported, and an example of such an approach is outlined. Both in-depth focus group analysis and a broader questionnaire survey are used and lend weight to the human-centered arguments.
Exploring the Relationship between Institutional Context, User Participation, and Organizational Change in a European Telecommunications Company
Authors: Butler Tom , Fitzgerald Brian
Published: April 2011

While much is known about the general process of user participation in information systems development, its effect on organizational change surrounding systems implementation has not been the subject of systematic, empirical investigation. With some notable exceptions, researchers have chosen to adopt variance- rather than process-based approaches to the study of these phenomena and have, therefore, failed to capture the complex interrelationships that exist between them. This study addresses these deficiencies and makes several important contributions to the literature. First, it describes the results of a process-based case study that illustrates how one large organization’s institutional context shaped and influenced the content and process of user participation and associated management of change around the development and implementation of two operational support systems. Second, it presents a theoretical model that captures the institutional and development-related contexts which shape and influence the processes of user participation and management of change. Third, this study’s findings indicate that institutionally mediated factors exert a major influence on the level of user acceptance of systems, especially in relation to (a) the expected change wrought by the new system; (b) user influence and power relationships; and (c) user commitment to development-related change. Finally, the model, framework, and findings provide a useful point of departure for future research in the area.
Studying the Translations of NHSnet
Authors: Whitley Edgar A. , Pouloudi Athanasia
Published: April 2011

This paper explores the ways in which innovative information systems projects take on a life of their own. The paper begins by reviewing some of the more traditional ways of making sense of this phenomenon—resistance to change, escalation, and unintended results—before introducing the sociology of translation. This provides a theoretical framework for viewing the transformations that an information systems project undergoes. The framework is then applied to the case of the NHSnet project in the United Kingdom. Using the language of sociology of translation, we consider the underlying stakeholder relations in the case study and draw more general conclusions for the responsibilities of stakeholders involved in an information systems lifecycle.
Predicting End User Performance
Authors: Jawahar I. M. , Elango B.
Published: April 2011

Research on the influence of attitudes toward computers and end-user performance has reported inconsistent results. The inconsistent results, at least in part, could be attributed to the lack of correspondence between the general nature of the attitude measure and the specific nature of the criterion, end-user performance. Based on Ajzen and Fishbein’s (1980) behavioral intentions model, we argue that attitudes toward working with computers matches end-user performance in terms of specificity and relevance, and therefore should be consistently related to end-user performance. In this study, in addition to attitudes toward working with computers, the effects of goal setting and self-efficacy on end-user performance were also tested. Results indicate that attitudes toward working with computers, goal setting and self-efficacy significantly influence end-user performance. Strong support for attitudes, goal setting and self-efficacy indicate that end-user performance can be substantially enhanced by shaping end users’ attitudes toward working with computers, teaching end users to set specific and challenging goals, and enhancing end users’ beliefs to effectively learn and use computing technology.
The Role of User Ownership and Positive User Attitudes in the Successful Adoption of Information Systems within NHS Community Trusts
Authors: Coombs Crispin R. , Doherty Neil F. , Loan-Clarke John
Published: April 2011

The factors that influence the ultimate level of success or failure of systems development projects have received considerable attention in the academic literature. However, despite the existence of a ‘best practice’ literature many projects still fail. The record of the National Health Service has been particularly poor in this respect. The research reported in this paper proposes that two additional factors; user ownership and positive user attitudes warrant further development and investigation. The current study investigated these two factors in a homogenous organizational sector, Community NHS Trusts, using a common type of information system, in order to eliminate the potentially confounding influences of sector and system. A multiple case-study design incorporating five Community Healthcare Trusts was utilized. The key results from the analysis indicated that both user ownership and positive user attitudes were important mediating variables that were crucial to the success of a CIS. In addition, it was also identified that the adoption of best practice variables had a dual role, directly influencing the level of perceived success but also facilitating the development of user ownership and positive user attitudes. These results will be of particular interest to practising IM&T managers in the NHS and also to the wider academic research community.
A Decision Support System for Prescriptive Academic Advising
Authors: Le Blanc Louis A. , Rucks Conway T. , Murray W. Scott
Published: April 2011

A decision support system (DSS) was constructed to assist the academic advising staff of a college of business. The microcomputer-based system identifies any remaining unsatisfied degree program requirements, selects courses in which the student can enroll and then prioritizes them. Advisors are then able to spend time on more substantive or developmental advising issues, such as choice of electives, career options and life career goals. Using this system, a student with a minimum of computer knowledge can obtain an optimized course listing without the assistance of a human advisor in less than five minutes. A high-end spreadsheet (i.e., DSS generator) permits a workable and effective academic advising DSS. The database is the most significant part of this DSS. And, since the modeling component is difficult to separate from the structure of the data itself, a database management system might be a better choice as the DSS generator. This platform would provide a more flexible user interface as well as superior data handling capability but at some sacrifice in cost and implementation time.
Geographic Information Systems
Authors: Crossland Martin D. , Herschel Richard T. , Perkins William C. , Scudder Joseph N.
Published: April 2011

A laboratory experiment is conducted to investigate how two individual cognitive style factors, field dependence and need-for-cognition, relate to decision-making performance for a spatial task. The intent of the investigation is to establish a methodology for measuring cognitive fit for spatial tasks. The experiment assesses the performance of 142 subjects on a site location task where the problem complexity and availability of a geographic information system are manipulated on two levels. Significant relationships are found for both field dependence and need-for-cognition with the two dependent performance variables, solution time and percent error.
Are Remote and Non-Remote Workers Different? Exploring the Impact of Trust, Work Experience and Connectivity on Performance Outcomes
Authors: Staples D. Sandy
Published: April 2011

Information technology (IT) is enabling the creation of virtual organizations and remote work practices. As this practice of employees working remotely from their managers and colleagues grows, so does the importance of making these remote end-users of technology effective members of organizations. This study tested a number of relationships that were suggested in the literature as being relevant in a remote work environment. Interpersonal trust of the employees in their managers was found to be strongly associated with higher self-perceptions of performance, higher job satisfaction and lower job stress. There was weak support for the impact of physical connectivity (i.e., the availability of IT) on job satisfaction, supporting the enabling role of IT. These findings were similar for both remote employees (i.e., those that worked in a different building than their managers) and non-remote employees. However, more frequent communications between the manager and employee was associated with higher levels of interpersonal trust only with the remote workers. Cognition-based trust was also found to be more important than affect-based trust in a remote work environment, suggesting that managers of remote employees should focus on activities that demonstrate competence, responsibility and professionalism.
A New Approach to Evaluating Business Ethics
Authors: Mahmood Mo Adam , Sullivan Gary L. , Tung Ray-Lin
Published: April 2011

Stimulated by recent high-profile incidents, concerns about business ethics have increased over the last decade. In response, research has focused on developing theoretical and empirical frameworks to understand ethical decision making. So far, empirical studies have used traditional quantitative tools, such as regression or multiple discriminant analysis (MDA), in ethics research. More advanced tools are needed. In this exploratory research, a new approach to classifying, categorizing and analyzing ethical decision situations is presented. A comparative performance analysis of artificial neural networks, MDA and chance showed that artificial neural networks predict better in both training and testing phases. While some limitations of this approach were noted, in the field of business ethics, such networks are promising as an alternative to traditional analytic tools like MDA.
Electronic Commerce and Strategic Change within Organizations
Authors: Galliers Robert D. , Newell Sue
Published: April 2011

This article reviews and contrasts the experiences of two major companies in attempting significant change projects incorporating information and communication technologies. It does so by utilizing and critiquing the MIT “Management in the 1990’s” model and by reflecting on socio-technical approaches to organizational change. It makes the point that while much of current attention is on electronic commerce as it pertains to industry transformation and interorganizational relations, it is nonetheless a phenomenon that can impact complex internal relations and communication. Additionally, conclusions are drawn with respect to the process of change and the need for further longitudinal studies when researching change projects of this kind.
Trust in Internet Shopping
Authors: Cheung Christy M.K. , Lee Matthew K.O.
Published: April 2011

Despite the phenomenal growth of Internet users in recent years, the penetration rate of Internet shopping is still low, and one of the most often cited reasons is the lack of consumers’ trust (e.g., Hoffman et al., 1999). Although trust is an important concept in Internet shopping, there is a paucity of theory-guided empirical research in this area. In this paper, a theoretical model is proposed for investigating the nature of trust in the specific context of Internet shopping. In this model, consumers’ trust in Internet shopping is affected by propensity to trust and two groups of antecedent factors, namely, “trustworthiness of Internet vendors” and “external environment.” Trust, in turn, reduces consumers’ perceived risk in Internet shopping. As an important step towards the rigorous testing of the model, the necessary measurement instrument has been developed with its reliability and validity empirically tested. The psychometric properties of the measurement instrument have been investigated using both a classical approach (based on Cronbach’s alpha and exploratory factor analysis) and a contemporary approach (based on structural equation modeling techniques), as a way of methods triangulation for validating instrument properties. The resulting instrument represents a rigorously developed and validated instrument for the measurement of various important trust-related constructs. This research contributes to the development of trust theory in e-commerce and add to the repository of rigorous research instruments for IS survey researchers to use.
The Impact of Culture on the Development of Information Systems
Authors: Moores Trevor T. , Gregory Frank H.
Published: April 2011

The development of an information system typically requires debate between interested parties. In particular, debate between users is meant to define a common set of functional requirements. The applicability of this approach depends, however, on the willingness of participants to enter into such an open discussion. However, while holding differing, perhaps conflicting views, is seen as acceptable in Western cultures, in Eastern cultures more importance is placed on social consensus and aligning one’s views with that of the group. This paper reports on a case study that highlights the problems of using debate as an analysis tool in an Eastern culture, namely, Hong Kong. The case study involves the use of Soft Systems Methodology to guide a feasibility study for a marketing system within Hongkong Telecom. Three main problems were identified: 1) Group discussions were avoided; 2) Interviews were conducted in multiple languages; and, 3) High staff turnover made it difficult to develop and maintain mature stakeholder views. The study suggests that culturally sensitive development methods are needed to ensure culturally appropriate ways of developing an information system.
Dysfunctional Development Pathways of Information and Communication Technology
Authors: Kaye G. Roland , Little Stephen
Published: April 2011

This paper argues that there are three factors that counter the inevitable movement towards globalization. Firstly the incremental force of technology as illustrated by the growth stage model of the development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is flawed. This model implies a linearity of development and an inevitability of stage following stage. While this stage model may provide historic explanation for the development in the developed world and amongst the mature users, the model fails when used predictively for the developing nations or for the late adopters. Secondly the imperialism of technology overcoming all barriers fails to reconcile the cultural dimensions of both the developing context or the application domain. Technology is not culturally neutral but is developed in a cultural context and in the case of information rich applications carries that cultural context within its design. Applications of culturally developed systems, such as office and management systems, assume the user’s compliance with the design culture, but this inevitably leads to cultural clashes as we apply outside the design context. Thirdly, the assumption of universality of economic access and development is incompatible with both the reality and development paths in both developed and developing countries. This inevitably will lead to a divided society split between the internationally mobile, technology-supported communities and those communities disadvantaged economically and technologically but culturally rich. The failure to bridge this gap may leave society as a whole weakened through lack of access to “variety.” The paper discusses these perspectives and illustrates the case with evidence from NE Asia and the United Kingdom. In particular, it focuses on software development and information-rich contexts.
Transnational Information Systems
Authors: Mantelaers Paul , van den Berg Wander
Published: April 2011

An increasing number of transnational information systems (TIS) is being developed and is operational. This paper describes a study that attempted to gather information from an empirical setting as a basis for theory building. The authors have studied three cases in an attempt to take some early steps towards guidelines for the development and management of TIS. General conclusions based on the analysis of the three cases are drawn.
Can National Information Infrastructures Enhance Social Development in the Least Developed Countries?
Authors: Meso Peter Nelson , Duncan Nancy Bogucki
Published: April 2011

The need for national information infrastructures (NII) in the world’s least developed countries (LDCs) tends to be overshadowed by the nation’s severe deficiencies in physical infrastructure. Consequently, NII may be inadequately addressed by governments and supporting agencies in their plans for stimulating social growth. The example of Singapore’s TradeNet and other less-developed countries developing national, electronic information infrastructures suggests that information technology infrastructure may enable an LDC to develop at a particularly advanced rate. This paper studies the relationship of information infrastructure and social development. It establishes a clear correlation between 1) levels of information infrastructure and social development, and 2) growth rates of information infrastructure and social development. The findings suggest that governments of LDCs may enhance their countries’ growth by developing strategic plans for NII development.
The Problem of Networked Organizations in India
Authors: Dhillon Gurpreet S. , Moores Trevor T. , Hackney Ray
Published: April 2011

We present a potential misalignment that many emerging economies may face with respect to the advent of networked organizations. We argue that although it may seem that networked organizations appear to offer a viable option for the progress of a nation, a deeper analysis suggests otherwise. This will be exemplified through the case of The Engineering Corporation and its presence in India. While The Engineering Corporation does indeed provide employment to the local economy, the host country must determine the right mix of the aspects involved in the collaborative venture. If this care is not taken, there will be little benefit for the host country, thus resulting in a skewed orientation in the relationship. The globalization of work supported by telecommunications technology and the advent of “networked” organizations has produced a potential dilemma in how to balance the interests of the new global company and the long-term national interests of the country supplying the workforce. A networked organization is one that is decentralized and has regional offices that deal with part of the business operation. For instance, an IT center in one location and a sales office in another. Global decentralization is motivated primarily in order to exploit cheap, skilled labor wheresoever it is found in the world.
Knowledge Assets in the Global Economy
Authors: Malhotra Yogesh
Published: April 2011

This article has the following objectives: to develop the need for assessing knowledge capital at the national economic level; to review a national case study of how intellectual capital assessment was done in the case of one nation state; to suggest implications of use of such assessment methods and needed areas of advancement; and highlight caveats in existing assessment methods that underscore the directions for future research. With increasing emphasis on aligning national information resource planning, design, and implementation with growth and performance needs of businesses or nations, better understanding of new valuation and assessment techniques are necessary for information resource management policymakers, practitioners, and researchers.
The Nature of E-Loyalty in B2C E-Commerce
Authors: Tomiuk Daniel , Pinsonneault Alain
Published: April 2011

The present chapter discusses the nature of e-loyalty in B2C e-commerce. Based on previous theoretical work on loyalty in traditional commercial settings, we argue that highly affective forms of loyalty are unlikely to develop in online environments. Rather, we suggest that the e-commerce environment promotes self-sufficiency and mitigate the need for customer/employee interaction which represents a primary source of affect. Research on relationships in both social psychology and marketing suggests that this loss may not affect all customers equally. We distinguish between customers who value establishing interpersonal relationships with company employees (communally oriented) from customers who see customer/employee interactions as utilitarian and who derive little social benefits from such encounters (exchange oriented). The chapter suggests that online environments may be seen as useful by communally-oriented customers but relationally unsatisfying. Conversely, there exists a good “fit” between what exchange oriented customers value in their relationships with companies and what online environments offer. Consequently, online companies should not be surprised to find that e-loyal customers may be predominantly exchange oriented. Finally, we argue that because e-loyalty lacks a strong affective foundation, it may be less enduring than “traditional” customer loyalty. Implications of our analysis and areas for future research are discussed.
Using a Metadata Framework to Improve Data Resources Quality
Authors: Guimaraes Tor , Yoon Youngohc , Aiken Peter
Published: April 2011

The importance of properly managing the quality of organizational data resources is widely recognized. A metadata framework is presented as the critical tool in addressing the necessary requirements to ensure data quality. This is particularly useful in increasingly encountered complex situations where data usage crosses system boundaries. The basic concept of metadata quality as a foundation for data quality engineering is discussed, as well as an extended data life cycle model consisting of eight phases: metadata creation, metadata structuring, metadata refinement, data creation, data utilization, data assessment, data refinement, and data manipulation. This extended model will enable further development of life cycle phase-specific data quality engineering methods. The paper also expands the concept of applicable data quality dimensions, presenting data quality as a function of four distinct components: data value quality, data representation quality, data model quality, and data architecture quality. Each of these, in turn, is described in terms of specific data quality attributes.
Visualizing IT Enabled Business Process Change
Authors: Hoogeweegen Martijn R. , Kearney A. T.
Published: April 2011

Many contributions in the literature of business process change (BPC) address the questions of why and how to conduct IT enabled BPC projects. A relatively underexposed area, however, is the question of how to formulate an alternative process design. Therefore, the focus of this paper is to support BPC managers in their search for (IT enabled) alternative process design(s). The support should stem from a set of concretely defined redesign guidelines that are visualized in simple process charts. These visualized guidelines should help BPC managers to recognize their applicability in their own context. The aim of this paper is threefold. First, the literature is reviewed to formulate a number of IT enabled BPC guidelines. Second, these guidelines are visualized in process charts. Third, a case study is presented to illustrate the applicability of these visualized guidelines
Relating IS Infrastructure to Core Competencies and Competitive Advantage
Authors: Byrd Terry Anthony
Published: April 2011

The value of information technology (IT) in today’s organizations is constantly debated. Researchers and practitioners have examined organizations to try to discover causal links between competitive advantage and IT. This paper presents and details a model that depicts a possible connection between competitive advantage and IT. Furthermore, this paper attempts to show how one major component of the overall IT resources, the information systems (IS) infrastructure, might yield sustained competitive advantage for an organization. More precisely, IS infrastructure flexibility is examined as an enabler of “core competencies” that have been closely related to sustained competitive advantage in the research literature. The core competencies enabled by IT that are the focus of this study are mass customization and time-to-market. By showing that IS infrastructure flexibility acts as an enabler of these competencies, the relationship to sustained competitive advantage is demonstrated.
Motivations and Perceptions Related to the Acceptance of Convergent Media Delivered through the World Wide Web
Authors: Stafford Thomas F. , Stafford Marla Royne , Shaw Neal G.
Published: April 2011

The convergence of entertainment and communications media in broadband World Wide Web delivery channels promises to provide modern consumers with a wealth of information and data utilities in the home. Best evidenced by the impending synthesis of media content and media delivery in the form of the AOL/Time Warner merger, this developing innovation of a single-channel rich content information utility in the household suggests the need for understanding the complex and diverse motivations attendent to the adoption of new media and new technology merged into a single commercial entity. The purpose of this chapter is to examine the well-understood technology adoption precepts of the technology acceptance model (cf., Davis, 1989; Venkatesh & Davis, 1996; 2000) in concert with the media-use motivation theories arising from adaptation of the uses and Gratifications (U&G) perspective, with particular emphasis on the emerging effects of social gratifications for Internet use.
Managing Strategic IT Investment Decisions From IT Investment Intensity to Effectiveness
Authors: Chou Tzu-Chuan , Dyson Robert G. , Powell Philip L.
Published: April 2011

Many information technology projects fail, especially those intended as strategic. Yet, there is little research that attempts to explain the link between the IT investment intensity of strategic investment decisions (SIDs) and organizational decision-making, in order to understand this phenomenon. This paper proposes an analytical model employing a number of constructs: effectiveness of decisions, interaction and involvement in the decision-formulating process, accuracy of information and strategic considerations in the evaluation process, rarity of decisions, and the degree of IT intensity of an investment in strategic investment decisions. The model explores the relationships influencing the effectiveness of decisions. Empirical testing is based on a sample of 80 SIDs from Taiwanese enterprises. The results show that interaction, accuracy of information, and strategic considerations are mediators in the linkage of IT investment intensity and the effectiveness of SIDs. The implications of these findings for the management of strategic IT investment decisions are discussed.
Extending the Technology Acceptance Model Beyond Its Country of Origin
Authors: Al-Gahtani Said S.
Published: April 2011

This study is an attempt to theoretically and empirically test the applicability of TAM in the Western Europe culture. Thus the study objectives are: 1) to propose whether TAM may well apply to the Western Europe culture using the work of Hofstede on culture’s consequences by exploring the impact of cultural differences on the adoption and diffusion of IT-based innovations such as spreadsheets; 2) to empirically test the applicability of TAM in the United Kingdom as a representative country for the Western Europe culture; and 3) to conclude about the applicability of TAM in selected countries of Western Europe based on these theoretical and empirical endeavors. Therefore, the current study consists of two main parts: I) a theoretical part where IT adoption and diffusion is put in perspective in relation to cultural consequences, and II) an empirical part where an empirical test is carried out in a representative country of the Western Europe region. The study starts with a brief background on spreadsheets and the role they played in the diffusion of computer technology into organizations and sufficient literature about TAM (including its initiation, objective, popularity, and structure) before getting into the main body of the study.
Assessing the Value of Information Technology Investment to Firm Performance
Authors: Hu Qing , Plant Robert T.
Published: April 2011

The promise of increased competitive advantage has been the driving force behind the large-scale investment in information technology (IT) over the last three decades. There is a continuing debate among executives and academics as to the measurable benefits of this investment. The return on investment (ROI) and other performance measures reported in the academic literature indicate conflicting empirical findings. Many previous studies have based their conclusions on the statistical correlation between IT capital investment and firm performance data of the same time period. In this study we argue that the causal relationship between IT investment and firm performance could not be reliably established through concurrent IT and performance data. We further submit that it would be more convincing to infer causality if the IT investments in the preceding years are significantly correlated with the performance of a firm in the subsequent year. Using the Granger causality models and three samples of firm-level financial data, we found no statistical evidence that IT investments have caused the improvement of financial performance of the firms in the samples. On the contrary, the causal models suggest that improved financial performance over consecutive years may have contributed to the increase of IT investment in the subsequent year. Implications of these findings as well as directions for future studies are discussed.
An Analysis of Academic Research Productivity of Information Systems Faculty
Authors: Hu Qing , Gill T. Grandon
Published: April 2011

Why are some faculty members more productive than others in academic research? We constructed a number of hypotheses about faculty research productivity based on the life-cycle model of academic research and previous studies. Tests were conducted using data collected via a national survey of information systems (IS) faculty. The results show that while there are only two significant factors contributing positively to the research productivity: the time allocated to research activity and the existence of IS doctoral programs, many other factors appear to have significant adverse effect on research productivity, such as the number of years on faculty, the teaching load when exceeding 11 hours weekly, and non-IS, nonacademic employment experience. The results also suggest that some of the commonly proposed influential factors, such as tenure status, academic rank, school type, as well as IS-related employment experience, have no significant effect at all. The implications of these findings and the limitations of the study are also discussed.
Physiologic Control of the Functional Status of Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells
Authors: Mellor Andrew L. , Munn David H.
Published: April 2011

Foxp3-lineage CD4 regulatory T cells (Tregs) were named for their ability to maintain self tolerance and suppress T cell immunity. However, resting Tregs from noninflamed tissues exhibit little suppressor activity, and must be stimulated to acquire such function. Conversely, under certain inflammatory conditions, Tregs may undergo rapid reprogramming to acquire helper/effector functions. In this Brief Review, we describe recent progress in elucidating physiologic processes that control the functional status of Foxp3-lineage Tregs. Emerging evidence suggests the surprising possibility that reprogrammed Tregs can be an indispensable source of helper activity in some physiologic settings, such as priming CD8+ T cell responses. This suggests a novel paradigm in which Foxp3+ Tregs intrinsically possess bifunctional potential, acting as a preformed pool of first-responder cells at sites of local inflammation that can either provide classical regulatory/suppressor activity, or rapidly reprogram to supply helper/effector activity, contingent on signals that manifest in local physiologic settings.