|
|
|
JGITM, 2008 (Q1 - Q4)
VOL. 11, NO. 1, January 2008
EDITORIAL PREFACE: CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE: THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY BASED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Deidra Fryer, GeorgeWashingtonUniversity, dlfryer@gwu.edu
The digital divide characterizes the gap that exists between those populations who are able to benefit from digital technologies and those who are not. This essay outlines the various issues and obstacles associated with the digital divide. It also summarizes what has been learned through existing research and
what can be learned.
ARTICLES:
DIFFUSION OF ICT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: A QUALITATIVE DIFFERENTIAL ANALYSIS OF FOUR NATIONS
Godwin Udo, The University of Texas at El Paso, gudo@utep.edu
Kallol K. Bagchi, The University of Texas at El Paso, Kbagchi@utep.edu
This study compares the diffusion of ICT in two sets of matched developing nations: Zimbabwe and Albania, and Namibia and Venezuela. Each pair of developing countries had similar average gross domestic products for the years 1990-1999 but different ICT diffusion levels. Using qualitative analysis, we compared the paired nations on six groups of national-level factors: demographic, economic, regulatory, infrastructural, educational, and afford-ability factors. The findings indicate that the difference in ICT diffusion may be attributed to factors such as poor infrastructure, income inequality, and adult illiteracy. Regulatory and affordability factors are also possible reasons why the African nations seem to perform differently than their non-African counterparts.
CULTURAL IMPACT ON TRUST: A COMPARISON OF VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES IN CHINA, HONG KONG, AND TAIWAN
Ying-Hueih Chen, Providence University, Taiwan, yhchen@pu.edu.tw
Jyh-Jeng Wu, National United University, Taiwan, jjwu@nuu.edu.tw
This study explores the influence of national culture on trust development of virtual community members across China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The research extends trust research by employing trust tendency, privacy policy, social presence, stickiness, and word-of-mouth to measure the trust of virtual community members. The quantitative analysis suggests that China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan are three culturally diverse regions and there exists significant differences in individual trust tendency, social presence, stickiness, and word-of-mouth.
RELATIONSHIP ISSUES IN GLOBAL SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT ENTERPRISES
Adam Alami, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia, Adam.Alami@alumni.uts.edu.au
Bernard Wong, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia, Bernard@it.uts.edu.au
This study introduces a cross onshore and offshore outsourcing model. It discusses relationship issues between the vendor and its offshoring centre. The research reveals that global IT enterprise models face serious relationship issues. These issues are cultural differences, communication, economic conditions in the offshoring country, harsh contract penalties, lack of client support, lack of client’s domain knowledge, unrealistic time frames and the cost saving objectives of the model. The research is based on a qualitative research methodology with multiple studies.
THE EXPERT OPINION: UTTIYA DASGUPTA, PRESIDENT, OMNISPAN, MINNEAPOLIS, MN, USA
The interview discusses the “Crawl, Walk, and Run” model of offshore outsourcing. It also explores the next generation models of offshoring and outsourcing. Also examines are legal, commercial issues and governance issues as well as the key challenges faced by Omnispan.
VOL. 11, NO. 2, April 2008
EDITORIAL PREFACE: BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE - IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBAL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
The globalization of businesses and competition coupled with technological developments is compelling organizations to become knowledge-intensive and to generate business intelligence to meet competitive pressures. With greater outsourcing and with trading partners dispersed across the globe, information collection and analyzing the information to make them actionable is a survival necessity. This essay discusses implications and the process for business intelligence in a global environment.
ARTICLES:
BUSINESS NETWORK AGILITY FOR GLOBAL DEMAND-SUPPLY SYNCHRONIZATION: A COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY IN THE APPAREL INDUSTRY
Mark Lewis, GeorgiaStateUniversity, mark.lewis@ceprin.gsu.edu
Rob Hornyak. GeorgiaStateUniversity, rob.hornyak@ceprin.gsu.edu
Ravi Patnayakuni, University of Alabama in Huntsville, r.patnayakuni@uah.edu
In this study, the authors examine two global firms that are both driven to become orchestrators of their respective global business networks, where product design, distribution, and manufacturing are managed as one coordinated whole. However, each firm has pursued a different business strategy to develop demand-supply synchronization capabilities. By conducting a comparative case analysis of both firms, differences and similarities are assessed in an effort to understand how IT capabilities and business network structure can be aligned to leverage global resources, synchronize demand and supply, and develop business network agility on a global scale.
USER ATTITUDE TOWARDS INSTANT MESSAGING: THE EFFECT OF ESPOUSED NATIONAL CULTURAL VALUES ON AWARENESS AND PRIVACY
Jinwei Cao, University of Delaware, jcao@udel.edu
This paper investigates how user perceptions of privacy and awareness mediate the relationship between espoused national cultural values and attitude towards using Instant Messaging (IM). A conceptual model explains the relationships between (1) espoused national cultural values and user perceptions of privacy and (2) espoused national cultural values and user perceptions of awareness, and (3) how these user perceptions affect attitude towards using IM. Findings indicate that users’ attitude towards using IM was positively affected by their perceptions of personal privacy and awareness, which were in turn positively impacted by the espoused cultural value dimensions of uncertainty avoidance.
THE IMPACT OF ENTREPRENEUR BEHAVIORS ON THE QUALITY OF E-COMMERCE SECURITY: A COMPARISON OF URBAN AND RURAL FINDINGS
This research examines the impact of entrepreneur behaviors on the quality of e-commerce security in urban small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa. It hypothesized that the influence of these behaviors would be stronger in rural than urban SMEs. Stevenson’s descriptive model of the behavior of managers and Miller’s entrepreneurial orientation concept were used to examine this relationship. Results show that lack of propensity for risk handling; irrational commitment to opportunities, propensity for resource minimisation and desire for control influence negatively affect the quality of e-commerce security.
THE EXPERT OPINION: AN INTERVIEW WITH STEVE PHILLIPS, CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, AVNET, INC.
Avnet is one of world’s largest distributors of electronic components, enterprise computer products and technology services/ solutions with more than 300 locations serving 70 countries. This interview discusses various aspects of
information technology in their organization, including its strategic values, the global IT architecture, and management and technical challenges.
BOOK REVIEW: INFORMATION SYSTEMS REENGINEERING AND INTEGRATION. BY JOSEPH FONG. SPRINGER-VERLAG, LONDON
Reviewed by Robert Vinaja, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Robert_Vinaja@TAMU-Commerce.edu
This book provides a remarkable explanation, from both a technical and managerial perspective, of the benefits and implementation issues of systems reengineering and integration. The purpose of this book is to show that reengineering can be a cost effective and feasible solution. The book provides numerous examples, illustrations, and case studies of procedures for reusing existing information systems. It explains very complex technical concepts in a clear and comprehensible way.
VOL. 11, NO. 3, July 2008
EDITORIAL PREFACE: TECHNOLOGY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Guest editor, Tom Stafford introduces the special issue. He observes that the nations that do not enjoy geographical and natural resource advantages are the ones that interest IT researchers, as it is the “have-nots” of the Middle East that find themselves in a position of earning their economic advantage by virtue of superior deployment of economic and organizational resources. Of these, IT is the lever on which many of the regions economies are lifting themselves. The special issue offers perspectives on Jordan, Tunisia, Iran, Israel, and Turkey.
ARTICLES:
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN TRANSITIONAL ECONOMIES: THE MOBILE INTERNET IN JORDAN
This paper examines mobile Internet adoption and diffusion in the transitional economy of Jordan. The study analyses results from a study of the adoption of mobile Internet in a sample of Jordanian airline customers. Seven factors were found to predict adoption of mobile Internet. Of particular interest was the finding that the variable ‘image’ had an influence in the opposite direction to other studies, which may point to specific cultural factors unique to Jordan. The results provide a sound basis for strategic planning and IS development in Jordan with regard to consumer needs and emerging technologies in a transitional economy.
IMPACT OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT AND ERP ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE AND COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE: CASE OF TUNISIAN COMPANIES
Nabil Mzoughi, University of Sousse, Tunisia, teachershello@yahoo.fr
Nedra Bahri, University of Sousse, Tunisia, bahri.nedra@planet.tn
Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Enterprise Resource Planning systems (ERP) are effective ways to achieve competitive advantage and improve organizational performance. This research investigates SCM and ERP systems dimensions and tests their relationships with competitive advantage and organizational performance. A survey is conducted on 216 Tunisian managers. Data are analyzed using principal components analysis and relationships are tested using linear regression. Results show the importance of SCM and ERP systems adoption. It reveals their positive impact on organizational performance and competitive advantage.
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND E-LEARNING PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
Technological advances offer new paradigms for university training. In particular, multimedia tools have
strengthened the distance learning and e-learning approaches. E-Learning is a subset of two large worlds,
specifically, “information technology” and “education and training.” Converting a traditional course to e-learning may represent a complex endeavour, and requires accurate planning, monitoring, and control to make the conversion effective and economical. In this paper, an e-learning model and guidelines for developing countries are presented. Then, the case study of the first e-University (or VirtualUniversity) established in Iran is reported.
THE INTERNET IN ISRAEL: 1999-2007 WITH INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS
This article tracks the development of the Internet in Israel over the period 1999-20007. Insofar as possible, those developments are viewed from an international perspective by comparing the data for Israel with those for a nine other countries, some in which the Internet is more highly developed, and some in which it is less so. Elements addressed include: infrastructure – comprising number of Internet hosts, international bandwidth and broadband usage; pervasiveness of the Internet as evidenced by number of Internet users, Internet development indices and the extent of broadband use; finally, the role of the ITC industry is considered.
THE EXPERT OPINION: AM INTERVIEW WITH ALTUĞ ACAR, TURKCELL MOBILE PHONE COMPANY
Altuğ Acar is the Division Head of New Business Development at Turkcell, the leading mobile operator in Turkey. The interview discusses a number of issues including: mobile telecommunication industry and market in Turkey, company’s European operations, mobile phone usage and diffusion in the future, and the role of mobile Internet.
VOL. 11, NO. 4, October 2008
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE OF JGITM (VOL. 11, NO. 4, October 2008).
SPECIAL ISSUE “INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN TRANSITION ECONOMIES”
GUEST EDITORS: NARCYZ ROZTOCKI AND H. ROLAND WEISTROFFER
EDITORIAL PREFACE: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN TRANSITION ECONOMIES
Narcyz Roztocki, State University of New York at New Paltz, roztockn@newpaltz.edu
H. Roland Weistroffer, Virginia Commonwealth University, hrweistr@vcu.edu
Guest editors introduce the special issue. The break-up of the Soviet Union resulted in many formerly centrally planned and highly controlled economies to experience radical reforms that fully changed the business landscape. Many businesses and organizations in transition economies not only experienced major restructuring, but also acquired increased access to modern information technology (IT). Though much of the development in transition economies is supported by IT, there is not much published research dealing with the role of IT. The objective of this special issue is to stimulate research in this important area.
ARTICLES:
TRANSITION TO MARKET ECONOMY THROUGH INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING: A CASE OF SAVA COMPANY
Dubravka Cecez-Kecmanovic, University of New South Wales, dubravka@unsw.edu.au
Marius Janson, University of Missouri-St. Louis, janson@umsl.edu
The case of the Slovenian Company Sava is presented. The objective of the paper is twofold: a) to propose a theoretical interpretation of the role of IS in organizational learning in companies in transition economies by drawing from theories generated and tested in the context of developed western economies, and b) to demonstrate how such interpretation can expand our understanding of the relationship between IS and organizational learning beyond its traditional western context.
ICT IN A TRANSITION ECONOMY: THE CASE OF HUNGARY
This paper examines specifically the impact of economic transition on the production and use of ICT in Hungary. Firstly, it examines the implications of economic transition for Hungary’s ICT producing industry. Second, it explores patterns of ICT diffusion and use. While economic transition has led to increasing globalization and the consequent integration of Hungary into the European and the global economy, the impact of such transition for ICT production and use has been more problematic. A call is made for a renewed role for policies to integrate ICT and economic development strategies with a view to creating an information society for all citizens.
STRATEGIES FOR TELECOMS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY IN THE PRODUCTION OF REVENUES: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION IN THE CONTEXT OF TRANSITION ECONOMIES
Sergey Samoilenko, VirginiaUnionUniversity, svsergey@vcu.org
Despite sharing a common label, Transition Economies (TE) do not constitute a homogenous group. Rathe they differ in many ways, including the level of economic development. These differences preclude TEs from adapting a uniform strategy towards increasing the level of relative efficiency of production of revenues from investments in Telecoms. Two research questions are examined. The first involves the identification of strategies for increasing the level of the relative efficiency of the production of revenue from Telecoms. The second involves the identification of appropriate implementation routes of the identified strategy. The authors draw theoretical support from the framework of Neoclassical Growth Accounting and employ a three-step methodology.
THE EXPERT OPINION: AN INTERVIEW WITHWOJCIECH WIERZBA, PRESIDENT, DIGITLAND, KRAKOW, POLAND
Wojciech Wierzba is co-owner and president of Digitland, a company based in Krakow, Poland, providing
enterprise systems, integration solutions, consulting, and implementation services. The interview discusses the company’s IT challenges including those due to operating in Poland. Industry and competitive trends are also explored.
BOOK REVIEW: THE EMERGING MARKETS CENTURY: HOW A NEW BREED OF WORLD-CLASS COMPANIES IS OVERTAKING THE WORLD, BY ANTOINE VAN AGTMAEL
Reviewed by Myung Ko
This is an excellent book to understand how companies in the Third World, such as Brazil, China, India, and Mexico have become the top emerging world class companies and these emerging market companies will continue to grow and there will be a shift in the global economy from the developed world to emerging markets in near future. It picks up where Friedman’s The World is Flat left off. Antoine van Agtmael provides important insight into how the “West” can learn from these companies, based on his in-depth knowledge, thorough research, and work experience in emerging markets.
|
|
