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Qualitative Research in Information Systems

Although the literature on university–industry links has begun to uncover the reasons for, and types of, collaboration between universities and businesses, it offers relatively little explanation of ways to reduce the barriers in these collaborations. This paper seeks to unpack the nature of the obstacles to collaborations between universities and industry, exploring influence of different mechanisms in lowering barriers related to the orientation of universities and to the transactions involved in working with university partners. Drawing on a large-scale survey and public records, this paper explores the effects of collaboration experience, breadth of interaction, and inter-organizational trust on lowering different types of barriers. The analysis shows that prior experience of collaborative research lowers orientation-related barriers and that greater levels of trust reduce both types of barriers studied. It also indicates that breadth of interaction diminishes the orientation-related, but increases transaction-related barriers. The paper explores the implications of these findings for policies aimed at facilitating university–industry collaboration.

Investigating the factors that diminish the barriers to university-industry collaboration

Encyclopedia of Knowledge Management

Entrepreneurial intention is a rapidly evolving field of research. A growing number of studies use entrepreneurial intention as a powerful theoretical framework. However, a substantial part of this research lacks systematization and categorization, and there seems to be a tendency to start anew with every study. Therefore, there is a need to take stock of current knowledge in this field. In this sense, this paper carries out a review of the literature on entrepreneurial intentions. A total of 409 papers addressing entrepreneurial intention, published between 2004 and 2013 (inclusive), have been analyzed. The purpose and contribution of this paper is to offer a clearer picture of the sub-fields in entrepreneurial intention research, by concentrating on two aspects. Firstly, it reviews recent research by means of a citation analysis to categorize the main areas of specialization currently attracting the attention of the academic community. Secondly, a thematic analysis is carried out to identify the specific themes being researched within each category. Despite the large number of publications and their diversity, the present study identifies five main research areas, plus an additional sixth category for a number of new research papers that cannot be easily classified into the five areas. Within those categories, up to twenty-five different themes are recognized. A number of research gaps are singled out within each of these areas of specialization, in order to induce new ways and perspectives in the entrepreneurial intention field of research that may be fruitful in filling these gaps.

A systematic literature review on entrepreneurial intentions: citation, thematic analyses, and research agenda

From time to time books emerge which become part of APL's folklore; the obvious example being \"APL-An Interactive Approach\" by Gilman and Roses. Some are more recent and more tangentical in their relevance; exam-pies are Myers \"Refiable Software Through Composite Design\" and Tufte's \"Visualization of Quantitative Data\". I believe that this most recent book of Mr. Gilb's may be destined to become part of this select group. A long-standing belief in the APL world is, that we can deliver \"productivity\"-recent explorations of topics like Function Point Analysis are (belatedly) showing good quality evidence to back this belief. At heart I feel that Mr. Gilb is saying that even though we're moving in the fight direction we're still a very long way from the goal we ought to be shooting for-but that we can achieve the ultimate objective if we take a wider view of the world. Point one-the term 'software engineering' is being hijacked and is in imminent danger of becoming the vogue term for a much smaller range of topics than it purports to cover. Point two-APL applications have long tended to solve broader and more strategic problems than the more established languages. For all of his 442 pages, Mr. Gilb's messages axe brief, relevant and, I believe, achievable. They also embody common sense-that rarest of commodities-it is hard to believe that so many people can have been neglecting the principles for so long. I'd like to summarise his message in three ways. [1] Measure what you're being asked to do in terms meaningful to the business, user or application. And measure what you achieve. [2] Deliver your solution in many incremental stages-at all times delivering the highest value at least cost in the shortest time (remember, you just quantified all of this). [3] Early detection and solution of problems costs orders of magnitude less to fix than late detection and remedy. Think about it-its not novel is it? And doesn't the seemed message have a familiar ring7 What Mr. Glib is attempting to do is to bring rigour into the process. I think that if we were to adopt these methods in a similarly serious-minded vein we might easily discover a lot about ourselves and just possibly find a new way of getting our message into wider environments. I offer a challenge to the APL COmmunity in general and the APL90 organisers in particular. Lets find at least …

Principles of software engineering management

Knowledge assets are of far greater value than any tangible asset and provide organisations with the basis for creating a sustainable competitive advantage. The nature of knowledge and knowledge management have given rise to a range of different definitions of knowledge management systems that enable organisations to convert their knowledge into actionable information that provides them with a competitive edge and innovative capability. Such an implementation process is a comprehensive course of action that requires focus and commitment through-out the organisation in order to achieve results, yet no universally accepted framework or methodology for such a process exists.This paper analyses and describes enhancements to a 12-step process derived by Calabrese and Orlando [6] to implement a knowledge management system aimed at providing a more comprehensive framework and methodology for knowledge management system implementation. These enhancements are based on findings relating to a knowledge management proof of concept implementation conducted at one of the major mobile telecommunication operators in South Africa.

A framework and methodology for knowledge management system implementation

Information systems (IS) outsourcing is a serious commitment -- a formal relationship underpinned by a contractual agreement, with long-term consequences among two or more organisations. Many organisations end up frustrated as they learn that their attempts at IS outsourcing have failed. However, some failures could be avoided with knowledge of common pitfalls and critical success factors of such IS outsourcing contracts. This paper investigates essential aspects of IS outsourcing management during the software development life cycle. The survey results are reported in conjunction with findings in the literature of similar studies in other markets, and unique contributors to IS outsourcing in this particular context in the South African corporate market, are identified.

Critical success factors for information systems outsourcing management: a software development lifecycle view

The characteristics of digital entrepreneurship and digital transformation and how they are related, is complex and important to understand in this digital age. Such an understanding of digital entrepreneurship is perceived as a key pillar for economic growth, job creation and innovation. However, a number of issues regarding digital entrepreneurship and digital transformation are prevalent, inhibiting digital entrepreneurs to optimise the advantages that digital entrepreneurship contributes towards business value. Therefore, the aim of this research paper is to investigate digital entrepreneurship and digital transformation, their characteristics and inter-relationships. Data extracted and analysed through a structured analysis process, recognises and discusses the characteristics of digital entrepreneurship and digital transformation. The characteristics are reported by employing the Dynamic Capabilities Theory as the structure. By understanding the characteristics of digital entrepreneurship and digital transformation, individuals and organisations may either create new business ventures or transform existing businesses through the development of novel digital technologies or the innovative application of such technologies.

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The characteristics of digital entrepreneurship and digital transformation : a systematic literature review

Information Systems (IS) as a discipline is still young and is continuously involved in building its own research knowledge base. Design Science Research (DSR) in IS is a research strategy for design that has emerged in the last 16 years. Junior IS researchers are often lost when they start with a project in DSR. We identified a need for a set of guidelines with supporting reference literature that can assist such novice adopters of DSR. We identified major themes relevant to DSR and proposed a set of six guidelines for the novice researcher supported with references summaries of seminal works from the IS DSR literature. We believe that someone new to the field can use these guidelines to prepare him/herself to embark on a DSR study.

Guidelines for Conducting Design Science Research in Information Systems

The so-called fourth industrial revolution or Industry 4.0 (I4.0), with its potentially disruptive technologies, is changing the way we socialise, live and work and provides opportunities for organisations to innovate and disrupt. Although organisations are acknowledging the emergence of I4.0 and realise the importance of being ready for its impact, better understanding is required of the potential of I4.0 and its holistic impact on organisations. In this paper, we conducted a systematic literature review to identify all I4.0-related organisational aspects, such as an I4.0-relevant strategy, digital business model innovation, technology investment optimisation, workforce management complexity, digital eco-systems, technology-centric convergence, virtual model and physical environment linkage, value chain digitalisation and product portfolio innovation. Furthermore, we presented these I4.0 organisational aspects identified in a conceptual model based on the components of organisational strategic alignment. By using such a conceptual model, organisations can ensure that both optimisation and new opportunities enabled by I4.0 are leveraged and that a relevant, strategically aligned approach to I4.0 may be considered.

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Hanlie Smuts

Papers

A framework and methodology for knowledge management system implementation

Critical success factors for information systems outsourcing management: a software development lifecycle view

The characteristics of digital entrepreneurship and digital transformation : a systematic literature review

Guidelines for Conducting Design Science Research in Information Systems

A Strategic Organisational Perspective of Industry 4.0: A Conceptual Model