Technology Management Practices Research Articles

Optimizing Operational and Strategic IT

The authors explore seven operational and strategic technology capabilities and management practices, which are shaping today's enterprise IT systems and applications: cloud computing, BYOD, big data analytics, social business analytics, location awareness, crowdsourcing, and governance federation.

Evolution of Sanitation and Wastewater Technologies through the Centuries

Most of the technological developments relevant to water supply and wastewater date back to more than to five thousand years ago. These developments were driven by the necessity to make efficient use of natural resources, to make civilizations more resistant to destructive natural elements, and to improve the standards of life, both at public and private level. Rapid technological progress in the 20th century created a disregard for past sanitation and wastewater and stormwater technologies that were considered to be far behind the present ones. A great deal of unresolved problems in the developing world related to the wastewater management principles, such as the decentralization of the processes, the durability of the water projects, the cost effectiveness, and sustainability issues, such as protection from floods and droughts were intensified to an unprecedented degree. New problems have arisen such as the contamination of surface and groundwater. Naturally, intensification of unresolved problems has led to the reconsideration of successful past achievements. This retrospective view, based on archaeological, historical, and technical evidence, has shown two things: the similarity of physicochemical and biological principles with the present ones and the advanced level of wastewater engineering and management practices. Evolution of Sanitation and Wastewater Technologies through the Centuries presents and discusses the major achievements in the scientific fields of sanitation and hygienic water use systems throughout the millennia, and compares the water technological developments in several civilizations. It provides valuable insights into ancient wastewater and stormwater management technologies with their apparent characteristics of durability, adaptability to the environment, and sustainability. These technologies are the underpinning of modern achievements in sanitary engineering and wastewater management practices. It is the best proof that “the past is the key for the future”. Evolution of Sanitation and Wastewater Technologies through the Centuries is a textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses of Water Resources, Civil Engineering, Hydraulics, Ancient History, Archaeology, Environmental Management and is also a valuable resource for all researchers in the these fields. ISBN: 9781780404851 (eBook) ISBN: 9781780404844 (Print)

An Integrative Evaluation Framework for Determining the Value of Group Decision Support Systems

:Group-based decision-making situations are relevant to engineering management practice. To assist group decision making, specialized computer-based tools called Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS) have been promoted since the late 1980s. Nevertheless, a review of the extensive research on GDSS design and evaluation reveals that an integrated framework is not available to evaluate the decision-making value of a specific GDSS. This article proposes a GDSS-value evaluation framework by considering the process of, and outcomes from, decision making together with the technical capabilities needed to provide them. The framework is implemented with an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model, and its utilization is illustrated with the evaluation of three real GDSS applications. This integrative GDSS-value evaluation framework can be used by engineering managers as a tool to determine the overall decision-making value from an existing or projected GDSS with the aim of selecting the most adequate GDSS for a particular engineering management group-based decision-making situation.

Method for Measuring the Alignment Between Information Technology Strategic Planning and Actions of Information Technology Governance

The purpose of this research is to present a method for measuring the degree of alignment between Strategic Planning and Information Technology Management practices and Information Technology Governance. A survey of IT governance maturity at the High Courts and the Supreme Court was carried out in order to reach this aim. The Attribute Table of the COBIT 4.1 was used both as a model for maturity analysis as for the degree of alignment of IT strategic plans of these bodies with the IT Strategic Planning established by the National Judiciary Council (CNJ). It was assessed the maturity of thirty four processes, according to six attributes, in the four COBIT domains. The proposed method, named COMPLAN-GTI, allows the linking of the guidelines of the strategic planning to the COBIT processes. The field research above mentioned shows that the alignment between the planning established by the CNJ and those established by the High Courts and Supreme Court is around 68%, leading to the conclusion that the policies and actions established by the National Council of Justice for the Judiciary are being followed. The application of the method is also used to confirm whether the management practices and the IT Governance are consistent with the strategic plan established by the organization. It was observed in the research carried out in the Courts that the average convergence between PETIs and management practices and Governance lies around 70%, leading to the conclusion that the strategic plans exerted influence on the action planning of these organizations.

Do Different Approaches to Measurement of Risk Behaviour Yield Different Results?

Risk and uncertainty play an important role in the adoption of new technology, new crop, and new management practices. However, direct information about attitudes towards risk is seldom available; hence has remained one of the unexplored aspects of technology adoption behaviour. Also, because of differences in measurement methods often there are conflicting views on the issues related to risk preferences. This paper has investigated the inconsistency in measurement of risk preference through subjective question and through risk game with real incentives using responses of 426 jatropha-growing farmers in the states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. These approaches to measurement of risk preferences have yielded different results in terms of magnitude, direction, and significance.

On the Core Essence of Engineering Management Theory

At present, China's economy is in rapid growth. The scale of engineering construction is significantly in - creasing and a number of major projects have been complet- ed and put into use, bringing the engineering management practice new issues and challenges with each passing day. In the meantime, Chinese scholars are constantly summa- rizing what they have learnt in these activities and making great effort to gradually establish their own theoretical sys- tem of engineering management, of which the core essence of theoretical system of engineering management becomes a critically important topic. By studying our engineering man- agement theory and practice, this paper preliminarily sums up the core essence of the engineering management theory in China as: "establishing a perfect harmony between human and nature through a people-oriented approach and dual in- novation", with a hope to help and enrich the research on the theoretical system of engineering management in China.

Exploration on Engineering Management Practice of China's High Speed Railways

This paper explores the principal motivations and successful experiences of the rapid development of China's high speed railway. In the perspective of the engi- neering management practice, the developers have studied and made prospective mid- and long-term railway network planning, including the four east-west and four north-south corridors as the backbone, the interregional urban passen- ger traffic corridors and the intercity railways, with a plan- ning scale above 16,000km. Under the overall coordination of the government, a high speed railway technology system has been formed with the China's characteristics, by the way of sticking to independent innovation, of combining original innovation, collaborative innovation and integrative innova- tion, and of attaching importance to experimental verifica - tion. The target control system and support-guarantee system were established for the high speed railway project, enacting standardized management, strengthening integration test and commissioning, conducting strict acceptance, and achiev- ing construction management experiences on the high speed railway. Finally, this paper proposes such issues worthy of attention and further study, as the improvement of the en- gineering decision-making management, the enhancement of investment and financing system reform, and the promotion of professionalization and the specialization of engineering project management.

Investigating primary health care nurses' intention to use information technology: An empirical study in Taiwan

Information technology (IT) has become a significant part of providing consistent care quality. The applications of the primary health information system (PHIS) in primary health care have rapidly influenced the care service delivery. Improved understanding of critical antecedents leading the PHIS usage can serve as a foundation for practice to develop implementation strategies and enhance system use for nurses. In accordance with the theory of reasoned action (TRA), this study aims to investigate the antecedents that influence nurses to use the PHIS, and to incorporate a framework of technology acceptance by individual professionals to improve the IT attitude in the health care setting. A total of 768 valid questionnaires were completed by primary health care nurses. The results indicated that compatibility has a positive influence on the perceived usefulness and perceived trust in the PHIS. If primary health care nurses perceive the PHIS to be trustworthy then they are more likely to consider it to be useful. In addition, when the PHIS is seen as both trustworthy and useful, then nurses are more likely to have a positive attitude toward using it. These findings have valuable implications for technology management practice in promoting PHIS usage by primary health care nurses.

Enhancing ISO/IEC 15288 with reuse and product management: An add-on process reference model

To support the transformation of system engineering from the project-based development of highly customer-specific solutions to the reuse and customization of ‘system products’, we integrate a process reference model for reuse- and product-oriented industrial engineering and a process reference model extending ISO/IEC 12207 on software life cycle processes with software- and system-level product management. We synthesize the key process elements of both models to enhance ISO/IEC 15288 on system life cycle processes with product- and reuse-oriented engineering and product management practices as an integrated framework for process assessment and improvement in contexts where systems are developed and evolved as products.

NETWORKS AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE: THE CASE OF A PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION OF MINAS GERAIS – BRAZIL

This paper is about the presentation of the social network of partnerships in 2010 around a Federal Institution of Higher Education – IFES, located at Minas Gerais State. The aim of this paper is to show how the practices of formal partnerships can contribute to the formation of democratic governance. The approach was quantitative, using as tool of the collecting data, a documental research. We analyzed the database of a body responsible for the management of the instruments of partnerships agreements and we classified the partner institutions in public, private, third sector, individuals and foreign institutions. The results were the construction of sociograms as a graphic representation showing the main elements of democratic governance. The survey revealed that partnerships as institutional practices can contribute for the establishment of a network of democratic governance, guided by a leading organization. Thereby, it can form partnerships of following types: public-public and public-private, permeated by the dimensions of governance (rules of governance defined), management (the practice of technology management), autonomy (respect to institutional abilities), mutuality (mutual responsibility), confidence and reciprocity (strengthening of teaching, research and extension activities). In this sense, the social network formed by partnerships can be categorized as a “network of democratic governance”.

Environmental Sustainability Initiatives: A Comparative Analysis of Plant Efficiencies in Europe and the U.S.

The importance of environmental sustainability initiatives (ESI) for engineering and supply chain management practice and research is undeniable. However, despite the widespread attention to this domain, investigations in the effects of ESI on performance have been ambiguous and led to contradicting results, calling for the examination of contingencies influencing the relationship. This study works to bring insight and clarity into this debate by a comparative analysis of ESI among efficient and inefficient plants in Europe and the U.S. Specifically, using a sample of 402 plants located in Europe and the U.S., we study the impact of an explicit set of ESI (recycling, waste reduction, pollution prevention, ISO 14000 certification) on plant efficiency, an important performance measure which is, however, rarely considered. Basing our rationale on the resource-based view of the firm, we suggest that plants more heavily engaged in ESI are also characterized by a greater level of efficiency. We test this contention in both European and U.S. plants. Extending this cross-national comparison, we further study whether the emphasis on ESI differs in the two country groups. Relying on institutional theory, we suggest that the pursuit of ESI is enhanced among European plants, compared to their U.S. counterparts. Our findings and conclusions draw attention to the importance of contingencies to be considered and bring light to the seemingly contradictory findings in prior research. Important implications for engineering and supply chain management practice and research are highlighted.

Alliance portfolio diversity, radical and incremental innovation: The moderating role of technology management

In this paper we test whether the use of a set of technology management tools (TM-tools), a specification of alliance portfolio capability, influences the relationship between alliance portfolio diversity and a firm's innovation outcomes. With this model, we add to the theoretical literature on the performance effects of alliance portfolio diversity and specific contingencies allowing to appropriate benefits from this diversity. Based on a sample of South African firms, we first confirm the inverted U-shaped relation between alliance portfolio diversity and a firm's innovation outcomes found by earlier research. We also show that the shape of this inverted-U differs for incremental and radical innovation outcomes. Subsequently, we test the moderating effect of the use of TM-tools on this relationship, for which find a strong positive moderating effect. In particular, for firms intensively using TM-tools, the negative effect of high levels of alliance portfolio diversity on innovation outcomes turns into a positive effect. This suggests that the use of formal technology management practices is beneficial to manage highly diverse alliance portfolios.

Longwall Mining Stability in Take-Off Phase

Mechanised longwall mining is one of the more commonly employed exploitation methods in underground mines in the north of Spain as well as in the rest of the world. It is continuously changing and evolving, with new techniques, technology, equipment, and face management practices and systems appearing for the purposes of improving aspects such as operational and financial performances and, above all, the safety of the miners. Despite its importance, there are no regulations for the mining of longwall coal seams. This work aims to contribute to an advance in the design and optimisation of the roof support in longwall mining, analysing the stability of the roof using a method based on the resistance of materials, which considers the characteristics of the properties of the roof materials. The influence of not only the individual elements of support but also the coalface, which is considered one more supporting element, is investigated. The longitudinal and transverse spacings of the support and the number of walkways constituting the exploitation panel are analysed. The proposed formulation is validated by information gathered in a mine located in the region of Castilla-Leon.

Responses of successful local firms to changing foreign partnership characteristics: a model of dynamic technology management strategies

This article investigates the technological development process in local firms in joint venture partnerships with foreign firms. It takes the perspective of the local firms located in a developing economy and presents a model of dynamic technology management strategies (MDTMS) of local firms for sustained technological development. Based on an analysis of six firms from the rubber products and garment accessories manufacturing in Sri Lanka, it reveals how the level of skills and competence development within the local firm, the potential for technological contribution by the foreign partner firm and the level of autonomy of the local firms are important determinants for shaping technology management strategies. It argues that these successful Sri Lankan firms adopt dynamic technology management strategies because of the evolving nature of the partnership. The proposed model has significant implications for the technology management practices of local firms in developing economies that engage in foreign partnerships.

Observations on Expedited Systems Engineering Practices in Military Rapid Development Projects

This research, conducted in the Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC), examined systems engineering and engineering management practices for military rapid capability and urgent needs programs. Lifecycle of urgent needs programs is driven by “time to market” as opposed to complete satisfaction of static requirements, with delivery expected in months versus years/decades. The processes and practices applied to urgent needs must add value and not require an excessive bureaucratic oversight to implement, while at the same time address, understand, and manage risk such that programs can understand better where to include, truncate, eliminate, tailor, or scale systems engineering practices and processes. Focusing on aspects of the product, process, and people of military rapid organizations, the analysis showed that these organizations have the right team, develop innovative conceptual solutions, quickly prune the design space, and identify appropriate designs that can deliver warfighting capability expeditiously. While these observations may not seem new, they provide the foundation for a broader framework of rapid development, which is the subject of ongoing research.

Employee Misuse of Information Technology Resources: Testing a Contemporary Deterrence Model

ABSTRACTRecent research in information systems and operations management has considered the positive impacts of information technology (IT). However, an undesirable side effect of firms’ increasing reliance on IT to support the distribution and delivery of goods and services to customers is a greater exposure to a diverse set of IT security risks. One such risk is intentional employee misuse of technology resources. In this article, we draw upon modern deterrence frameworks to develop a predictive model of technology misuse intention that incorporates formal and informal sanctions as well as employment context factors. The model specifies previously untested relationships between formal and informal sanctions, thereby providing fresh insight into the role of sanctions in deterring technology misuse in organizations. Our results suggest that a predisposition toward the need for social approval and moral beliefs regarding the behavior are key determinants of technology misuse. Contrary to criminological research that has questioned the relative importance of formal sanctions in the deterrence process, we also found that the threat of formal sanctions has both direct and indirect influences on technology misuse intention. Further, from an employment context standpoint, employees who spend more working days away from the office (i.e., “virtual” mode) appear more inclined to misuse their organization's technology resources. The findings have implications for the research and practice of technology management.

THE DYNAMICS OF TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN LOCAL FIRMS IN FOREIGN PARTNERSHIPS IN THE CONTEXT OF A LESS DEVELOPED ECONOMY

This paper investigates the technology management practices and the learning processes for the technological development of local firms in foreign partnerships. It initially notes that the existing literature is focused on the technological benefits to local firms in developing economies from multinational corporations rather than explaining the dynamics of the technology management practices used by local firms who engage in foreign partnerships. This paper also notes a gap in the current literature regarding the technology learning process during partnerships from the perspective of the local partner firms in developing economies. The structural analysis of the data from six case studies of joint venture partner firms in Sri Lanka shows that the technology management practices of local firms need to evolve strategically, based on the partnership characteristics, throughout the life of that partnership. It identifies that the level of skills and capabilities within the local firm, the organizational dominance of the foreign partner firm, clarity of roles in the partnership, and the potential technological contribution from the foreign partner firm are all significant determining factors affecting the choice of dynamic technology management practices by local partner firms.

TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES: FACTORS AFFECTING THEIR USAGE AND THEIR IMPACT ON PERFORMANCE

This study investigates which technology management (TM) tools are used in practice, what determines their usage, and whether they affect the user firms' performance. Based on a survey of 52 electronics and machinery firms in Turkey, the study shows there are significant relationships between the number of TM tools and techniques that a firm uses and (i) the hierarchical level of the chief technology officer (CTO) or most senior manager responsible for technology, (ii) his/her field of education, and (iii) the size of the firm. The findings indicate a significant and linear relationship between the extent to which the firms have reached their growth targets and the number of TM tools and techniques used. This relationship is, however, not observed between firm profitability and the number of TM tools and techniques. The findings have important implications for the practice of TM.

UNVEILING TM PRACTICES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

The management literature acknowledges the dominance of the US-based theories in management research across the globe. This general dominance is not studied for different sub-disciplines of management at the empirical level, with few exceptions such as a study carried out for organizational studies (Usdiken and Pasadeos, 1995). Such a lack is also observed for the technology management (TM) literature even though the TM discipline has a history of almost 50 years. There are a number of intellectual reasons why this is an interesting research theme. Understanding the dominance of developed country-based theory might help researchers to discover the conditions and the dynamics involved in the transfer of theoretical orientations and most importantly the implications of the dominance at the practical level. If literature is dominated with the US-based theory, what are its implications for researchers around the world? Is there really convergence of theories due to their being universal observations of capitalist economical and industrial infrastructures in developing and developed countries? If they converge, this might not necessarily mean that all economies, different cultures, countries resemble each other, however. The similarity might be because theoretical outlets such as management journals might not accept out-of-the-norm papers in this field, limiting the development of distinct technology management literature arising from the actual needs of developing country managers. If they do not converge, it is of great importance to understand the in theory and practice of these theories in different country contexts. Cross-cultural researchers believe that there is no such thing as a universal theory of management. Meta-theoretical assumptions supporting US-based management theories and practices have not been questioned, particularly in regards to their deployment in non-Western contexts. In addition, the emphasis of research on differences imply separation, which would also conceal other social and cultural formations established through global relationships. These arguments remain subjective as long as there are not enough data comparatively investigating the developments in the literature. Although research has made important contributions towards the understanding of TM practices in developing countries, both theoretical and empirical research is required in order to develop a better understanding. That is why this special issue is focused on TM in developing countries.

9.2.2 Observations from applying SE principles on a large research project developing Processes, Methods & Tools for Modelling & Simulation of Aircraft Behaviour

AbstractThis paper describes experiences gained by applying System Engineering (SE) management practices within a particular EU research project (CRESCENDO). Additionally, we attempt to answer the underlying question: to what extent is it practical to apply SE management practices within the context of large‐scale, collaborative research projects? A common characteristic of these projects is that their structure is quite complex and requires a systematic management approach for their successful outcome. The benefits of managing industrial projects using SE management practices are well‐known. However, difficulties arise not only from the maturity of the SE processes, methods & tools available, but also from selecting the right toolsets from the plethora on offer. Therefore, significant investments are needed to develop methodologies to navigate the complexity of processes and products in the aerospace sector. In this paper, we highlight the advantages of the SE approach, but also point out some drawbacks and provide some recommendations for future adopters of SE management practices in similar project contexts.