Showing papers by "HEC Montréal published in 2005"

A multilevel model of resistance to information technology implementation

Abstract: To better explain resistance to information technology implementation, we used a multilevel, longitudinal approach We first assessed extant models of resistance to IT Using semantic analysis, we identified five basic components of resistance: behaviors, object, subject, threats, and initial conditions We further examined extant models to (1) carry out a preliminary specification of the nature of the relationships between these components and (2) refine our understanding of the multilevel nature of the phenomenon Using analytic induction, we examined data from three case studies of clinical information systems implementations in hospital settings, focusing on physicians' resistance behaviors The resulting mixed-determinants model suggests that group resistance behaviors vary during implementation When a system is introduced, users in a group will first assess it in terms of the interplay between its features and individual and/or organizational-level initial conditions They then make projections about the consequences of its use If expected consequences are threatening, resistance behaviors will result During implementation, should some trigger occur to either modify or activate an initial condition involving the balance of power between the group and other user groups, it will also modify the object of resistance, from system to system significance If the relevant initial conditions pertain to the power of the resisting group vis-a-vis the system advocates, the object of resistance will also be modified, from system significance to system advocates Resistance behaviors will follow if threats are perceived from the interaction between the object of resistance and initial conditions We also found that the bottom-up process by which group resistance behaviors emerge from individual behaviors is not the same in early versus late implementation In early implementation, the emergence process is one of compilation, described as a combination of independent, individual behaviors In later stages of implementation, if group level initial conditions have become active, the emergence process is one of composition, described as the convergence of individual behaviors

Micro‐Practices of Strategic Sensemaking and Sensegiving: How Middle Managers Interpret and Sell Change Every Day*

Abstract:  This paper looks at the workings of ongoing primary sensemaking and sensegiving micro-practices by which middle managers interpret and sell strategic change at the organizational interface. Through middle managers’ routines and conversations related to the implementation of a strategic change in a top-of-the-line clothing company, the article shows how they contribute to renewing links with stakeholders, in particular clientele, by drawing on their tacit knowledge. Interpretative analysis of these routines and conversations highlights four micropractices of strategic sensemaking and sensegiving: translating the orientation, overcoding the strategy, disciplining the client, and justifying the change. The paper outlines a practice perspective of sensemaking and sensegiving. It ends by suggesting the necessity of looking at middle managers’ role as interpreters and sellers of strategic change at the micro level for a better understanding of their contribution in sustaining competitive advantage through their everyday activities.

Selected Topics in Column Generation

Abstract: Dantzig-Wolfe decomposition and column generation, devised for linear programs, is a success story in large-scale integer programming. We outline and relate the approaches, and survey mainly recent contributions, not yet found in textbooks. We emphasize the growing understanding of the dual point of view, which has brought considerable progress to the column generation theory and practice. It stimulated careful initializations, sophisticated solution techniques for the restricted master problem and subproblem, as well as better overall performance. Thus, the dual perspective is an ever recurring concept in our "selected topics."

A Model of Organizational Integration, Implementation Effort, and Performance

Abstract: The notion of integration is central to the understanding of organizations in general as well as of contemporary phenomena such as e-commerce, virtual organizations, virtual teams, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation. Yet, the concept of integration is ill-defined in the literature, and the impact of achieving high levels of integration is not well understood. The present paper addresses these issues. Drawing on the literature of several fields, this paper proposes the concept oforganizational integration (OI), which is defined as the extent to which distinct and interdependent organizational components constitute a unified whole. Six types of OI are identified: two intraorganizational OI (internal-operational, internal-functional) and four interorganizational OI (external-operational-forward, external-operational-backward, external-operational-lateral, and external-functional). This paper then presents a model and develops 14 propositions to predict (1) the effort needed to implement different types of OI, (2) the impact different types of OI will have on organizational performance, and (3) how six factors (interdependence, barriers to OI, mechanisms for achieving OI, environmental turbulence, complexity reduction mechanisms, and organizational configurations) influence the relationship between OI types, implementation effort, and organizational performance. The OI framework and model are then used to develop 14 propositions for ERP implementation research and to explain the findings of recent research on integration.

A Primer in Column Generation

Abstract: We give a didactic introduction to the use of the column generation technique in linear and in particular in integer programming. We touch on both, the relevant basic theory and more advanced ideas which help in solving large scale practical problems. Our discussion includes embedding Dantzig-Wolfe decomposition and Lagrangian relaxation within a branch-and-bound framework, deriving natural branching and cutting rules by means of a so-called compact formulation, and understanding and influencing the behavior of the dual variables during column generation. Most concepts are illustrated via a small example. We close with a discussion of the classical cutting stock problem and some suggestions for further reading.

Entrepreneurship Education Research Revisited: The Case of Higher Education

Abstract: Our purpose in this article is to take stock of the education preoccupations that animate research on entrepreneurship focusing on the context of higher education. More specifically, we content-ana...

Models and Tabu Search Heuristics for the Berth-Allocation Problem

Abstract: In the berth-allocation problem (BAP) the aim is to optimally schedule and assign ships to berthing areas along a quay. The objective is the minimization of the total (weighted) service time for all ships, defined as the time elapsed between the arrival in the harbor and the completion of handling. Two versions of the BAP are considered: the discrete case and the continuous case. The discrete case works with a finite set of berthing points. In the continuous case ships can berth anywhere along the quay. Two formulations and a tabu search heuristic are presented for the discrete case. Only small instances can be solved optimally. For these sizes the heuristic always yields an optimal solution. For larger sizes it is always better than a truncated branch-and-bound applied to an exact formulation. A heuristic is also developed for the continuous case. Computational comparisons are performed with the first heuristic and with a simple constructive procedure.

Challenges in Conducting Empirical Work Using Structuration Theory: Learning from IT Research

Abstract: Giddens’s structuration theory is increasingly used as an alternative approach to studying numerous organizational phenomena. However, the applicability of Giddens’s concepts is not without difficulties because of two main challenges. First, structuration theory is complex, involving concepts and general propositions that operate at a high level of abstraction. Second, structuration theory is not easily coupled to any specific research method or methodological approach, and it is difficult to apply empirically. Arguing that structuration theory is a valuable framework for a rich understanding of management, organization and related subjects of inquiry, this paper aims to improve the application of structuration theory in empirical work by drawing on the experience in information technology (IT) research. It identifies patterns of use of Giddens’s theory in publications in the domain of IT, and then describes how IT researchers have attempted to address its major empirical challenges. The paper presents a ...

Understanding and Comparing Factor-Based Forecasts

Abstract: Forecasting using `diffusion indices' has received a good deal of attention in recent years. The idea is to use the common factors estimated from a large panel of data to help forecast the series of interest. This paper assesses the extent to which the forecasts are influenced by (i) how the factors are estimated, and/or (ii) how the forecasts are formulated. We find that for simple data generating processes and when the dynamic structure of the data is known, no one method stands out to be systematically good or bad. All five methods considered have rather similar properties, though some methods are better in long horizon forecasts, especially when the number of time series observations is small. However, when the dynamic structure is unknown and for more complex dynamics and error structures such as the ones encountered in practice, one method stands out to have smaller forecast errors. This method forecasts the series of interest directly, rather than the common and idiosyncratic components separately, and it leaves the dynamics of the factors unspecified. By imposing fewer constraints, and having to estimate a smaller number of auxiliary parameters, the method appears to be less vulnerable to misspecification, leading to improved forecasts.

Validating measures of information technology outsourcing risk factors

Abstract: Outsourcing information technology (IT) operations has been recognized to have important potential benefits, including cost reduction, improved quality of service, and access to technological expertise. Researchers and practitioners also recognize that, in some circumstances, IT outsourcing entails risk, and that it sometimes leads to undesirable consequences that are the opposite of the expected benefits. The main purpose of this study was to validate measures of the risk factors associated with outsourcing IT operations. Insights from transaction costs theory suggest that there exist three major sources of risk factors for IT outsourcing: the transaction, the client and the supplier. From these insights, preliminary measures of IT outsourcing risk factors were developed and data from a survey of 132 IT executives were analyzed with partial least squares to assess their reliability and validity. The results confirm that these factors are useful indicators for assessing IT outsourcing risks.

The impact of structuring characteristics on the launching of virtual communities of practice

Abstract: Purpose – Despite the increasing popularity of virtual communities of practice (VCoPs), our understanding of how to intentionally form, develop and sustain them is still at an embryonic stage. Aims to go some way to remedying this.Design/methodology/approach – Investigates the attempt by 14 organizations to implement 18 VCoPs. Using existing documents, detailed logs, and focus groups, a large quantity of qualitative data was gathered, coded, and analyzed.Findings – The study shows that the environment, the relevance of the VCoP's objectives to its members' daily work, and the degree to which the VCoP is embedded in the organizational structure of an organization are the three structuring characteristics most likely to explain the success or failure of a VCoP at the launching stage.Research limitations/implications – The focus is limited to the launching phase; further research should investigate different stages of development.Practical implications – The results may offer an indication as to the most imp...

Silent Voices Why Some Dissatisfied Consumers Fail to Complain

Abstract: Although noncomplaining dissatisfied consumers represent a vast majority of the dissatisfied consumers, they have not yet received adequate attention from marketing researchers. To understand the paradoxical combination of dissatisfaction and absence of complaint, the authors use the Lazarus cognitive-emotive model of coping with situational challenge. They added a moderator, the Seeking Redress Propensity (SRP) to this model and then developed a theoretical model and a set of hypotheses. A sample of consumers who had experienced a negative incident with the bank were administered a questionnaire by telephone. The sample was designed in such a way that half of them had complained and half had not. It was found that SRP is a significant moderator. In addition, SRP is shown to be strongly related to the likelihood of complaining. Lazarus’s model is basically supported, mostly for the customers scoring higher on SRP. Theoretical and managerial implications are proposed.

Privatization and bank performance in developing countries

Abstract: We examine the postprivatization performance of 81 banks from 22 developing countries. Our results suggest that: (i) On average, banks chosen for privatization have a lower economic efficiency, and a lower solvency than banks kept under government ownership. (ii) In the postprivatization period, profitability increases but, depending on the type of owner, efficiency, risk exposure and capitalization may worsen or improve. However, (iii) Over time, privatization yields significant improvements in economic efficiency and credit risk exposure. (iv) We also find that newly privatized banks that are controlled by local industrial groups become more exposed to credit risk and interest rate risk after privatization.

Music Piracy on the Web – How Effective are Anti-Piracy Arguments? Evidence from the Theory of Planned Behaviour

Abstract: This article presents the results of an experiment in which three different types of anti-piracy arguments were tested among 139 young adult consumers susceptible to engage in swapping music over the Internet: (1) stressing the negative personal consequences of pirating music, (2) stressing the negative consequences for the artists, and (3) stressing the unethical nature of this behaviour. The psychological determinants of music piracy behaviour were modeled in part with (1991) Ajzen’s theory of planned behaviour. The results show that the intention to swap music on-line depended on one’s attitude toward music piracy, one’s perception that important others want that this behaviour be performed, and one’s perceived competency in doing so. In addition, having swapped music on-line in the past had a strong influence on one’s intention to do it again. Contrary to expectations, the anti-piracy arguments had no significant impact on the behavioural dynamics underlying on-line music piracy.

A framework for information technology outsourcing risk management

Abstract: This paper takes stock from several studies on Information Technology outsourcing risk. A definition of risk is offered, and an illustration from five case studies is used to show how risk can be managed. Results show that an active risk management approach can reduce risk exposure substantially while enabling the organizations to still reap the benefits associated with outsourcing.

Geographies of Knowledge Formation in Firms

Abstract: This paper focuses on the spatial dimension of learning in firms. It works with important new insights in economic geography that stress the role of spatial proximity and territorial embeddedness in the process of knowledge formation, but it also seeks to go beyond them by recognizing learning based on relations at a distance. The paper defines space as a network of both contiguous and non‐contiguous relations of varying length, shape and duration, where knowing can involve all manner of spatial mobilizations, including placements of task teams in neutral spaces, face‐to‐face encounters, global networks held together by travel and virtual communications, flows of ideas and information through the supply chain, and trans‐corporate thought experiments and symbolic rituals.

Team Goal Commitment and Team Effectiveness: The Role of Task Interdependence and Supportive Behaviors

Abstract: The objectives of this study were to test the relationships between team goal commitment and 3 criteria of team effectiveness (i.e., team performance, quality of group experience, and team viability) as well as to examine the moderating effect of task interdependence and the mediating role of supportive behaviors. Data were gathered from a sample of 74 teams working in 13 Canadian organizations. Results indicated that team goal commitment is positively related to all 3 criteria of team effectiveness. In addition, task interdependence moderates the relationship between team goal commitment and team performance. Furthermore, supportive behaviors mediate the relationships that team goal commitment has with team performance and the quality of group experience. Implications of these findings and future research needs are discussed.

Cross-cultural training to facilitate expatriate adjustment: it works !

Abstract: Purpose – The paper examines what are the effects of the different types of cross‐cultural training (CCT) on expatriates' adjustment and whether prior international experience (IE) and cultural distance (CD) have a moderator effect on the effectiveness of CCT.Design/methodology/approach – In a quantitative approach the paper examines the effect of four different types of CCT on the three facets of expatriates' adjustment, on a sample consisting of 54 French, 53 German, 60 Korean and 57 Scandinavian managers expatriated to India. The paper then examines the moderator effect of IE and of CD on CCT's effectiveness.Findings – CCT accelerates expatriates’ adjustment. The type of CCT received matters. IE and CD have a moderator effect.Practical implications – Implications for practice are identified.Originality/value – The paper demonstrated the effectiveness of different kinds of CCT and the moderator effects of IE and CD.

Person-Place Congruency: The Interactive Effects of Shopper Style and Atmospherics on Consumer Expenditures

Abstract: A person-place congruency framework is proposed that predicts more affectively charged atmospherics, such as background music, will positively affect impulsive shoppers, whereas atmospherics that t...

Expatriation as a Bridge Over Troubled Water: A Knowledge-Based Perspective Applied to Cross-Border Acquisitions

Abstract: Do expatriate managers fulfil the role of ‘value-seeking connectors’ in cross-border acquisitions? Building from the organizational knowledge and the MNC literature, this paper focuses on the use of expatriate managers for transferring experience-based knowledge within the MNC and its impact on the survival of acquired subsidiaries. Using a sample of cross-border acquisitions by Japanese MNCs, we analysed the impact of expatriate managers on the relationship between the acquirer’s industry, host country and acquisition experience and the survival of the acquired subsidiary. Results show that the contribution of expatriation to the acquired firm’s survival varies considerably depending on the type of experience considered. In fact, connectivity through expatriation is costly and only when appropriately sent abroad do expatriate managers build an effective bridge over the troubled water that characterizes the challenging post-acquisition integration.

Should an organisation join a purchasing group

Abstract: Purpose – The article deals with issues such as the size of a purchasing group, the types of benefits aimed for, and the real beneficiaries of purchasing groups.Design/methodology/approach – The observations are based on the literature, as well as on interviews, mostly with Canadian and US health‐care managers.Findings – Although often associated with the public sector, purchasing groups are also an alternative considered more and more by managers of the private sector. A purchasing group increases volume consolidation, making it possible to have only one negotiation, in order to increase the purchasing group members' power vis‐a‐vis that of its suppliers. However, a purchasing group also constitutes an additional link in the supply chain and its objectives could go contrary to those of some of its members. This is why organisations considering joining a purchasing group should analyse this option strategically, in order to assess correctly the potential long‐term benefits.Originality/value – This article...