Application Service Providers Research Articles

An Exploratory Study of Factors Influencing ASP (Application Service Provider) Success

This study investigates key determinants of ASP (Application Service Provider) success from the user's perspective. Potential determinants of ASP success are inferred from the general characteristics of ASP system, the literature in Information System (IS) success and interviews with ASP experts. The potential factors are grouped into system quality and service quality. A user satisfaction construct is used to measure ASP success. The level of a user's IS knowledge and user involvement are used as moderators. A questionnaire is used to assess the satisfaction of users who have used ASP. The data collected by questionnaire were analyzed to investigate the relationships among the identified constructs and user satisfaction. Understanding key determinants of ASP success provides valuable guidance to both vendors and customers. Based on the results of this study, ASP vendors can focus on improving the factors that affect user satisfaction. Customers can benefit from this study in selection of a desirable ASP vendor who can provide as many ASP success factors as possible.

Global outsourcing of back office services: lessons, trends, and enduring challenges

PurposeTo identify key lessons, trends and enduring challenges with global outsourcing of back office services.Design/methodology/approachThe authors extract lessons, project trends, and discuss enduring challenges from a 20 year research program conducted by these authors and their extended network of co‐authors and colleagues.FindingsThe authors identify seven important lessons for successfully exploiting the maturing Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) markets. The lessons require back office executives to build significant internal capabilities and processes to manage global outsourcing. The authors predict 13 trends about the size and growth of ITO and BPO markets, about suppliers located around the world, and about particular sourcing models including application service provision, insourcing, nearshoring, rural sourcing, knowledge process outsourcing, freelance outsourcing, and captive centers. The authors identify five persistent, prickly issues on global outsourcing pertaining to back office alignment, client and supplier incentives, knowledge transfer, knowledge retention, and sustainability of outsourcing relationships.Originality/valueThe authors present some experimental innovations to address these issues.

A service level model and Internet mobility monitor

Mobility is gaining a tremendous interest among Internet users and wireless access networks are increasingly being installed to enable mobile usage. Internet mobility requires solutions to move between access networks with maintained network connectivity. Seamless mobility in turn means that the experience of using a service is unaffected while being mobile. Communication in next generation networks will use multiple access technologies, creating a heterogeneous network environment. Further, roaming between network service providers may take place. To enable mobile nodes to move between access networks within as well as between network service providers with minimal disruption, nodes should be able to maintain multiple active network connections. With the usage of multihomed nodes, seamless mobility can be achieved in already installed infrastructures, not providing mobility support. Mobility in heterogeneous access networks also requires network selections that scale for services. In this article we propose an architecture where application service providers and network service providers define service levels to be used by a mobile node and its user. The user selects a service and the service level from an application service provider. When performing access network selection, information received as part of an application service level will be used to find a network that supports the service required. The performance of available access networks will be monitored and considered when making the decision. Our proposed architecture provides solutions to move flows between interfaces in real-time based on network performance, quality of service signalling to correspondent nodes, and cancellation of flows to give way for more important traffic.

Service Oriented Architecture – Overview of Technologies and Standards

In constantly changing and dynamic markets enterprises are in an even greater need to maintain adequate IT support for their core competencies. This support requires integrating heterogeneous systems and applications that are built using different technologies and infrastructures, which hamper interoperability and seamless integration. The problems are aggravated additionally by the need to cross enterprise boundaries and the necessity to react to changes in that same environment in an ad-hoc manner. Service-oriented computing (SOC) provides a powerful abstraction basically allowing to perceiving all compute resources as entities that can be dynamically discovered and composed. These entities are called services in SOC: a service is exposed for use over a network, and it is always ready for use. Services are described in terms of interfaces specifying service functionality independent of platform technology or programming language used. This renders the service abstraction particularly advantageous when applied for tackling problems due to heterogeneity of IT landscapes. Service oriented architecture (SOA) is the accompanying architectural style. The roles in the SOA are: service provider, service consumers and service registry. Applications compliant with the SOA can be implemented in terms of various technologies and programming languages. Services communicate through messaging and are loosely coupled. The single technology that has been created to implement SOA inherently and from its onset is the Web service technology. It provides an abstract component model for representing and using services. Based on the heterogeneity and interoperability problems to solve, this technology is highly dependent on standardization; it enables reuse of legacy applications and aims at solving integration problems. The Web Service technology defines a stack of composable specification addressing orthogonal concerns that can be easily composed to meet the requirements of various application domains. Web services are the only service-oriented technology that has enjoyed a tremendous success in acceptance by industry and academia. The implication of its composable nature is that the execution infrastructure for service-oriented applications must support that composability of protocols. Web services mainly target machine-to-machine interaction, which is driven by the need to enable high degree of automation. The execution infrastructure for such applications is referred to as (Enterprise) Service Bus (ESB). It is a piece of middleware enabling the application of the concepts of service orientation. The papers in this issue of it give an overview of the most important aspects of SOA from the point of view of both, industry and academia. The paper of Dustdar and Papazoglou provides definitions of what services and composite services are and illustrates the basic principles of service-oriented computing and how they are reflected by the Web service technology. The distinguishing differences between Web services and other programming models are discussed. This overview paper compares the provision of enterprise solutions using the application service provider (ASP) model and the service-oriented computing approach, whereas the major benefit of services is revealed by their

Determinant Factors on the Adoption of Application Service Providers in Hospital Information Systems

Objective: An application service provider (ASP) is a business that provides computer-based services to customers over a network. The need for ASPs has developed due to increasing costs of information systems, which have far exceeded the price-range of small to medium sized businesses. The ASP could be considered as a potential strategy in hospital information systems (HIS). This study investigates significant factors influencing the adoption of an ASP in hospitals. Methods: Two survey instruments were developed for information technology (IT) experts in hospitals and IT companies, respectively, and a total of 101 responses were analyzed using SAS, version 9.1. Respondents' characteristics were presented using descriptive statistics, while factor analyses were performed for ASP characteristics and influencing factors for ASP adoption. Regression analyses enabled the understanding of relationships between factors and attitudes toward ASP adoption. Results: Nine factors were derived: efficiency, availability, responsiveness, security, resistancy, service quality, attitude toward information-oriented work of CEO or IT experts, environment, and user attitude. Except for responsiveness and CEO or IT experts’ attitude, the seven factors had significant effects on the adoption of an ASP in hospitals. In particular, security and user attitude showed negative effects on ASP adoption. There were variations in the subsystems of HIS. Conclusion: For adopting ASP in hospitals, efficiency, availability, security, resistancy, service quality, environment, and user attitude need to be considered, especially security and user attitude. This study allowed the understanding and comparative analysis of user (hospitals) and supplier (IT companies) perspectives of information systems in terms of ASP adoption in hospitals. (Journal of Korean Society of Medical Informatics 14-1, 9-23, 2008)

An ASP-Based Product Customization Service Systems for SMEs

A product customization system with integrated application services is helpful for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The mode of application service provider (ASP) particularly targets SMEs by providing integrated applications. The current product customization system seldom considers integrating with ASPs and orienting product lifecycle. In this article, an ASP-based product customization service system operating in lifecycle-oriented customization mode is proposed. Resource share, product data transform, and product configuration are three important aspects for effectively supporting lifecycle-oriented product customization service. A resource collection method for distributed resource share is put forward. An XML-based data mapping model for isomeric/ isomorphic product data transform is presented. A new algorithm for rapid product configuration is designed, and an interactive virtual environment for collaborative configuration is suggested. Using this system, SMEs can develop their Internet-based sales and customization systems smoothly, in a short time, and at low cost. A construction machinery oriented product customization service platform is introduced as a case study.

A new method based on fuzzy logic to evaluate the contract service provider performance

This paper puts forward a fuzzy inference system for evaluating the service quality performance of service contract providers. An application service provider (ASP) model for computerized maintenance management was used in establishing common performance indicators of the quality of service. This model was implemented in 10 separate hospitals. As a result, inference produced a service cost/acquisition cost (SC/AC) ratio reduction from 16.14% to 6.09%, an increase of 20.9% in availability, with a maintained repair quality (NRR) in the period of December 2001 to January 2003.

A Web-based Remote Simulation System for the Glass Pressing Process

Numerical simulation of the glass pressing process has become popular and software application by Application Service Provider (ASP) instead of customers' local installation has expanded rapidly. An approach to create a remote ASP-oriented simulation tool for the glass pressing process is presented in this paper. The original functionality of the simulation system is divided into several independent modules: main server, job scheduler, simulating units and user interface (including visualization). The construction approach and implementation techniques of the system are described in detail. Furthermore, the united model and methodology is presented to establish an integrated simulation platform for the multiple aspects of the forming process. The modeling and formulation of glass pressing, part cooling, mold cooling residual stresses and shrinkage are also discussed.

Effect of Telmisartan and Amlodipine on Home Blood Pressure by Monitoring Newly Developed Telemedicine System: Monitoring Test by Using Telemedicine. Telmisartan's Effect on Home Blood Pressure (TelTelbosu)

We have developed a new home blood pressure (BP) monitoring system by using cellular telephone and the Internet. All data of home BP and pulse rate were directly collected by I-converter date collecting system and sent online to a main server constructed in a central data center. The home doctor can monitor the exercise data of each patient by using this system. This home BP monitoring system was directly connected to the Internet by using application service provider technology (ASP). Anytime and anywhere, each patient can check the changes of these parameters by themselves by using cellular telephone and/or the Internet. The average of the data was calculated and demonstrated online. In real time, all data were monitored and sent to the home doctor's office. In the present study, we tried to use this monitoring system to compare the effect of some antihypertensive drugs on home BP.To compare the effects of telmisartan (TEL) and amlodipine (AM) on home BP, home BP was monitored for eight weeks using this telemedicine system. The target point of office BP was 140/90 mmHg or less. After two weeks control period, telmisartan (TEL group: 20–80 mg/day, n = 21) or amlodipine (AM group: 2.5–10 mg/day, n = 19) was orally administrated once a day in the morning. There was no significant difference of office BP between these two groups. Systolic home BP was significantly decreased from 144 ± 4 to 134 ± 3 mmHg (TEL group) and from 143 ± 4 to 135 ± 3 mmHg (AM group), respectively. There was no significant difference in the changes of home BP in the morning between groups (eight weeks home systolic BP reduction, TEL: 15 ± 2 mmHg, AM: 13 ± 2 mmHg). However the reduction of home BP in the evening in TEL group was significantly bigger than AM group (eight weeks home systolic BP reduction, TEL: 13 ± 3 vs. AM: 6 ± 3 mmHg). From these data, we concluded that there is a big difference on the effects of antihypertensive agents on diurnal variation and 24hr overall BP variability in home BP. TEL has a good effect on home BP for 24 hours compared to AM. This telemedicine system has a great advantage in monitoriong home BP correctly in hypertensive patients.

Medical readiness for operations other than war: Boyd's OODA loop and training using advanced distributed simulation technology

Synthetic Distributed Readiness Training Environment (SDRTE) combines Advanced Distributed Interactive Simulation (A-DIS) and Medical Application Service Provider (Med-ASP) concepts into a seamlessly integrated training platform for the development and maintenance of First Responder (1RP) operational medical readiness. A synthetic substitute for the traditional, restrictive methods of training, SDRTE is based on the already developed and tested fusion of Virtual Reality (VR), Auto Stereoscopy (AS), High Fidelity Human Patient Simulation (HFPS), videoconferencing (VCON) and visualisation of complex data with the existing high speed internet connectivity (ISDN, DSL, I2), that operates as a real time, distributed simulation network. Full scale implementation of SDRTE allows real time 'free play' training of multi-agency personnel in a near-real-life environment that permits incorporation of fluidity, stressors and unpredictable elements. Neither of these elements can be successfully implemented in the currently practised, predetermined and strictly scripted physical drills. While the proposed synthetic readiness-training environment will not substitute for physical drills, it will assist in the development of critical command- and decision-making skills required for the successful conduct of operations in dynamically changing disaster environments. Moreover, the synthetic nature of SDRTE permits collection of quantitative data necessary for the development of performance metrics, development of operational standards and doctrines and – ultimately – for the unbiased data-based assessment of the existing readiness levels.

Managing the Internet Payment Platform project

This case examines issues in the assessment and adoption of Internet technologies in a federal US government context, and describes in detail a pilot project to determine the feasibility of adopting an application service provider solution to support procurement by multiple federal agencies using a variety of different legacy transaction systems. The pilot test of the Internet Payment Platform (IPP) by the eMoney group of the United States Treasury's Financial Management Service involved three federal agencies and subsets of their suppliers. Participants saw many benefits from their use of the IPP, but agreed that for full-scale operation it needed to be modified to better fit the government procurement context. The project manager is weighing the pros and cons of conducting another pilot test using the same commercial software as before, or obtaining and customizing a new commercial package, or building a new system from scratch.

Offering Integrated Medical Equipment Management in an Application Service Provider Model

With the advancement of medical technology and thus the complexity of the equipment under their care, clinical engineering departments (CEDs) must continue to make use of computerized tools in the management of departmental activities. Authors of this paper designed, installed, and implemented an application service provider (ASP) model at the laboratory level to offer value added management tools in an online format to CEDs. The project, designed to investigate how to help meet demands across multiple healthcare organizations and provide a means of access for organizations that otherwise might not be able to take advantage of the benefits of those tools, has been well received. Ten hospitals have requested the service, and five of those are ready to proceed with the implementation of the ASP. With the proposed centralized system architecture, the model has shown promise in reducing network infrastructure labor and equipment costs, benchmarking of equipment performance indicators, and developing avenues for proper and timely problem reporting. The following is a detailed description of the design process from conception to implementation of the five main software modules and supporting system architecture.

IT attestation services: What you need to know

AbstractThe rapid growth in outsourcing information technology (IT)—and increased reliance on software application service providers—are fueling a demand for IT attestation services. The author explains what you need to know about them. © 2007 by Information Systems Audit and Control Association.

An Interview with Mrs. Elizabeth Stetson Department of Defense in the Enterprise Integration Area

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size Additional informationNotes on contributorsMahesh S. RaisinghaniMrs. Elizabeth Stetson works for the Department of Defense in the Enterprise Integration area. She has worked in the business applications/manufacturing field for over 20 years. For approximately eleven years she worked for Hewlett Packard, first as a developer in the semiconductor manufacturing business and later in discrete manufacturing and implementation field. She is certified in Production and Inventory Management. In the 1990s she moved in the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) space and in the 1992-1996 timeframe worked in the SAP domain when ERP was taking off in the USA. Mrs. Stetson also worked for an Application Service Provider before going back to work for Hewlett Packard with a focus on high availability technology infrastructure. She also worked for a small startup on business to business supply chain management and pro-services applications.Mahesh S. Raisinghani, is an associate professor in the Executive MBA program at the TWU School of Management. He is a Certified E-Commerce Consultant (CEC) and a Project Management Professional (PMP). Dr. Raisinghani was the recipient of TWU School of Management’s 2005 Best Professor Award for the Most Innovative Teaching Methods; 2002 research award; 2001 King/Haggar Award for excellence in teaching, research and service; and a 1999 UD-GSM Presidential Award. His previous publications have appeared in IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Information and Management, Journal of IT Cases and Applications, Journal of Global I.T. Management, Journal of E-Commerce Research, Information Strategy: An Executive’s Journal, International Journal of E-Business Research, Journal of IT Review, Information Resources and Management Journal, Journal of I.T. Theory and Applications, Enterprise Systems Journal, Journal of Computer Information Systems and Information Systems Management among others.

ASP On-Demand Versus MOTS In-House Software Solutions

Application Service Providers (ASPs) deliver on-demand information processing services to user firms via the Internet. They have been an attractive alternative to purchasing, installing, and maintaining modifiable off-the-shelf (MOTS) software solutions. We study several critical aspects of a user firm's choice between an ASP and MOTS software. The competitive model considers heterogeneous users who differ in terms of their expected transaction volume, while ASPs and MOTS vendors differ in terms of their pricing structure, setup cost, system customization, and service level arrangement. Our results identify and characterize the equilibrium conditions under which ASPs and MOTS vendors can coexist in a competitive market, and they explain which firms could be the primary beneficiaries of each vendor type. We show that the value added by ASPs comes as much from the efficient pooling of transaction volatility risks as from the reduction in IT implementation costs. As users' transaction volatility increases, the competitive advantage of the ASP approach increases significantly. Our findings predict that the existence of ASPs would not be a temporary phenomenon. These new software deliverers are likely to compete, survive, and coexist with the traditional software vendors in the market.

Telemedicine System for Patients on Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

Over recent decades, rapid progress in information and telecommunications technology has led to the application of these technologies in the medical field. In 1999, we reported on a telemedicine system (version 1.0) that used an automated peritoneal dialysis machine to collect data on patients with end-stage renal disease. After 2002, we focused on using cellular telephones in a new telemedicine system (version 2.0) to monitor patient data at home, including blood pressure (BP), heart rate, body weight, urine volume, and blood glucose. By 2003, we had developed a fully automatic system called I-converter (version 3.0) to collect data from a fully automatic device and send it via cellular telephone. After the fully automatic device measures a patient's BP, I-converter sends the data directly to the main server in our central data center. That server is directly connected to Web site by application service provider (ASP) technology. Recently, to make the system simpler, we developed a new version called D-converter (version 4.0). The telephone used in this new system is a Personal Handy-phone System (PHS). The PHS has several advantages: high-speed data transmission, low power output, little electromagnetic interference with medical devices, and easy locating of patients. The D-converter system uses a small computer and a PHS card called a Dopa card. Our telemedicine systems monitor continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients at home. For elderly and handicapped patients, these systems are very advantageous because they reduce visits to the outpatient clinic. In addition, data can be monitored at the patient's home in real time. The present paper reports our recent advances in telemedicine systems for CAPD patients.

Determinants of success for application service provider: An empirical test in small businesses

Recently, application service provider (ASP), a new rental-based enterprise software business, has become a viable option. Although ASP has the potential to fundamentally change the manner in which IT services are provided for user firms, current ASPs often fail to show robust records in accumulating and maintaining customers. Therefore, this paper attempts to explore the main success factors for ASP-based information systems on the basis of past IS success models. Two hundred and three samples were collected from small and medium enterprises with ASP service experiences. Data analysis using LISREL shows that seven IS success factors— system quality, information quality, service quality, intention to use, user satisfaction, individual benefit, organizational benefit and an additional factor, trust, have good fit with data gathered. These factors, except for system quality, show significant coefficients and explanatory power. Furthermore, it is found that both service quality and information quality are significant for fostering user satisfaction, trust, and intention to use.

港湾施設のアセットマネジメントに向けた評価システムの構築

Recently, deterioration of infrastructures has become social problem in Japan, and the application of the asset management system for the maintenance of infrastructures is attracting wide attention. In this study, comprehensive research to develop the asset management system for port facilities has been conducted in order to enable effective planning of maintenance strategy. The practical data management system is being developed, and its outline and characteristics are demonstrated in this paper. The system adopts ASP (Application service provider) system, and has good availability for the users. Furthermore, several analytical methods based on the statistical approach are proposed to assist the decision making in the management.

E-business, innovation and SMEs: the significance of hosted services and firm aggregations

Against a background of the low engagement of Small- to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in e-business this paper investigates the significance of hosted services and firm aggregations. On the basis of qualitative case studies of aggregations of SMEs, the research shows how e-business-based innovation can occur, and identifies the extent to which the aggregation factor contributes to this innovation. The research confirms existing understanding of the importance of network-based aggregations but adds to this with further detail and examples, including the 'outsourcing' of innovation to the Application Service Providers (ASPs).

The entrepreneurship reality in the field of supply chain management systems: the Hellenic market paradigm

Supply chain management constitutes a relatively new and promising field of management science, affecting greatly the efficiency of Greek enterprises. The objective of this research is to detect the range of SCM applications in Greece; the trends and views of Greek enterprises in relation to efficiency, difficulties, costs, benefits and necessity, as these were generated from the implementation of one or more SMC applications. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) has now proven to be an indispensable backbone for most Greek enterprises. Enterprises on the whole have stated that they have proceeded to a combination of ERP and Best of Bread systems. However, despite the valuable benefits featuring the selection of Application Service Providers - ASP (leasing of SCM applications), it has been found that this solution has not matured yet in the consciousness of Greek companies. The great majority considers it either unattractive or slightly attractive.