Australian Computer Society: ACS Digital Library
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Modelling the Intention to Adopt Cloud Computing Services: A Transaction Cost Theory Perspective
Get PDFThis paper uses transaction cost theory to study cloud computing adoption. A model is developed and tested with data from an Australian survey. According to the results, perceived vendor opportunism and perceived legislative uncertainty around cloud computing were significantly associated with perceived cloud computing security risk. There was also a significant negative relationship between perceived cloud computing security risk and the intention to adopt cloud services. This study also reports on adoption rates of cloud computing in terms of applications, as well as the types of services used
Information Security Risk Management: An Intelligence-Driven Approach
Get PDFThree deficiencies exist in the organisational practice of information security risk management: risk assessments are commonly perfunctory, security risks are estimated without investigation; risk is assessed on an occasional (as opposed to continuous) basis. These tendencies indicate that important data is being missed and that the situation awareness of decision-makers in many organisations is currently inadequate. This research-in-progress paper uses Endsley's situation awareness theory, and examines how the structure and functions of the US national security intelligence enterprise—a revelatory case of enterprise situation awareness development in security and risk management—correspond with Endsley’s theoretical model, and how facets of the US enterprise might be adapted to improve situation awareness in the information security risk management process of organisations
Identifying the Education Needs of the Business Analyst: An Australian Study
Get PDFThe Business Analyst (BA) plays a key role in ensuring that technology is appropriately used to achieve the organisation’s goals. This important mediating role is currently in high (unmet) demand in many English-speaking countries and thus more people need to be trained for this role. To determine the educational and/or training needs of a BA we conducted a survey in the Information and Communication Technology industry in Australia. The survey items are based on prior studies of information systems educational requirements and the internationally-developed Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) that has been endorsed by the Australian Computer Society. From the literature we identified three types of skills: soft, business and technical. With the increasing importance of GreenIT and the pivotal role that the BA could play in green decision making, we added a fourth type of skill: green. The survey considers 85 skills, their importance, the level of attainment of that skill, skill gaps and types of skills. Results show that all soft skills were considered to be important with the smallest knowledge gaps. Selected business skills and green skills were seen to be important. Technical skills were considered less important, but also where the largest knowledge gaps existed. Further we asked respondents whether each skill should be acquired via an undergraduate or postgraduate degree and/or industry training and experience. We found that the workplace was considered the most appropriate place to acquire and/or develop all skills, except the ability to innovate. While we found that softskills should be taught almost equally at the undergraduate and postgraduate level, business and green skills were more appropriate in a postgraduate degree. In contrast, technical skills were best acquired in an undergraduate program of study
Standard Business Reporting in Australia: Past, Present, and Future
Get PDFStandard Business Reporting (SBR) is an Australian government initiative aimed at enhancing business productivity by reducing compliance costs. This initiative commenced in 2010 and is based on an international business language, eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL). To date, general awareness or knowledge of the program is limited and the adoption rate by businesses is far below the government’s expectations. The objective of this paper is twofold. First, it describes in detail the different components of SBR and provides a clear overview of how the components work together. Second, it examines the issue of SBR adoption in Australia using the diffusion of innovation (DOI) model and the technology, organization, and environment (TOE) framework. Results show that the most relevant factor in the DOI model is relative advantage. Compatibility does not appear to be a problem to businesses but complexity potentially is an issue. Moreover, enhancing trialability and observability can help promote SBR. In the context of the technological perspective in the TOE framework, perceived costs is an obstacle to SBR adoption as insufficient information is available. The quality of SBR reports has hardly been mentioned or discussed but it is an important factor for the long term success of the SBR. The most salient issue in the organizational perspective is the lack of awareness and expertise on SBR and XBRL among business managers and accountants. In the environmental perspective, there is an increasing pressure for SBR adoption but the external support to help businesses appears to be insufficient. The discussions in this paper provide useful information to managers and accountants on how the SBR components work together. The findings also provide specific recommendations to the government agency in charge of SBR to help the further development and adoption of the program
Mobile learning anytime, anywhere: What are our students doing?
Get PDFRecent developments in mobile technologies have provided unique opportunities for learning and teaching. This paper reports on recent research undertaken at a regional Australian university in order to understand how higher education students are using mobile devices to support their learning. A survey instrument was developed and deployed and the data collected analysed quantitatively. Upon analysis, these data demonstrate that students are predominantly using laptop computers to support their learning, but their use of smart phones and tablets are also used for a number of specific learning activities. Further analysis indicates that in spite of the limitations in the formal university infrastructure, many students would like to use their mobile devices for formal learning as well as informal learning
Do self-service technologies affect interfirm relationships? A B2B perspective
Get PDFWhile considerable literature examines business-to business (B2B) relationships, the impact of technology on these relationships has lacked attention. IT has impacted the way businesses operate in a B2B context as well as influencing services by altering the way services are delivered. To understand the way in which Internet technology has impacted these B2B services, it is essential to examine its impact not only on business processes but on business relationships too. One technology, enabled by modern Internet technologies, which is changing the nature of business relationships is the increased use of self-service technologies (SSTs) or technology-enabled services, however, there is a shortage of research in the area in a B2B context. The discussion in this paper provides an overview of the impact of IT on business relationships, using Relationship Marketing theory to provide a theoretical framework. A qualitative study in the Australian banking industry provides findings relating to the theory. The findings of this study provide evidence that while traditional Relationship Marketing theory is still applicable for some business customers, new theory is required for business customers who do not seek relationships. With both practical and theoretical implications, the research detailed in this paper makes a useful contribution to the literature and indicates the necessity for further research to be developed which explores business customers who prefer to remain transaction-oriented, rather than develop interpersonal relationships
Australian Interventions for Women in Computing: Are We Evaluating
Get PDFThere are many reasons why the gender imbalance in computing should be of concern to the profession. Over the last 20 years there have been many intervention programs which attempt to redress this situation and encourage more women into computing. To determine whether an intervention program has made a difference requires evaluation. Program evaluation is the careful collecting of information about a program so that those responsible can make informed decisions regarding the programs. This multi-case study investigation into 14 major programs conducted in Australia shows that many projects are not evaluated due to a lack of time, expertise and money. Without dissemination of detailed evaluations it is not possible to work out which intervention programs should be replicated and which should be modified or abandoned
ERP Institutionalisation- A Quantitative Data Analysis Using The Integrative Framework of IS Theories
Get PDFThere is a wide agreement that IT projects have disappointing success rates and often generate less value than originally promised. In the context of ERP systems, the same statistical reports exist which demonstrate an overwhelming number of failures in ERP implementations. A thorough review of IS literature, however, leads us to believe that organisations that broadly deploy and routinise IT (in particular, ERPs) into their day-to-day work procedures realise the greatest productivity benefit and business values, and in return perceive to be more successful. The stage wherein ERP is fully assimilated, widely accepted and routinised is also referred to as institutionalised ERP in the extant IS literature of institutional theory. As a result, the authors of this paper believe that studying the influence of various social, environmental, technological and organisational factors on ERP institutionalisation has significant potential in improving the chance of successful ERP projects. In doing so, this paper introduces an integrative framework of IS theories based on an in-depth review of IS literature. The survey instrument is developed to gather data on possible impacts of factors derived from each theory on ERP institutionalisation. The gathered data is then analysed using quantitative data analysis methods to shape the final hypothetical inferences. Finally, based on the data analysis results, this paper proposed valuable suggestions to business and IT managers to improve the chance of ERP success in their organisations
‘I just saw this on Facebook, I need it now’: Exploring Small Business use of Facebook
Get PDFThis paper reports on a study exploring social media adoption and use by twelve small businesses. Results indicate that Facebook is the dominant platform used and it can provide small businesses with a virtually cost free and easy way to reach customers. Businesses reported immediate results from using Facebook; customers arrived in store after seeing Facebook posts. Participants felt there were minimal risks involved and none had experienced negative feedback or inappropriate posts. Most felt that using Facebook increased their competitive advantage due to their enhanced online profile. Despite some effort to engage customers, business to consumer transfer of information is the primary function of the Facebook pages studied. Page owners report limited training for and analysis of their Facebook activities. This indicates a need for further research in the small business context, focused on approaches to boosting customer interaction, to realize the full potential of Facebook engagement