Role Of Information Technology Research Articles

Information technology enabled meta-management for virtual organizations

Virtual organizations (VO) have recently evolved as a new paradigm of organization design in pursuit of competitive advantages, and in response to electronic commerce (EC) requirements. The management of VO, called meta-management, provides a systematic approach to the exploitation of competitive economic advantages for a VO. It consists of basic activities including analyzing and tracking requirements, allocating satisfiers to requirements, and adjusting the optimality criteria. Information technology (IT) is the essential foundation for the formation and management of VO. A framework that describes the enabling role of IT at the three responsibility levels of meta-management is presented, and future research is suggested.

O papel da tecnologia da informação (TI) na estratégia das organizações

Há uma grande expectativa acerca das aplicações da Tecnologia da Informação (TI), que possibilitam novas alternativas de estratégias de negócios e novas possibilidades para as organizações, como é o caso do "e-business". Contudo, há também um grande questionamento sobre os reais ganhos advindos dos investimentos em TI. Um enfoque centrado unicamente na eficiência das aplicações de TI não permite responder estas questões. Para avaliar os impactos da TI nas operações e estratégias das organizações, é necessário que haja foco na sua eficácia, i.e., nos resultados advindos das aplicações da TI em relação aos objetivos, metas e requisitos destas organizações. A eficácia deve ser mantida ao longo do tempo e, para este fim, é fundamental o conceito de Alinhamento Estratégico entre a TI e o negócio. O presente estudo apresenta uma análise comparativa dos diversos trabalhos que abordam o papel da TI nas organizações. Com base numa revisão bibliográfica elabora-se um quadro teórico que procura elucidar os principais pontos que transformam a TI numa real ferramenta de competitividade para as organizações.

ERP, Balanced Scorecard, and IT: How Do They Fit Together?

AbstractEnterprise resource planning (ERP) software affected everything from order capture to accounting and warehousing. However, people were still swamped with information that reflected the past, instead of predicting the future—until the Balanced Scorecard approach came along. But what's the role of information technology in this new strategy? © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

A Study of Remote Workers and Their Differences from Non-Remote Workers

Information technology (IT) is enabling the creation of virtual organizations and remote work practices. As this practice of working remotely grows, so does the importance of making these remote end-users of technology effective members of organizations. This study tested a number of relationships that were suggested in the literature as being relevant in a remote work environment. Interpersonal trust of the employee in their manager was found to be strongly associated with higher self-perceptions of performance, higher job satisfaction and lower job stress. There was weak support for the impact of physical connectivity (i.e., the availability of IT) on job satisfaction, supporting the enabling role of IT. These findings were similar for both remote employees (i.e., those that worked in a different building than their managers) and non-remote employees. However, more frequent communications between the manager and employee was associated with higher levels of interpersonal trust only with the remote workers. Cognition-based trust was also found to be more important than affect-based trust in a remote work environment, suggesting that managers of remote employees should focus on activities that demonstrate competence, responsibility and professionalism.

Examining the Shareholder Wealth Effects of Announcements of Newly Created CIO Positions

While information technology (IT) has been transforming the business landscape for a long time now, it is only recently that empirical evidence demonstrating the positive impact of IT on firm performance has begun to accumulate. The strategic importance of a firm's IT capabilities is prompting an increasing number of companies to appoint chief information officers (CIOs) to effectively manage these assets. Such moves are reflective of changes in top management thinking and policy regarding the role of IT and firms' approaches to IT governance. This paper uses the event study methodology to examine market reactions to announcements of new CIO positions. Findings strongly support the notion that, for firms competing in industries undergoing IT-driven transformation, announcements of newly created CIO positions do indeed provoke positive reactions from the marketplace.

Are Slovene Small Firms Using Information Technology Strategically?

The extent to which information technology (IT) is used strategically is measured in a sample of 147 small Slovene firms. Slovenia is interesting from a small business perspective because from 1990, when the transformation of its economy started, the number of small businesses has increased almost six times (from almost 6500 to nearly 35000 in 1999). The results indicate that IT industry leadership and also IT's role in a firm are strong predictors of the strategic usage of IT. IT is particularly well utilized in firms emphasizing innovation and, to a lesser degree, an efficiency strategy. Firms pursuing a low-cost strategy were the least likely to utilize IT strategically.

Preparing tomorrow's doctors: the impact of a special study module in medical informatics.

In response to the call for more informatics teaching in the medical curriculum, an elective special study module has been offered to first-year students at Queen's University since 1997. To assess the impact of a medical informatics course in terms of the use of skills acquired and attitudes held about information technology (IT) in medicine. A postal structured questionnaire was sent to all 30 students who took the medical informatics special study module in 1997 and to all 29 students who took the module in 1998, plus an age and sex-matched group of controls in each year. Main outcome measures included attitudes to the role of IT in medicine and declared frequency of use of various software packages. Compared with the control group, those taking the module felt less confident initially with computers. There was a high level of positive attitude to computers in medicine following the course, in both study and control groups. There was a significantly greater use of word-processing (P=0.001) and presentation packages (P=0.0005) amongst third-year students compared with second-year students, but there was no significant difference in this regard between those taking the module and controls. Students' use of computer technology and IT skills, is more influenced by the demands of the overall curriculum than by undertaking a single module in medical informatics. A special study module may, however, provide valuable support by performing a 'remedial function'. The authors found the module a useful first step in the process of introducing medical informatics to the core curriculum.

IT-Driven Quality Benchmarking for Competitive Advantage

Quality benchmarking and the use of information technology (IT) have been widely researched over recent years. However, there has been no well-formulated research on the two together—on how IT can support a quality benchmarking project. Quality benchmarking supported by IT is presented in this paper. The critical role of IT in quality benchmarking is described. Defining the features of quality benchmarking, an eight-step approach to benchmarking processes using IT is presented. The major types of processes along with the IT tools in each type of process are defined. Specific IT applications are also described which emphasize the role of IT in quality benchmarking. Finally, the authors conclude that benchmarking supported by IT demonstrates speedy and reliable quality benchmarking.

Role of Information Technology in Environmental Preservation in Urban Areas

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between IT (Information Technology) and environmental preservation in the Tokyo metropolitan area. In recent years, the amount of waste has increased mainly in urban areas of OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) member countries. It is said that IT can realize economic growth without inflation. It is also considered to reduce uncertainties or risks, resulting in economic efficiency and benefits.The collected data show changes in the economic structure of the Tokyo metropolitan area; the share of service-oriented industries, such as business services and information processing, has increased in the past 20 years. It is clear that the role of IT has become more important than ever. Since the adoption of the PPP (Pollutant Payment Principle) policy, all members of the community, such as firms, households and government, have started using IT for the reduction of the amount of waste disposed. It is considered that IT plays an important role in reducing the amount of waste disposed. This study examines the relationship between the amount of municipal waste disposed and IT, using an econometric approach.The following conclusions were reached:(1) Economic activities and increase in the number of residents lead to an increase in the amount of waste disposed.(2) IT is effective in reducing the amount of waste disposed.

Future Design Mindful of the MoRAS

As human-computer interaction (HCI) expands its scope, the proper context for the design of information technology (IT) is increasingly an interconnected mosaic of responsive adaptive systems (MoRAS) including people's heads, organizations, communities, markets, and cultures. The introduction of IT not only perturbs the individual systems but also critically changes the coupling structure of the whole mosaic that comprises them. These various systems respond and adapt to these changes, in effect undertaking their own sort of "design" efforts, sometimes at odds with explicit intentions. The need to understand the role of all these different systems in the outcome explains why IT design has become an increasingly interdisciplinary effort. It is likely that our designs will be more successful if we become more mindful of this bigger picture. This article discusses the motivations for the MoRAS perspective; briefly sketches the MoRAS itself; and presents some tales that illustrate its dynamics, the role of IT within it, and the implications for the future trajectory of HCI. The article concludes with design implications and an agenda for furthering the framework.

Information technology in business processes

Information technology (IT), in its myriad forms, is having a profound and palpable impact on IT users and their environments. Proposes and expounds on a framework of the roles of IT as an initiator, a facilitator, or an enabler. Illustrates the utilization of this framework by a review of the impacts of IT. Examines briefly the growth of IT’s impact on business processes through specific forms of technology – particularly the computing, telecommunication, and imaging technologies. Reviews IT’s influences on organizations and management. Suggests that a full and thorough understanding of the roles of IT will also enable systematic identification and assessment of the risks and costs relationships involved with implementing IT in business processes in an organization.

Information technology (IT) investment and the role of a firm: an exploratory study

This study extends Weill's ( Do computers payoff? A study of information technology investments and manufacturing performance. Washington, DC: International Center for Information Technologies, Information Systems Research, 3(4), 307–333) work by categorizing IT investment into four types of management objectives: transactional, strategic, informational and threshold. The relationships between these management objectives and firm's role (defined in terms of traditional, evolving and strategic) are investigated through a questionnaire survey of managers in the service sector. As expected, firms adopting a traditional role seem to favor investment in transactional IT. However, there appears to be an increasing emphasis on strategic IT investment for all three types of firms, regardless of the role of IT. Implications of the results are discussed.

IT and Coordination Modes: The Case of the Garment Industry in France and US

The aim of this article is to illuminate the relations between information technologies (IT) and modes of coordination among firms. Does IT strengthen existing partnerships, accentuate market volatility or facilitate integration strategies ? Up to what point do the institutional environment and organisational forms favour the diffusion of IT or not? What may be said about the role of IT in the reorganisation of a supply chain ? Through a study of the garment industry we will try to throw light on these subjects, presenting here some preliminary results of our investigations. We first explain previous research and then show the interest of studying the garment industry as a supply chain comparing the two supply chains in France and the United States. The transaction cost perspective will help us to explore how IT affects relationships between companies. In this context the diffusion of electronic networks should be a major stake in rationalising inter-firm coordination modes. But we will see that this stake remains imperfectly strengthened: complex and rich social networks in some crucial stages of the supply chain offer a significant explanation.

Public Administration

This article looks at the intersection of the two paradigm shifts of the information revolution and reinventing government (REGO) by examining the role of information technology (IT) in the REGO movement. The authors question three implicit assumptions made by REGO adherents about the role of IT in REGO: that IT is necessary for REGO to take place, that the actual adoption and increased use of IT is an indicator of the success of REGO, and that the adoption of IT is something that is both self-evident and simple. After reviewing the recent record of federal program’s adoption and use of IT, we find some empirical support for the first assumption but find the second and third to be particularly problematic. The authors conclude that REGO is a process rather than an outcomeŠmuch like the adoption of IT in government. By refocusing attention on both of these as processes rather than outcomes, the important and essential role of IT in REGO is more carefully identified.

Creating a Fit Between BPR and IT Infrastructure: A Proposed Framework for Effective Implementation

As business imperatives change and new high-capability information technologies (IT) appear, organizations recognize the need to remain at the forefront of change by reengineering their business processes and implementing enabling responsive IT infrastructures. However, experience in this context indicates a lack of comprehension of essential elements and their mutual relationships that can contribute to the success of business-process change-implementation efforts. This article proposes a framework for managing IT for effective business-process redesign (BPR) implementation. After establishing BPR principles, components, and the relationship of BPR to some organizational and technological approaches, it presents the role and benefits of IT in BPR. The article then discusses in detail the core elements of the framework. Its theme is that an IT infrastructure that covers issues of BPR strategy development, IT strategic alignment, IT infrastructure development, IT sourcing, legacy systems reengineering, IS integration, and IS function competence is essential and critical for effective implementation.

Preparing the information technology workforce for the new millennium

In an era when information technology (IT) is an integral part of society, many organizations are finding it difficult to hire adequate numbers of information technology personnel. Computer systems have permeated virtually every facet of organizations, creating a demand for individuals with IT skills at every level. The situation is complicated by the fact that finding personnel with the appropriate skills mix is even more problematic. As we move into the new millennium, IT roles are shifting at a rapidly increasing pace. Technical skills alone are not sufficient for success in the IT profession --- soft skills like communication, problem solving, and teamwork are increasingly important. Recognizing that no curriculum can provide all training needed by every employee in every position, the issue then becomes to identify which specific sets of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are most important to IT organizations. This paper presents the findings of an initial case study undertaken to identify the necessary KSAs that can be used in the development of academic and industry training programs. The focus of this paper is on the findings for soft skill KSAs.

Riverbank Financial: Changing the Role of Information Technology

The information technology (IT) group at a large Canadian financial institution has recently implemented a new operating framework that significantly changed the role of IT within the organization. The traditional, technology-centric, independent entity has been retailored into an integrated, customer-focused business unit. Consistent with their new vision, the IT group has shifted its focus towards IT–business integration, increased IT employee satisfaction and decreased turnaround in system development. Amongst the successes of the implementation to date is one perspective that has attracted the attention of IT executives. Customers who observed the transition of the IT group have raised concern about Riverbank Financial's ability to maintain leadership in technological expertise. IT executives must now consider the possibility that the new operating framework has taken too much focus away from technology and identify possible changes.

Riverbank Financial: changing the role of information technology

The information technology (IT) group at a large Canadian financial institution has recently implemented a new operating framework that significantly changed the role of IT within the organization. The traditional, technology-centric, independent entity has been retailored into an integrated, customer-focused business unit. Consistent with their new vision, the IT group has shifted its focus towards IT-business integration, increased IT employee satisfaction and decreased turnaround in system development. Amongst the successes of the implementation to date is one perspective that has attracted the attention of IT executives. Customers who observed the transition of the IT group have raised concern about Riverbank Financial's ability to maintain leadership in technological expertise. IT executives must now consider the possibility that the new operating framework has taken too much focus away from technology and identify possible changes.

Dow Corning Corporation: Business Processes and Information Technology

This case study, which is divided into parts A and B, describes one firm's experiences as it adopted a process perspective to managing its business, examined the implications for its information systems needs, decided to acquire SAP (an integrated, enterprise-wide software package) and embarked on the SAP implementation. ‘Dow Corning Corporation part A: Rethinking the Role of IT Within the Firm’ focuses on the business context and describes the role and structure of the information technology (IT) function at Dow Corning in late 1994. In the midst of a legal crisis that was draining financial resources, the firm had to address global competition. The case poses the question of how IT should be organized and managed to meet current business challenges. ‘Dow Corning Corporation part B: Re-engineering Global Processes’ is set in March 1997. The IT organization had been redesigned and reported to a member of the senior management team. The case focuses on Dow Corning's pilot implementation of SAP and its plans to re-engineer global processes. Special attention is given to the IT unit's role in the re-engineering and systems implementation processes.

Information technology outside health care: what does it matter to us?

Non-health-care uses of information technology (IT) provide important lessons for health care informatics that are often overlooked because of the focus on the ways in which health care is different from other domains. Eight examples of IT use outside health care provide a context in which to examine the content and potential relevance of these lessons. Drawn from personal experience, five books, and two interviews, the examples deal with the role of leadership, academia, the private sector, the government, and individuals working in large organizations. The interviews focus on the need to manage technologic change. The lessons shed light on how to manage complexity, create and deploy standards, empower individuals, and overcome the occasional "wrongness" of conventional wisdom. One conclusion is that any health care informatics self-examination should be outward-looking and focus on the role of health care IT in the larger context of the evolving uses of IT in all domains.