Good IT Research Articles

Digital exclusion or learning exclusion? An ethnographic study of adult male distance learners in English prisons

Previous research has highlighted the value of technology to enhance learning. However, digital inclusion research has argued that many issues such as skills, access, usability and choice impact on the effectiveness of technology to enhance learning. The findings in this paper add to the debate by highlighting the importance of value and context. In particular, the value that institutions and individuals place on the role of further and higher distance learning in a prison can affect technology-enhanced learning in that context. This research identified that despite good IT skills and improved technologies, prison learners’ access and use of technology is hampered by conflicting priorities amongst the multiple organisations controlling prisoner activities. This can lead to a prison in which menial work is valued far higher than learning. Technology-enhanced distance learning, perceived by many to be a lifeline in a desolate environment, is heavily restricted in such prisons. The situation is thought to be deteriorating as the number of organisations involved increases and the Government’s plans for ‘‘working’’ prisons gather pace.Keywords: social inclusion; digital inclusion; distance learning; higher education; prisoner reintegration(Published: 19 December 2012)Citation: Research in Learning Technology 2012, 20: 18620 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/rlt.v20i0.18620

Governing and Managing IT Investment and Spending, Managing System Implementation and Managing Vendors and Service Providers

In today’s business environment of online transactions and remote delivery of services across multiple time zones and countries that lead to reduced cost and increased efficiencies, IT investments have become the key to sustaining such competitive advantages. The percentage of budgets spent on IT is ever increasing. This paper discusses the IT investment methodology and the related aspects to be considered. The IT investment is also viewed using the financial metrics like ROI, to justify the investments. Most businesses use the ROI measure before finalizing an IT investment. One of the ways IT investments costs are reduced is by using external vendors who are specialized in the specific systems. IT vendor management thus is an area that Businesses need to be handling every day. A proper IT vendor management process needs to be in place to effectively manage IT investments. Some of the IT vendor management aspects have been reviewed in this paper. With IT investments comes changes to the way business is conducted and thus such changes carry risks. Using proper IT implementation strategies, such risks can be mitigated. This paper reviews the Project Management Institute’s approach to IT investment. Investment in IT typically leads to implementing or upgrading systems. Proper processes need to be in place to take care of such investments by adopting IT governance strategies. Without good IT governance strategies, over the long run, the IT investments and processes implemented would diverge from the Business Objectives to be met. This paper would covers the IT governance aspects to highlight this important area.

Impacto da adoção de mecanismos de governança de Tecnologia de Informação (TI) no desempenho da gestão da TI: uma análise baseada na percepção dos executivos

Recently, there has been a great deal of interest on the part of many executives the concept of IT governance in order to justify IT investments. However some studies have shown that companies which have good IT governance models generate higher returns on their IT investments than their competitors, less research can be found on how organizations are effectively implementing IT governance in day-to-day practice. Thus, we evaluated the perceived impact of different IT governance mechanisms on IT management performance. The study was done with 83 IT managers, indicating the most adopted IT governance mechanisms as well as their impact on IT management. Results indicated a great number of IT governance mechanisms correlating positively with different IT governance domains, highlighting IT Strategic Planning, IT projects Committee, CIO on board of directors, compliance practices and IT committees as the most important mechanisms, suggesting the more effective they were, the better IT management will be.

Impacto da adoção de mecanismos de governança de Tecnologia de Informação (TI) no desempenho da gestão da TI: uma análise baseada na percepção dos executivos doi: 10.5007/2175-8077.2010v12n28p11

Recently, there has been a great deal of interest on the part of many executives the concept of IT governance in order to justify IT investments. However some studies have shown that companies which have good IT governance models generate higher returns on their IT investments than their competitors, less research can be found on how organizations are effectively implementing IT governance in day-to-day practice. Thus, we evaluated the perceived impact of different IT governance mechanisms on IT management performance. The study was done with 83 IT managers, indicating the most adopted IT governance mechanisms as well as their impact on IT management. Results indicated a great number of IT governance mechanisms correlating positively with different IT governance domains, highlighting IT Strategic Planning, IT projects Committee, CIO on board of directors, compliance practices and IT committees as the most important mechanisms, suggesting the more effective they were, the better IT management will be.

Good IT Governance: Framework and Prototype for Higher Education

Information technology (IT) menjadi semakin penting bagi organisasi perguruan tinggi (dan organisasi lainnya) karena dapat memudahkan pelaksanaan proses bisnis dan meningkatkan keunggulan kompetitif. Melalui IT, proses bisnis dapat dilaksanakan lebih mudah, cepat, efisien, dan efektif. IT juga menawarkan banyak peluang kepada perguruan tinggi untuk meningkatkan kinerja, mentransformasi pelayanan, pasar, proses kerja, dan hubungan-hubungan komunitas dan riset. Karenanya, IT governance saat ini menjadi salah satu critical success factor (CSF) bagi para pemimpin (CIOs) dan mitra perguruan tinggi untuk mengoptimalkan peran IT dalam efektifitas peningkatan aset, capaian kinerja, sasaran, tujuan, misi dan visi organisasi. Namun demikian, kompleksitas penerapan IT pada organisasi menimbulkan kesukaran pada berbagai level pemimpin dan stakeholder dalam memahami, membuat dan menerapkan IT governance di perguruan tinggi. Akibatnya manfaat penggunaan IT yang didapatkan perguruan tinggi dirasakan belum sebanding dengan nilai investasi yang telah dikeluarkan. Untuk itu, artikel ini membahas tinjauan tentang IT governance, prinsip-prinsip dan pedoman yang ditetapkan oleh para ahli IT governance di lapangan, struktur IT governance di perguruan tinggi, komite IT governance secara intensif, dan rekomendasi prototype good IT governance yang dapat diterapkan di perguruan tinggi.

Governing Information Technology Risk

Regulatory changes have affected the composition, role, and responsibilities of Boards of Directors worldwide. While stronger frameworks for directors9 fiduciary responsibilities have resulted, considerably less attention has been devoted to understanding the nature of, and concomitant duty-of-care towards, the information systems and technology assets in the organization, or IT Governance. As a result, Boards have not demonstrated the competence or attention that good IT governance demands. IT Governance takes two forms: a defensive form, IT Risk Governance, that seeks to safeguard the organization from the consequences of IT-related disasters; and a strategic form, IT Value Governance, which creates lasting shareholder value. This article focuses on IT Risk Governance. Based on an academic and trade literature review, and interviews with Board members from six international firms, it presents a model, the IT Risk Governance Chain, and a dashboard that outlines the critical areas of IT risk and the key questions directors should ask to properly safeguard the information and technology assets of their firms.

Use of Secondary Prevention Medication Before and After an Acute Coronary Syndrome: Potential Long-Term Community Improvements, But Is This as ‘Good as it Gets’ After Hospital Discharge?

Conclusion: Significant delays are seen for ACS pts accessing cardiac angiography and even longer delays for CABG surgery. Quality health care for ACS pts includes efficient service provision, which would also reduce hospital costs. doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2009.04.047 45 USE OF SECONDARY PREVENTION MEDICATION BEFORE AND AFTER AN ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME: POTENTIAL LONG-TERM COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS, BUT IS THIS AS ‘GOOD AS IT GETS’ AFTER HOSPITAL DISCHARGE? JL Looi 1,∗, KL Looi 1, KL Chow1, S Haliday1, M Lee1, G Gamble2, HD White 1, CJ Ellis 1 1Green Lane Cardiovascular Service, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand 2 Department of Medicine, Auckland University, Auckland, New Zealand Background: Secondary prevention medication: statins, aspirin, clopidogrel, beta-blockers and ACEinhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), significantly reduce cardiovascular (CVS) events after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We examined community patients (pts) known to have ischaemic heart disease, w ( A e

Performance outcomes and success factors of vendor managed inventory (VMI)

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to seek to investigate performance outcomes of vendor managed inventory (VMI) from a buyer's perspective and enablers for its successful application.Design/methodology/approachStructural equation modelling through Partial Least Squares (PLS) is used to identify relationships between four enablers (information systems, information sharing, information quality, and relationship quality), perceived VMI success, and three outcomes (cost reductions, customer service, and supply chain control).FindingsBuyer‐perceived VMI success is impacted by the quality of the buyer‐supplier relationship, the quality of the IT‐system and the intensity of information sharing, but not by the actual quality of the information shared. Furthermore, VMI leads to three performance outcomes: higher customer service levels, improved supply chain control and, to a lesser extent, cost reduction.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough theory stipulates a positive impact of high quality information on the success of VMI, this study shows that the effect of information quality is limited in practice.Practical implicationsThe results of the survey show that purchasing managers who invest in the relationship with their suppliers and a good IT infrastructure are more likely to get better results from a VMI implementation. Furthermore, this paper shows that while most managers expect major cost reductions when implementing VMI, benefits primarily come from improved service levels.Originality/valueThe study provides empirical evidence of why VMI in practice does not achieve all the benefits claimed in theory.

DIGITAL PAKISTAN: OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES

IT has revolutionized the social and organizational life around the globe. Given the newness of IT as a technology, there is a lot of potential that needs to be explored. It is however, argued that as IT can revolutionize the economic development, by the same coin, although its mismanagement in adoption process can end up in problems or even straight failure of the technology at the business-end. This study was conducted with reference to opportunities and challenges in the IT adoption process in Pakistan. The aim of the study was to point out the barriers that are impeding the country’s computerization process in order to provide facts to the policy makers for smooth computerization. The primary data collected through structured questionnaires was analyzed and tested through correlation, regressions analysis and t-test. Out of 10 hypotheses, 3 were accepted while in the rest null hypotheses were not substantiated. Based on primary and secondary data analysis this study has found that all independent bureaucratic, political, education and social and cultural variables are mutually correlated and have significant impact on shaping and reshaping of IT in Pakistan, while the Pakistan IT policy is inconsistent, administrative machinery attitude is negative and non cooperative, procedures are cumbersome and implementation is weak and ineffective, not to mention the lack of IT knowledge on the bureaucratic side. The political environment is instable and law and order is worse which is discouraging the investment. Moreover, physical and legal infrastructure is insufficient and the country is lacking good quality IT professionals. IT organization alignment is another serious issue in Pakistan. However, government incentives and growing interest from the private sector indicate positive attitude towards computerization of the country.

Integrated Library Software: A Survey of Lahore

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the most used library software in Lahore using a checklist and seek librarians' opinions about them. It also aims to seek librarians' opinions about the most desired and needed features of Integrated Library Software (ILS).Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on questionnaire survey, interview, document analysis and personal communication. The questionnaire survey was conducted within automated libraries of Lahore, while interviews were conducted with selected librarians from Lahore. Collected data were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively to reach conclusions.FindingsA variety of software is being used by the libraries of Lahore. Nor is there available, any standard tool or directory for the selection and evaluation of the software. Evaluation of the software against a checklist reveals the better functionality of Library Information Management System and Library Automation and Management Program than INMAGIC and WINISIS, but librarians were found to be more satisfied with INMAGIC. All the respondents agreed that before selecting any ILS, librarys' actual and perceived needs, available resources and funds should be kept in mind. They also proposed many features of ILS.Research limitations/implicationsThe questionnaire survey is limited to the automated libraries of Lahore and focuses on the comparison and evaluation of the most used software only, while selected librarians with good IT skills were chosen for seeking opinions about the most desired ILS features.Practical implicationsThe survey results can be helpful to foreign and local vendors of ILS, librarians, higher authorities and other developing countries in selecting and maintaining required software.Originality/valueIt is the first comprehensive study conducted on ILS not only in Lahore, but in Pakistan.

Giving way to outbound traffic

The security risks associated with outbound IP and mail traffic are rarely discussed in the information security industry, despite the fact that there are legal, reputational and business reasons why a good IT security manager should be aware of them. Steve Gold asks why organisations are giving way to outbound traffic, rather than showing it the red light

Need for Flexibility and Innovation in Healthcare Management Systems

There are tremendous benefits to view a healthcare system as a flexible system. It helps to promote innovations towards greater quality of service as well as better utilization of the resources. Healthcare System (HCS) in India needs to promote improved customer services, greater collaborations within Health System, improved HCS system designs, re-engineering of the conventional processes, greater emphasis on total quality management, improved flexibility to respond quickly to various system needs and a good IT support. Development of the demonstrative simulation models for alternative HCS can offer alternative solutions to achieve more effective healthcare management systems. The objective of this paper is to study the existing healthcare system design and then propose suggestions towards a more customer friendly (yet efficient and competitive) healthcare system. This paper also presents some insight of the simulation model of the healthcare system (HCS) viewed as a flexible system. A flexible system view offers enormous knowledge that may be utilized to deploy and exploit flexibility (to be more quality oriented towards patient needs and yet remain efficient and competitive) with suitable IT based control strategies. It is like learning the best practices from one domain (Technology Systems) and employing them to another domain (Health Systems) with suitable adaptations. Our paper aims to offer some novel suggestions for HCS and show the benefits of treating it as a flexible system..

Performance effects of information technology synergies in multibusiness firms

Unlike technologies that are applicable in a few specific industries, information technologies have a wide range of applicability across almost all industries. The fundamental principles of good IT...

Performance Effects of Information Technology Synergies in Multibusiness Firms

Unlike technologies that are applicable in a few specific industries, information technologies have a wide range of applicability across almost all industries. The fundamental principles of good IT management are also applicable in many industries. Thus, firms whose business units operate in different industries have an opportunity to exploit cross-unit IT synergies by applying their IT resources and management processes across multiple units. This study examines sources of cross-unit IT synergy and the conditions under which cross-unit IT synergies improve the performance of multibusiness firms. Building on the resource-based view of diversification and the economic theory of complementarities, the study identifies the relatedness and complementarity of IT resources as two major sources of cross-unit IT synergy. It argues that IT relatedness-the use of common IT infrastructure technologies and common IT management processes across business units-creates sub-additive cost synergies, whereas complementarities among IT infrastructure technologies and IT management processes create super-additive value synergies. In a sample of 356 multibusiness Fortune 1000 firms, the study finds that sub-additive cost synergies arising from the use of related IT resources or management processes do not have any effects on corporate performance, whereas the super-additive value synergies arising from the use of a complementary set of IT resources and management processes have significant effects on corporate performance. The diversification level of the firm moderates the relationship between IT synergies and corporate performance. As the diversification level increases, the performance effects of IT synergies remain positive, but they become weaker. The IT governance mode of the firm (centralized, decentralized, hybrid) does not make a difference in the performance effects of IT synergies.

Information Security Governance – Compliance management vs operational management

This paper discusses the difference that should exist between Information Security Operational Management and Information Security Compliance Management. The paper argues that for good Information Security Governance, good IT Governance and good Corporate Governance, these two dimensions of Information Security Management should be totally separate, and housed in separate departments.

Developments in Practice XIX: Building Better IT Leaders - From the Bottom Up

IT organizations face many new challenges. While strong IT leaders are needed, few IT leadership teams as yet are well-equipped for the job. Very practical reasons imply that all IT staff should now be expected to act as leaders, regardless of their official job title: a new top line focus; the growing impact of IT decisions on organizations; and the complexity of the work to be done. These requirements are driving the need to push leadership skills and competencies further down in the IT organization. This paper explores how organizations are addressing these new requirements for leadership in IT. It examines the qualities that make a good IT leader and what companies are doing to build better leaders at all levels of their organizations. It concludes by outlining a value proposition for investing in IT leadership development.

Strategic IT Planning, Evaluation and Benefits Management: the basis for effective IT governance

This paper reports on the results of an empirical study into the integration of strategic information systems planning and business-IT alignment, IT evaluation, and the proactive management of business benefits in large organisations, and to consider the linkages evident between these processes. An argument is developed which suggests that at the heart of good IT governance practice is an integrated cycle of building a business case, alignment and prioritisation of IT investments with business objectives and imperatives, evaluation, system acquisition, and post implementation proactive benefits realisation.

Recruiting woes have scary IT consequences

The author considers how Internet related jobs are taking good IT people away from less glamorous but mission-critical IT projects, leaving corporations at risk. The author discusses a programmer recruitment case study.