Copyright (c) 2010 Association for Information Systems All rights reserved. http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais Recent documents in Communications of the Association for Information Systems en-us Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:31:15 PDT 3600 http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol26/iss1/11 http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol26/iss1/11 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:15:47 PDT Despite wide agreement that we are in a service-dominated economy, there has been little movement toward treating service and service metaphors as core aspects of the IS field. This tutorial proposes that viewing systems as services is a potentially fruitful but generally unexplored approach for thinking about systems in organizations, systems analysis, and numerous applications of IT. An extension of past research in several areas, viewing systems as services proves to be an umbrella for developing new systems analysis and design methods, improving business/IT communication, and finding practical paths toward greater relevance and significance in business and society. Steven Alter http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol26/iss1/10 http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol26/iss1/10 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:25:18 PST Managing changing business environments and requirements in Information Systems (IS) development is becoming increasingly important. IS development project courses could thus benefit from the infusion of agile, flexible, and adaptable processes. This article reports two years of continuous effort in refining the IS development project course in the National University of Singapore to illustrate how undergraduate students could be effectively taught the agile IS development approach. The course design process was based on the system approach model to instructional design and followed the principles of instructional events suggested by Dick and Carey [1991] and Gagne et al. [1992]. Input from students, as well as pedagogic principles drawn from the extant literature, were used to rigorously refine the course design over time. The final course design exhibits five distinctive characteristics. The two most important characteristics were (1) the adoption of a hybrid agile methodology incorporating the best practices in both coding and project management drawn from three established agile methodologies, and (2) the introduction of requirement shocks at appropriate junctures to train students to react to changes in business requirements. The effectiveness of the course design was assessed using objective measures of learning operationalized as the numerical scores obtained by students. Statistical analysis results indicate that the students who were taught using the final course design obtained higher scores than those who were taught with the initial design. Our course design effort was, therefore, deemed successful. Chuan-Hoo Tan http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol26/iss1/9 http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol26/iss1/9 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:47:00 PST APM is the ongoing management process of categorization, assessment and rationalization of the IT application portfolio which allows organizations to identify which applications to maintain, invest in, replace, or retire. To understand current APM strategies and practices, the authors convened a focus group of senior IT managers from a number of organizations. Results of the focus group discussion pointed to the need to develop three inter-related APM capabilities: (1) strategy and governance, (2) inventory management, and (3) reporting and rationalization. To deliver value with APM, organizations must establish all three capabilities. Experience suggests that organizations tend to start by inventorying applications and work from the "middle out" to refine their APM strategy (and how it is governed) as well as to establish efforts to rationalize their applications portfolio. As such, APM represents a process of continual refinement. Fortunately, experience also suggests that there are real benefits to be reaped from the successful development of each capability. The paper concludes with some lessons learned based on the collective experience of the members of the focus group. James D. McKeen http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol26/iss1/8 http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol26/iss1/8 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:20:19 PST This paper reports the results of an empirical study that analyzes emergency incident response. The paper studies how information systems (IS) complement other organizational assets to help emergency responders achieve satisfactory response performance. We test the research model using empirical data collected from responses to Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. The results show that IS-enabled asset allocation support directly improves emergency response performance and also positively interacts with non-IS response assets in achieving response success. The results also confirm the value of dispatch systems, interagency communications, and knowledge repositories in developing asset allocation support for an emergency response organization. Rui Chen http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol26/iss1/7 http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol26/iss1/7 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:16:28 PST With the recent legislation providing financial incentives to physicians who acquire electronic health record systems, we will be afforded an opportunity to study incentivized adoption of technology coupled with the threat of future penalties for non-adoption. This research uses institutional theory to propose factors that are expected to influence the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) by independent physician practices in the coming years. The study presents a model describing the role of coercive, mimetic, and normative forces on adoption intent. Payer incentives/penalties as well as dominant healthcare delivery partners will exert coercive pressures on physician practices. Additionally, since physicians identify with their own specialties, it is expected that they will also be subject to mimetic forces resulting from successful adoption by similar specialists, particularly given their concerns about expected benefits from these systems. Finally, normative forces resulting from the successful interoperation of electronic health records among regional providers should influence physician adoption. The ability to partner with other physicians and healthcare providers or vendors adopting the same system should increase individual practice adoption intent in the presence of coercive, mimetic, and/or normative forces. Susan A. Sherer http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol26/iss1/6 http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol26/iss1/6 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:03:12 PST Organizations increasingly rely on complex information systems (IS) to preserve and enhance competitive advantage. Prior work has shown that these IS are often underutilized, prompting researchers and practitioners to seek out better explanations to account for IS use behaviors. Coping theory has recently emerged as a promising foundation for understanding users' post-adoptive reactions to IS. This paper takes a first step toward integrating theories of IS adoption and use with coping theory by examining how adoption-related IS perceptions influence individual-level post-adoptive IS appraisal. Survey data collected from IS users at a university health center indicate that performance and effort expectancies surrounding use of the IS strongly influence primary IS appraisal (judgments of what is at stake as a result of the IS), while the presence of facilitating conditions relates to secondary IS appraisal (judgments of what can be done in response to the IS). Kelly J. Fadel http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol26/iss1/5 http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol26/iss1/5 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:54:34 PST The use of computer-mediated communication technology across different countries and cultures is under-investigated in information systems (IS) research. The measurement equivalence issue in cross-cultural IS studies has also not been addressed adequately. This study applies a rigorous structural equation modeling approach (SEM) to compare differences between two groups of college students in the United States and China, by adapting a research model that explains an individual's use of Instant Messaging (IM). After achieving measurement equivalence across the two groups using SEM, we found that, in their behavioral intention to use IM, Chinese students paid more attention to the effect of perceived enjoyment, while Americans placed more emphasis on perceived usefulness. We found that relationship commitment was more salient in explaining perceived enjoyment for Chinese than for Americans. We also found that the effects of perceived critical mass on perceived enjoyment and perceived usefulness were stronger for Americans than for Chinese. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found that the effect of relationship commitment on perceived usefulness was stronger for Americans than for Chinese. Implications for research and practice are discussed. Dahui Li http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol26/iss1/4 http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol26/iss1/4 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:37:41 PST For the past two decades, researchers have sought to understand how IT investment leads to organizational success. However, this has proven to be an elusive goal. We posit that a new perspective is needed to better understand IT investment. We must examine how the investment is enacted and reflected within the firm. We will argue that investment is enacted within the technology resources and corresponding business processes and reflected in the IT-business alignment. Based on the literature within Dynamics Capabilities Theory and IT-Business Alignment, we will propose a theoretical model that seeks to understand the impact of IT-enabled business processes and IT-business alignment on the strategic and operational success of a firm and whether the impacts experience a lag effect. Using data from fifty-eight European firms over a two-year period, we will build a structural equation model to test our theoretical model. The results indicate that alignment is important for strategic and operational success in year 1 but not in year 2. Furthermore, of the two, alignment has a stronger impact on strategic than operational success. In contrast, business process performance has an impact on organizational performance in year 1 and year 2. For both years, the impact on operational success is stronger than the strategic one. We also notice that the impact of business process performance on operational success decreases between year 1 and year 2, whereas the impact on strategic success is stronger in year 2 than in year 1. Andrew Schwarz http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol26/iss1/3 http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol26/iss1/3 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:10:16 PST Despite the growing number of organizations that have lost track of their application landscape and have suffered from a sharp increase in application portfolio complexity, a comprehensive and systematic approach to Application Portfolio Management (APM) still appears far from being adopted. To move the adoption process along, this paper develops a comprehensive framework assimilating and extending previous research and presents an APM process comprising data collection, analysis, decision-making, and optimization phases. This paper also presents an approach for evaluating software tools for APM and identifies which software tool families are best able to provide support for specific purposes. With this integrated conceptual guideline for APM and its translation into a model for measuring appropriate practical support, this paper not only allows for a move more deeply into the research area but also offers advice for both researchers and practitioners. Daniel Simon http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol26/iss1/2 http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol26/iss1/2 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:00:35 PST Among the many characteristics that impact the use of e-commerce, one that has received relatively little attention is gender. Extant evidence suggests that men and women differ in their beliefs regarding the use of information technology-related innovations, including e-commerce. However, less is known about how gender moderates the impact of various beliefs on behavioral intentions. In this study, we use a model derived from diffusion of innovations theory to examine gender differences in the degree to which various beliefs regarding e-commerce impact intentions to make purchases online. Results indicate that gender does moderate the influence of beliefs on use intentions in the context of consumer e-commerce. Specifically, our study finds that relative advantage is relatively more important for men and that compatibility is relatively more important for women. We explain why this may be true, discuss the implications of these findings and suggest several areas for future research. Craig Van Slyke http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol26/iss1/1 http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol26/iss1/1 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:00:33 PST In this paper we examine the ways in which implementing new information and communication technologies (ICTs) to automate public sector processes affects accountability. New technologies alter conventional modes of behavior in the public sector, shedding light on certain areas of bureaucratic practice and obscuring others, and in doing so they enhance accountability and exacerbate dysfunctions. To investigate how ICTs influence the accountability equation, we explore a range of empirically documented e-government implementations, from simple transactions involving low-levels of automation to highly automated systems such as fingerprint analysis technologies. Drawing on these empirical examples, we develop a tentative framework of ICT-exacerbated accountability dysfunctions. Following this, we then discuss potential accountability arrangements for different types of e-government processes, in hope of realizing the benefits of new technologies while minimizing the potential for unaccountability and dysfunction that could arise from their application. Throughout, we stress the necessity of striking a balance between the potential benefits of ICTs to the bureaucratic process and systems that may reduce efficiency but uphold accountability. Matthew L. Smith http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol25/iss1/45 http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol25/iss1/45 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 09:24:41 PST Time is an important factor in the use of information technology. However, traditional information systems research methods cannot adequately account for the dynamic nature of time-based relationships often found in longitudinal data. This shortcoming is problematic when investigating volatile relationships that evolve over time (e.g., information technology use across users, departments, and organizations). Educational, sociological, and management researchers study the influence of time using a rigorous multilevel method called growth modeling. We demonstrate the use of growth modeling in this tutorial, which is based on a semester-long study of an actual web-based university-level course content delivery system. The tutorial provides guidance on preliminary data tests, the construction and analysis of growth models using hierarchical linear modeling, and the interpretation of final results. The tutorial also describes other unique advantages of using growth modeling for IS research. Robert F. Otondo http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol25/iss1/44 http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol25/iss1/44 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:09:15 PST This article uses institutional theory as a basis to understand organizational processes that influence the extent to which web technologies that support the organization-customer relationship are adopted and subsequently diffused within an organization. The effect of coercive, mimetic, and normative processes that lead an organization to initially implement web technologies, referred to as adoption, differ from how those processes influence an organization to integrate evolving web technologies with business activities, referred to as diffusion. Adoption is presented as homogeneous across organizations and organizational populations, whereas diffusion is homogeneous within organizational populations. A theoretical model and related propositions are provided to guide future research. Ann M. Pearson http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol25/iss1/43 http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol25/iss1/43 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:44:46 PST Conceptual models play an increasingly important role for business process engineering, information systems development, and customizing of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Despite the widespread interest in conceptual modeling, relatively little is known to date on the level and nature of conceptual modeling use in practice. Therefore our study investigates how practitioners use conceptual modeling. In particular, we address the following three key questions: To what extent do practitioners use conceptual modeling techniques and tools? How relevant is conceptual modeling for certain purposes? Are there barriers and success factors in using conceptual modeling? This paper informs information systems professionals about recent trends in the area of conceptual modeling. The results of our study should be considered when developing syllabuses for modeling courses as well as when judging the relevance of various research streams in the area of conceptual modeling. Peter Fettke http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol25/iss1/42 http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol25/iss1/42 Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:42:39 PST Identity Management has been a serious problem since the establishment of the Internet. Yet little progress has been made toward an acceptable solution. Early Identity Management Systems (IdMS) were designed to control access to resources and match capabilities with people in well-defined situations, Today's computing environment involves a variety of user and machine centric forms of digital identities and fuzzy organizational boundaries. With the advent of inter-organizational systems, social networks, e-commerce, m-commerce, service oriented computing, and automated agents, the characteristics of IdMS face a large number of technical and social challenges. The first part of the tutorial describes the history and conceptualization of IdMS, current trends and proposed paradigms, identity lifecycle, implementation challenges and social issues. The second part addresses standards, industry initia-tives, and vendor solutions. We conclude that there is disconnect between the need for a universal, seamless, trans-parent IdMS and current proposed standards and vendor solutions. Anat Hovav http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol25/iss1/41 http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol25/iss1/41 Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:24:19 PST Not long ago, IT-based risk was a fairly low-key activity focused on whether IT could deliver projects successfully and keep applications up and running. But with the opening up of the organization's boundaries to external partners, service providers, external electronic communications, and online services, managing IT-based risk has morphed into a "bet the company" proposition. Not only is the scope of the job bigger, the stakes are much higher. As companies have become more dependent on IT for everything they do, the costs of service disruption and inadequate security practices have escalated exponentially. Therefore, the job of managing IT-based risk has become broader and more complex. Whereas in the past companies have sought security through physical or technological means (e.g., locked rooms, virus scanners), there is now growing understanding that managing IT-based risk must be a strategic and holistic activity that is not just the responsibility of a small group of IT specialists, but part of a mindset that extends from partners and suppliers to employees and customers. This paper explores how organizations are addressing and coping with increasing IT-based risk. It presents the results of an in-depth discussion of this issue with 20 senior IT practitioners and the challenges facing them. It proposes a holistic view of risk and examines the characteristics and components needed to develop an effective risk management framework, presenting a generic framework for integrating the growing number of elements involved in it. Finally, it describes successful practices organizations could use for improving their risk management capabilities. Heather A. Smith http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol25/iss1/40 http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol25/iss1/40 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:18:01 PST This tutorial outlines major changes in the Internet that enable the world wide web to become more interactive and participative. These changes led to new capabilities such as weblogs (blogs), wikis, social networking sites, and application mashups. Millions of individuals became active users of these facilities. Increasingly, companies are finding ways to monetize these features. Jim Sutter http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol25/iss1/39 http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol25/iss1/39 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:03:03 PST Business intelligence (BI) is a broad category of applications, technologies, and processes for gathering, storing, accessing, and analyzing data to help business users make better decisions. This tutorial discusses some of the early, landmark contributions to BI; describes a comprehensive, generic BI environment; and discusses four impor-tant BI trends: scalability, pervasive BI, operational BI, and the BI based organization. It also identifies BI resources that are available for faculty and students. Hugh J. Watson http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol25/iss1/38 http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol25/iss1/38 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:04:44 PST Virtual learning environments have in recent years become an important tool in higher education, in distance learning as well as on campus. This study analyzes factors influencing acceptance of virtual learning environments among academic staff and students in blended learning environments. Two research questions guided the study: (1) How do organizational and individual factors influence the acceptance of virtual learning environments among academic staff and students? (2) What are the implications for practice in order to create good prerequisites for acceptance of virtual learning environments? The study was performed as a comparative, explanatory case study at three universities providing master education of public health in Sweden, Norway and Lithuania. The findings of the case study showed that the contextual factor of culture was powerful in influencing acceptance of virtual learning environments, positively as well as negatively. High degrees of performance expectancy, results demonstrability and social influence affected acceptance of virtual learning environments positively. The degree of social influence was hypothesized to be transferred by the contextual factor of culture. The organizational culture of universities, ex-pressed as shared values of what is good quality teaching and learning, were found to partly oppose values inherent in the virtual learning environment. Implications for practice are put forward, emphasizing culture as an important factor to consider in the implementation of virtual learning environments. Christina Keller http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol25/iss1/36 http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol25/iss1/36 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:53:50 PST This "last lecture" is to my fellow academics in information systems. My lecture has two parts: Part I presents personal career advice for my colleagues. I have had many successes and some failures, and I have observed the careers of many faculty members and doctoral students. I will summarize my observations as actionable advice about being a successful academic while being a happy, contributing human being. The second part is how I see the future of our field. I have seen huge changes and there are more to come. I am optimistic, and I will share my views and the reasons for them with you. Gordon B. Davis