Top Information Systems Research Articles

Internet marketing: a content analysis of the research

Abstract The amount of research related to Internet marketing has grown rapidly since the dawn of the Internet Age. A review of the literature base will help identify the topics that have been explored as well as identify topics for further research. This research project collects, synthesizes, and analyses both the research strategies (i.e., methodologies) and content (e.g., topics, focus, categories) of the current literature, and then discusses an agenda for future research efforts. We analyzed 411 articles published over the past eighteen years (1994-present) in thirty top Information Systems (IS) journals and 22 articles in the top 5 Marketing journals. The results indicate an increasing level of activity during the 18-year period, a biased distribution of Internet marketing articles focused on exploratory methodologies, and several research strategies that were either underrepresented or absent from the pool of Internet marketing research. We also identified several subject areas that need further exploration. The compilation of the methodologies used and Internet marketing topics being studied can serve to motivate researchers to strengthen current research and explore new areas of this research.

Mobile decision support systems research: a literature analysis

This paper analyses the current state of mobile decision support systems (MDSS) research. To provide context for the analysis, the history and characteristics of mobile devices are presented. To understand the state and progress of MDSS research, an empirical investigation of published MDSS research in top information systems (IS) journals is presented. This investigation is based on the detailed analysis of 32 MDSS articles published in nine major IS journals from 2002 to 2012. The analysis identified some interesting patterns of MDSS research, in terms of research type, DSS factors, judgement and decision-making factors, and mobile devices used. Based on the empirical findings, six future research avenues that can potentially improve MDSS research are suggested: research on data- and/or knowledge-driven MDSS; interpretivism research; theory testing and theory refinement research; non-empirical research, field study/experiment and action research; MDSS research focused on senior executives; and research with strong theoretical foundations.

Does "IT Doesn't Matter" Matter?: A Study Of Innovation And Information Systems Issues

A new analysis of secondary data examines Carr’s controversial Harvard Business Review article of 2003 by considering the relative importance of top information systems issues according to the level of innovation in an industry. Although the majority of the subsequent literature argues that Carr was wrong, our analysis provides evidence suggesting that Carr may have been right.

The Fit between IS Leadership Style and Business Strategy to Achieve Business-IS Strategic Alignment

Alignment between business and Information Systems (IS) strategies has been identified as one of the most critical factors driving business success. As the top IS leader, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) plays a significant role in facilitating this alignment. Leadership literature suggests that leaders have different styles and thus different effects in different organizational contexts. However, it is not clear how the interplay between the leadership style of the CIO and the business strategy of a firm will affect its IS-business strategic alignment. Drawing on the leadership theory, strategic management and alignment literature, we propose a research framework and argue that CIOs with transformational leadership style fit best with firms adopting the prospector strategy, CIOs with transactional leadership style fit best with firms adopting the defender strategy, while firms adopting the analyzer strategy will need CIOs who are capable of exhibiting different leadership styles at different times. A method was then proposed to compute the alignment between CIO leadership style and business strategy. Theoretical and practical implications of the framework are discussed finally.

Analyzing information systems researchers' productivity and impacts

Quantitative assessments of researchers' productivity and impacts are crucial for the information systems (IS) discipline. Motivated by its growing popularity and expanding use, we offer a perspective on the h index, which refers to the number of papers a researcher has coauthored with at least h citations each. We studied a partial list of 232 top IS researchers who received doctoral degrees between 1957 and 2003 and chose Google Scholar as the source for our analyses. At the individual level, we attempted to identify some of the most productive, high-impact researchers, as well as those who exhibited impressive paces of productivity. At the institution level, we revealed some institutions with relatively more productive researchers, as well as institutions that had produced more productive researchers. We also analyzed the overall IS community by examining the primary research areas of productive scholars identified by our analyses. We then compared their h index scores with those of top scholars in several related disciplines

Contemporary discourses in Information Systems Research: Methodological inclusiveness in a sample of Information Systems Journals

We propose a framework to reflect on the development of four information systems (IS) paradigms, arguing that this field has followed a similar path to that of Management Sciences (MS). The framework comprises four IS paradigms/discourses: (1) positivist/normative; (2) soft/interpretive; (3) critical/pluralistic; and (4) constructivist/2nd order cybernetics. The paper characterizes these approaches to IS by using four key terms: System; Organisation; Management and Information, exploring the way these concepts are perceived through the lens of the four paradigms. The paper reports on the nature of current IS trends, from an initial survey of six top IS journals identifying articles adhering to the interpretive, critical and constructivist paradigms published between 1999 and 2009. Results indicate that IS is moving towards research practice in which interpretive, critical and constructivist discourses are utilised. Implications of the proposed framework and publication trends, together with some points for further research, are offered.

Research and Implementation of the MES System in the Cold-Rolled Plant Based on ERP

In the article, functional requirements need to be analyzed for Chongqing four manufacturing execution systems in cold-rolled steel production line. Combined with the idea of design of the system it can be proposed overall design of information systems and network topologies. Meanwhile, it can also be designed technology and production performance modules based the ERP system platform. Focus on design the production performance of functional modules and interface combined with 1450 actual production process. Production data to be collected need to be establishing the simulation model of the node .Do achieve the simulation of the actual production process. Meantime, the simulation data will be collected to the production performance module through the interface with the real-time database. Chongqing four steel companies as state Enterprises, it should be attached great importance to enterprise information. It has not basically realized the bottom of the production process control system, but also the initial establishment of the upper information management system. However, the underlying automation system and upper management information systems are not integrated. This situation seriously affects the application of effective information systems. The method can only deal with the current manual operations, which leads to the following series of questions: the basis of the data delay line failure; Based data acquisition product line transmission efficiency is low and error rate is high; Production site data scattered in many different processes link manually using the original production data acquisition and transmission are difficult to track products from production through to finished off the assembly line of the whole process; Top manufacturing information system based on production data can not directly access to hard to complete implementation of its functions. In response to these problems, Chongqing four steel companies build MES system, marketing integration, the information management systems and process control systems integration as a whole, and thus the implementation of ERP systems and decision support systems, and further enhance their core competitiveness.[1,7]

Privacy research: application of content analysis to assess a contemporary area of research

This literature review collects, synthesises, and analyses 117 articles on a variety of topics closely related to privacy, published over a 20-year period (1990–2009) in 15 top information systems (IS) journals. We found a generally increasing level of activity during the last five years of the 20-year period and a focus on exploratory research methodologies. It was noted that several research methodologies were either underrepresented or absent from the pool of privacy research. We also identified several subject areas that need further exploration from IS researchers. The approach used in this study follows the scientific method, incorporates content analysis, and can be applied to other contemporary areas of research.

Driving IT Architecture Innovation

The spotlight on business innovation in growth-oriented organizations has never been hotter. Information systems (IS) innovation, in particular, has become the main focus for many businesses and their CIOs because of its potential for business agility and competitiveness. However, creating a culture that can effectively exploit the innovative forces of an organization is challenging, and no shared guidelines exist. The purpose here is to examine empirically how the competing forces of organizational cultures in tandem with senior executives constructively influence the innovative efforts of organizations. Central to this investigation is the adoption of an IS architecture (SOA) whose implementation may entail radical transformation of traditional business patterns. Data were collected from U.S. top IS executives, and the results suggest that the adopters of SOA (45%) are organizations whose executives embrace certain collaborative behavior, which, in people and progress-oriented cultures, seems to be a catalyst for change and adoption of transformational IS architecture.

The alignment of information systems with organizational objectives and strategies in health care

Purpose The alignment of information systems with organizational objectives and strategies is a key, contemporary challenge to organizations in general and the health care industry in particular. Researchers and managers alike believe that the selection of new information systems to support objectives and strategies focuses the organization on accomplishing its objectives and realizing the value of the investments in the systems. The purpose of this study was to help understand alignment in health care so that health care information systems planners can better achieve it. Methods Structured interviews with 15 top information systems managers in health care organizations of various sizes and types inquired about organizational objectives and strategies, the process for choosing new information systems to support those objectives and strategies, and the concomitant facilitating and hindering managerial actions and organizational characteristics. Results In addition to identifying and elucidating specific objectives, strategies, processes for choosing new systems, and facilitating and hindering actions and characteristics, the study used the data to characterize a generalized process of alignment in health care organizations. Conclusions The study contributes by confirming that alignment is a significant issue in health care organizations, and that such organizations make deliberate efforts to achieve it. The study further contributes by providing tables of actions and characteristics that managers might use as checklists in current and future alignment efforts as well as in generally cultivating broad support for alignment. Finally, it contributes by suggesting future study of alignment's predictors and effects in health care organizations.

The Changing Face of Information Systems Research:A Longitudinal Study of Author Influence

This paper examines the impact of key authors on Information Systems research from 1986 to 2005 and analyzes changes in influence and research interests over this period. The author set was based on publication counts in top Information Systems journals, supplemented on a reputational basis with authors recognized for their contribution to the field. Citation analysis was used to identify the most influential authors and to examine changes in influence across four five-year time periods. The results show that certain key authors have exerted strong influence throughout the twenty-year period, but that a new set of authors has begun to emerge in the last five years. In addition we note that, in spite of apparent similarities between the Information Science and Information Systems fields, the gulf between these two disciplines continues to be substantial, offering researchers on both sides of the divide a significant opportunity for greater integration of research results across the disciplines.

A Review of IS Research Activities and Outputs Using Pro forma Abstracts

Using March and Smith’s taxonomy of information systems (IS) research activities and outputs and Newman’s method of pro forma abstracting, this research mapped the current space of IS research and identified research activities and outputs that have received very little or no attention in the top IS publishing outlets. We reviewed and classified 1,157 articles published in some of the top IS journals and the ICIS proceedings for the period 1998–2002. The results demonstrate the efficacy of March and Smith’s (1995) taxonomy for summarizing the state of IS research and for identifying activity-output categories that have received little or no attention. Examples of published research occupying cells of the taxonomy are cited, and research is posited to populate the one empty cell. The results also affirm the need to balance theorizing with building and evaluating systems because the latter two provide unique feedback that encourage those theories that are the most promising in practice.

Method Effects in IS Survey Research: An Assessment and Recommendations

Issues involving method effects are routinely taught to PhD students in Information Systems (IS). Unfortunately, the results of an assessment of a population of 128 survey-based studies published in three top IS journals over a seven-year period (1999-2005) reveal that relatively little attention is being paid to method bias and that the threat of serious method bias is great in many of the published studies. For instance, even the best-understood variety of method bias— common source bias—is found to have gone unnoted in over one-third of the papers that used a single respondent for all construct measures for reasons other than necessity. This study was motivated by studies in other areas of the social sciences which have resulted in calls for areas such as IS to conduct empirical assessments of the frequency of the various forms of method bias. Here, the myriad sources of method bias are reviewed and methods for minimizing or eliminating method effects, both in the design of a study and in the subsequent analysis of the data, are discussed. Data on the frequency of appearance of a wide variety of potential sources of method bias are provided and conclusions are drawn. A series of recommendations is made concerning creating greater awareness of method bias on the part of the IS research community and greater use of method bias evaluation criteria in the screening reviews of papers that are done by IS journals.

New Perspectives on Global Information Systems Journal Rankings and Reference Disciplines

This article overviews the results of the largest, global study focusing on perceived rankings of Information Systems (IS) journals and IS reference disciplines. 8741 faculty were emailed from 414 global IS departments (738 of the emails were not valid). 2559 responses were received for a 32% response rate. This study did not use pre-determined journal lists, but instead required respondents to list their top-four research journals using free recall. Additionally, this study reports journal ratings for the top IS practitioner journals, the most read IS journals, and the top journals for the most common IS reference disciplines. While the results of this study have many potential benefits in defining the current state of the IS field and for helping guide academic evaluations, such studies should not be used as a primary factor in tenure and promotion decisions; instead, such rankings data needs to be used with sound judgment, in conjunction with other ratings methodologies.

Correlating business process re-engineering with the information systems department

Despite the widespread use of re-engineering to enhance organizational competitiveness, the role of an information systems department in business process re-engineering is not clearly understood. The role of an information systems department in the success of business process re-engineering projects was empirically investigated. Structured interviews with 27 executives were initially conducted to identify critical information systems department roles in business process re-engineering. These roles were then empirically validated using survey research method to determine their extent of impact on business process re-engineering success. The results of hierarchical regression analysis show that support of top information system management, the existence of technology champion, the management of resistance to change, the quality of information system planning, the integration of an information system–business strategy, the sophistication of user's computer skill and the extent of integration of the information architecture are the most critical information systems department roles in business process re-engineering success. Other roles of an information systems department that facilitate business process re-engineering success include the management of transition, the provision of information technology training, the competency of information system staff and the extent of computer use by users. The implications of these findings for information system researchers and practitioners are discussed.

Global Journal Prestige and Supporting Disciplines: A Scientometric Study of Information Systems Journals

Many argue that the Information Systems (IS) field is at a critical juncture in its evolving identity. In debating whether the IS field is in crisis, we agree with Hirschheim and Klein (2003) that ¡°reflective analysis¡± will contribute to the field¡¯s continued prosperity. Indeed, reflective analysis is needed to evaluate the journals of the field as well as IS journal rankings, which evaluate the effectiveness and productivity of researchers and the effectiveness and productivity of journals in communicating research results. After all, where and how we publish are fundamental aspects of the identity of the IS field¡ªreflecting our value systems, paradigms, cultural practices, reward systems, political hierarchy, and aspirations. This article reviews the results of the largest global, scientometric survey to date of IS journal rankings that targeted 8741 faculty from 414 IS departments world-wide, and resulted in 2559 responses, or a 32% response rate. Rather than using predetermined journal lists, the study required respondents to freely recall their top-four research journals. This research improves on the usual scientometric journal ranking studies by providing a foundation for further reflection and self-analysis. For instance, it first examines the global structure of the IS field and investigates perceptions among global IS academics concerning current research outlets. Specific results then illustrate the values and cultural norms in the global IS community that affect the evaluation of research and publication outlets. Finally, in addition to rankings of scholarly journals by the entire world-wide sample of IS academics, rankings are provided for top IS practitioner journals, most frequently read IS journals, top journals for the major IS supporting disciplines, and top journals by world region.

Environments for Information Systems Implementation in Small Businesses

Top management support and external information systems (IS) expertise, in the forms of consultants and vendors, have been identified as 2 key factors for effective IS implementation in small businesses. This article proposes a framework for IS implementation in small businesses. The framework is based on high-low combinations of top management support and external IS expertise to characterize 4 IS implementation environments. The framework was tested with a questionnaire survey of 114 small businesses in Singapore. Interviews were also conducted with 67 of these small businesses. IS implementation success was measured by user satisfaction, organizational impact, and overall IS effectiveness. The results show that the most effective IS implementation environment is one in which both top management support and external IS experts work as a team. However, notwithstanding the lack of top management support, IS implementation can still be effective if the quality of external IS expertise is high.

Environmental Scanning for Information Technology: An Empirical Investigation

:An increasing number of organizations are recognizing the strategic significance of their information technology (IT) resources. A process by which emerging information technologies may be effectively identified and evaluated is rapidly becoming a necessity. This process may be accomplished through scanning the external IT environment.Based on the strategic emphasis given to IT resources, organizations may be classified as exploiter/innovator (EI), competitor/early adopter (CEA), or participant/effective efficient follower (PEEF). This study uses data from 131 top information systems managers to examine differences in the three types of organizations across a number of issues concerning the process of scanning the external IT environment. These issues include: (1) the objectives of scanning the external IT environment; (2) the methods of scanning the external IT environment; (3) the existence of separate units dedicated to IT scanning; (4) the level of IT scanning intensity; (5) the sources of information used for IT scanning; and (6) the level of top management involvement with IT scanning.

Development of Measures to Assess the Extent to Which an Information Technology Application Provides Competitive Advantage

In order to measures the extent to which information technology provides competitive advantages, the construct “Competitive Advantage Provided by an Information Application” (CAPITA) was operationalized. A field survey gathered data from 185 top information systems executives regarding information technology applications which had been developed to gain competitive advantage. A confirmatory analysis revealed that CAPITA may be conceptualized in terms of nine dimensions which satisfy key measurement criteria including unidimensionality and convergent validity, discriminant validity, predictive validity, and reliability. The nine dimensions from the basis of a preliminary multidimensional measure or index of competitive advantage which has practical uses for competitive assessment. These include justifying and evaluating applications and acting as dependent variables in empirical competitive advantage research. Extensions entail formulating alternative measures of CAPITA to clarify the theoretical foundations of the construct, validating the latent-structure model on another data set, use of multiple informants for data collection, and exploring complex factor structures for the construct.

Interorganizational information systems: New approaches to global economic development

The emergence of cross-national interorganizational configurations (IOCs) has important implications for information resource structuring, planning, and strategy. Findings reported in this paper stem from a review of the literature, a database of cross-national interorganizational configurations formed during the last two years, and a five-year study of information systems resource management in primarily U.S.-based major organizations. This study involves eight subsets of approximately twelve to fifteen organizations examined once each during this period. Within each organization, a field researcher conducted open-ended, semi-structured interviews with the top information systems manager. Findings indicate the need for a paradigm shift to incorporate the IOC as a level of analysis to match the emerging new world economic order and the needs for cross-national information resources structures and strategies.