Arjan J. Knol

Bio: Arjan J. Knol is an academic researcher from Delft University of Technology. The author has contributed to research in topics: Government & Stakeholder. The author has an hindex of 5, co-authored 11 publications receiving 1495 citations. Previous affiliations of Arjan J. Knol include University of Groningen.

Decision Enhancement for Sourcing with Shared Service Centres in the Dutch Government

Abstract: Many shared service centres (SSCs) are being established in organisations, primarily in order to save costs. However, establishing SSCs is a challenging task for organisations, including the Dutch government. This research aims to enhance SSC establishment with a decision enhancement studio for sourcing a sharing in the Dutch government. The studio consists of a set of services that are delivered in (virtual) group sessions with a suite and a recipe with scripts. The studio enables participants to conduct SSC scenario analyses based on three perspectives: best a worst practices, content and stakeholder considerations. The assumption is that providing participants insight into these three perspectives with the studio enables them to choose feasible SSC scenarios. The studio is evaluated with SSC professionals in a focus group session and semi-structured interviews. Results suggest that the studio is useful and will be used in providing support to effective SSC establishments in organisations.

Sourcing with shared service centres: challenges in the dutch government

Abstract: Many shared service centres are being established in the Dutch government as part of an egovernment program, primarily in order to save costs. However, as literature shows, developing shared service centres proves to be a complex task. In this exploratory research, an initial taxonomy is created presenting various organisational, managerial and technological challenges that organisations can encounter when developing shared service centres. Initial data from three case studies of shared service centres in the Dutch government is presented. Results enlist a number of diverse challenges that organisations need to deal with when trying to achieve cost-efficient operations with shared service centres.

The Cultivation of Information Infrastructures for International Trade: Stakeholder Challenges and Engagement Reasons

Abstract: The development of information infrastructures for international trade to improve supply chain visibility and security has gained momentum due to technological advances. An information infrastructure is a shared, open, and evolving assemblage of interlinked information systems providing distinct information technology capabilities. Examples of information infrastructures are the internet, electronic market places and music platforms. Information infrastructures can be highly beneficial as shown by the aforementioned examples, yet often fail to deliver expected benefits. This research focuses on the cultivation of information infrastructures which refers to a softer, less disruptive design approach compared to traditional design approaches in which systems are defined through specified functional requirements within strict boundaries. Drawing on different stakeholder views within a European Union project for international trade, this research provides a taxonomy of twelve cultivation challenges and four engagement reasons one can expect in the design phase of information infrastructures. Organizational theory is used to discuss underlying explanations. The paper concludes that the cultivation of an information infrastructure for international trade could be highly rewarding, yet is a challenging and long-lasting endeavor which requires multi-disciplinary expertise. Practitioners can use the insights provided by this research to increase their understanding of information infrastructure cultivation to ultimately increase adoption rates.

Organizations: Rational, Natural and Open Systems

Abstract: This article presents a review of the book “Organizations: Rational, Natural and Open Systems,” by W.R. Scott.

Bridging the gap: a genre analysis of Weblogs

Abstract: Weblogs (blogs) - frequently modified Web pages in which dated entries are listed in reverse chronological sequence - are the latest genre of Internet communication to attain widespread popularity, yet their characteristics have not been systematically described. This paper presents the results of a content analysis of 203 randomly-selected Weblogs, comparing the empirically observable features of the corpus with popular claims about the nature of Weblogs, and finding them to differ in a number of respects. Notably, blog authors, journalists and scholars alike exaggerate the extent to which blogs are interlinked, interactive, and oriented towards external events, and underestimate the importance of blogs as individualistic, intimate forms of self-expression. Based on the profile generated by the empirical analysis, we consider the likely antecedents of the blog genre, situate it with respect to the dominant forms of digital communication on the Internet today, and advance predictions about its long-term impacts.

Characterizing e-participation in policy-making

Abstract: This paper argues the urgent need to better understand the e-democracy pilots that have taken place so far and that are currently being developed. It addresses the issues of what should be characterized in e-democracy pilots so as to better identify types of citizen participation exercises and the appropriate technology to support them, as such it offers an analytical framework for electronic participation. Over the last decade there has been a gradual awareness of the need to consider the innovative application of ICTs for participation that enables a wider audience to contribute to democratic debate and where contributions themselves are broader and deeper. This awareness has resulted in a number of isolated e-democracy pilots and research studies. It is important to consolidate this work and characterizes the level of participation, the technology used, the stage in the policy-making process and various issues and constraints, including the potential benefits.

Online Social Network Site Addiction: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract: Research into online social network site (SNS) addiction (i.e., excessive and compulsive online social networking) has expanded over the last years. This paper aims to give a review of this research. Although not formally recognized as a diagnosis, SNS addiction shares many similarities with those of other addictions, including tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, salience, relapse, and mood modification. Several screening instruments to identify SNS addicts have been developed—approaching the phenomenon in various ways, disclosing a conceptual and empirical obscurity in this field. Theoretical and empirical models suggest that SNS addiction is molded by several factors; including dispositional, sociocultural, and behavioral reinforcement. Also, empirical findings generally unveil that SNS addiction is related to impaired health and well-being. There has been little, if any, empirical testing of prevention or treatment for this behavioral addiction, although certain self-help strategies, therapies, and interventions have been proposed.