Showing papers in "Australasian Journal of Information Systems in 2014"
TL;DR: The findings suggest that the intent-to-adopt e-procurement has a positive and significant relationship with the independent variables that might inform developing countries in strategies to combat corruption in public procurement.
Abstract: One of the significant potential benefits of e-procurement technology is reducing opportunities for corruption in public procurement processes. The authors identified anti-corruption capabilities of e-procurement through an extensive literature review and a theoretical model representing the impact of three latent variables: monopoly of power, information asymmetry, and transparency and accountability upon the dependent variable, the intent-to-adopt e-procurement. This research was guided by the Principal-Agent theory and collected the perceptions of 46 government officers of the potential of public e-procurement to reduce corruption in public procurement processes. Results were analysed using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) approach. The findings suggest that the intent-to-adopt e-procurement has a positive and significant relationship with the independent variables that might inform developing countries in strategies to combat corruption in public procurement.
44 citations
TL;DR: In this article, transaction cost theory was used to study cloud computing adoption and found that perceived vendor opportunism and perceived legislative uncertainty around cloud computing were significantly associated with perceived cloud computing security risk.
Abstract: This paper uses transaction cost theory to study cloud computing adoption. A model is developed and tested with data from an Australian survey. According to the results, perceived vendor opportunism and perceived legislative uncertainty around cloud computing were significantly associated with perceived cloud computing security risk. There was also a significant negative relationship between perceived cloud computing security risk and the intention to adopt cloud services. This study also reports on adoption rates of cloud computing in terms of applications, as well as the types of services used.
36 citations
TL;DR: A parsimonious and integrated model of Green IT assimilation is proposed drawing on contextual and absorptive capacity theories and its implications for practitioners are outlined.
Abstract: The first wave of research in Green IT has often focused on organisational adoption. As Green IT matures in organisations it is important to look beyond adoption and to investigate the assimilation of Green IT. To this end we draw from and compare two theories – contextual theory and absorptive capacity – and investigate which of the two theories better explains the level of Green IT assimilation in organisations. Results from an international survey of 148 large organisations show that both theories explain Green IT assimilation with a medium effect size and that while contextual theory has a slightly higher R2 value than absorptive capacity, the difference is not statistically significant. We then propose a parsimonious and integrated model of Green IT assimilation drawing on contextual and absorptive capacity theories and outline implications for practitioners. The integrated model is parsimonious and has a higher explanatory power implying that a combination of contextual and absorptive capacity factors influences why and how widely and deeply Green IT practices, technologies and values are embedded in the IT people, in the IT management and IT infrastructure of organisations.
35 citations
TL;DR: Analysis of research undertaken at a regional Australian university demonstrates that students are predominantly using laptop computers to support their learning, but their use of smart phones and tablets are also used for a number of specific learning activities.
Abstract: Recent developments in mobile technologies have provided unique opportunities for learning and teaching. This paper reports on recent research undertaken at a regional Australian university in order to understand how higher education students are using mobile devices to support their learning. A survey instrument was developed and deployed and the data collected analysed quantitatively. Upon analysis, these data demonstrate that students are predominantly using laptop computers to support their learning, but their use of smart phones and tablets are also used for a number of specific learning activities. Further analysis indicates that in spite of the limitations in the formal university infrastructure, many students would like to use their mobile devices for formal learning as well as informal learning.
30 citations
TL;DR: This paper describes an IS artifact design framework that has been generated from the development of several practitioner-oriented decision support systems (DSS) in which contextual aspects relevant to practitioners’ decision making are considered as integral design themes.
Abstract: Although an improvement of design knowledge is an essential goal of design research, current design research predominantly focuses on knowledge concerning the IT artifact (tool) design process, rather than a more holistic understanding encompassing the dynamic usage contexts of a technological artifact. Conceptualising a design in context as an “ensemble artifact” (Sein et al., 2011) provides the basis for a more rigorous treatment. This paper describes an IS artifact design framework that has been generated from the development of several practitioner-oriented decision support systems (DSS) in which contextual aspects relevant to practitioners’ decision making are considered as integral design themes. We describe five key dimensions of an ensemble artifact design and show their value in designing practitioner-oriented DSS. The features are user centredness, knowledge sharing, situation-specific customisation, reduced model orientation, and practice based secondary design abilities. It is argued that this understanding can contribute to design research knowledge more effectively both to develop dynamic DSS, and by its extensibility to other artifact designs.
26 citations
TL;DR: Although much research in this area targets the direct support for older adults, the effective use of technologies to maintain seniors’ physical and cognitive abilities requires further investigations, which can provide avenues of opportunities that would empower seniors for their independent living.
Abstract: The main objective of this paper is to explore the potentials of assistive technologies to support seniors’ independent living. The work looks at two salient aspects of utilizing technologies for elderly, namely direct support and empowering technologies. The research undertakes a comprehensive analysis of attempts that have been made through investigation of the literature. For this purpose, a realist review of relevant papers published since 2000 has been conducted. The paper concludes that although much research in this area targets the direct support for older adults, the effective use of technologies to maintain seniors’ physical and cognitive abilities requires further investigations. This can provide avenues of opportunities that would empower seniors for their independent living.
20 citations
TL;DR: The results show that the Educator role of the CIO seems to be more important in organisations that articulated a ‘transform’ vision of IT compared to organisations that focus on IT for automation and suggest that Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) should empower their firm’s CIOs in terms of their reporting structure and job title.
Abstract: The organisational strategic IT vision has been considered as a key contingency that affects the role of Information Technology (IT) leadership in organisations. Using the theoretical lens of the contingency approach to leadership, this study investigates the influence of strategic IT vision of an organisation on the Chief Information Officer (CIO) role and structural power. A large-scale survey was conducted with CIOs of Australian organizations. The results of the data analysis show that the Educator role of the CIO seems to be more important in organisations that articulated a ‘transform’ vision of IT compared to organisations that focus on IT for automation. The results also show that CIOs in organisations that strategically view IT as a transformation or informate-down orientation gave the role of Information Steward more attention than CIOs working in organisations where IT is viewed as a means to automate processes. The findings also show that there is significant positive association between the organisation’s strategic IT vision and the CIO’s structural power in terms of reporting structure and CIO job title. This study has implications for practitioners as the findings indicate the necessity for CIOs to align their roles with their firm’s IT vision and suggest that Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) should empower their firm’s CIOs in terms of their reporting structure and job title as the role of IT in the organisation progresses from the lower strategic vision of IT (automate) to the highest vision (transform).
20 citations
TL;DR: It is proposed that the customers are better positioned to determine how well a firm is responding to their requirements (aka a firm’s customer agility) and the results provide a good explanation for the role of both forms of alignment on customer satisfaction.
Abstract: In hyper competition, firms that are agile: sensing and responding better to customer requirements tend to be more successful and achieve supernormal profits. In spite of the widely accepted importance of customer agility, research is limited on this construct. The limited research also has predominantly focussed on the firm’s perspective of agility. However, we propose that the customers are better positioned to determine how well a firm is responding to their requirements (aka a firm’s customer agility). Taking the customers’ stand point, we address the issue of sense and respond alignment in two perspectives-matching and mediating. Based on data collected from customers in a field study, we tested hypothesis pertaining to the two methods of alignment using polynomial regression and response surface methodology. The results provide a good explanation for the role of both forms of alignment on customer satisfaction. Implication for research and practice are discussed.
16 citations
TL;DR: The findings show that university staff consider iPads easy to use and useful, with a high level of compatibility with their work, and older university staff and university staff with no previous experience in using a similar technology such as an iPhone or smartphone found iPads lesseasy to use.
Abstract: This research examined key factors influencing adoption of iPads by university staff. An online survey collected quantitative data to test hypothesised relationships in an extended TAM model. The findings show that university staff consider iPads easy to use and useful, with a high level of compatibility with their work. Social status had no influence on their attitude to using an iPad. However older university staff and university staff with no previous experience in using a similar technology such as an iPhone or smartphone found iPads less easy to use. Furthermore, a lack of formal end user ICT support impacted negatively on the use of iPads.
16 citations
TL;DR: The paper attempts to address the risk response factors that lead to successful achievement of project scope & quality, schedule and cost targets, by using a series of regressions followed with Seemingly Unrelated Regression Equations (SURE) modelling.
Abstract: Risk management and success in projects are highly intertwined – better approaches to project risk management tend to increase chances of project success in terms of achieving scope & quality, schedule and cost targets. The process of responding to risk factors during a project’s life cycle is a crucial aspect of risk management referred to as risk response strategies, in this paper. The current research explores the status of risk response strategies applied in the software development projects in India. India provides a young IT-savvy English-speaking population, which is also cost effective. Other than the workforce, the environment for implementation of software projects in India is different from the matured economies. Risk management process is a commonly discussed theme, though its implementation in practice has a huge scope for improvement in India. The paper talks about four fundamental treatments to risk response – Avoidance, Transference, Mitigation and Acceptance (ATMA). From a primary data of 302 project managers, the paper attempts to address the risk response factors that lead to successful achievement of project scope & quality, schedule and cost targets, by using a series of regressions followed with Seemingly Unrelated Regression Equations (SURE) modelling. Mitigation emerged as the most significant risk response strategy to achieve project targets. Acceptance, transference, and avoidance of risk were mostly manifested in the forms of transparency in communication across stakeholders, careful study of the nature of risks and close coordination between project team, customers/end-users and top management.
16 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated how EA integrates the Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) and used Archer's morphogenetic theory as an analytical approach to distinguish the architectural conditions under which SOA is introduced, to study the relationships between these conditions and SOA introduction, and to reflect on EA evolution (elaborations) that then take place.
Abstract: This paper investigates how Enterprise Architecture (EA) evolves due to emerging trends. It specifically explores how EA integrates the Service-oriented Architecture (SOA). Archer’s Morphogenetic theory is used as an analytical approach to distinguish the architectural conditions under which SOA is introduced, to study the relationships between these conditions and SOA introduction, and to reflect on EA evolution (elaborations) that then take place. The paper focuses on reasons for why EA evolution could take place, or not and what architectural changes could happen due to SOA integration. The research builds on sound theoretical foundations to discuss EA evolution in a field that often lacks a solid theoretical groundwork. Specifically, it proposes that critical realism, using the morphogenetic theory, can provide a useful theoretical foundation to study enterprise architecture (EA) evolution. The initial results of a literature review (a-priori model) were extended using explorative interviews. The findings of this study are threefold. First, there are five different levels of EA-SOA integration outcomes. Second, a mature EA, flexible and well-defined EA framework and comprehensive objectives of EA improve the integration outcomes. Third, the analytical separation using Archer’s theory is helpful in order to understand how these different integration outcomes are generated.
TL;DR: It was found that the workplace was considered the most appropriate place to acquire and/or develop all skills, except the ability to innovate, and while softskills should be taught almost equally at the undergraduate and postgraduate level, business and green skills were more appropriate in a postgraduate degree.
Abstract: The Business Analyst (BA) plays a key role in ensuring that technology is appropriately used to achieve the organisation’s goals. This important mediating role is currently in high (unmet) demand in many English-speaking countries and thus more people need to be trained for this role. To determine the educational and/or training needs of a BA we conducted a survey in the Information and Communication Technology industry in Australia. The survey items are based on prior studies of information systems educational requirements and the internationally-developed Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) that has been endorsed by the Australian Computer Society. From the literature we identified three types of skills: soft, business and technical. With the increasing importance of GreenIT and the pivotal role that the BA could play in green decision making, we added a fourth type of skill: green. The survey considers 85 skills, their importance, the level of attainment of that skill, skill gaps and types of skills. Results show that all soft skills were considered to be important with the smallest knowledge gaps. Selected business skills and green skills were seen to be important. Technical skills were considered less important, but also where the largest knowledge gaps existed. Further we asked respondents whether each skill should be acquired via an undergraduate or postgraduate degree and/or industry training and experience. We found that the workplace was considered the most appropriate place to acquire and/or develop all skills, except the ability to innovate. While we found that softskills should be taught almost equally at the undergraduate and postgraduate level, business and green skills were more appropriate in a postgraduate degree. In contrast, technical skills were best acquired in an undergraduate program of study.
TL;DR: The key challenges found in the literature are effective communication, knowledge sharing, trust, and interpersonal skills in the new virtual boundary-less environment in the organisation.
Abstract: Globally, virtual teams (VT) as ICT-enabled emergent network organisation forms have gained international validity by innovative organisations, with a corresponding surge of interest in understanding how organisations can leverage VT to create business value. Despite growing deliberations in VT literature on managing VT, tasks and outcomes, however, creating business value through VT remains an unresolved theoretical and pragmatic conundrum. A review of prior relevant literature is essential to advancing knowledge. The paucity of published review articles seems to have impeded the field’s accumulation of VT knowledge. This research, therefore, reviews the current literature on case studies of VT to address the question: What are organisational challenges in creating business value through VT in the organisation? The key challenges found in the literature are effective communication, knowledge sharing, trust, and interpersonal skills in the new virtual boundary-less environment. Drawing on the IT business value model, we also discuss their resource-based implications.
TL;DR: In this article, a framework for supporting the use of social media affordances for service innovation is presented, tested in a specific domain and supplemented by potential future research and implications for theory and practice.
Abstract: In recent years the proliferation of a new technological evolution has aroused great interest from science and prac¬tice: social media. Subsuming different types of online applications where users can create, edit and share con¬tent, social media enables new forms of interaction with others. Organisations already recognise its relevance and start leveraging on it. Furthermore, organisations identify the role of service innovation as one major driver for economic growth and competitive advantage. Nevertheless, although social media affords organisations to interact with their customers, the potential for utilising it for improving their service innovation activities is al¬most unexploited yet. Therefore, this paper aims at providing a framework for supporting the use of social media affordances for service innovation. Its applicability is tested in the domain “government”. Based on theoretical constructs a conceptual analysis is presented, tested in a specific domain and supplemented by potential future research and implications for theory and practice.
TL;DR: Based on the case study of a flawed payroll system in a large and complex public sector organization in Australia, the key success factors using the system life cycle approach underpinned by the agile philosophy are highlighted.
Abstract: Majority of firms deploy technologies in HR administrative applications. While payroll processing is a routine transactional activity, poor design and implementation of payroll system can cause immense harm to employee and organizational well-being. Based on the case study of a flawed payroll system in a large and complex public sector organization in Australia, we highlight the key success factors using the system life cycle approach underpinned by the agile philosophy. It highlights the critical importance of strategic organizational review, user involvement and ongoing communication with diverse stakeholders during the planning, analysis, design, implementation and review stages of a payroll project. It reinforces the need for the adoption of and adherence to sound project and change management methodologies. We also explore the limitations of shared service center approach.
TL;DR: The results show that the concept of EUCS has a conformation and there is a significant effect between the ERP system user satisfaction with the manager’s performance, especially in the decision making process.
Abstract: This study is aimed to test the manager’s satisfaction of the managers using the ERP and to test the influence of job satisfaction towards the performance in the decision process by the manager. The measurement of the satisfaction towards the ERP system will be conducted using the end user’s satisfaction computing model (EUCS), using the content, accuracy, formal ease of use, and timelines attributes (Doll and Torkzadeh, 1988). Whereas, the performance is measured using the instrument which was developed by Nicolaou (2000) consisting of 2 (two) question items about the reporting and continuing control, 7 (seven) items of questions adopted from the study results of Spathis and Constantinides (2004).
The data were collected through a survey using questionnaires distributed to companies that have used the ERP system. The data analysis used the Partial Least Square method with SmartPLS program. The results show that the concept of EUCS has a conformation and there is a significant effect between the ERP system user satisfaction with the manager’s performance, especially in the decision making process. This result contributes to the concept of EUCS and supports previous research related to user satisfaction in different types of information system applications.
TL;DR: This multi-case study investigation into 14 major programs conducted in Australia shows that many projects are not evaluated due to a lack of time, expertise and money.
Abstract: There are many reasons why the gender imbalance in computing should be of concern to the profession. Over the last 20 years there have been many intervention programs which attempt to redress this situation and encourage more women into computing. To determine whether an intervention program has made a difference requires evaluation. Program evaluation is the careful collecting of information about a program so that those responsible can make informed decisions regarding the programs. This multi-case study investigation into 14 major programs conducted in Australia shows that many projects are not evaluated due to a lack of time, expertise and money. Without dissemination of detailed evaluations it is not possible to work out which intervention programs should be replicated and which should be modified or abandoned.
TL;DR: It is found that the attitude towards interventions has an indirect influence on ICT career intentions by affecting interest in ICT.
Abstract: Intervention programs aimed at promoting study and work opportunities in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) field to schoolgirls have been encouraged to combat a decline in the interest among girls to study ICT at school. The goal of our study is to investigate the influence of such interventions on schoolgirls’ intentions to choose a career in the ICT field by analysing comprehensive survey data (n = 3577), collected during four interventions in Australia, using the Partial Least Squares method. Our study is also aimed at identifying other factors influencing ICT career intentions. We found that the attitude towards interventions has an indirect influence on ICT career intentions by affecting interest in ICT. Our results also challenge several existing theoretical studies by showing that factors that had previously been suggested as influencers were found to have little or no impact in this study, these being same-sex education and computer usage.
TL;DR: A study exploring social media adoption and use by twelve small businesses indicates that Facebook is the dominant platform used and it can provide small businesses with a virtually cost free and easy way to reach customers.
Abstract: This paper reports on a study exploring social media adoption and use by twelve small businesses. Results indicate that Facebook is the dominant platform used and it can provide small businesses with a virtually cost free and easy way to reach customers. Businesses reported immediate results from using Facebook; customers arrived in store after seeing Facebook posts. Participants felt there were minimal risks involved and none had experienced negative feedback or inappropriate posts. Most felt that using Facebook increased their competitive advantage due to their enhanced online profile. Despite some effort to engage customers, business to consumer transfer of information is the primary function of the Facebook pages studied. Page owners report limited training for and analysis of their Facebook activities. This indicates a need for further research in the small business context, focused on approaches to boosting customer interaction, to realize the full potential of Facebook engagement.
TL;DR: An integrative framework of IS theories based on an in-depth review of IS literature is introduced and valuable suggestions to business and IT managers to improve the chance of ERP success in their organisations are proposed.
Abstract: There is a wide agreement that IT projects have disappointing success rates and often generate less value than originally promised. In the context of ERP systems, the same statistical reports exist which demonstrate an overwhelming number of failures in ERP implementations. A thorough review of IS literature, however, leads us to believe that organisations that broadly deploy and routinise IT (in particular, ERPs) into their day-to-day work procedures realise the greatest productivity benefit and business values, and in return perceive to be more successful. The stage wherein ERP is fully assimilated, widely accepted and routinised is also referred to as institutionalised ERP in the extant IS literature of institutional theory. As a result, the authors of this paper believe that studying the influence of various social, environmental, technological and organisational factors on ERP institutionalisation has significant potential in improving the chance of successful ERP projects. In doing so, this paper introduces an integrative framework of IS theories based on an in-depth review of IS literature. The survey instrument is developed to gather data on possible impacts of factors derived from each theory on ERP institutionalisation. The gathered data is then analysed using quantitative data analysis methods to shape the final hypothetical inferences. Finally, based on the data analysis results, this paper proposed valuable suggestions to business and IT managers to improve the chance of ERP success in their organisations.
TL;DR: The discussions in this paper provide useful information to managers and accountants on how the SBR components work together and provide specific recommendations to the government agency in charge of SBR to help the further development and adoption of the program.
Abstract: Standard Business Reporting (SBR) is an Australian government initiative aimed at enhancing business productivity by reducing compliance costs. This initiative commenced in 2010 and is based on an international business language, eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL). To date, general awareness or knowledge of the program is limited and the adoption rate by businesses is far below the government’s expectations. The objective of this paper is twofold. First, it describes in detail the different components of SBR and provides a clear overview of how the components work together. Second, it examines the issue of SBR adoption in Australia using the diffusion of innovation (DOI) model and the technology, organization, and environment (TOE) framework. Results show that the most relevant factor in the DOI model is relative advantage. Compatibility does not appear to be a problem to businesses but complexity potentially is an issue. Moreover, enhancing trialability and observability can help promote SBR. In the context of the technological perspective in the TOE framework, perceived costs is an obstacle to SBR adoption as insufficient information is available. The quality of SBR reports has hardly been mentioned or discussed but it is an important factor for the long term success of the SBR. The most salient issue in the organizational perspective is the lack of awareness and expertise on SBR and XBRL among business managers and accountants. In the environmental perspective, there is an increasing pressure for SBR adoption but the external support to help businesses appears to be insufficient. The discussions in this paper provide useful information to managers and accountants on how the SBR components work together. The findings also provide specific recommendations to the government agency in charge of SBR to help the further development and adoption of the program.
TL;DR: A conceptual model drawing on literature reviews and some examples while identifying a set of expected benefits and challenges within four stages of e-procurement is prepared, suggesting a limited scope for SM usage in the Australian public sector e- Procurement process.
Abstract: Social Media (SM), in recent years, is emerging as a common platform for low cost information exchange, and has attracted a critical mass of users both at corporate and retail levels. Theoretically, SM can thus be used as a tool to strengthen e-procurement in the public sector. Towards this end, we have prepared a conceptual model drawing on literature reviews and some examples while identifying a set of expected benefits and challenges within four stages of e-procurement. Using the framework, a case study has been conducted involving Australian public procurement initiatives and 15 federal government senior officials engaged in e-procurement. They have been interviewed to shed light on the possibilities and challenges of using SM in the public e-procurement context. The findings of the study suggest a limited scope for SM usage in the Australian public sector e-procurement process. The implications of the findings are discussed and some recommendations offered.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a case study that demonstrates the positive impact of the agile development and project management method Scrum on information systems and software development productivity and provide a useful operationalization of the concept through seven identified indicators for productivity.
Abstract: This research contributes to the body of knowledge in information systems development (ISD) with an empirical investigation in form of a case study that demonstrates the positive impact of the agile development and project management method Scrum on information systems and software development productivity and it provides a useful operationalization of the concept through seven identified indicators for productivity. Despite the fact that the case unit had challenges with the use of Scrum, the indicators identified the areas where the company had managed to exploit the potential of Scrum and its practices with regard to increasing productivity. The research results are discussed both with regard to the existing Scrum literature as well as to complex adaptive systems (CAS) as a foundation for ISD and agile development.
TL;DR: The findings show that, in developed and developing countries, the basic perceptions of the users on privacy protection are complimentary; however, privacy is a more serious concern in Australia than in Bangladesh.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to explore the measures that may protect privacy of the users - in the context of RFID use in public applications. More specifically, this study investigates what the users perceive to have securing their privacy, particularly for the RFID applications in public uses. Qualitative research approach has been utilised for this study. The author conducted two focus-group discussion sessions and eight in-depth interviews in two countries: one from Australasia region (Australia) and the other from Asia (Bangladesh), assuming that the status, and the perceptions and tolerance of the citizens on privacy issues are different in the stated regions. The explored factors have been analysed from privacy perspectives. The findings show that, in developed and developing countries, the basic perceptions of the users on privacy protection are complimentary; however, privacy is a more serious concern in Australia than in Bangladesh. Data analysis proposed some attributes that may improve users’ privacy perceptions when RFID is used in public applications. This study is the single initiative that focuses on privacy of RFID users from national-use context. As practical implication, the proposed attributes can be exercised by the deploying agencies that implement RFID technology for citizens’ use.
TL;DR: This research-in-progress paper uses Endsley's situation awareness theory, and examines how the structure and functions of the US national security intelligence enterprise—a revelatory case of enterprise situation awareness development in security and risk management—correspond with Endsley’s theoretical model.
Abstract: Three deficiencies exist in the organisational practice of information security risk management: risk assessments are commonly perfunctory, security risks are estimated without investigation; risk is assessed on an occasional (as opposed to continuous) basis. These tendencies indicate that important data is being missed and that the situation awareness of decision-makers in many organisations is currently inadequate. This research-in-progress paper uses Endsley's situation awareness theory, and examines how the structure and functions of the US national security intelligence enterprise—a revelatory case of enterprise situation awareness development in security and risk management—correspond with Endsley’s theoretical model, and how facets of the US enterprise might be adapted to improve situation awareness in the information security risk management process of organisations.
TL;DR: The paper outlines how scholars can use the framework to develop models and carry out evaluations regarding how SMEs embed green content, and potentially other specific content types, in their websites, and summarises how the framework can assist SMEs make informed decisions regarding framing their websites as green.
Abstract: This paper presents a framework on how Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) can proactively incorporate content relating to their ecological responsibility (or green) activities in their websites. SME studies offer limited guidance on, and conceptualisation of, how organisations can incorporate different types of content into their website designs. This paper addresses this problem by presenting the results of an exploratory, qualitative content analysis of Australian SME websites where emergent themes are interpreted using framing and legitimacy theories. It describes three dimensions (location, presentation, and specificity) which comprise the framework, under which the themes are grouped. The paper outlines how scholars can use the framework to develop models and carry out evaluations regarding how SMEs embed green content, and potentially other specific content types, in their websites. It also summarises how the framework can assist SMEs (or website developers serving them) make informed decisions regarding framing their websites as green, or de-emphasising this content, by paying attention to its location (e.g. homepage, navigation bars) and presentation (e.g. how paragraphs, images, etc are used) within webpages. The legitimacy or credibility of the green content can be enhanced using different types of specificity (e.g. statistics, detail of processes and actions, and third-party substantiation).
TL;DR: Interestingly, there was high level of agreement on ranking of e-collaboration activities and perceived e-Collaboration impacts in both the regions and Implications of the findings for practice and research are discussed.
Abstract: This paper investigates e-collaboration impacts across organizations in Australia and Hong Kong. The two regions were selected because of diversity in geographical dispersion and cultural differences. A myriad of e-collaboration activities were included in the study. Data collected and analyzed from 73 organizations in Australia and 94 organizations in Hong Kong suggests that there are no significant differences in the level of electronic support for collaboration activities in both the regions. However, significant differences were detected in the perceived impacts of e-collaboration between the two study regions. Interestingly, there was high level of agreement on ranking of e-collaboration activities and perceived e-collaboration impacts in both the regions. Implications of our findings for practice and research are discussed.
TL;DR: The findings of this study provide evidence that while traditional Relationship Marketing theory is still applicable for some business customers, new theory is required for business customers who do not seek relationships, and indicates the necessity for further research to be developed which exploresbusiness customers who prefer to remain transaction-oriented, rather than develop interpersonal relationships.
Abstract: While considerable literature examines business-to business (B2B) relationships, the impact of technology on these relationships has lacked attention. IT has impacted the way businesses operate in a B2B context as well as influencing services by altering the way services are delivered. To understand the way in which Internet technology has impacted these B2B services, it is essential to examine its impact not only on business processes but on business relationships too. One technology, enabled by modern Internet technologies, which is changing the nature of business relationships is the increased use of self-service technologies (SSTs) or technology-enabled services, however, there is a shortage of research in the area in a B2B context. The discussion in this paper provides an overview of the impact of IT on business relationships, using Relationship Marketing theory to provide a theoretical framework. A qualitative study in the Australian banking industry provides findings relating to the theory. The findings of this study provide evidence that while traditional Relationship Marketing theory is still applicable for some business customers, new theory is required for business customers who do not seek relationships. With both practical and theoretical implications, the research detailed in this paper makes a useful contribution to the literature and indicates the necessity for further research to be developed which explores business customers who prefer to remain transaction-oriented, rather than develop interpersonal relationships.
TL;DR: It is argued that developing the KM-Model using subjectivist epistemology has a significant role in KM and organisational studies for emergency and disaster agencies, and qualitative methods and toolsets can be included as part of KM to improve the development of bushfire preparedness material.
Abstract: This paper brings together two bodies of literature around knowledge management (KM) as enterprise integration (EI) and organisational ontology and epistemology as philosophy, in order to develop an extended KM approach to the development of bushfire preparedness material in the Australian context. Knowledge Management (KM) in enterprise integration (EI) practice manifests as process-centric electronic document and records management solutions. Knowledge creation and organisational epistemology is viewed as a social process, but this is often left unrepresented by KM processes. The body of literature on KM tends to focus on organisational functionality and organisational KM that is based on EI ontology tends to be restricted by organisational functionality and process models. We argue that developing the KM-Model using subjectivist epistemology has a significant role in KM and organisational studies for emergency and disaster agencies. As part of the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) ‘Effective Communication and Communities’ project, bushfire communication materials were collected from all Australian States and Territories and analysed using NVivo, representing a knowledge base. Data sources including semi-structured interviews with bushfire agency staff, residents in bushfire-prone localities. Interview data was analysed using thematic analysis, and emergent themes were represented using UML as a platform independent representation of the extended knowledge domain that is capable of representation in a digital space. This work unites organisational ontology, organisational epistemology and EI; the different manifestations of KM. We theorise about how organisational epistemology itself forms as part of the knowledge, where currently there is a lacking of a satisfactory end-to-end framework. The KM lifecycle, therefore, is extended by incorporating the social research processes as part of organisational epistemology to include external audiences through the themes of locality types, place and roles of individuals as volunteers and agency staff. The practical implications are that qualitative methods and toolsets can be included as part of KM to improve the development and deployment of bushfire preparedness material.
TL;DR: SaaS intermediaries can address SaaS adoption and implementation challenges of SMEs by playing a basic role and can also aim to support SMEs in creating business value with SAAS based solutions by playing an added value role.
Abstract: Software as a Service (SaaS) can provide significant benefits to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) due to advantages like ease of access, 7*24 availability, and utility pricing. However, underlying the SaaS delivery model is often the assumption that SMEs will directly interact with the SaaS vendor and use a self-service approach. In practice, we see the rise of SaaS intermediaries who can support SMEs with sourcing and leveraging SaaS. This paper reports on the roles of intermediaries and how they support SMEs with using SaaS. We conducted an empirical study of two SaaS intermediaries and analysed their business models, in particular their value propositions. We identified orientation (technology or customer) and alignment (operational or strategic) as themes for understanding their roles. The contributions of this paper include: (1) the identification and description of SaaS intermediaries for SMEs based on an empirical study and (2) understanding the different roles of SaaS intermediaries, in particular a more basic role based on technology orientation and operational alignment and a more value adding role based on customer orientation and strategic alignment. We propose that SaaS intermediaries can address SaaS adoption and implementation challenges of SMEs by playing a basic role and can also aim to support SMEs in creating business value with SaaS based solutions by playing an added value role.