1,201 research outputs found
Developing a frame of reference for ex-ante IT/IS investment evaluation
No full textInvestment appraisal techniques are an integral part of many traditional capital budgeting processes. However, the adoption of Information Systems (IS) and the development of resulting infrastructures are being increasingly viewed on the basis of consumption. Consequently, decision-makers are now moving away from the confines of rigid capital budgeting processes, which have traditionally compared IS with non-IS-related investments. With this in mind, the authors seek to dissect investment appraisal from the broader capital budgeting process to allow a deeper understanding of the mechanics involved with IS justification. This analysis presents conflicting perspectives surrounding the scope and sensitivity of traditional appraisal methods. In contributing to this debate, the authors present taxonomies of IS benefit types and associated natures, and discuss the resulting implications of using traditional appraisal techniques during the IS planning and decision-making process. A frame of reference that can be used to navigate through the variety of appraisal methods available to decision-makers is presented and discussed. Taxonomies of appraisal techniques that are classified by their respective characteristics are also presented. Perspectives surrounding the degree of involvement that financial appraisal should play during decision making and the limitations surrounding investment appraisal techniques are identifie
Creating social entrepreneurship in local government
No full textThe public sector is often considered synonym with inefficiency and a lack of
motivation to be innovative. This paper seeks to contribute towards the
literature surrounding social entrepreneurship in the public sector, through
using institutional theory to underpin an e-Innovations model that promotes
social entrepreneurship, while recognising how the adoption of innovation
within the public sector is fostered. The proposed model seeks to serve as a
process that threatens the conservative and risk-averse culture endemic in the
public sector
Identifying healthcare actors involved in the adoption of information systems
No full textThe adoption of information systems in healthcare is no less significant than in
any other commercial or caring organisation. The literature on IS adoption in
healthcare, makes it clear that the actors involved in the adoption process are
almost universally seen as crucial, which matches our research results too.
However, how such actors should be identified remains a topic for investigatory
work since these are early days in achieving this. We derive and propose a
structured method to model how actors might be identified: structured
because such a rationale is explicable and such a method is more readily usable
when transferred to others. Our structured method, named IGOHcaps, uses a
static and then a dynamic step to pull out the individual, group, organisational
and human determinants of the critical actors. In this process, the individual
actors’ differing views emerge which could enable decision-making bodies to
produce more robust proposals if they incorporated some of the appropriate
views. We discuss the application of IGOHcaps through a hospital case study.
While a single case study cannot be a proof, the engagement of the actors was
encouraging
Electronic transformation of government in the U.K.: a research agenda
No full textThis paper presents the findings of an exploratory research project into future
e-Government (electronic Government) initiatives. The Virtual Institute for
Electronic Government Research (VIEGO) project aimed at identifying and
further developing the research agenda of e-Government based on a solid
practical ground. As such, the paper offers a novel methodology in identifying
the road map for future e-Government initiatives based on a series of
workshops organised around the U.K. hosting a mixture of stakeholders
involving both academics and parishioners. The analysis of the VIEGO
workshops depicted that an e-Government research agenda involves a
combination of social, technological and organisational issues at both
governmental and individual citizen level, ultimately driven by empirical
case-based experience and active participation in e-Government processes.
Unlike other propositions for the future of e-Government offered in the e-
Government literature, raised research questions not only originated from an
analysis of e-Government literature but also on the outcome of brainstorming,
reflections and contemplations throughout the duration of the project
A revised perspective on the evaluation of IT/IS investments using an evolutionary approach
No full textOn-going research into the evaluation of Information Technology (IT) / Information Systems (IS) projects has shown that aerospace and supply chain industries are needing to address the issue of effective project investment in order to gain technological and competitive advantage. The evaluative nature of the justification process requires a mapping of interrelated quantities to be optimised. Earlier work by the authors (Irani and Sharif 1997) has presented a theoretical functional model that describes these relationships in turn. By applying a fuzzy mapping to these variables, the optimisation of intangible relationships in the form of a Genetic Algorithm (GA) is proposed as a method for investment justification. This paper revises and reviews these key concepts and provides a recapitulation of this optimisation problem in terms of long-term strategy options and cost implications.
Glossary of terms : DC = Direct Costs, FA = Financial Appraisal, FR = Financial Risks, FUR = Functional Risks, HC = Human Costs, IC = Indirect Costs, IR = Infrastructural Risks, OB = Operational Benefits, OC = Organisational Costs, PB = Project Benefits, PC = Project Costs, RF = Risk Factor, SB = Strategic Benefits, SM = Strategic medium-term benefit, SR = Systemic Risks, TB = Tangible Benefits, TC = Tangible Costs, TL = project lead time, TR = Technological Risks, V= Project Value
Knowledge representation within information systems in manufacturing environments
No full textThis thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.Representing knowledge as information content alone is insufficient in providing us with an understanding of the world around us. A combination of context as well as reasoning of the information content is fundamental to representing knowledge in an information system. Knowledge Representation is typically concerned with providing structures and theories that are used as a basis for intelligent reasoning. For this research however, the author defines an alternative meaning, which is related to how knowledge is used in a given context. Thus, this dissertation provides a contribution to the field of knowledge within information systems, in terms of the development of a frame-of-reference that will support the reader in navigating through the different forms of explicit and tacit knowledge use within the manufacturing industry. In doing so, the dissertation also presents the generation of a novel classification of three forms of knowledge (Structural, Interpretive and Evaluative forms); the development of a conceptual framework which highlights the drivers for knowledge transformation; and the development of a conceptual model which seeks to envelop both the content as well as the context of knowledge (Semiotic as well as Symbiotic factors). This is established through the use of an Empirical, Quantitative case study approach, that seeks to explore an interpretivist view of knowledge representation within two information systems contexts, within two UK manufacturing organisations. The first case study presents how a-priori knowledge assumptions are used in a computer aided engineering decision-making task within a high technology manufacturing company. The second case study shows how knowledge is used within the IT/IS investment evaluation decision making process, within a manufacturing SME. In doing so, both case studies attempt to elucidate the inherent, underlying relationship between explicit and tacit knowledge, via a frame-of-reference developed by the author which defines key drivers for knowledge transformation
Examining the strategic benefits of information systems: A global case study
No full textIn the context of the emerging evaluation of Information Systems (IS) as strategic enablers, this paper critically reviews the literature relating to the strategic benefits of IS. Understanding the importance of IS benefits can be significant in the development of strategy in an organisation, although most organisations have diverse environments and, likewise, diverse benefits for decision-makers. Thus, taxonomies of the benefits of IS are produced from both the academic literature and published case studies. In this way, a classification of benefits as they relate to organisational strategic focus has been developed to provide a greater understanding of the benefits needed to obtain a specific focus. The result of this paper is a taxonomy of IS benefits in the strategic focus of IS, using Y bank as a case study. This categorisation can support the evaluation of IS processes, which will, in turn, support decision-makers throughout the planning process
Information systems evaluation in context–impact of the corporate level
No full textThe paper presents the results of a doctoral research related to Information Systems
evaluation in context. The authors propose changes in the context, the new level of contextual
analysis was added: the system context located between the internal and external context. The
system context reflects the fact that the case companies are business units and parts of the
corporations and IS evaluation is influenced by the corporation, Three levels of context
analysis can be used in case of IS evaluation in complex structures, such as corporations or
supply chain
Modelling surface roughening during plastic deformation of metal crystals under contact shear loading
No full textDuring plastic deformation, metal surfaces roughen and this has a deleterious impact on their tribological performance. It is therefore desirable to be able to predict and control the amount of roughening caused by subsurface plasticity. As a first step, we focus on modelling plastic deformation during contact shearing of an FCC metallic single crystal, employing a finite strain Discrete Dislocation Plasticity (DDP) formulation. This formulation allows us to capture the finite lattice rotations induced in the material by shearing and the corresponding local rotation of the crystallographic slip planes. The simulations predict a pronounced material pile-up in front of the contact and a sink-in at its rear, which are strongly crystal-orientation dependent. By comparing finite and small strain DDP, we can assess the effect of slip plane rotation on surface roughening and on metal plasticity in general. Results of the simulations are also compared with crystal plasticity, which is also capable of predicting a pile-up and sink-in, but not the crystal-orientation dependency of roughening.Accepted Author Manuscript(OLD) MSE-
- …
