Showing papers by "Georgia State University published in 1999"

Information technology adoption across time: a cross-sectional comparison of pre-adoption and post-adoption beliefs

Abstract: The process of information technology adoption and use is critical to deriving the benefits of information technology. Yet from a conceptual standpoint, few empirical studies have made a distinction between individuals' pre-adoption and post-adoption (continued use) beliefs and attitudes. This distinction is crucial in understanding and managing this process over time. The current study combines innovation diffusion and attitude theories in a theoretical framework to examine differences in pre-adoption and post-adoption beliefs and attitudes. The examination of Windows technology in a single organization indicates that users and potential adopters of information technology differ on their determinants of behavioral intention, attitude, and subjective norm. Potential adopter intention to adopt is solely determined by normative pressures, whereas user intention is solely determined by attitude. In addition, potential adopters base their attitude on a richer set of innovation characteristics than users. Whereas pre-adoption attitude is based on perceptions of usefulness, ease-of-use, result demonstrability, visibility, and trialability, post-adoption attitude is only based on instrumentality beliefs of usefulness and perceptions of image enhancements.

Investigating information systems with action research

Abstract: Action research is an established research method in use in the social and medical sciences since the mid-twentieth century, and has increased in importance for information systems toward the end of the 1990s. Its particular philosophic context is couched in strongly post-positivist assumptions such as idiographic and interpretive research ideals. Action research has developed a history within information systems that can be explicitly linked to early work by Lewin and the Tavistock Institute. Action research varies in form, and responds to particular problem domains. The most typical form is a participatory method based on a five-step model, which is exemplified by published IS research.

Accounting for the Contradictory Organizational Consequences of Information Technology: Theoretical Directions and Methodological Implications

Abstract: Although much contemporary thought considers advanced information technologies as either determinants or enablers of radical organizational change, empirical studies have revealed inconsistent findings to support the deterministic logic implicit in such arguments. This paper reviews the contradictory empirical findings both across studies and within studies, and proposes the use of theories employing a logic of opposition to study the organizational consequences of information technology. In contrast to a logic of determination, a logic of opposition explains organizational change by identifying forces both promoting change and impeding change. Four specific theories are considered: organizational politics, organizational culture, institutional theory, and organizational learning. Each theory is briefly described to illustrate its usefulness to the problem of explaining information technology's role in organizational change. Four methodological implications of using these theories are also discussed: empirical identification of opposing forces, statement of opposing hypotheses, process research, and employing multiple interpretations.

Adherence to Combination Antiretroviral Therapies in HIV Patients of Low Health Literacy

Abstract: OBJECTIVE To test the significance of health literacy relative to other predictors of adherence to treatment for HIV and AIDS.

Justice constructs, negative affectivity, and employee deviance: a proposed model and empirical test

Abstract: This study tests a model that uses organizational justice variables and the personality trait of negative affectivity to explain two forms of deviant employee behavior Prior research suggests that deviance can be directed interpersonally or against organizations We propose a model that links unfavorable perceptions of distributive, procedural, and interactional justice, as well as the dispositional trait of negative affectivity, to both types of deviant acts To test the model, a survey was distributed to employees from a government agency and an international manufacturer of paper products Responses to the survey were analysed using structural equation modeling to evaluate the fit of the theoretical model to the data Results showed that the model fits the data well and that nearly all of the hypothesized relations among constructs were supported Implications of the results for the prediction and control of deviant behavior are discussed and future research directions are offered Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Corporate Entrepreneurship, Knowledge, and Competence Development

Abstract: The literature highlights the importance of corporate entrepreneurship (CE) for improving a company's market and financial performance. This paper extends the literature by focusing on the knowledge-creation processes within a firm's formal and informal CE activities. This multifaceted knowledge, which encompasses organizational, technical, and social dimensions, is developed by individuals or groups and diffused throughout the organization. Whether radical or incremental, this knowledge can generate new skills, which a company can then use to reconfigure the sources of its competitive advantage. This paper also discusses the role of intrapreneurs and CE champions, particularly in the creation and use of social capital, in the development of dynamic competencies.

Multi-Period Performance Persistence Analysis of Hedge Funds

Abstract: Since hedge funds specify significant lockup periods, we investigate persistence in the performance of hedge funds using a multi-period framework in which the likelihood of observing persistence by chance is lower than that in the traditional two-period framework. Under the null hypothesis of no manager skill (no persistence), the theoretical distribution of observing wins or losses follows a binomial distribution. We test this hypothesis using the traditional two-period framework and compare the findings with the results obtained using our multi-period framework. We examine whether persistence is sensitive to the length of return measurement intervals by using quarterly, half-yearly and yearly returns. We find maximum persistence at quarterly horizon indicating that persistence among hedge fund managers is short-term in nature. It decreases as one moves to yearly returns and this finding is not sensitive to whether returns are calculated on a pre- or post-fee basis suggesting that the intra-year persistence finding is not driven by the way performance fees are imputed. The level of persistence in the multi-period framework is considerably smaller than that in the two-period framework with virtually no evidence of persistence using yearly returns under the multi-period framework. Finally persistence, whenever present, seems to be unrelated to whether the fund took directional bets or not.

Growing systems in emergent organizations

Abstract: requirements Complete and unambiguous specifications New system projects as achievements Tools/Techniques for emergent ISD goals: Reliable back channels for ISD professionals, emergent IT organizations, prototyping, proper rewards system, and existing tools such as open systems, end-user development and object-oriented designs and implementation tools. third goal is an implied response to the revocation of third and fourth items in the old goal set. Always analysis. Under emergent assumptions, the analysis of IS applications must be continuous. Since the organization is emerging, the fundamental IS must continuously change and adapt. In order to implement this adaptation, requirements and specifications are constantly renegotiated. Analysis activities are no longer captured within the early stages of a system’s life cycle. Instead, these activities are an ongoing service of the organizational ISD group. It is important to realize that this ongoing service must not be cyclical (periods of analysis followed by periods of implementation), but is generally a constant ISD activity in parallel with systems operation and maintenance. The results of this ongoing analysis are continuously fed into the maintenance activities. Because of organizational emergence, the underlying ISD service continuously monitors and reappraises the IS support for every business process and organizational activity. Under this goal, analysis is not a component of an ISD project, but an ongoing ISD organizational maintenance activity. Dynamic requirements negotiations. Because the organization is emerging around the users, IS requirements can never be fully specified because users are always in conflict with them. Thus user satisfaction is improbable. Indeed, under this assumption, a setting where users are fully satisfied would be an alarming anomaly. Requirements are no longer determined as part of a project, but become a negotiated outcome of the changing characteristics of an emergent organization and the resources for enhancing or altering the existing IS. An emergent ISD goal is not user satisfaction, but a “healthy” degree of conflict between users and their IS. As requirements conflicts rise, increased negotiation and IS enhancement activities are prescribed. As requirements conflicts fall, ISD activities are decreased. The conflict, negotiation and enhancement are continuous service activities provided to support ongoing business processes. These activities are not necessarily associated with any ISD project. Incomplete and usefully ambiguous specifications. If abstract requirements are largely imaginary, and unambiguous specifications are ineffectual, analysts must come to terms with ambiguity. Because the requirements are in motion, specifications must be kept in a state in which these can be easily adapted for enhancing or modifying the existing system. The goal is a set of specifications wherein each specification is open-ended and easily modified. Complete and unambiguous specifications are only possible for organizations that are totally stable, and waste valuable resources in an emergent setting. System enhancement and modification activities begin to be undertaken even though the specifications are incomplete and ambiguous. These activities “succeed” because they are themselves never completed (the organization is likely to emerge from under the planned enhancements or modifications). Traditionally, the IS is a consequence of the specification. Under the emergent view, the specification is just as equally a consequence of the IS emergence. This parallel emergence leads to both an IS and an ISD process that are incomplete and usefully ambiguous. These last two characteristics represent an excellent foundation for further organizational emergence. Continuous redevelopment. Under emergent assumptions, this goal supplants the current ISD project mentality under which all systems terminate at their obsolescence point. The goal of ISD is to preserve all existing IS applications by continuously enhancing and modifying these to match organizational requirements. The goal of ISD is to prevent system obsolescence and thereby eliminate system termination (and the implied new ISD project). The U.S. railroad system provides a metaphor to illustrate how this ISD approach operates. Today’s railroad systems no longer resemble the railroads of a century ago. The engines, rolling stock, tracks, stations, and signaling have all been replaced with modern elements. There has not been a nationwide development project to replace the entire railroad system. Instead, the railroad system has emerged to match the needs of the nation and the limits of the technology. This emergence is a consequence of continuous enhancements: new tracks added in some areas and new rolling stock purchased when needed, for example. The net effect is an adaptive railroad system. Continuous redevelopment implies that information systems are continuously enhanced and modified such that they are never totally outdated and irreparable. COMMUNICATIONS OF THE ACM August 1999/Vol. 42, No. 8 121 SYSTEMS SHOULD BE UNDER CONSTANT DEVELOPMENT, CAN NEVER BE FULLY SPECIFIED AND ARE SUBJECT TO CONSTANT ADJUSTMENT AND ADAPTATION. There are two interesting implications of continuous redevelopment. The first implication arises from the viewpoint of life-cycle termination as an anomaly. When an IS becomes too expensive to maintain and must be replaced, there is an implied failure on the part of ISD management. ISD management failed to keep the IS maintained in a state that permitted its further redevelopment. In other words, the IS was allowed to decay beyond its economic rescue point. In an emergent setting, the decayed IS probably imposed a long period of rising stable systems drag that limited the organizational ability to emerge. Had the system been continuously redeveloped, the drag would have been reduced and the system life span extended indefinitely. In most traditional ISD organizations, the resources that might be used for continuous redevelopment are paradoxically occupied with system replacement projects. The second interesting implication regards legacy systems and the infamous Y2K problem. These two interconnected problems have risen in importance over the last decade. To a degree, both of these result from the preservation of the 1960s and 1970s ISD project mentality into the 1980s and 1990s. The new systems projects consumed the resources that might have otherwise been applied in gradually redeveloping, enhancing, and modifying these old systems. Under continuous redevelopment, these systems, like the national railroad system, could not be legacy systems. Over the 1980s and 1990s, these legacy systems should have evolved, but didn’t. Today’s ISD managers are now confronted with (and blamed for) the failures of their predecessors. Adaptability orientation. The essential impact of the emergent goal set on ISD relates to the adaptability of IS. Recognizing that IS must undergo continuous redevelopment, the ISD approach and the underlying IS architecture must be conducive to redevelopment. Ease of modification must be deeply embedded in every IS. This easy modification implies that every system includes explicit ISD mechanisms by which the system can adapt. An interesting implication of this goal is the merger of IS and ISD. Development of an IS is exactly the same activity as maintenance, and is equally an essential component of IS operation. The distinction between IS and ISD disappears because the emergence of IS is embodied by the goal set of emergent ISD—an emergent IS is ISD. Ways of Supporting the New ISD Goals The existing vehicles for supporting an effort to reach the emergent organization goals include easily maintainable specifications, open systems interconnection architectures, prototyping, and end-user development. Easily maintainable specifications, like object-oriented designs, make it easier and cheaper to respecify IT systems when change is needed. Open systems architectures enable IT components to be easily rearranged and incorporated with newly developed components. Prototypes, particularly operational prototypes, are typically built with tools that enable easy changes. End-user development uses productivity tools to create inexpensive applications that can be thought of as disposable systems. These existing tools have a role in supporting emergent organizations, but these alone do not go far enough. Several IT organizational capabilities can also help. Back channel communications for ISD professionals. Back channels, such as guaranteed privacy for email, chat rooms, and groupware, permit developers to establish versions of the organizational identity or reality that conflict with other versions. This conflict is important for autopoiesis and emergence. These channels should extend beyond the ISD group and into the users with whom they may interact in order to continuously redevelop systems. Emergent IT organizations. The IT organization itself must be highly emergent. One element that can promote this emergence is virtual teams that extend to include users. These teams lack the history that confines their adaptation, and eliminate the boundary between user and developer. Another important element is the elimination of the “project” as the primary means of organizing IT activities. An emergent IT organization replaces projects with “streams” of redevelopment activity that are continuous as long as the particular IT system requirement is present. A new project represents the failure of the IT organization to properly adapt the systems in its charge. Proper rewards system. The IT organization that supports emergent organizations must value system adaptation. Initially developing adaptable systems is important. However, most of the organization’s important development activities are merged with its maintenance activities. Maintenance needs to become innovative

An ontological analysis of the relationship construct in conceptual modeling

Abstract: Conceptual models or semantic data models were developed to capture the meaning of an application domain as perceived by someone. Moreover, concepts employed in semantic data models have recently been adopted in object-oriented approaches to systems analysis and design. To employ conceptual modeling constructs effectively, their meanings have to be defined rigorously. Often, however, rigorous definitions of these constructs are missing. This situation occurs especially in the case of the relationship construct. Empirical evidence shows that use of relationships is often problematical as a way of communicating the meaning of an application domain. For example, users of conceptual modeling methodologies are frequently confused about whether to show an association between things via a relationship, an entity, or an attribute. Because conceptual models are intended to capture knowledge about a real-world domain, we take the view that the meaning of modeling constructs should be sought in models of reality. Accordingly, we use ontology, which is the branch of philosophy dealing with models of reality, to analyze the meaning of common conceptual modeling constructs. Our analysis provides a precise definition of several conceptual modeling constructs. Based on our analysis, we derive rules for the use of relationships in entity-relationship conceptual modeling. Moreover, we show how the rules resolve ambiguities that exist in current practice and how they can enrich the capacity of an entity-relationship conceptual model to capture knowledge about an application domain.

Predicting Evacuation in Two Major Disasters: Risk Perception, Social Influence, and Access to Resources

Abstract: The complex and somewhat bewildering phenomenon of why people sometimes decide not to evacuate from a dangerous situation is influenced by a combination of individual characteristics and 3 basic social psychological processes: (a) risk perception, (b) social influence, and (c) access to resources. This study used a combined sample of 777 adults interviewed after Hurricanes Hugo and Andrew. Although numerous variables significantly predicted evacuation, much variance in this behavior still remained unexplained. Different population subgroups gave different reasons for not evacuating (e.g., severeness of storm, territoriality). A multifaceted and tailored approach to both individuals and communities is needed; a simple warning is often not enough.

The Knowledge Management Toolkit: Practical Techniques for Building a Knowledge Management System

Abstract: The only "how-to" guide for building an enterprise knowledge management system!Until now, implementing Knowledge Management (KM) has been like nailing jelly to the wall-but not anymore! The Knowledge Management Toolkit delivers hands-on techniques and tools for making KM happen at your company. You'll learn exactly how to use KM to make sure that every key decision is fully informed as you build on your existing intranet, data warehouse, and project management investments. Top researcher Amrit Tiwana walks you through the development of an enterprise KM system from start to finish, showing how every stage can serve as a foundation for later enhancements. 10-step roadmap for implementing KM successfully Checklists help you focus on critical issues every step of the way Interactive toolkit format guides your strategic design decisions Identify your key intangibles-and audit the knowledge you already have Staff your project team and manage it effectively Build a foundation of KM infrastructure that can evolve through results-driven, incremental steps Mobilize your organization's subtle, "tacit" knowledge Calculate and maximize ROI in KM systems www.kmtoolkit.com-stay informed with the author's dedicated Web site, which provides ongoing support and updates from the KM community!Discover the best ways to align KM with business strategy, avoid key KM pitfalls such as excessive formalization and overreliance on technology, master prototyping, and understand the new role of the Chief Knowledge Officer. Tiwana also presents KM case studies from leading companies worldwide, from Nortel to Rolls Royce. If you're ready to transform KM from business-school theory to real-world competitive advantage, start right here!CD-ROM INCLUDED Knowledge Management Toolkit, including an interactive 10-step KM roadmap and easy-to-customize KM evaluation forms -complete and unrestricted! MindManager Personal for creating, organizing, and sharing knowledge maps Performance Now Enterprise, a trial version of the #1 change management tool FrontPage 2000 45-day trial Plus great tools for data mining, integrating mobile systems, workflow, modeling, and more!

CNS origins of the sympathetic nervous system outflow to brown adipose tissue.

Abstract: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays a critical role in cold- and diet-induced thermogenesis. Although BAT is densely innervated by the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), little is known about the central nervous system (CNS) origins of this innervation. The purpose of the present experiment was to determine the neuroanatomic chain of functionally connected neurons from the CNS to BAT. A transneuronal viral tract tracer, Bartha's K strain of the pseudorabies virus (PRV), was injected into the interscapular BAT of Siberian hamsters. The animals were killed 4 and 6 days postinjection, and the infected neurons were visualized by immunocytochemistry. PRV-infected neurons were found in the spinal cord, brain stem, midbrain, and forebrain. The intensity of labeled neurons in the forebrain varied from heavy infections in the medial preoptic area and paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus to few infections in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, with moderate infections in the suprachiasmatic and lateral hypothalamic nuclei. These results define the SNS outflow from the brain to BAT for the first time in any species.

Learning failure in information systems development

Abstract: Information systems development is a high-risk undertaking, and fail- ures remain common despite advances in development tools and technologies. In this paper, we argue that one reason for this is the collapse of organizational intelligence required to deal with the complexities of systems development. Orga- nizations fail to learn from their experience in systems development because of limits of organizational intelligence, disincentives for learning, organizational designs and educational barriers. Not only have many organizations failed to learn, but they have also learned to fail. Over time they accept and expect poor perfor- mance while creating organizational myths that perpetuate short-term optimization. This paper illustrates learning failure in systems development and recommends tactics for overcoming it.

Influence of complete spinal cord injury on skeletal muscle cross-sectional area within the first 6 months of injury.

Abstract: In this study we examined the influence of complete spinal cord injury (SCI) on affected skeletal muscle morphology within 6 months of SCI. Magnetic resonance (MR) images of the leg and thigh were taken as soon as patients were clinically stable, on average 6 weeks post injury, and 11 and 24 weeks after SCI to assess average muscle cross-sectional area (CSA). MR images were also taken from nine able-bodied controls at two time points separated from one another by 18 weeks. The controls showed no change in any variable over time. The patients showed differential atrophy (P = 0.0001) of the ankle plantar or dorsi flexor muscles. The average CSA of m. gastrocnemius and m. soleus decreased by 24% and 12%, respectively (P = 0.0001). The m. tibialis anterior CSA showed no change (P = 0.3644). As a result of this muscle-specific atrophy, the ratio of average CSA of m. gastrocnemius to m. soleus, m. gastrocnemius to m. tibialis anterior and m. soleus to m. tibialis anterior declined (P = 0.0001). The average CSA of m, quadriceps femoris, the hamstring muscle group and the adductor muscle group decreased by 16%, 14% and 16%, respectively (P< or =0.0045). No differential atrophy was observed among these thigh muscle groups, thus the ratio of their CSAs did not change (P = 0.6210). The average CSA of atrophied skeletal muscle in the patients was 45-80% of that of age- and weight-matched able-bodied controls 24 weeks after injury. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that there is marked loss of contractile protein early after SCI which differs among affected skeletal muscles. While the mechanism(s) responsible for loss of muscle size are not clear, it is suggested that the development of muscular imbalance as well as diminution of muscle mass would compromise force potential early after SCI.

The effects of negative affectivity, hierarchical status, and self-determination on workplace victimization

Abstract: This study investigated the conditions under which employees are more or less likely to become targets of coworkers’ aggressive actions. Results from a field survey showed people high in negative affectivity more often perceived themselves as victims, as did people who were low in the self-determination component of empowerment. In addition, hierarchical status appeared to buffer the influence of negative affectivity: Negative affectivity was not related to indirect victimization for higher-status people but was positively related to indirect victimization for lower-status people.

What's the Subject of Study Abroad?: Race, Gender, and "Living Culture"

Abstract: Based on an ethnographic study that focused on the relations of students’ in- and out-of-class cultural learning during a 5-week study abroad program in Spain, this article analyzes processes of teaching and learning in a Spanish culture and civilization class, the experiences of the only African-American student on the program, and students’ responses to a class meeting in which race was overtly problematized. In contrast to the shared construction of cultural knowledge that characterized the class, discussion of race and gender was limited in its complexity, despite signs of new understandings among students. Given a need for all students to gain multiple cultural perspectives and growing evidence that peer groups constitute sources of identity and cross-cultural understanding for students abroad, we suggest that study abroad curricula incorporate sustained discussion of students’ sociocultural differences and resulting particularities in their experiences in the host culture as part of the formal curriculum.

Current technological impediments to business-to-consumer electronic commerce

Abstract: Internet and World Wide Web technologies provide the infrastructure for the Electronic Commerce (e-Commerce) revolution now taking place. As a result of these technologies, even the smallest organization can afford to market its wares to hundreds of millions of potential e-Consumers. However, these technologies also pose threats to the very electronic commerce which they enable. For managers to strategize and implement e-Commerce effectively in their organizations, these impediments need to be recognized and understood. While hundreds of articles identify problems with Internet computing or conducting eCommerce, no unified framework of technological impediments specific to eCommerce yet exists.

Stability and change in stress, resources, and psychological distress following natural disaster: Findings from hurricane Andrew

Abstract: The stress, resource, and symptom levels of 241 residents of southern Dade County, Florida were assessed 6 and 30 months after Hurricane Andrew. Percentages meeting study criteria for depression and PTSD did not change over time. Whereas mean levels of intrusion and arousal decreased, depressive symptoms remained stable, and avoidance/numbing symptoms actually increased. Intrusion and arousal were associated more strongly with pre-disaster factors (gender, ethnicity) and within-disaster factors (injury, property loss) than with post-disaster factors (stress, resources), but the reverse was true for depression and avoidance. Changes over time in symptoms were largely explained by changes over time in stress and resources. The findings indicate that ongoing services are needed to supplement the crisis-oriented assistance typically offered to disaster victims.

Emotional arousal as a source of bounded rationality

Abstract: This paper proposes an alternative psychological explanation for bounded rationality. According to Herbert Simon, bounded rationality arises from human cognitive limitations. Following the suggestion of institutional economist John R. Commons, I argue that extremes in emotional arousal also contribute to bounded rationality. This idea is formalized and developed using the Yerkes–Dodson law from psychology. Examples from the popular press and the academic literatures of law, management and economics are presented to illustrate the impact of this type of bounded rationality on human behavior.