MIS Research Research Articles

How to attract Chinese online game users

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to develop and test a model explaining users’ intention to adopt online games in China. Through theories from diverse fields of information systems research, the authors aim to examine and validate antecedents of users’ intentions to play online games.Design/methodology/approachThe model proposes subjective norms and perceived control as antecedents to technology acceptance model (TAM) related beliefs, while suggesting convenience of operator, reality of design, provision of information and sense of belonging as antecedents of flow. The authors study the causal relations between the antecedents and usage intention by using structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the causalities in the proposed model.FindingsThe results indicate that perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), flow and subjective norms are direct predictors of Chinese online games users’ intentions. Subjective norm and sense of belonging are shown to be important predictors of PU, while provision of information reveals an important negative influence on PU. At the same time, system quality shows no significant influence on PU. Perceived control and convenience of operator are both antecedents of PEOU. Furthermore, except for the sense of belonging, the proposed four antecedents of flow are tested for their effect on PU.Originality/valueThis research systematically includes relevant antecedents in MIS research to test online game users’ intention to adopt online games. It also provides some managerial insights that can guide Chinese online game companies to improve their games to attract users, and help foreign online game companies to make strategic plans to enter the huge Chinese online game market.

한국 TAM 실증연구의 동일방법편의 분석

Common Method Bias(CMB) may cause the potential inflation of correlations between measures assessed via the same method. The problem of CMB has been well known in behavioral sciences because the survey method with self-reporting is vulnerable to CMB. Thus, the discussion on CMB is still ongoing in the MIS research in US. However, in Korea, the MIS research has never paid attention on the CMB problem. The purpose of this study is to examine the CMB problem in the Korean MIS research. To evaluate the effect of CMB, empirical studies on Technology Acceptance Model(TAM) are selected because (1) TAM is one of the MIS research areas studied intensively, (2) TAM is a theoretical model well supported by the existing empirical studies so that the result of this study would have a great ripple effect when the CMB problem turned out to be serious, (3) CMB is domain-specific. 47 TAM samples (out of 45 studies) from three Korean Journals were selected and the relevant data were collected such as correlation matrixes and the measures of the dependent variable. To find and evaluate the size of CMB, two analytic methods (Marker-Variable Technique and Method-Method Pair Technique) are employed. The result showed that there exists CMB in the Korean studies but the problem is not so serious to distort the empirical testing, compared with that of US studies. However, considering that CMB can contaminate the testing results, Korean MIS researchers should explicitly deal with the problem in designing empirical studies and collecting data.

Seniors and Information Technology: A MIS-Fit?

INTRODUCTION The elderly continue to remain on the edge of the divide. This separation is well known and is split among many different lines including wealth, education, ethnicity, and age, among others (e.g., gender, country of residence, state of residence, broadband access, etc.). While there has been progress made in shrinking these partitions, many feel there is much more to be done. Our particular interest is in the use of IT by senior citizens, as they comprise one of the fastest-growing segments of society, both in the USA and internationally. Furthermore, this group has significant disposable income (compared to younger generations), available to spend on IT and its related products. Issues such as social interaction, government services, e-commerce activities, healthcare, and education can be enhanced through increased computer usage by our senior citizens. However, the topic in general has been largely ignored in the traditional MIS research realm. A perusal of the top IS journals in the field, over the past five years, shows that scant attention has been paid to this subject. It begs the question of whether we in MIS should care about this group. This paper investigates the current state of IT use by the elderly and reports on what has been done, and remains to be done, to integrate this group of users into the mainstream of modern digital society. BACKGROUND AND IMPETUS FOR THE STUDY There have been few previous studies in the MIS literature, especially in the top-tier journals, pertaining to IT and senior citizens. McMurtrey, McGaughey, and Downey (2008, 2009) lamented the lack of effort among IT vendors in addressing the particular, specific needs of the elderly when it comes to using computers and related peripheral devices. These authors posit that vendors of IT products are perhaps missing out on a goldmine of opportunity. As shown in Figure 1, the median net worth of individuals aged 65 to 69 is higher than any other age group represented (U.S. Census Bureau, 2008). A closer inspection shows that, starting with the 55 64 set, each successive collection of older citizens has much more net worth than their younger counterparts. Therefore, from a financial standpoint, seniors have more to spend on IT and its related wares than other groups. This situation motivated the studies by McMurtrey et al. (2008; 2009). [FIGURE 1 OMITTED] Furthermore, population projections (Figure 2) show that the number of seniors (age 65 and over) will double from the year 2000 to 2030, according to the most recent data available (U.S. Census Bureau, 2005a). It is apparent that, at least in terms of raw numbers, the elderly in the future will be out in large force and have a lot of money to spend. [FIGURE 2 OMITTED] Thus it does seem contrary to conventional wisdom that research studies involving the elderly and IT are conspicuously absent from the mainstream MIS literature, at least in the top-tier journals. Management Information Systems, as a field of study, has components in a wide variety of areas including end-user computing, systems analysis and design, the use of database and telecommunication technologies, etc. MIS is related to the business uses of information technology and, at least tangentially, to the use of such tools and techniques in order to make a profit. This latter point drives home why the current study finds the issue of seniors and IT so perplexing: seniors are large in number and have significant money to spend. It would seem that IT vendors would take notice--not to mention MIS researchers and the journals in which they publish. To demonstrate the lack of attention by the top-tier journals in MIS to this topic, we examined the back issues of six top journals in our field and counted how many articles were devoted to the subject. While it is debatable as what outlets would constitute the top six, we utilized existing rankings from the literature (c. …

Does PLS Have Advantages for Small Sample Size or Non-Normal Data?

There is a pervasive belief in the MIS research community that PLS has advantages over other techniques when analyzing small sample sizes or data with non-normal distributions. Based on these beliefs, major MIS journals have published studies using PLS with sample sizes that would be deemed unacceptably small if used with other statistical techniques. We used Monte Carlo simulation more extensively than previous research to evaluate PLS, multiple regression, and LISREL in terms of accuracy and statistical power under varying conditions of sample size, normality of the data, number of indicators per construct, reliability of the indicators, and complexity of the research model. We found that PLS performed as effectively as the other techniques in detecting actual paths, and not falsely detecting non-existent paths. However, because PLS (like regression) apparently does not compensate for measurement error, PLS and regression were consistently less accurate than LISREL. When used with small sample sizes, PLS, like the other techniques, suffers from increased standard deviations, decreased statistical power,and reduced accuracy. All three techniques were remarkably robust against moderate departures from normality, and equally so. In total, we found that the similarities in results across the three techniques were much stronger than the differences.

Study on the potential for delay tolerant networks by health workers in low resource settings

BackgroundMedical Informatics Systems (MIS) have been suggested as having great potential to improve health care delivery in low resource settings. One of the major barriers for adopting MIS in this context is a lack of adequate network/communication infrastructure. Delay Tolerant Networking (DTN) is an approach for establishing network connectivity in situations where it is possible to support physical transport of the digital information. To date most DTN research has been technically oriented, and very few services have been implemented to support healthcare systems using the technology. It is thus unclear about the potential that DTN may have for supporting MIS systems in low resource settings. The goals of the paper are twofold, first, to gain an initial estimate of interest in different services that can be supported by DTN. Second, to find out the necessary frequency associated with each service for supporting health work in low resource settings. MethodFifty questionnaires were distributed to attendants at the International Conference on Global Health that had acknowledged having health work experience in a poor connectivity context. The respondents were using a 5-point Likert scale regarding if 9 different potential DTN services “would be useful”. They also were asked how often data delivery would be necessary for these services to be useful. The Chi square was calculated to measure acceptance. Results37 responses were received, aggregating the response rate of 74%. The respondents represented having work experience from 8 months to 15 years from 35 resource poor countries. The Chi square test showed very high statistical significance for “strongly agree and agree” for the potential usefulness of the proposed DTN services, with a p-value less than 0.001. The frequency of data delivery that would be necessary for services to be useful varied considerably. ConclusionThis study provides evidence of potential for DTN to support useful services that support health work in low resource settings, and that services like access to email, notification of lab results, backup of EHR and teleconsultation are seem to be most important services that can be supported by DTN. The necessary frequency of data delivery for each service, will be highly dependent on context. In a low resource setting with limited mobility, the physical transport of digital data at a frequency of less than once per week should still be sufficient for useful services like notification of lab results and ordering of medical supplies. Research comparing different methods for delivery of DTN data should thus be useful. Further research and collaboration between MIS and Computer Science research communities is recommended in order to help develop DTN services that can be evaluated. Efforts to enhance awareness among stakeholders about how DTN can be used to support health services should be worthwhile.

Analysis of keyword networks in MIS research and implications for predicting knowledge evolution

New concepts and ideas build on older ones. This path dependence in knowledge evolution has promoted research to identify important knowledge elements, research trends, and opportunities by analyzing publication data. In our study, keyword networks formed from published academic articles were analyzed to examine how keywords are associated with each other and to identify important keywords and their change over time. Based on MIS publication data from 1999 to 2008, our analysis provided several notable findings. First, while the MIS field has changed rapidly, resulting in many new keywords, the connectivity among them is highly clustered. Second, the keyword networks show clear power-law distribution, which implies that the more popular a keyword, the more likely it is selected by new researchers and used in follow-on studies. In addition, a strong hierarchical structure is identified in the network. Third, the network-based perspective reveals interdisciplinary keywords which are different from popular ones and have the potential to lead research in the MIS field.

Construct measurement and validation procedures in MIS and behavioral research

Despite the fact that validating the measures of constructs is critical to building cumulative knowledge in MIS and the behavioral sciences, the process of scale development and validation continue...

Factors influencing the intended use of web portals

PurposeA lack of differentiation in the function and appearance of web portals has led to fierce competition; attracting users' attention is no doubt the most important factor for portal success. This study aims to combine rational assessment factors and non‐rational assessment factors to examine their impact on the intended use of portals.Design/methodology/approachThe research participants were individuals who have experience using web portals. A total of 215 valid questionnaires were collected. Structural equation modelling was used to test the research hypothesis.FindingsThis study is based on the technology acceptance model (TAM), a significant model in MIS research. The results show that all assessment factors have an impact on the intended use of web portals.Research limitations/implicationsTAM emphasised perceived usefulness as the key determinant of user acceptance of technology. This study finds, however, that in the portal context, non‐rational assessment factors such as perceived playfulness and habit have more significant effects on users' intention than perceived usefulness.Practical implicationsThe paper concludes that non‐rational assessment factors are important boundary conditions to the validity of the technology acceptance model. To attract users, web site designers should be more aware of aesthetics and the hedonic nature of web users.Originality/valueThis study has contributed to the original TAM by incorporating non‐rational assessment factors. It also validates this empirical model. The results of this study can help practitioners create a more successful business model and help researchers better understand user behaviour on the internet.

Construct Measurement and Validation Procedures in MIS and Behavioral Research: Integrating New and Existing Techniques

Despite the fact that validating the measures of constructs is critical to building cumulative knowledge in MIS and the behavioral sciences, the process of scale development and validation continues to be a challenging activity. Undoubtedly, part of the problem is that many of the scale development procedures advocated in the literature are limited by the fact that they (1) fail to adequately discuss how to develop appropriate conceptual definitions of the focal construct, (2) often fail to properly specify the measurement model that relates the latent construct to its indicators, and (3) underutilize techniques that provide evidence that the set of items used to represent the focal construct actually measures what it purports to measure. Therefore, the purpose of the present paper is to integrate new and existing techniques into a comprehensive set of recommendations that can be used to give researchers in MIS and the behavioral sciences a framework for developing valid measures. First, we briefly elaborate upon some of the limitations of current scale development practices. Following this, we discuss each of the steps in the scale development process while paying particular attention to the differences that are required when one is attempting to develop scales for constructs with formative indicators as opposed to constructs with reflective indicators. Finally, we discuss several things that should be done after the initial development of a scale to examine its generalizability and to enhance its usefulness.

Research Note—Toward a Causal Interpretation from Observational Data: A New Bayesian Networks Method for Structural Models with Latent Variables

Because a fundamental attribute of a good theory is causality, the information systems (IS) literature has strived to infer causality from empirical data, typically seeking causal interpretations from longitudinal, experimental, and panel data that include time precedence. However, such data are not always obtainable and observational (cross-sectional, nonexperimental) data are often the only data available. To infer causality from observational data that are common in empirical IS research, this study develops a new data analysis method that integrates the Bayesian networks (BN) and structural equation modeling (SEM) literatures. Similar to SEM techniques (e.g., LISREL and PLS), the proposed Bayesian networks for latent variables (BN-LV) method tests both the measurement model and the structural model. The method operates in two stages: First, it inductively identifies the most likely LVs from measurement items without prespecifying a measurement model. Second, it compares all the possible structural models among the identified LVs in an exploratory (automated) fashion and it discovers the most likely causal structure. By exploring the causal structural model that is not restricted to linear relationships, BN-LV contributes to the empirical IS literature by overcoming three SEM limitations (Lee, B., A. Barua, A. B. Whinston. 1997. Discovery and representation of causal relationships in MIS research: A methodological framework. MIS Quart. 21(1) 109–136)—lack of causality inference, restrictive model structure, and lack of nonlinearities. Moreover, BN-LV extends the BN literature by (1) overcoming the problem of latent variable identification using observed (raw) measurement items as the only inputs, and (2) enabling the use of ordinal and discrete (Likert-type) data, which are commonly used in empirical IS studies. The BN-LV method is first illustrated and tested with actual empirical data to demonstrate how it can help reconcile competing hypotheses in terms of the direction of causality in a structural model. Second, we conduct a comprehensive simulation study to demonstrate the effectiveness of BN-LV compared to existing techniques in the SEM and BN literatures. The advantages of BN-LV in terms of measurement model construction and structural model discovery are discussed.

Mobile commerce adoption in China and the United States

Mobile communication technologies have penetrated consumer markets throughout the world. Mobile commerce is likely to make a strong influence on business activities, consumer behavior, as well as national and global markets. Thus the identification of factors that influence mobile commerce adoption has significant value. In a global context, this study identified nine factors affecting mobile commerce adoption based on published research in MIS. These factors were investigated in China and the United States, and a comparative examination was conducted. A survey was conducted on 190 individual mobile commerce users in China and USA. Results show that there are several significant differences among the antecedents and their impacts on consumer intention to use mobile commerce in the two cultural settings. The study provides a number of practical insights and informs vendors seeking to enter the Chinese and the US marketplace with specific information on user perspectives.

From the editor

Hello, and welcome to the summer edition of Data Base! I trust your time away from work has been enjoyable and productive; but, in the event that you're carrying work with you as you enjoy the summer pursuits, here is an issue with something for everybody. We lead with an article on formative measurement by Roberts and Thatcher. Formative construction and modeling has become quite popular of late, and the ability to effectively build and model indices for formative constructs is important to many emerging areas of MIS research. In this article, we have a nice compilation of the relevant literature to guide your thinking, but, more importantly, we also have a tutorial guide for how to do the actual work. We hope you will find this valuable and informative as you begin to consider the role of formative constructs in your research models. This issue, we also provide an interesting look at recruitment for the IT profession. As Kuhn and Joshi point out in their article, the desire to achieve diversity in the IT workforce drives much recruitment planning and decision making, but little is yet known about gender differences in IT job perceptions of employees and their subsequent evaluations of their jobs and careers. In this article, we find that there are few differences on the basic and substantive aspects of workplace performance and work enjoyment, but, also, that there are some subtle differences that might not be immediately expected. For anyone interested in IT workforce composition or recruitment, this will be a useful piece of work to consider. Mitchell and Zigurs give us a perspective on trust in virtual teams. Trust in the context of IT and its use is a critical topic, receiving much attention recently. There have been notable journal special issues, conference panels and landmark articles on the topic, but we are still just beginning to understand and appreciate the role that trust plays in the deployment of the IT function. This is especially important in the virtual team context, where individuals must cooperate without direct interpersonal contact. Lastly, in this issue, Fink and Neumann bring us an international flavor with their study of Israeli firms and the impact of Web Services on their corporate operations. Data Base continues to bring you research from the far and varied corners of the globe, and this article is yet another example of how your Data Base is expanding its coverage to important international constituencies. In this article, results related to the deployment and management of Web service are provided for both general application, and also for the specific case of the Israeli IT market. We hope you will continue to send us your best work as Data Base grows and expands into the future. Already the longest continually-published research publication on the topic of Management Information Systems, Data Base aims to provide important support and coverage for the international scholar in a variety of emerging and developed markets, world-wide. Please visit our online review and submission portal to upload your latest research for our consideration. You'll find it online at http://www.editorialmanager.com/sigmisdb/.

Whom are we informing? issues and recommendations for MIS research from an informing sciences perspective1

This paper provides an introspective assessment of the current state of management information systems as a research discipline using the lens of the informing sciences. Based on this assessment,...

A Methodological Examination of MIS Survey Research from 1992–2006

It would be useful for IS researchers to know the major methodological methods used in IS filed and the trends MIS is experiencing in this regard. For this reason, we have conducted a meta-research on three leading IS journals over a period of 15 years in an attempt to provide the MIS field with an overview of research methodologies used and help researchers in choosing appropriate research method. 651 survey-based studies reported in three leading MIS journals between 1992 and 2006 are reviewed. The findings indicate that a considerable proportion of MIS research has been conducted using the survey method. In terms of research purpose, there has been an imbalance between the use of exploratory and explanatory surveys. Consequently, it is to be expected that in the immediate future, the trend will be much more towards the development of models and the explanation of relationships that is towards explanatory studies.

국내 기업 ERP 시스템 도입의 정성적.정량적 성과 비교

As many companies have adopted and used ERP systems, concerns about ERP performance also have increased. The purpose of this research is to examine the relationships between qualitative variables and quantitative variables measuring ERP performances. Qualitative research, widely used in MIS research, typically examines perceived usefulness of ERP, such as information quality, system quality, system satisfaction. Quantitative research, often done in accounting research, usually examines ERP performance based on financial statements. An empirical study led to the following conclusions: 1) There were significant correlations among the qualitative variables measuring perceived usefulness of ERP; 2) Significant correlations were also observed among the quantitative variables based on financial statements; 3) However, no significant correlations was found between the qualitative variables and quantitative variables measuring ERP performance.

Whom Are We Informing? Issues and Recommendations for MIS Research from an Informing Sciences Perspective

This paper provides an introspective assessment of the current state of management information systems as a research discipline using the lens of the informing sciences. Based on this assessment, we observe that the degree to which MIS research is informing its key external clients-practitioners, students, and researchers in other disciplines- has declined over the years. This problem is particularly acute with respect to informing practitioners. Unfortunately, practitioner support may be critical in making up for lost resources caused by declining student enrollments. Despite this dire prognostication, we believe that it is possible to reverse this trend. Drawing upon cognitive science and diffusion of innovations research, we analyze the source of the problem and then present five recommendations aimed at leading MIS journals, scholars, and professional societies for improving the ability of MIS research to engage and inform its external clients.

Commentary on Gill and Bhattacherjee: Is There an Informing Crisis?

The article by Gill and Bhattacherjee (2009) continues what is starting to become a regular theme: that of lamenting the state of information systems as a research discipline. Early on, the field was criticized for having virtually no cumulative tradition (Keen 1980). Two decades later, Orlikowski and Iacono (2001) commented that they could not find the IT in IS research. This soon led to suggestions that the IS field as a whole had an identity crisis (Benbasat and Zmud 2003). Continuing in this vein, Gill and Bhattacherjee say that the future of MIS as an academic research discipline itself is under threat. We now have an informing crisis. Unless MIS researchers make a determined effort to engage and inform external clients, our very survival may be at stake.

The effect of positive mood on intention to use computerized decision aids

While psychology research has indicated that positive mood enhances cognition and behavior, MIS researchers have largely ignored such potential effects on user acceptance of new IT. Using two cognitive theories on mood and memory, positive mood theory and the affect infusion model (AIM), we developed hypotheses about the contribution of these mood conditions on user acceptance of new IT with two levels of uncertainty. These hypotheses were investigated via an experiment using a computerized decision making aid. We found that positive mood increased acceptance, under both levels of uncertainty. These results held for both induced and naturally occurring positive mood. The results were consistent with positive mood theory but not with the AIM.

Are MIS research instruments stable? An exploratory reconsideration of the computer playfulness scale

Computer systems have changed significantly in the past decades and this means that MIS research instruments developed when surveying users of legacy systems could be out-of-date. However, these instruments are often considered stable. We undertook an empirical exploratory investigation of the unidimensionality of the computer playfulness scale because several academics had reported inconsistent item loadings that they could not explain. As a result of our investigation, we concluded that the original computer playfulness construct consists of two correlated but distinct factors when administered to today's IS users. Negatively worded items had no impact on the properties of the scale. Temporal structural stability was hypothesized as an explanation of the observed shift in this construct's psychometric properties.

A contingency model for the allocation of media content in publishing companies

Today, articles and papers can be published in many different media and the allocation of content by publishing firms is vital for their operational efficiency, time-to-market, and customer retention. Past studies in MIS research have focused on the allocation of other objects than content, e.g., data or hardware, with different distribution and integration requirements. Such studies have ignored the allocation of media content. We developed and tested a structural model of media content allocation behavior of publishing companies. Drawing on contingency theory, we hypothesized that organizational structure (centralization, formalization, and specialization), size, distribution of IT decision-making, and information processing requirements influenced the degree of content distribution and integration. The model was tested using data from a survey of 115 companies in the book, newspaper, and magazine publishing industries. While content distribution was primarily contingent upon organizational formalization, organizational specialization, IT decision-making, and information processing requirements, only organizational standardization and information processing requirements were found to be significant in affecting the way that publishing companies carried out content integration.