Information Systems Work Research Articles

Trends in FinTech Research and Practice: Examining the Intersection with the Information Systems Field

This paper offers a systematic review of academic and practitioner-oriented literature on FinTech to determine the literature's existing scope and examine the intersection with work in the Information Systems (IS) field. Findings from our review show that the practitioner-oriented literature foreshadowed the rise of FinTech by extensively reporting on algorithm-based and electronic trading (2009 onwards), followed by reporting on FinTech start-ups and funding successes (2014 onwards). The practitioner literature subsequently reported on alternative finance models, the introduction of cryptocurrencies, and risks and regulatory issues. Academic literature on FinTech began to rise from 2014 onwards, focusing initially on the development of FinTech in the aftermath of the 2007-2008 global financial crisis. Research attention subsequently shifted to FinTech innovations (alternative finance, cryptocurrency and blockchain, machine-based methods for financial analysis and forecasting, including artificial intelligence), as well as risk and regulatory issues. IS work on FinTech started to emerge from 2015 onwards, initially focusing on mobile payment systems and peer-to-peer lending. However, the body of work at the intersection of FinTech and IS is still small. Our review sheds light on several opportunities for future research, including financial inclusion, the impacts arising from COVID-19, and the emergence of new business models, such as Banking as a Service (BaaS).

Preregistration of Information Systems Research

In this paper, we introduce the preregistration concept for experiments in the information systems (IS) discipline. Preregistration constitutes a way to commit to analytic steps before collecting or observing data and, thus, mitigate any biases authors may have (consciously or not) towards reporting significant findings. We explain why preregistration matters, how to preregister a study, the benefits of preregistration, and common arguments against preregistration. We also offer a call to action for authors to conduct more preregistered work in IS.

Approaching Dynamic and Individual Worker Information Systems

Dynamic and individual worker information can provide support to shop floor workers producing numerous product variants, and fulfilling high quality and productivity goals. Building on previous research, we present eight system functions of dynamic and individual worker information systems, and then derive three types of necessary system elements. In this article, we focus on the development of data models, such as process attributes and worker information packages. They are processed by sets of rules which help determine the relevant information, depending on the dynamic or individual context. Finally, we introduce views – to present information – including color-coded order buttons and process chains.

He Said, She Said

The preponderance of the academic research focused on diversity in the IS field has emphasized the perspectives of women and racioethnic minorities. Recent research has found that following the appointment of a female CEO, white male top managers provided less help to colleagues, particularly those identified as minority-status (McDonald, Keeves, & Westphal, 2018). Additionally, Collison and Hearn (1994) assert that white men's universal status and their occupancy of the normative standard state have rendered them invisible as objects of analysis. To develop a more holistic view of the IS workplace, we expand the academic exploration by looking at the challenges men face in the Information Systems (IS) workplace. Using a cognitive lens, we evoke the challenges men perceive they face at work and cast them into revealed causal maps. We then repeat the process evoking women's perspectives of men's challenges. The findings are analyzed using the Communication Theory of Identity (CTI) to determine the areas of overlap and identity gaps. This study advances our understanding of the cognitive overlap (and lack thereof) regarding the challenges facing men in the IS field, and provides another step toward developing a more inclusive IS work environment.

Integrating Workers’ Feedback into Continuous Information Flows: Enabling Lean Quality Assurance by Worker Information Systems

Worker information systems provide the right information at the right time in a lean way. In this paper, the need for an integrated feedback system with formalised text parts is exposed. To meet the disadvantages of a lack of feedback, two important points are identified: involving of workers and guaranteeing a high information quality. Several approaches show that workers have to be included into an early stage of product development process to improve product details and especially assembly scenarios. Also, workers get an idea of their contribution to a zero-waste production. If more information is created, the quality gets more important. It is explained what quality criteria should be considered. Technical realisations for a feedback system close this paper.

Enabling Live Data Controlled Manual Assembly Processes by Worker Information System and Nearfield Localization System

Existing localization solutions cannot be directly integrated into production systems. This article describes a nearfield localization system which can be installed on tools due to its small dimensions. Live data controlled manual assembly processes are enabled. In combination with worker information systems, the manual assembly process can be supported more precisely compared to common systems. The benefits are shown within product-specific assembly scenarios. One benefit is enabling work out of sight (non-visible range) guided through a virtual model on a screen. Error prevention (zero-defect assembly) can be realized by monitoring and matching the actual position to the assembly location. Even without augmented reality devices, comparative 3-D representations of real and virtual world are feasible, supporting employees in mobile workshop with complex repairs. In particular, difficult accessibility can be easily determined when carrying out maintenance work by knowing the complete product structure.

Worker Information Systems: State of the Art and Guideline for Selection under Consideration of Company Specific Boundary Conditions

Due to customer specific products, the number of product variants and the complexity of assembly processes increase. To meet these challenges, worker information systems are used to manage information diversity in manual assembly and to provide the right information at the right time in a lean way. Such systems are available in various types and their classification depends on a particular point of view. In order to enable a holistic overview of the existing diversity, this paper summarizes such systems and their benefits. For this purpose, available categories are shown. Accordingly, this paper serves as a summarizing report for the state of the art. Furthermore, the implementation and configuration of worker information systems depend on company specific boundary conditions. Considering them, a guideline is presented for the selection of worker information systems.

Editorial

Editorial

Shortening Innovation Cycles by Employee Training Based on the Integration of Virtual Validation into Worker Information Systems

Due to rapid developments in technology, the complexity of assembly processes has increased. To meet these challenges, effectively qualified workers are necessary. A worker must have a basic education to understand new training content and be able to translate it into daily work. Also, a fast and efficient data flow from innovations within product development to training is necessary. Especially the use of three-dimensional design data has a great immersion effect for training candidates. The newly learned content is more memorable in comparison to teacher-centered education in schools. We present a solution using a worker information system for this kind of electronic learning. This system may be used even in advance of production. This concept can be extended by providing qualification or even educational content. Using multimedia data derived from computer-aided design and virtual validation, our approach for a novel training concept can be realized.

Worker Information Systems Including Dynamic Visualisation: A Perspective for Minimising the Conflict of Objectives between a Resource-Efficient Use of Inspection Equipment and the Cognitive Load of the Worker

In the context of casting mould inspection, the conventional paper-based provision of information for workers can be characterised by a conflict of objectives. On the one hand, a minimisation of the cognitive load of the worker is desirable. To this end the inspection procedure is oriented on the complete processing of each view of the single-part drawing. This leads to a necessary change between inspection devices within individual views. On the other hand, a resource-efficient use of inspection equipment is desirable. To this end, the inspection tasks are grouped so that for each group one single inspection device is assigned. This requires a change between the views of the single-part drawing within each inspection device, which increases worker’s cognitive load. By means of a realistic representation of the inspection operations to be carried out, by using a Worker Information System which is based on animated graphical representations (dynamic visualisation), the increase of the cognitive load that is caused by the resource-efficient use of inspection equipment could be compensated.

Lean Information Management of Manual Assembly Processes: Creating IT-Based Information Systems for Assembly Staff Simultaneous to the Product Engineering Process

T-based work instruction systems help to transfer the diversity of information for workers in an effective manner. In this way, the worker is supported in the comprehension of the task, which leads to such systems receiving increased recognition from manufacturing companies. However, the currently available worker information systems make no statement about how to involve their information processing early in the development process. Because to this, the basic idea of simultaneous engineering could be feasible and a partially automated, timely and cost-effective processing of assembly relevant information could occur. The approach of the development process-oriented, computer integrated documentation and visualisation process for assembly processes (CIV process) consider this problem field and add an innovative contribution.

Global boundaries, task processes and IS project success: a field study

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to better understand how global boundaries affect global information system (IS) project success and which mediating process variables increase the chance of success.Design/methodology/approachBased on the literature on IS success and global teams, an input‐process‐output framework is adopted to develop the research model for the study. This research is based on semi‐structured interviews with 22 global IS project managers. An attribution analysis is used to identify common themes and patterns of the interview results.FindingsGlobal IS project managers identified time separation and cultural differences as the most significant barriers to project success. Our findings suggest that effective teams were able to overcome these barriers to achieve success, but this success was achieved through the implementation of special coordination, communication and cognitive processes tailored to help teams overcome global barriers and through considerable additional cost and effort.Practical implicationsThis study furthers understanding of the global boundaries affecting global IS project success and the most effective processes that teams use to overcome global barriers.Originality/valueDespite the increasing attention to global IS work, there is limited understanding of why and how global IS projects succeed or fail. The present study, investigates not only how multiple global boundary variables (e.g. geographic dispersion, time separation, language differences, cultural differences, etc.) affect IS project success, but also which processes teams use to cope with the challenges presented by these global boundaries.

Information systems work quality

Abstract It is suggested that the multi-perspective nature of information systems (IS) quality, representing the manifold interest groups involved, is the very reason why attempts to develop any general purpose quality model for information systems tend to be fruitless. This paper develops the concept is IS work quality by utilising the existing SOLE (Software Library Evolution) quality model by Eriksson and Torn (1991), and builds upon the elements which particularly address the quality of IS work practices by discussing the management issues that affect those elements and are necessary to assure and maintain the quality of systems evolution and use. The model of information systems work quality proposed in this article provides a framework that allows the consideration of different work contexts and the specific needs of an organisation when evaluating the quality of the information system at hand and its benefits to the organisation. The IS work quality construct broadens the software quality concepts as it caters for the diverse needs of organisations and work contexts.

Making the Matrix Matter: Strategic Information Systems in Financial Services

This study draws on findings from a sample of large Scottish‐based financial institutions to examine the development and impact of innovative `strategic information systems'. It contrasts prescriptive, discourse‐based and institutional models of strategic IS (information systems) with a social constructionist approach. In this approach, the development of strategic IS is viewed in terms of IS functions' attempts to construct new ways of classifying and justifying IT investments. Such attempts are seen partly as a response to the dynamics of interprofessional competition, and partly as a means of handling the uncertainties of a shifting technological and sectoral environment.The case studies ‐‐ which encompass remote banking, management information and branch network applications ‐‐ highlight the impact of the new strategic vocabulary on the development and management of IS projects. The emergence, aims and eventual success or failure of such projects is seen to be closely linked to the parallel development of new ways of classifying IS work. The cases further demonstrate the role of both the institutional and sectoral context and the internal structuring of expertise (principally the role of the IS function within the management structure) in favouring or inhibiting the new categories of action associated with the strategizing of IS. The paper concludes by suggesting that institutionalized forms of classification may not only provide the most enduring legacies of new management paradigms, but may also stand as the greatest barriers to their success.

Information systems work quality

It is suggested that the multi-perspective nature of information systems (IS) quality, representing the manifold interest groups involved, is the very reason why attempts to develop any general purpose quality model for information systems tend to be fruitless. This paper develops the concept is IS work quality by utilising the existing SOLE (Software Library Evolution) quality model by Eriksson and Torn (1991), and builds upon the elements which particularly address the quality of IS work practices by discussing the management issues that affect those elements and are necessary to assure and maintain the quality of systems evolution and use. The model of information systems work quality proposed in this article provides a framework that allows the consideration of different work contexts and the specific needs of an organisation when evaluating the quality of the information system at hand and its benefits to the organisation. The IS work quality construct broadens the software quality concepts as it caters for the diverse needs of organisations and work contexts.

A role for soft systems methodology in information systems development

Recent years have seen a growing interest in the use of soft systems methodology (SSM) in work related to computer-based information systems (IS). Against this background, this paper seeks to identify and define, more fully than hitherto, a role for SSM in information systems development which stems from its fundamental principles. Since SSM sees computer-based information systems as systems which serve purposeful human action, the notion of ‘information system’ in SSM is one that necessarily involves two systems, a ‘serving’ system (the information system) and a ‘served’ system of purposeful action. This notion of ‘information system’ leads to certain principles for IS development. These are expressed in the form of a model, referred to as the ‘information system/information system development model’ (IS/ISDM). This model is used to examine several conventional approaches to information systems development including the widely used UK government method SSADM, in order to identify where, in IS work, soft systems ideas might best make a contribution. A possible role for SSM is identified and a brief description of this role is given at the end of the paper.

Telework

Despite predictions over the years that many employees would soon be teleworking from their homes, neither employees in general nor information systems (IS) professionals in particular, whose work is especially appropriate for telework, have begun teleworking to any large extent. The reasons for this lack of telework growth are empirically untested. Yet an understanding of why organizations and IS departments are not joining the telework bandwagon is critical if predictions of improved flexibility and productivity through telework are to be realized.This study used innovation theory to suggest key variables that may be related to telework use among IS programmer/analysts. A national survey of IS executives was used to obtain information on the variables relevant to IS telework assimilation. The survey resulted in responses from 252 IS departments describing their telework arrangements.Key variables related to both the adoption stage and the infusion stage of IS teleworking were middle management support for telework, administrative intensity, and professionalism. A variable significantly related only to the adoption decision was centralization. The key variable related only to the infusion stage was size. The variables that were not related to either adoption or infusion were specialization and formalization, suggesting that bureaucracy alone is not an obstacle to telework.Overall, the findings suggest a bottom-up initiation of telework; i.e., that programmer/analysts are initiating telework arrangements. Lack of middle management support for telework has a strong negative effect on the assimilation of telework. Thus, this study suggests that future research may wish to investigate further the reasons for lack of managerial support. Moreover, the lack of organizations getting on the telework bandwagon, together with the variables found significant in this study, suggest fruitful areas for future research may be an analysis of the type of publicity describing telework arrangements, managerial knowledge of telework arrangements, the nature of IS work appropriate for telework, and the managerial skills demanded by telework.

Motivation and performance in the information systems field

Motivation is important. In today's economy, it is vital that all scarce resources - especially human resources - be utilized efficiently and effectively. Daft and Steers state unequivocally that motivation is the foundation upon which human resources may be optimally utilized (1986).Prior studies of motivation in the information systems (IS) profession have led to inconclusive and, even contradictory results. It may be that these apparently inconsistent results are actually evidence of a rapidly changing and evolving profession. Several IS research articles have documented rapidly occurring changes within IS job environments, changes in development methodologies and IS organizational structure. Thus, an assessment of the fit between the IS professional and the changing IS work environment is a fundamental component of IS human resource management. Knowledge of job fit in this profession is crucial to each phase of human resource development, from recruitment to evaluation and training.The primary purpose of this paper is to review personnel literature within the context of a larger picture of IS motivation:• Motivation in the IS profession• The evolving IS work environment• Job fit within the IS profession• Related studies from other disciplines

A model for IS quality

Different concepts of software quality are reviewed and discussed in this paper. Based on this, a hierarchical model of information system (IS) quality concepts developed in the research project SOLE* is presented. This model aims at a division of quality concepts consistent with the different decision makers and decisions made during the software life-cycle. The main division is into IS cost effectiveness, IS use quality and IS work quality. The last two are further divided into requirement quality, interface quality, and efficient IS management, evolution quality and operation quality, respectively.

A Theoretical Assessment of the User-Satisfaction Construct in Information Systems Research

For nearly two decades, the user-satisfaction construct has occupied a central role in behavioral research in Information Systems (IS). In industry, the construct has often been used as a surrogate for IS effectiveness. Given its widespread use by both academics and practitioners, it is surprising that no comprehensive theoretical assessment of this construct has been performed. This paper provides such a review. It begins by examining conceptual and theoretical limitations of the construct's use as a measure of IS effectiveness. Attention is then focused on the evolution of the construct in the literature and the theoretical problems associated with its broader use. The fundamental similarity between user satisfaction and the social and cognitive psychologists' notion of an attitude is suggested. The next sections focus on a discussion of attitude structures and function. First, alternative theoretical views on attitude structure are presented. While one of these structures, the family of expectancy-value models, is reflected in current research on user satisfaction, the second, the family of cognitive approaches, is not. The two attitude structures are considered from the perspective of possible refinements to future work in IS. Next, an examination is made of the ways in which these structures have been integrated in terms of understanding the relationship of users' affective responses to other responses (i.e., behavior or cognition). This leads to a discussion of the function attitudes might serve for the user other than the evaluation of an information system or IS staff. Finally, the question of how behavior influences attitude is considered. The paper concludes with suggestions for future work.