title: Combining Capabilities: A Resource Based Model of ICT Advantage

authors: Rastrick, Karyn Christine

subjects: resource based view

abstract: Significant levels of interest and organisational spending on information and communication technologies (ICT's) have triggered debate as to whether these investments are worthwhile.  While there has been some acknowledgement that investments result in positive returns, little is known about how ICT's may lead to competitive advantage.  This thesis starts to inform this gap, by investigating how ICT's are combined with other organisational resources in the context of an exemplar organisation.  The resource based view (RBV) is used as a framework to guide this study.  The RBV is an appropriate lens to guide this research due to its focus on resources and capabilities as sources of advantage.  This research employs an interpretive case study design based in an organisation with a long history of innovation and success with regard to ICT's.  

A grounded integrated model of advantage is presented based on two distinct groupings of integrated capabilities: lifecycle and embedded foundational capabilities.  The integrated model of advantage, along with key actions outlined to support such capabilities, provides researchers and practitioners with a new way of understanding ICT based advantages.  In essence, this research demonstrates how the total ownership of ICT's, within the case studied, presents a potential advantage.  The advantage is realised through the combination of capabilities and the inclusive approach to ICT development employed in the case organisation.  The research finds support from propositions of the RBV, in that the model demonstrates sources of advantage are based on organisational capabilities which are valuable, firm specific, and socially complex.  As such, the integration of capabilities evident in the integrated model of advantage is a likely source of sustained competitive advantage.  This means advantages gained from the integration of capabilities are not easily imitated or competed away.  Furthermore, advantages have an even greater potential to be a source of sustained advantage than any single resource or capability.  The research has important implications for theory and practice.  While many individual sources of advantage have been empirically examined, this research provides one of the first in-depth case studies which identify integrated capabilities.  Understanding such sources of advantage will help practitioners better understand and protect key organisational capabilities to sustain or extend competitive advantages.

text: Combining Capabilities: A Resource Based Model of ICT Advantage Significant levels of interest and organisational spending on information and communication technologies (ICT's) have triggered debate as to whether these investments are worthwhile.  While there has been some acknowledgement that investments result in positive returns, little is known about how ICT's may lead to competitive advantage.  This thesis starts to inform this gap, by investigating how ICT's are combined with other organisational resources in the context of an exemplar organisation.  The resource based view (RBV) is used as a framework to guide this study.  The RBV is an appropriate lens to guide this research due to its focus on resources and capabilities as sources of advantage.  This research employs an interpretive case study design based in an organisation with a long history of innovation and success with regard to ICT's.  

A grounded integrated model of advantage is presented based on two distinct groupings of integrated capabilities: lifecycle and embedded foundational capabilities.  The integrated model of advantage, along with key actions outlined to support such capabilities, provides researchers and practitioners with a new way of understanding ICT based advantages.  In essence, this research demonstrates how the total ownership of ICT's, within the case studied, presents a potential advantage.  The advantage is realised through the combination of capabilities and the inclusive approach to ICT development employed in the case organisation.  The research finds support from propositions of the RBV, in that the model demonstrates sources of advantage are based on organisational capabilities which are valuable, firm specific, and socially complex.  As such, the integration of capabilities evident in the integrated model of advantage is a likely source of sustained competitive advantage.  This means advantages gained from the integration of capabilities are not easily imitated or competed away.  Furthermore, advantages have an even greater potential to be a source of sustained advantage than any single resource or capability.  The research has important implications for theory and practice.  While many individual sources of advantage have been empirically examined, this research provides one of the first in-depth case studies which identify integrated capabilities.  Understanding such sources of advantage will help practitioners better understand and protect key organisational capabilities to sustain or extend competitive advantages.

year: 2008

title: A case study in verification of UML statecharts: the PROFIsafe protocol

authors: Malik, Robi

subjects: computer science

abstract: We discuss our experience obtained during the PROFIsafe verification and test case generation project at Siemens Corporate Technology. In this project, a formal analysis of the PROFIsafe protocol for failsafe communication has been carried out. A formal model based on finite-state machines has been obtained from the UML specification of the protocol. This model has been analysed with formal verification techniques, and several important properties have been proven. Based on the verified model, a set of test cases for the automatic execution of conformance tests has been derived. The paper explains how the UML statecharts defining the PROFIsafe protocol are translated into finite-state machines, and points out important aspects and problems occurring during the modelling and verification of industrial applications.

text: A case study in verification of UML statecharts: the PROFIsafe protocol We discuss our experience obtained during the PROFIsafe verification and test case generation project at Siemens Corporate Technology. In this project, a formal analysis of the PROFIsafe protocol for failsafe communication has been carried out. A formal model based on finite-state machines has been obtained from the UML specification of the protocol. This model has been analysed with formal verification techniques, and several important properties have been proven. Based on the verified model, a set of test cases for the automatic execution of conformance tests has been derived. The paper explains how the UML statecharts defining the PROFIsafe protocol are translated into finite-state machines, and points out important aspects and problems occurring during the modelling and verification of industrial applications.

year: 2003

title: Protecting Māori data: Can a Privacy Code of Practice provide a partial solution?

authors: Watts, David

abstract: This paper explores whether a Māori Data Privacy Code, developed under the Privacy Act 2020, could provide additional protection for classes of information that are regarded by Māori as tapu. The Act already covers the personal information of Māori individuals in the same way it does any other individual. We argue that a MDP Code could offer additional protection for particular classes of sensitive personal information – specifically whakapapa data and data pertaining to deceased Māori. A MDP Code could restrict the purposes for which such information can be collected, used, disclosed, retained, stored and disposed of; put stronger requirements on agencies to demonstrate that their collection and use of this information is justified; require free, prior and informed consent for its use and disclosure; and provide for greater transparency and independent Māori oversight.

text: Protecting Māori data: Can a Privacy Code of Practice provide a partial solution? This paper explores whether a Māori Data Privacy Code, developed under the Privacy Act 2020, could provide additional protection for classes of information that are regarded by Māori as tapu. The Act already covers the personal information of Māori individuals in the same way it does any other individual. We argue that a MDP Code could offer additional protection for particular classes of sensitive personal information – specifically whakapapa data and data pertaining to deceased Māori. A MDP Code could restrict the purposes for which such information can be collected, used, disclosed, retained, stored and disposed of; put stronger requirements on agencies to demonstrate that their collection and use of this information is justified; require free, prior and informed consent for its use and disclosure; and provide for greater transparency and independent Māori oversight.

year: 2025-10