Australian Computer Society: ACS Digital Library
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Theorizing in Information Systems Research Using Focus Groups
Get PDFInformation Systems researchers have embraced a number of qualitative research approaches and methodologies, including interviews, observations, and even action research. One approach gaining visibility in IS research is the focus group method. Focus groups have the potential to provide great insights into phenomena of interest to IS researchers as they allow researchers to get deeper into the topic of interest by providing more background information about the circumstances of the subject’s answers or opinions. This paper offers a discussion of the focus group research approach and a review of focus group research in the information systems literature, and recommendations for the use of focus groups in IS theorizing. The discussion highlights the idea that focus group research is particularly useful for exploratory research on topics where concepts normally emerge through interactions among individuals or where concepts are initially unclear to participants, and as part of a multi-method research program for theory development. We provide examples of focus groups used in theory development and discuss limitations of the approach
Modeling Internet Diffusion in Developing Countries
Get PDFDespite the increasing importance of the Internet, there is little work that addresses the degree to which the models and theories of Internet diffusion in developed countries can be applied to Internet diffusion in developing countries. This paper presents the first attempt to address this issue through theory driven modeling of Internet diffusion. Consistent with previous research, our findings suggest that economic development and technology infrastructure are musts for Internet diffusion. Interestingly, users’ cognition and government policies can accelerate Internet diffusion only after a certain level of human rights has been reached in a developing country
A Development-Oriented IS Evaluation Approach: Case Demonstration for DSS
Get PDFInformation systems (IS) development research needs a broader conceptual lens for evaluating IS design qualities. Most conventional IS evaluation approaches are focused on narrow objectives, such as the process and content rather than the development process as a whole. This paper describes a qualitative evaluation of a new approach that extends evaluation strategies to incorporate development phases, specifically within decision support systems (DSS) development. The conceptual approach is based on a mental model from the design science research paradigm and evaluates DSS development at various design checkpoints. This paper also describes qualitative findings on the applicability of the conceptual approach in a socio-technical design context
Examining client perceptions of partnership quality and the relationships between its dimensions in an IT outsourcing relationship
No full textThis paper reports on an empirical study of the multidimensionality of partnership quality and the relationships between these dimensions. A two-phase survey was conducted for a range of organisations from different industry sectors to collect empirical data to test the validity and reliability of the measurement model for the multidimensionality of partnership quality. The measurement model for partnership quality was confirmed by the results of the data analyses. This research also aimed to identify the significant relationships between these dimensions using a second generation multivariate analysis technique—partial least squares(PLS). The findings from results of the data analyses show that inter-organisational trust, shared business understanding and to a lesser extent, functional and dysfunctional conflict between the client organisation and the outsourcing vendor in an IT outsourcing relationship are the key determinants of partnership quality. The key outcome of high partnership quality between the client organisation and the outsourcing vendor in an IT outsourcing relationship is mutual beneficial sharing of risks and benefits. Commitment is confirmed as a multidimensional construct of behaviour and temporal/continuance commitment but is not is influenced by the other dimensions of partnership quality. Trust and shared business understanding are the key drivers in the IT outsourcing relationship ensuring that the sharing of risks and benefits are realised and conflict is minimised leading to a high quality and ultimately successful partnership between the client organisation and the outsourcing vendor. Furthermore behavioural commitment to the contractual obligations of an IT outsourcing relationship sustains an ongoing temporal commitment to the partnership between the client organisation and the outsourcing vendor
Editorial for special issue of AJIS on Green IT/IS (Sustainable computing)
Get PDFWe are pleased to present this AJIS Special issue on Green IT/IS (Sustainable Computing). There are five papers published in this special issue of the AJIS which reflect the diversity of this emerging and important area of research in Information Systems. Environmental sustainability is one of if not the most important challenge facing organisations and society in the 21st century. Information systems and information technology have a major role to play in both reducing its environmental impact and providing the systems and technological innovation to reduce the environmental impact of organisations. Currently there is a lack of rigorous empirical studies which are theory and evidence based to provide a sound basis for understanding IT green best practices and how these can be best adopted in organisations. This special issue of the AJIS contributes this current gap in the knowledge concerning green IS and IT with five empirical research papers which examined five different aspects of green IS and IT
How do Australian Small and Medium Enterprises Communicate their Environmental Improvement Activities Online?
Get PDFThere have been calls in the IS/eBusiness literature for research on "green" IS/IT in a Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) context. The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) literature has neglected the issue of how SMEs can use websites to communicate their environmental improvement activities. This paper links these two previously separate disciplines by reporting on a content analysis of 443 Australian SME websites from four industry sectors to identify if and how they use websites to communicate their environmental improvement activities. The study found that 47 websites were communicating such activities in some form. A detailed analysis was undertaken of these 47 websites to identify emergent themes relating to how these SMEs were communicating their environmental improvement activities. These themes resulted in a reconceptualisation of the traditional "4 Ps" of marketing for online communication of environmental improvement activities by SMEs: profile; product; process and prominence
The Role of IT Service Management in Green IT
Get PDFSocieties and governments are becoming increasingly concerned about the impact of the expanding use of IT equipment on the environment, especially in terms of energy efficiency, emission reduction and toxic waste. The objective of this article is to explore the relationship between IT Service Management (ITSM) and Green IT. To achieve this objective, results of a recent survey of IT Service Managers in Australia were analysed to gauge the extent of Green IT awareness and implementation. As well, the leading best practice framework for ITSM was evaluated to explore the depth and breadth of Green IT guidance provided in the ITIL resources. The results indicated that most of the IT Service Managers surveyed are aware of the importance of Green IT procurement, improving energy efficiency and controlling waste disposal, but not server consolidation. The extent to which Green IT policies and procedures have been implemented varied substantially across the 65 organisations surveyed. The analysis of the ITIL version 3 books clearly demonstrates that ITIL does provide guidance to support Green IT programs and confirms the view that Green IT and ITSM share common goals, such as operational efficiencies and metrics-based improvements. Recommendations are made to CIOs, IT Service Managers and ITIL authors to continue to raise awareness of how IT service management can contribute to environmental sustainability
A Preliminary Introduction to the OTAM: Exploring Users’ Perceptions of their on-going Interaction with Adopted Technologies
No full textABSTRACT
A common criticism directed at Davis’ (1986; 1989) Technology Acceptance Model relates to its failure to adequately frame the “experienced” user’s ongoing adoption and exploitation of information technologies. Given the pervasive nature of technology into individual users’ ongoing, everyday communication and information interactions, along with the “new adopter” becoming an increasingly rare entity, the TAM is in danger of becoming a somewhat obsolete framework for investigating user-technology interaction.
Presented is a critical analysis of the development and current state of the TAM, followed by a proposed addition to the existing Perceived Usefulness (PU) and Perceived Ease of Use (PEoU) TAM constructs. The paper contends that the inclusion of a Perception of Interaction (PoI) construct allows researchers to develop an investigative framework which facilitates an exploration of users’ ongoing perceptions of the predictability of their technology interaction processes
Examining the contribution of Green IT to the objectives of IT departments: Empirical Evidence from German Enterprises
Get PDFIn this article we examine the economic contribution of Green IT to the core competencies of IT organisations. Based on the resource-based view we argue that Green IT influences the resources of an IT organisation thereby improving competencies which lead to competitive advantages. While Green IT’s technical measures as well as its ecological and economic benefits have received considerable attention, no scientific research has been done linking Green IT to core competencies. To determine the contribution of Green IT to core competencies of IT organisation a large scale survey with 116 companies from the German speaking region was conducted. Results were generated using factor and correlation analysis. The outcomes indicate that Green IT contributes to efficient internal operations, relationship management, and market competitiveness. In particular, relationship management plays a major role. These findings contribute to existing knowledge on Green IT and provide practical recommendations for CIOs, IT managers, and environmental officers as well as new opportunities for further research in this field
Impact of Pressure for Environmental Sustainability on Grid Assimilation – Empirical Results from the Financial Services Industry
Get PDFDue to the significant increase in IT-related power consumption and the resulting higher CO2 emissions, Green IT has gained considerable attention in industry and society in recent years. Green IT as an engineering paradigm encompasses the multi-faceted, global effort to reduce power consumption and the promotion of environmental sustainability. Due to several similarities between Green IT objectives and the environmental benefits of Grid technology, this article provides empirical evidence from the financial services industry emphasizing that Grid technology is capable of reducing the environmental impact of IT hardware. Furthermore, the article analyzes the extent to which pressure for environmental sustainability as well as different types of institutional forces impact on the intention of enterprises to use Grid technology as a means to reduce energy consumption of IT hardware, which is one of the key Green IT objectives