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Spring 2010 (Vol 50, Issue 3) Table of Contents DEVELOPING METRICS FOR WEB SITES Many different metrics and models have been developed to evaluate a Web site’s attributes as perceived by Internet users. In this paper we focus on users’ perceptions of the content and design of Web sites. A Delphi study as well as an exploratory factor analysis are used to generate and merge attributes of Web sites. Different user groups are identified and clustered according to their preferences. Keywords: Web Site Analysis, Web Site Design, Web Metrics, Method Triangulation AN ECOLOGICAL MODEL FOR ORGANIzATIONAL KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT Research in Knowledge Management (KM) has gained distinguished attention in recent years, and different views of methods have been proposed in existing literature. An initial study was the process view that focused on the creation, organization, sharing, and application of explicit and tacit knowledge. Another recent perspective is the resource-based view that emphasizes how knowledge resources can develop organizational capabilities and enhance organizational performance. This paper builds on these past studies and presents an alternative view that examines the dynamic relationships between knowledge and organizational performance. This examination is based upon an ecological perspective that includes the distribution, interaction, competition, and evolution (DICE) among different biological species. From this ecological perspective, a model that consists of knowledge distribution, knowledge interaction, knowledge competition and knowledge evolution is proposed. These four elements interact with each other and evolve to maintain healthy knowledge ecology in an organization. A case study was conducted to support this innovative model. The major implication of the findings is that Maintaining healthy knowledge ecology is important for the success of knowledge management in an organization. Keywords: Knowledge Management, Knowledge Ecology, The DICE Model CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS FOR BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE SYSTEMS The implementation of a business intelligence (BI) system is a complex undertaking requiring considerable resources. Yet there is a limited authoritative set of critical success factors (CSFs) for management reference because the BI market has been driven mainly by the IT industry and vendors. This research seeks to bridge the gap that exists between academia and practitioners by investigating the CSFs influencing BI systems success. The study followed a two-stage qualitative approach. Firstly, the authors utilised the Delphi method to conduct three rounds of studies. The study develops a CSFs framework crucial for BI systems implementation. Next, the framework and the associated CSFs are delineated through a series of case studies. The empirical findings substantiate the construct and applicability of the framework. More significantly, the research further reveals that those organisations which address the CSFs from a business orientation approach will be more likely to achieve better results. Keywords: Business Intelligence System, Critical Success Factors, Delphi Method, Case Study READY FOR BATTLE? A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF MILITARY SIMULATIONS SYSTEMS The purpose of this research is to determine if there is task-technology fit for the use of simulation in training. In the context of military training, the research investigated whether military officers experience a fit between the simulations with which they were trained and their tasks (e.g., strategy or operational procedures), as reflected by their perception of whether their performance improved, and whether the simulation supported their individual activities. The research method followed the qualitative research tradition of transcendental phenomenology to query the experience of those who were trained with simulation. This research utilized interview questions that elicit respondents’ experience in the broad areas of task-technology fit, and through phenomenological analysis, identified the salient variables within each of these constructs. The analysis resulted in the identification of themes of meaning which were compared with the existing task-technology fit variables. The research identified the emergence of new task-technology fit variables. Keywords: Task-Technology Fit, Qualitative Research, Military Simulation COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN FINANCIAL CRIME INVESTIGATIONS Information technology to support knowledge work of police officers is improving. For example, new information systems applying data mining techniques that support police investigations are evolving. Police investigation is an information-rich and knowledge-intensive practice. The purpose of this article is to explore information and communication technology in the context of computer information systems to support financial crime investigations. White-collar crime is not as visible as conventional crime and detection is difficult. For instance, in a homicide case, there is generally a body and forensic evidence. In the case of financial crime, accounting and computer forensics are currently the investigators best tools in detection and implemented in most white-collar investigations in recent years. Keywords: Data Mining, Business Intelligence, Stages Of Growth, Knowledge Management Systems EXPLORING THE IMPACTS OF INTERDEPENDENT RELATIONSHIPS ON IOS USE: THE ROLESOF GOVERNANCE MECHANISMS Existing studies have empirically tested the impacts of interdependence on the use of inter-organizational systems (i.e., IOS) by many firms to deal with inter-firm coordination requirements. It is also proposed that proper governance mechanisms are necessary for firms to really benefit from their inter-firm coordination. However, the roles of governance mechanisms in inter-firm relationships have not been fully integrated into the studies about the impacts of interdependence on IOS use for better inter-firm coordination. To fill this gap, this study developed a conceptual model and using survey data, it empirically tested the roles of governance mechanisms in mediating the impacts of interdependence on IOS use. The model test shows that various governance mechanisms indeed play important roles. Limitations of this study and future research are also discussed at the end. Keywords: Inter-organizational Information Systems Use, Interdependent Relationship, Survey Study, Governance, Empirical Test CRITICAL MASS, DIFFUSION CHANNELS, AND DIGITAL DIVIDE Literature has examined the adoption and diffusion of household computers and the Internet, or the first-order “digital divide.” However, the second-order “digital divide”, i.e., the specific usage of these tools, has received much less attention. This paper examines the impact of critical mass and diffusion channels on the adoption of household computer applications. It proposes that critical mass is effective on the adoption of both general and specialized computer applications, and diffusions from channels of workplace and schools are significant. However, critical mass has stronger influence on general applications in early stage while exerts stronger impact on specialized applications in late stage of the diffusion process. In contrast, diffusions from workplace and schools are generally stronger in late stage rather than in early stage. Empirical results from a longitudinal study using Current Population Survey data confirm the propositions. Overall, the study provides important theoretical, managerial, and policy implications. Keywords: Digital Divide, Computer Applications, Technology Adoption, Critical Mass, Diffusion Channels SUBCULTURE, CRITICAL MASS, AND TECHNOLOGY USE This study investigated the use of an information communication technology (ICT) system by organizational members in a higher education institution. Besides providing empirical support to critical mass theory in predicting technology use in organizations, the findings of this study revealed a cultural foundation of the theory. More specifically, this study found that technology use by supervisors and task interdependence contribute to technology use, and that organizational members from different subcultures perceive technology use by supervisors and task interdependence differently. Keywords: Critical Mass, Task Interdependence, Social Influence, Subcultures, Technology Use iMPROVING OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE Maintenance is inevitable for almost any software. Software maintenance is required to fix bugs, to add new features, to improve performance, and/or to adapt to a changed environment. In this article, we examine change in cognitive complexity and its impacts on maintenance in the context of open source software (OSS). Relationships of the change in cognitive complexity with the change in the number of reported bugs, time taken to fix the bugs, and contributions from new developers are examined and are all found to be statistically significant. In addition, several control variables, such as software size, age, development status, and programmer skills are included in the analyses. The results have strong implications for OSS project administrators; they must continually measure software complexity and be actively involved in managing it in order to have successful and sustainable OSS products. Keywords: OSS, Complexity, Software Maintenance WILL NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES IMPACT FUTURE IT OUTSOURCING? Though Information Systems (IS) outsourcing is growing at a rapid pace, there are several risk factors and potential negative outcomes. The objectives of this study are i) to conceptualize the relationships among the IS outsourcing risk factors, the negative outcomes of these risk factors, and their impact on future re-outsourcing decisions, and ii) to test these relationships empirically using survey data and structural equation modeling. Based on data from 148 firms, we have found that future re-outsourcing decisions are strongly influenced by the negative outcomes of loss of control and the degradation of IS services. While all the risk factors influence future re-outsourcing decisions, either directly or indirectly, vendor competence problems (related to infrastructure) and vendor coordination problems have a direct effect on re-outsourcing decisions. Such variables as vendor attitude problems, vendor competence problems (related to staff quality), and in-house competence problems have an indirect effect on re-outsourcing decisions. Keywords: Information Systems, Outsourcing Risk, Negative Outcomes, Re-Outsourcing Decisions, Service Quality, Agency Theory, Transaction Cost Economics TECHNOLOGY-ENABLED RETAIL SERVICES AND ONLINE SALES PERFORMANCE Drawing on the past literature on four retail service areas: content management, customer management, multi-channel management, and visitor traffic management, this research offers an empirical analysis of the relationships between these four service areas and the online sales performance of Web retailers. Using data from an independent source on the profiles as well as operational and sales performances of the top-ranked Web retailers, we map the retailers’ online features into a unified conceptual framework that incorporates the above four broad areas, and empirically study their direct implications on online sales performance. The results show that the retailers’ efforts in content, customer, and multi-channel management features have a significant positive impact on their online sales. However, while retailers expend considerable efforts on attracting visitors to their retail Web sites, our result is inconclusive regarding whether or not the visitor traffic management features have an impact on retailers’ sales performance. Keywords: Web Retailing, E-Services, IT-Enabled Services, E-Commerce Services, Web Functionalities, E-Tailing Best Practices POWER OF BRANDING ON INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS Evidence shows that the internet has become a more powerful medium than the traditional mass media with the potential of developing even further. Interestingly, research regarding the management of brand power by internet service providers (ISP) is scarce at best. In order to fill this gap, this study investigates the relationships among brand image, brand awareness, brand trust, brand preference, and customer perceived value among the main ISPs in northern Taiwan. Findings reveal that the essence of branding (i.e., brand awareness and brand trust) is the forerunner of brand choice for ISP services. Moreover, the relative impact of brand awareness and brand trust on brand preference is also identified. Further, customer perceived value of internet service with respect to different brands varies considerably. Managerial implications and suggestions for future research are discussed in this paper. Keywords: Internet Service Provider, Brand Image, Brand Awareness, Brand Trust, Brand Preference, Customer Perceived Value BEAUTIFUL BEYOND USEFUL? THE ROLE OF WEB AESTHETICS Past research has long set web usability as the ultimate goal in the evaluation of web design attributes. This study examines the roles of web aesthetics and web usability in online shoppers’ central and peripheral information processing. The results indicate that: (1) web usability has a positive effect on the intention to purchase and a negative effect on the activation of search; (2) web aesthetics has positive effects both on the intention to purchase and on the activation of search, and its effect on the activation of search is much stronger than its effect on the intention to purchase; and (3) web usability has a stronger effect on the intention to purchase than web aesthetics does. The findings reinforce the determinant role of web usability in online shoppers’ central information processing, and reveal that, although its role in central information processing is supportive, web aesthetics plays a substantial role in activating online shoppers’ peripheral information processing. Managerial implications are provided for web planners and web designers. Keywords: Web Aesthetics, Web Usability, Web Design, Information Processing, Online Shopping USER PERCEPTION DIFFERENCES IN ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING IMPLEMENTATIONS Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems have been developed to help coordinate the information flow that parallels the physical flow of goods, from raw materials to finished goods. The purpose of this study is to examine user perception differences in ERP phases — preparation and training, transition, performance and usefulness, and maintenance phases — for two ERP implementations. Our study uses both qualitative and quantitative research to triangulate our results and provide better insights and findings. Both quantitative and qualitative analysis points to the importance of all the four phases in ERP implementation. However, the study’s results point only to differences in the transition and maintenance phases. The preparation and training, and performance and usefulness phases do not have significant difference between the two implementations. Keywords: Enterprise Resource Planning, IT Adoption, IT Implementation, User Perceptions FACTOR STRATEGY MODEL: PROOFS OF PROTOTYPE CONCEPT FOR SOFTWARE QUALITY EVALUATION The objective of this study is to provide software developers some measures to evaluate software quality of a Java program. Studies on software quality requirements, software quality models (as a quantifying measurement technique) and various good design rules are required for. This study aims to solve the problem for software developers or students having difficulty to identify the bad software design in their software product. Thus, by providing an algorithm analyzer to analyze the quality of design of the software product, developers or students can identify possible bad software design in their application. Keywords: Factor Strategy Model, Software Quality, Java, Software Evaluation, Algorithm Analyzer WHY EMPLOYEES DO NON-WORK-RELATED COMPUTING IN THE WORKPLACE The principal objective of this study was to determine why employees conduct NWRC (non-work-related computing) activities, and further to suggest some methods for curbing NWRC. The proposed research model developed herein was tested via a survey of 167 employees in China and Singapore. The results of this study reveal, first, that NWRC intention is significantly predictive of NWRC behavior, NWRC attitudes and subjective norms are significant predictors of behavioral intentions, and that the perceived benefits of NWRC are related positively to NWRC attitudes. Secondly, in comparison with each research model with or without habitual behavior under different levels of control, the results of this study demonstrated that habits occupy a critical position between NWRC intentions and behavior. Finally, employees are more likely to engage in NWRC even when subjected to strict control measures, owing to their habitual behavior. Some measures to reduce NWRC behavior are also proposed based on the findings of this study. Keywords: NWRC (Non-Work-Related Computing) Behavior, Cost-Benefit Paradigm, Habit, Control Mechanism
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