Value Of Information Systems Research Articles

IS capabilities, supply chain collaboration and quality performance in services: the moderating effect of environmental dynamism

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore the effects that information systems (IS) capabilities can have on supplier collaboration and customer collaboration and on quality performance in service contexts. In addition, the study examines how supply chain collaboration influences quality performance under various levels of environmental dynamism.Design/methodology/approachThe conceptual model for this study is designed on the basis of the resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic capabilities view (DCV). A survey of 156 UK service firms was conducted and the data analyzed to test theoretical model using the structural equation modeling method. Furthermore, the moderating effect of environmental dynamism was investigated.FindingsThe results show that IS capabilities are positively associated with supply chain collaboration. Both supplier collaboration and customer collaboration are positively related to quality performance. Supplier collaboration has a positive effect on customer collaboration. Environmental dynamism significantly moderates the relationship between customer collaboration and quality performance, but no moderating effect on the relationship between supplier collaboration and quality performance.Originality/valueThis study takes a step toward quelling concerns about the business value of IS, contributing to the development and validation of the measurement of IS capabilities in the service supply chain context. The study deepens our understanding of supply chain collaboration by making a distinction between supplier collaboration and customer collaboration and investigating the correlation of supplier collaboration and customer collaboration. The findings extend the empirical application of RBV and DCV. In addition, this study’s findings direct service firms to develop IS capabilities that can enhance specific kinds of supply chain collaboration activities, thereby enabling improved quality performance.

Understanding the link between IS capabilities and cost performance in services: the mediating role of supplier integration

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore the link between information systems (IS) capabilities, supplier integration and cost performance in the service context. Specifically, it empirically investigates how supplier integration meditates the relationship between three dimensions of IS capabilities and cost performance in service firms.Design/methodology/approachA survey of 156 UK service firms was conducted and the data analyzed to determine the role of supplier integration in mediating the effects of IS capabilities on firms' cost performance. The research model was tested using structural equation modeling (SEM), and the neural network model was used to rank the relative influence of significant predictors obtained from SEM.FindingsThe results confirmed that supplier integration fully mediates the effects of information technology (IT) for supply chain activities and flexible IT infrastructure on cost performance and partially mediates the effect of operations manager's IT knowledge on cost performance. The results showed that operations manager's IT knowledge is the strongest predictor of supplier integration.Originality/valueThis study takes a step toward quelling concerns about the business value of IS, contributing to the development and validation of the measurement of IS capabilities in the service operations context. Additionally, it adds to the emerging body of literature linking supplier integration to the operational performance of service firms.

Factors defining the effectiveness of integrated accounting information system in ERP environment – Evidence from Vietnam’s enterprises

The value of information system (IS) in business is crucial to the future of companies but is also a prerequisite for business management. In our research, the IS value is estimated in the form of the effectiveness of integrated accounting information system (AIS) at an organizational level. This paper explores factors that define the effectiveness of integrated AIS in organizations. The survey comprises of 316 businesses operating in Vietnam that have ERP-applied. Scale measurement construction for multi-dimensional concept and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) are used to validate and interpret the BSC-based research model. The result indicates that there are three groups of second order constructs including (1) business development support, (2) organizational process improvement and (3) market demand. They all define the effectiveness of integrated AIS in an ERP environment. Each second order construct is defined by a set of first order constructs and related observed variables. The research provides business managers with a suggested model to evaluate the value of a business information system, targeting the integrated AIS in an ERP environment.

Phronesis, argumentation and puzzle solving in IS research: illustrating an approach to phronetic IS research practice

The embedding of information systems (IS) infrastructure into everyday social activity is creating intractable value conflicts for society. However, IS research largely focuses on: (1) episteme, explanatory and predictive theories; and (2) techné, theories of action for implementation and management of IS technologies. Consequently, we lack applicable knowledge for deliberating about IS value conflicts. The third type of knowledge, phronesis, which Aristotle proposed to inform ethical application of episteme and techné, has not been given much attention in our discipline. Presently, we are experiencing a critical limitation in our capabilities for generating ethically applicable IS knowledge in the face of increasing value conflicts arising from pervasive digitalisation. In this paper, we introduce phronesis, discuss its philosophical foundations and illustrate an approach to phronetic enquiry into the underlying value conflicts of a failed national IS infrastructure project. Our aim is to strengthen and expand IS research methods for systematic critical enquiry into social-values dilemmas resulting from continued embedding of IS technologies into our social world.

Analysis of interactions between IT and organisational resources in a manufacturing organisation using cross-impact analysis

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to contribute to a growing body of research on the applicability of resource-based theory (RBT) to the information systems (IS) area. In particular, the paper provides an understanding of the IS value creation process, and strategies for managing it by demonstrating the application of cross-impact analysis.Design/methodology/approach– RBT and systems theory are adopted as a theoretical framework in this study. Cross-impact analysis is used as a method for investigating interactions among elements of an IS value creation system. These elements were identified through 22 semi-structured interviews with organisational stakeholders, and assessed in terms of direction and strength of their interactions, and depicted in a coordinate system.Findings– The result of the analysis is a meaningful classification of elements in an IS value creation system as: levers, indicators, identities, buffers or trends, based on their position in the system. The results provide additional clarity and insights into the relationships between IS and organisational resources and their effect on IS value.Research limitations/implications– The research findings have important implications for researchers and managers in terms of understanding the impact of interactions among IS and organisational resources on formulating successful strategies for managing the IS value creation system.Originality/value– This study explores interactions among IS/information technology resources and organisational resources by using cross-impact analysis. It shows that interactions among the identified resources do have a major influence on the overall IS value creation system.

Economics and Value of IS

After the first and the second industrial revolution (textile industry enabled by waterand steam-powered mechanical manufacturing facilities in the 18th century, and mass production enabled by electric power in the early 20th century), a third, digital revolution is under way, radically transforming not just business but also social life (Economist 2012). In the digital transformation age, information technologies (IT) and information systems (IS) are the key drivers behind ‘disruptive innovations’, so called because new digital technologies enable new business models to emerge which create new markets and value networks and thereby disrupt existing markets by displacing an earlier technology (cf., Manyika et al. 2013). A prime example of disruptive innovation is online social networking which has changed the way people communicate and connect with each other. Another, even more radical and much debated, potential disruptive innovation is collaborative consumption, also known as the sharing of durable goods (Matzler et al. 2015), which is predicted to replace ownership. Both these phenomena rest on new business models that were made possible by Internet-based IS (e.g., facebook.com as online social networking platform and airbnb.com as online sharing platform) and Web 2.0 as a new version of the world wide web allowing users to interact and collaborate with each other. Other debated disruptive technologies that may have far-reaching consequences for consumers, firms, policy makers and societies as a whole include, for instance, big data technologies, mobile Internet, Internet of Things (including wearables), cloud technologies, and 3D printing (see, e.g., Manyika et al. 2013). For firms and policy makers alike it is very important to know which of the upcoming technologies have the potential to result in disruptive innovations, and how these technologies may impact existing business models and markets and create value for society. Accordingly, there is a key role for researchers in the age of digital transformation, first, to provide information by analyzing and predicting the economic effects of disruptive IT, and second, by designing new IS, new business models, and new markets that are enabled by these technologies. Such undertakings require an in-depth understanding of the underlying strategic challenges faced by each of the different players in the new markets (e.g., consumers, firms, policy makers), and of the various behavioral patterns of organizations and human subjects. It is hardly surprising, then, that disciplines that provide valuable guidelines for analyzing the economic effects of disruptive IS and market design, notably economic theory, experimental economics, and behavioral economics, have Assoc. Prof. K. Han Information Systems, Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada e-mail: kunsoo.han@mcgill.ca

Information systems maturity, knowledge sharing, and firm performance

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate how and why information systems (IS) enhance firm performance (FP) from a knowledge management perspective. Drawing upon the knowledge-view of the firm and organizational learning theories, we develop and empirically test a theoretical model where knowledge sharing (KS) plays a mediating role between IS maturity (ISM) and FP.Design/methodology/approach– Data were collected through a survey of business managers in China. The model was tested by using the partial least squares structural equation modeling approach.Findings– The results provide support for the propose research model and confirm that ISM is positively associated with FP, and KS partially mediates the effects of ISM.Originality/value– This study contributes to the IS literature by reconceptualizing the ISM construct and testing the mediating effect of KS and, thus, offers some answers to the “how-and-why” question about the value of IS.

Synergic Relationship and Synergic Degree between an Information System and Corporate Strategy

Abstract With the development of information technology, the Information System (IS) has not the characters of rareness and inimitability, so an IS cannot form core competence alone. Forming synergic relationship and keeping higher synergic degree between IS and corporate strategy will help the enterprises acquire competence advantage and realize IS value. This paper analyzes the conditions of forming synergic relationship between an IS and strategy, and points out that the key factors for a synergic degree are the strategy rationality and the matching degree between the IS and strategy. Based on the analysis result and BCG growth share matrix, this paper constructed a synergy degree measure model to evaluate the synergic relationship between the IS and corporate strategy. Finally, a case study is used to verify the feasibility of the model.

Gestão da Informação e o Sistema Smart Grid: Um Estudo de Caso da UFRN

A eficiência energética e a confiabilidade na distribuição de energia elétrica são tendências de foco nesse tipo de serviço. O presente trabalho defende que uso de tecnologia de informação e automação em redes elétricas a fim de torná-las inteligentes (Smart Grid) melhora o processo de tomada de decisão. A metodologia adotada foi uma análise conceitual a partir da hierarquia de valor dos sistemas de informação, utilizando um estudo comparativo desse tipo de tecnologia com a usada na Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte. Conclui que a automação de processos aumenta a eficiência do processo, bem como a eficiência da tomada decisão, mas exige uma estratégia voltada para a gestão do conhecimento.

Business alignment and critical success factors in information systems implementation: an empirical analysis of selected Indian organisations

Today, information systems (ISs) and business operations are so tightly integrated with each other that it would almost be impossible to improve business processes unless corresponding ISs effectively support the business processes. The real value of ISs can be realised in an organisation only when it is aligned properly to support the organisation's core business strategies. Organisations have been investing a huge amount in implementing ISs in the past, especially in integrated ISs like enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems which are high investment and business transformation decisions. However, it has been observed that many a times ISs do not yield the desired results or fail during the implementation phase itself because these systems are not properly aligned and/ or organisations are not sensitive to the IS implementation factors. This study has been conducted to study the alignment of ISs with the core business strategies of two large public enterprises, situated in northern India.

Relevance of Information Systems Strategic Planning Practices in E-Business Contexts

Increasing global competition and advances in Internet technologies have led organizations to consider e-business strategies. However, evolving e-business strategies have been identified as a critical issue faced by corporate planners. The relevance and the use of IS (Information Systems) strategy planning practices in the context of e-business have been argued among researchers. In this paper, the authors investigate whether organizations can successfully improve the IS value in the e-business context by suitably extending and modifying IS planning practices. To achieve this objective, the authors use a longitudinal case study of an Indian automotive manufacturer to critically evaluate ‘why’ and ‘how’ e-business strategies differ from IS strategies. The authors compare and analyze five important planning parameters (strategic alignment, technological environment, formalization, role of the IS function, and implementation planning) and the IS value of both IS and e-business contexts. The research reveals that the e-business contexts are characterized by significant changes in planning parameters. Extending IS planning experiences and proper management of these parameters results in successful e-business strategies. The paper is concluded with a set of implications for deploying e-business strategies in developing countries and directions for future research.

Group value and intention to use — A study of multi-agency disaster management information systems for public safety

This paper examines and extends the theory of information systems success in the context of large-scale disaster management (DM) for public safety. In the recent past, various evaluation reports on DM efforts have concluded that information quality and system quality are major hurdles for efficient and effective multi-agency DM and are critical antecedents for information systems (IS) success. In contrast to the wealth of literature on IS success in profit-oriented business environments, research regarding drivers of public sector IS success is scarce. This research develops and empirically tests a model that explains IS usage intention as a reflective measure of IS success in the public sector DM domain. In this paper, the effects of the expected value of IS for the entire group of collaborating DM agencies, task support, user satisfaction, and three specific information/service quality dimensions on usage intention are examined. Data was collected from emergency responders using a questionnaire survey method during multi-agency, cross-national DM exercises at the Dutch–German border. The results of the data analysis revealed that expected group value is a key determinant of intention to use in the public sector DM domain. The data analysis also showed that perceived task support only has an indirect effect, through user satisfaction, on the usage intention. These findings imply that previously suggested IS success models for business environments are likely to fall short in their explanatory power and applicability for highly volatile complex disaster environments that require immediate coordinated responses from a large number of organizations. Possible directions for future research are also discussed along with other findings and implications.

Information systems evaluation: an ongoing measure

With increased spending of information systems (IS), IS evaluation is becoming increasingly important. It is important for organisations to evaluate business value of IS they have spent a portion, sometimes large, of their yearly revenue on. For that purpose, however, practitioners and researchers still have not agreed on a single method, although cost-benefit analysis seems to be a flavour among IS practitioners. The decision on which evaluation method is more appropriate in a particular situation is largely context dependent. Evaluators commonly face a difficult situation in choosing the right method for a particular context. This paper first reviews different terms being used to describe evaluation of IS business value. Next, it presents past research results about IS evaluation practices of organisations. It then proceeds to provide a summary of IS evaluation methods, IS evaluation approaches, and IS evaluation types. Last, it concludes with research themes of IS evaluation studies.

A Value-Satisfaction Taxonomy of IS Effectiveness (VSTISE)

Information Systems (IS) effectiveness has been studied over the past three decades, with user satisfaction utilized as a key measure. However, very little attention has been given to the role of user-perceived cognitive value of IS in measuring the effectiveness of such systems. Therefore, this article defines and articulates user-perceived value of IS as an important construct for IS research, not from the financial or ‘net benefit’ perspective to the organization, rather from the cognitive perspective. Following literature review, a new taxonomy of IS effectiveness, Value-Satisfaction Taxonomy of IS Effectiveness (VSTISE), is presented. The VSTISE posits four quadrants to indicate level of user-perceived IS effectiveness: improvement, effective, misleading, and ineffective. A case study using the proposed VSTISE is discussed. Results based on the 192 responses identify several problematic system characteristics that warrant additional investigation for their limited IS effectiveness. Finally, recommendations for research and practice are provided.

Propagation of a parsimonious framework for evaluating information systems in construction

The process of evaluation is a critical process for the successful implementation of an information system (IS) in an organisation. A plethora of techniques for determining the business value of IS can be found in the business and IS management literature. Those that have been developed have focused on the financial and technical entities of evaluation such as return on investment and thus neglecting social, organisational and political aspects. In architectural, engineering and construction industry, however, evaluation has received limited attention despite its importance. Building on previous studies this paper reviews the normative literature and propagates an interpretive IS evaluation framework that construction organisations can use as a frame of reference for constructing individual evaluation models.

Information Systems as a Reference Discipline

The conventional wisdom amongst information systems (IS) researchers is that information systems is an applied discipline drawing upon other, more fundamental, disciplines. These are seen as having foundational value for IS. We believe that it is time to question the conventional wisdom. We agree that many are relevant for IS researchers, but we suggest a re-think of the idea of reference disciplines for IS. In a sense, IS has come of age. Perhaps the time has come for IS to become a discipline for others.

An Integrated Framework for Information Systems Planning and Its Initial Application

This paper outlines an approach to information systems planning (ISP) that addresses not just the technical problems encountered in ISP but the whole range of problems which derive from social systems, organizational processes, formal organizational arrangements, technology and the external environment. The approach is designed to improve the effectiveness of the high-level planning processes for information systems (IS). A five-phase framework is proposed. The first phase, the perception phase, aims to provide the managers with an environment that enables them to recognize the strategic value of IS and that activates them to participate in strategy formulation. The second phase, the evaluation phase, involves the evaluation of the organization's systems. The third phase, the selection phase, is focused on analysing the data collected from previous phases in order to select feasible projects. The fourth phase, the construction phase, is responsible for producing a set of preliminary IS plans. The fifth phase, the review phase, aims to ensure that ISP effectiveness is further enhanced by ongoing adjustments to the plans. The paper includes brief comments on the initial application of the framework in the Mingchi Institute of Technology.

An integrated framework for information systems planning and its initial application

This paper outlines an approach to information systems planning (ISP) that addresses not just the technical problems encountered in ISP but the whole range of problems which derive from social systems, organizational processes, formal organizational arrangements, technology and the external environment. The approach is designed to improve the effectiveness of the high-level planning processes for information systems (IS). A five-phase framework is proposed. The first phase, the perception phase, aims to provide the managers with an environment that enables them to recognize the strategic value of IS and that activates them to participate in strategy formulation. The second phase, the evaluation phase, involves the evaluation of the organization's systems. The third phase, the selection phase, is focused on analysing the data collected from previous phases in order to select feasible projects. The fourth phase, the construction phase, is responsible for producing a set of preliminary IS plans. The fifth phase, the review phase, aims to ensure that ISP effectiveness is further enhanced by ongoing adjustments to the plans. The paper includes brief comments on the initial application of the framework in the Mingchi Institute of Technology.