Showing papers in "IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management in 2006"

Antecedents and outcomes of strategic IS alignment: an empirical investigation

Abstract: Prior research argues that alignment between business and information systems (IS) strategies enhances organizational performance. However, factors affecting alignment have received relatively little empirical attention. Moreover, IS strategic alignment is assumed to facilitate the performance of all organizations, regardless of type or business strategy. By using two studies of business firms and academic institutions, this paper: 1) develops and tests a model relating alignment, its antecedents, and its consequences and 2) examines differences in these relationships across organizational types and strategies. Findings indicate that alignment depends on shared domain knowledge and prior IS success, and also support the expected positive impact of alignment on organizational performance. Differences across Prospector, Analyzer, and Defender business strategies are examined. A key research contribution is the empirical demonstration that the importance of alignment, as well as the mechanisms used to attain alignment, vary by business strategy and industry. In past alignment studies, controlling for industry has not been uncommon. The findings suggest that future research studies should also control for business strategy. The article also empirically demonstrates that past implementation success influences alignment. In addition, it highlights the influence of a process variable, strategic planning, on the development of shared knowledge and, consequently, on alignment. This paper examines strategic issues related to the management of technology. Data from multiple surveys are used to test the extent to which strategic planning, shared business-IS knowledge, prior IS success, and other variables consistently enhance IS alignment. The study also provides empirical support for the popular argument that IS alignment improves organizational performance. It extends the current literature by examining the extent to which these findings hold across firm strategies and industries. The authors argue that not all firms are equally well served by allocating scarce resources to improve IS alignment.

Senior Citizens' Acceptance of Information Systems: A Study in the Context of e-Government Services

Abstract: The turn of the century has seen a rapidly graying population concurrently with increasingly ubiquitous information technology (IT). The elderly population being less familiar with IT implies that issues pertaining to their acceptance of information systems (IS) deserve special attention. However, the IS and gerontology literatures seldom explore IS acceptance among the aged. Attempting to address this gap, a research model is developed by integrating relevant antecedents from previous literature and empirically tested in the context of an e-Government service tailored for senior citizens. Our findings reveal that consistent with previous technology acceptance studies, senior citizens' use intention is driven by their perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of the service. Additionally, their Internet safety perception impacts the acceptance of this online financial service. Furthermore, resource savings and self-actualization determine senior citizens' usefulness perception, whereas computer anxiety and computing support are antecedents of perceived ease of use. Of these antecedents, self actualization and computer anxiety appear particularly relevant for the elderly as compared to younger working professionals in most previous literature for whom these antecedents have not been important. The study contributes by providing an integrative model of IS acceptance among the aged, which may facilitate theory development and practice

Standardization and Discretion: Does the Environmental Standard ISO 14001 Lead to Performance Benefits?

Abstract: This study sought to determine if the environmental management standard ISO 14001 helps organizations reduce the negative impact their business activities may have on the environment, and as a result, also improves their business performance. Forty organizations participated in the study and described how they implement ISO 14001 requirements. They also reported how the standard impacts on their environmental and business performance. The results show that if ISO 14001 requirements become part of the organization's daily practices, then standardization of the organization's handling of environmental issues follows-leading, consequently, to better organizational environmental performance. In addition, standardization augments its effect on organizational environmental performance through its positive impact on employee discretion. Allowing employees discretion further improves environmental performance. We saw that discretion partially mediates the effect of standardization on environmental performance. Analysis of survey and financial data did not reveal any support for the hypothesis that achieving improvement in environmental performance as result of ISO 14001 implementation leads to better business performance; on the other hand, we saw that business performance was not harmed

Project management maturity: an assessment of project management capabilities among and between selected industries

Abstract: The project management community is actively demonstrating substantial interest in the development of viable methods to assess and improve project management maturity. This interest also underscores the important need to assess project management maturity among industries to provide many organizations a means to benchmark their maturity relative to others. This research provides a snapshot of the current level of project management maturity-among industries based on 42 detailed components of maturity. A survey of 126 organizations reveals the median level of project management maturity is level 2 out of 5 with respect to 36 of the 42 components analyzed. Additionally, this research compares project management maturity between four major industries: professional, scientific and technical services; information; finance and insurance; and manufacturing. We conclude that with few exceptions, there is not a significant difference in project management maturity between industries. These results establish a baseline to support organizational assessments of project management maturity at a component level of analysis. Additionally, these results will support future longitudinal research to monitor the evolution of project management maturity.

Facilitators of Knowledge Transfer in University-Industry Collaborations: A Knowledge-Based Perspective

Abstract: Using the knowledge-based view of the firm as our theoretical underpinning, we study partnerships between industrial firms and university research centers (URCs) in order to identify facilitators of knowledge transfer, particularly focusing on how firms learn from URCs. Data for this study were obtained from senior-level executives from a random sample of one hundred and seventy-three firms located in the northeastern US. Results indicate that social connectedness, trust, URC technology transfer-intellectual property policies, technological relatedness and technological capability are significant facilitators of knowledge transfer. We also found that the type of knowledge transferred, i.e., explicit versus tacit, moderated these relationships. We conclude with implications for future research and R&D policy

The antecedents of CIO role effectiveness in Organizations:An empirical study in the healthcare sector

Abstract: How should the effectiveness of Chief Information Officers (CIOs) in organizations be assessed? What are the primary antecedents of their role effectiveness, particularly as assessed by their top management teams (TMTs)? Despite a wealth of normative and prescriptive writings about what roles CIOs should play in contemporary firms, there has been limited empirical research on the above two questions. This study addresses the above questions, particularly with respect to the effectiveness of the CIOs in the healthcare sector. Based on survey data from CIOs and members of the TMTs, we find that there are six salient CIO roles: business strategist, integrator, relationship architect, utility provider, information steward, and educator. Further, CIO capabilities, in the form of business and strategic information technology knowledge, political savvy, and interpersonal communication makes CIOs effective, particularly in the roles of business strategist, integrator, and relationship architect. High levels of engagements between the CIOs and TMTs do not directly impact CIO's role effectiveness, but are mediated by the effects of CIO capabilities. These findings have significant implications for researchers and senior information systems (IS) executives.

SME adoption of IT: the case of electronic trading systems

Abstract: Literature on the institutional adoption of information technology (IT) can be classified into two approaches, one emphasizing rationalistic goal-oriented behavior and the other focusing on external forces. These approaches, however, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Organizations adopt IT both to achieve efficiency and in response to a variety of environmental and internal pressures. Consequently, there is a clear need for an integrated model that incorporates both institutional pressures and goal-oriented behavior. We develop, operationalize, and empirically test a model that explains the intention of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) brokerages to adopt electronic trading systems (ETS). This model integrates the rational factors driving goal-oriented behavior with the internal and external pressures to which these brokerages are subjected. The model is parsimonious, yet explains 67% of the variance in the intention to adopt ETS. The theoretical and practical implications of this model are discussed.

Patent portfolio diversity, technology strategy, and firm value

Abstract: This paper investigates how the composition and diversity of a firm's patent portfolio can create synergy and, thus, contribute to firm performance. To resolve two conflicting views on whether technology diversity or strategic focus can improve firm performance, we develop a scheme to measure the diversity of a patent portfolio at the two levels of broad technology diversity and core field diversity. In our framework, both views can be valid. The former argument is effective when the focal firm has very high technology stocks and profitability is used as a performance measure. The latter is true for a focal firm with above average technology stocks and where shareholder value is considered as a performance indicator. This paper highlights technology stocks as a moderator between the relationship of technology diversity and firm performance. Generally, a firm without very high-technology stocks should concentrate its R&D resources on a specific technology field, and even within the core technology field the firm should stay focus on a small number of core technologies. Results support the competence-based view of the firm. Technology-based firms should develop a portfolio with a clear technology focus. This study lays the groundwork for future study on the interrelationships of technology strategy, patent portfolio, and long-term performance.

Aligning business and information systems thinking: a cognitive approach

Abstract: Business-information systems (IS) alignment has become an important strategic imperative for organizations competing in the global economy. Recent research (Reich and Benbasat [56]) indicates that building a shared understanding between business and IS executives is one way of strengthening this alignment. This paper describes a study that examines the cognitive basis of shared understanding between business and IS executives. Using Personal Construct Theory (Kelly [36]), this study uses cognitive mapping techniques to explore the commonalities and individualities in the cognition between these executives. Eighty business and IS executives in six companies participated in this study. The results indicate that a higher level of cognitive commonality is positively related to a higher level of business-IS alignment. This is supported by findings that greater diversity in cognitive structure and cognitive content of business and IS executives coincide with a lower level of alignment. Implications for practitioners and researchers are discussed.

Key Dimensions of Inhibitors for the Deployment of Web-Based Business-to-Business Electronic Commerce

Abstract: There has been a rapid increase in the number of firms undertaking business-to-business (B2B) electronic commerce (e-commerce) initiatives. Although there are various benefits to B2B e-commerce, there are also inhibitors to its deployment. This study empirically investigates the inhibitors for deploying Web-based B2B e-commerce applications in organizations. A field survey of senior IT executives was conducted to examine the key problems that inhibit the deployment of Web-based B2B e-commerce. A comprehensive list of inhibitors was derived from an extensive review of the literature and pretested with senior IT executives. Data from 249 firms were factor analyzed to yield the underlying structural dimensions of inhibitors impacting the deployment of Web-based B2B e-commerce. Univariate t-test and multivariate discriminant analysis were carried out on the resulting ten dimensions to compare B2B (i.e., firms who have deployed B2B) and non-B2B firms (i.e., firms who have not deployed B2B). The results suggest that key inhibitors in B2B deployment are the lack of top management support, unresolved technical issues, the lack of e-commerce strategy, and the difficulties in cost-benefit assessment of e-commerce investments. Implications of the results for researchers and IT/engineering management executives are discussed

Leadership of information systems development projects

Abstract: How best to lead an information systems project team continues to be an open issue. For three decades, the research literature has contrasted between the leadership of the "chief programmer" led team to that of the "egoless" software team with little clarity as to what is appropriate leadership and under what circumstances. Software project teams, like other knowledge teams, are characterized by distributed expertise, the reliance on methodologies, high levels of collaboration, as well as the need to meet the expectations of a diverse set of stakeholders. We propose a theoretical model of information systems project team leadership that focuses on empowering and directive leadership practices and investigate whether this leadership is more effective than the use of traditional coordination mechanisms; we also test whether these relationships are moderated by factors such as task uncertainty or professional experience. We test this model using data from 69 software development teams. Our results indicate that empowering leadership has an important impact on team performance but only under conditions of high task uncertainty or team expertise.

Are Construction Disputes Inevitable

Abstract: Many construction projects are of long-duration and high value and foreseeing and planning for every eventuality may be impossible. Engineers and managers are expected to solve problems surfacing during the execution stage. Moreover, problems blended with conflict are damaging and manifest as disputes. The authors suggested that construction dispute can be conceptualized as having three basic components: contract provisions, triggering events and conflict. This conceptualization fits nicely with fault tree (FT) framework that is used to evaluate system failures. Furthermore, through the use of a hypothetical case, a fuzzy FT model was employed to analyze the likelihood of construction dispute. This research suggested that complex project delivered in the traditional design then build approach, construction dispute are bound to appear

Information Leaders in Product Development Organizational Networks: Social Network Analysis of the Design Structure Matrix

Abstract: Many models of Product Development (PD) are concerned with managing the decomposition and integration of tasks, teams and subsystems transforming a conceptual idea into a finished product. Specifically, a PD process is formed of cross-functional teams continuously exchanging information on specified tasks to integrate the product's final structure. Recently, it has been shown that large PD networks (e.g., tasks, teams, or components) follow a Scale Free structure. That is, each PD network included hubs that control information flow. Nevertheless, there is no literature on the implications of these findings on PD management. As a consequence, the objective of this paper is two-folded. First, we examine a set of mathematical measures such as centrality and brokerage used in Social Networks Analysis (SNA) to identify critical players in PD networks. Second, we link these findings to insights and recommendations for the management of complex PD organizational networks; in particular, detection and role designation of information leaders based on the given PD network structure

Transactive memory system in new product development teams

Abstract: With the increasing popularity of collective memory in the group behavior literature, the transactive memory system (TMS) attracts many researchers and practitioners from different fields, in particular, small group research. Nevertheless, the application of the theory of TMS on new product development teams is surprisingly scant. We argue that the TMS leverages the notion of project-team memory, which is mostly equated with mechanistic memory or electronic documents and databases, by facilitating an interpersonal awareness of who knows what and who has appropriate and adequate skills and expertise, and then receiving information from that person. We then empirically test the effects of TMS on new product development outcomes including mediating and moderating factors, i.e., the collective mind and environmental turbulence, respectively. By investigating 79 Turkish new product development project teams, we found that: 1) the TMS has a positive impact on team learning and speed-to-market; 2) the collective mind (i.e., team members' attention to interrelating actions) mediates relations between the TMS, team learning, and speed-to-market; and 3) team learning and speed-to-market mediates relations between the TMS and new product success. Further, the moderating effect of environmental turbulence is investigated between the TMS, and team learning and speed-to-market. We found that the impact of the TMS on: 1) speed-to-market is negative when market and technology turbulence associated with the environment is high and 2) team learning changes quadratically with respect to the market and technology turbulence. Theoretical and managerial implications of the study findings are discussed.

Information systems leadership

Abstract: Information system (IS) leadership is a critical area for many organizations because of their increasing dependence on ISs both for operational stability and for enablement of process innovation and business strategy. IS Leadership is distinctive from leadership in general because the Chief Information Officer (CIO) is expected to combine IS technical skills with an in-depth understanding of the organization across all functions from operational to strategic. Thus, unique leadership challenges arise due to the technology/business interface. The breadth of the IS Leadership role implies that IS Leadership research needs to cover a wide range of topics concerning the role and characteristics of the CIO, the CIO's interface with the top management team, and the CIO's organizational impact. This essay discusses the distinctive aspects of IS Leadership, identifies the dominant themes in prior IS Leadership research,and introduces five papers on IS Leadership in this issue.

Development of shared understanding between the Chief Information officer and top management team in U.S. and French Organizations: a cross-cultural comparison

Abstract: The gap in understanding between the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and the top management team (TMT) has often been cited as a cause of a troubled CIO/TMT relationship. Recent research has proposed the development of a shared understanding about the role of information systems (IS) in the organization as a key endeavor in bridging the "gap in understanding" between CIOs and TMT members. The authors propose a variety of knowledge exchange mechanisms, as well as relational similarity as key mechanisms for the development of this shared understanding. This study examines the cross-cultural efficacy of such mechanisms. Specifically, the study compares the development of this shared understanding between ClOs and the TMT in U.S. and French organizations. The research model is empirically tested using structural equation modeling via a field survey with two data samples: 1) 163 U.S. CIOs and 2) 44 French ClOs. The results show both similarities and differences in these mechanisms. Specifically, in both samples, CIO educational mechanisms impact the development of a shared understanding. However, while in the French sample social systems of knowing are key mechanisms, in the U.S. sample structural systems of knowing and relational similarity are key mechanisms of achieving a shared understanding between the CIO and TMT.

The impact of firm size and age on knowledge strategies during product development: a study of the drug delivery industry

Abstract: A successful new product development strategy involves the identification, development, and exploitation of key resources. Such exploitation of a firm's unique knowledge base ultimately leads to successful new products and, in turn, a sustainable competitive advantage. In this paper, we look at a firm's knowledge strategy along three dimensions, and examine the impact of firm size and age on the type of knowledge strategies used to build technological strength and competitive success. The three dimensions of knowledge strategy examined are: extent of emphasis on speed of learning, emphasis on internal versus external sourcing of knowledge, and the development of a broad versus a narrow knowledge base. Using a population of 27 firms from the drug delivery sector of the pharmaceutical industry, we found that firm size and age influenced the success of firm knowledge strategies. Interestingly, we found that the differences in the knowledge strategy dimensions between large and small firms and between old and young firms were not as great as expected. However, we found that firm size and age moderate the relationship between knowledge strategies and technological strength. In other words, firms that used appropriate knowledge strategies for their size and age optimized their technological strength. Concerning size, smaller firms that focused on faster learning and developing a narrow knowledge base were able to optimize technological strength. On the other hand, large firms that developed a broader knowledge base and focused on internal learning achieved similar success. Concerning age, younger firms that maintained connections to external sources of learning and developed a narrower, niche-based knowledge optimized their technological strength.

Innovative usage of information technology in Singapore organizations: do CIO characteristics make a difference?

Abstract: Based on the upper echelon theory, this paper studies the relationship between the individual characteristics of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and organizational innovative usage of information technology (IT) by examining both the CIO's demographic characteristics and personality traits. Survey results from 89 CIOs strongly support our proposition. A CIO's personality traits of openness and extraversion and CIO's demographic characteristics of educational level have strong impact on the organizational innovative usage of IT even after controlling for organizational variables such as the organization's business strategy, outsourcing of IT operations, IT department age, and IT budget relative to revenue. This paper contributes to the age-old debate on whether managers matter in deciding an organization's strategy.

Incorporating Quality Considerations Into Project Time/Cost Tradeoff Analysis and Decision Making

Abstract: Existing models and methods of project scheduling implicitly assume uniform quality when evaluating time/cost tradeoffs, but do not model quality explicitly. For a project manager such as a general contractor who subcontracts most tasks of a project, or other project managers who face decisions concerning the level of quality to perform for each task, this is not a realistic assumption. In this paper, we extend the standard discrete time/cost tradeoff problem by assuming that each option for each task is evaluated for its duration, cost, and also its quality. We then provide a mixed integer linear programming model for solving one version of this problem, and illustrate with an example. We next formulate a goal programming mixed integer linear program for a very general version of the problem. This formulation allows for many different definitions of quality, and many combinations of time, cost, and quality goals with preemptive and/or weighted priorities, and is also illustrated with an example. We show how these models can be used to generate quality level curves to illustrate the tradeoffs among time, cost, and quality. These level curves can then be used by project managers to make project scheduling decisions that explicitly model and consider quality as well as time and cost, so that better and more appropriate decisions can be made for a particular situation

Evaluating the Relative Performance of Engineering Design Projects: A Case Study Using Data Envelopment Analysis

Abstract: This paper presents a case study of how Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was applied to generate objective cross-project comparisons of project duration within an engineering department of the Belgian Armed Forces To date, DEA has been applied to study projects within certain domains (eg, software and RD however, DEA has not been proposed as a general project evaluation tool within the project management literature In this case study, we demonstrate how DEA fills a gap not addressed by commonly applied project evaluation methods (such as earned value management) by allowing the objective comparison of projects on actual measures, such as duration and cost, by explicitly considering differences in key input characteristics across these projects Thus, DEA can overcome the paradigm of project uniqueness and facilitate cross-project learning We describe how DEA allowed the department to gain new insight about the impact of changes to its engineering design process (redesigned based on ISO 15288), creating a performance index that simultaneously considers project duration and key input variables that determine project duration We conclude with directions for future research on the application of DEA as a project evaluation tool for project managers, program office managers, and other decision-makers in project-based organizations

A simulation-based optimization framework for product development cycle time reduction

Abstract: By the mid-1990s, the importance of early introduction of new products to both market share and profitability became fully understood. Thus, reducing product time-to-market became an essential requirement for continuous competition. Since product development projects (PDPs) are based on information content and their accompanying information-dominated methods, an efficient methodology for reducing PDP time initially requires developing an understanding of the information flow among different project processes. One tool that helps achieving this understanding is the design structure matrix (DSM). Because much of the time involved in a complex PDP is attributable to its expensive iterative nature, resequencing project activities for efficient execution become the next requirement. This paper presents a simulation-based optimization framework that determines the optimal sequence of activities execution within a PDP that minimizes project total iterative time given stochastic activity durations. A mathematical model representing the problem is built as an MS Excel module and Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is used to interface this module with a metaheuristic optimization algorithm called Simulated Annealing and commercial risk analysis software "Crystal Ball" to solve the model.

Entropy methods for joint distributions in decision analysis

Abstract: A fundamental step in decision analysis is the elicitation of the decision maker's information about the uncertainties of the decision situation in the form of a joint probability distribution. This paper presents a method based on the maximum entropy principle to obtain a joint probability distribution using lower order joint probability assessments. The approach reduces the number of assessments significantly and also reduces the number of conditioning variables in these assessments. We discuss the order of the approximation provided by the maximum entropy distribution with each lower order assessment using a Monte Carlo simulation and discuss the implications of using the maximum entropy distribution in Bayesian inference. We present an application to a practical decision situation faced by a semiconductor testing company in the Silicon Valley.

The Application of New Product Development Tools in Industry: The Case of Singapore

Abstract: Literature suggests that new product development (NPD) is critical for industrial firms to gain a competitive advantage. Intriguingly, the systematic application of NPD tools in industry, despite the extensive effort that has been invested and the benefits that can be obtained, remains mostly uncommon. By conducting ten semi-structured interviews with selected academics and industrialists and using a sample of 67 industrial firms in Singapore for questionnaire survey, this empirical study investigates the diffusion and adoption of NPD tools in industry. It also probes the factors which may affect the application of NPD tools. Our findings reveal that the application of NPD tools is still under-exploited in most of the industrial companies in Singapore. Although the application of NPD tools is affected by many factors, the most significant are management support in the company and the innovativeness orientation of the company. Surprisingly, we found that the usefulness of tools has little influence on whether a tool is adopted or not

Data Warehousing Process Maturity: An Exploratory Study of Factors Influencing User Perceptions

Abstract: This paper explores the factors influencing perceptions of data warehousing process maturity. Data warehousing, like software development, is a process, which can be expressed in terms of components such as artifacts and workflows. In software engineering, the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) was developed to define different levels of software process maturity. We draw upon the concepts underlying CMM to define different maturity levels for a data warehousing process (DWP). Based on the literature in software development and maturity, we identify a set of features for characterizing the levels of data warehousing process maturity and conduct an exploratory field study to empirically examine if those indeed are factors influencing perceptions of maturity. Our focus in this paper is on managerial perceptions of DWP. The results of this exploratory study indicate that several factors-data quality, alignment of architecture, change management, organizational readiness, and data warehouse size-have an impact on DWP maturity, as perceived by IT professionals. From a practical standpoint, the results provide useful pointers, both managerial and technological, to organizations aspiring to elevate their data warehousing processes to more mature levels. This paper also opens up several areas for future research, including instrument development for assessing DWP maturity

Functionality Risk in Information Systems Development: An Empirical Investigation

Abstract: Functionality risk is defined as the risk that a completed system will not meet its users' needs. Understanding functionality risk is central to successful information systems development (ISD), yet much of the research in this area has focused on identification of risk factors and development of conceptual frameworks. Little is known about how various functionality risk factors collectively influence managers' perceptions about the risk that a project will fail. As organizations become increasingly reliant on software, it is evermore important to understand functionality risk in ISD. In this paper , we develop an integrative model of functionality risk to explain the relative importance of six salient functionality risk factors that have been consistently identified in the prior ISD literature as being important: 1) related technical knowledge; 2) customer involvement; 3) requirements volatility; 4) development methodology fit; 5) formal project management practices; 6) project complexity. The model is tested empirically with 60 highly experienced MIS Directors in sixty organizations. In addition to providing empirical support for the proposed model, the relative importance of each of the key functionality risk factors is empirically assessed. Development methodology fit, customer involvement, and use of formal project management practices emerged as the top three functionality risk factors. Additional finer-grained analyses show that high methodology fit lowers several other sources of risk. Implications for research and practice are discussed

Incremental and Comprehensive Strategic Information Systems Planning in an Uncertain Environment

Abstract: Strategic information systems planning (SISP) is a critical challenge for organizations. Some researchers have suggested that more incremental SISP in an uncertain environment produces greater planning success, while others have suggested that more comprehensive SISP does so in that environment. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of incremental versus comprehensive SISP on SISP success in environments of varying uncertainty. A questionnaire defined SISP in terms of characteristics of incremental and comprehensive planning. It measured environmental uncertainty in terms of 1) the changeability and unpredictability components of dynamism, 2) heterogeneity, and 3) the scarcity and competition components of hostility. It assessed planning success as a second-order construct composed of alignment, analysis, cooperation, and capabilities. A postal survey collected data from 161 IS executives. The constructs were extensively validated. In general, greater SISP comprehensiveness predicted greater SISP success. Greater changeability and unpredictability, however, weakened the impact of such SISP on success. On the other hand, as the environment became more competitive, more comprehensive SISP led to greater SISP success. These findings contribute by suggesting that planners should expect comprehensive SISP to be less effective as changeability and unpredictability increase, but more effective as competition increases

Self-Interest Assumption and Relational Trust in University-Industry Knowledge Transfers

Abstract: Since knowledge is a critical resource for ensuring firm growth and survival, firms are increasingly going outside their boundaries and collaborating with other organizations to obtain new knowledge. This study focuses on two distinct self-enforcing safeguards important for interorganizational knowledge transfer. Using survey questionnaire data from senior executives in 180 small to large-sized industrial firms working with university research centers, we focus on the self-enforcing safeguards of self-interest assumption and relational trust and examine the role of each in university-industry knowledge transfer. Results from multiple linear regression show both self-interest assumption and relational trust are positively associated with greater knowledge transfer, however, relational trust is more strongly associated to knowledge transfer than self-interest assumption. We also found that as knowledge becomes more tacit, self-interest assumption becomes negatively associated with knowledge transfer while relational trust becomes more strongly positive. We conclude by discussing implications for future research and management practice

Examining the relationship between electronic marketplace strategy and structure

Abstract: The contribution of market structure to the success of an electronic marketplace (e-marketplace) is an issue that has not received a great deal of attention in the literature. Although, researchers have given some attention to the antecedents of successful e-marketplace participation by organizations,there has been relatively little attention given to the e-marketplace structures. In this paper, the issue of e-marketplace strategy and its relationship withe-marketplace structure is examined. A classification of e-marketplace strategies is presented. The market structures of intermediary, hierarchy, consortium,and large group ownership structures are mapped onto this classification using four case studies to explain the relationship between structure and strategy. Each structural model has a range of implications for market participants. These include the economic and service benefits from intermediaries, economic benefits, and the potential to deliver improved levels of service for hierarchies,the relational benefits from the strong network ethos of consortia, and large group ownership structures which have potential for regional community or industry sector development.

Electric power generation planning for interrelated projects: a real options approach

Abstract: The market uncertainties in the generation business in the U.S. electric power industry have increased the significance of two factors in generation planning: financial risks and managerial flexibilities. At the same time,numerous utilities have multiple generation planning projects that are interrelated with respect to their market values. For such utilities, in order to quantitatively address these two factors, in this paper, we develop and analyze a real options model for general n interrelated projects. Specifically, first, we derive a unique lattice process that approximates interrelated continuous processes for the evolution of values of projects and options (e.g., selling a constructed project). The steps of the approximation for n projects are presented progressively starting from two projects. Next, based on the lattice process, we investigate the impact of interrelation on the values of options. Then, we provide a backward dynamic programming model for optimal sequential decision making where the decisions are made over the options. Finally, managerial insights and economic implications are illustrated via numerical examples.

Does the use of computer-based BPC tools contribute to redesign effectiveness? Insights from a hermeneutic study

Abstract: Much of the Business Process Change (BPC) literature maintains that the use of computer-based tools for BPC-related tasks such as process modeling, simulation, and project management has a positive influence on business process redesign effectiveness. Our hermeneutic study of text and text analogues in two organizations reveals that the use of computer-based BPC tools can have two opposing effects on redesign effectiveness. We find that, consistent with the existing literature, such tools can indeed enhance redesign effectiveness by providing: 1) a structure to the redesign process; 2) cognitive support to the redesigners; and 3) a mode for standardized representation of the redesigns. However, we also discover that the autonomization of electronically represented redesigns and the organizational members' subsequent focus on standardized, detailed, and objectified representations (rather than on socially shared understandings) of the redesign, can lead to an alienation of the original redesigners from the business processes that they envisioned. This alienation, further amplified as a result of frequent and sometimes meaningless changes to the electronically objectified redesigns mandated by other BPC stakeholders in the organization, can contribute to inconsistencies in the redesign, thus resulting in a negative influence of BPC tools on redesign effectiveness. Our study 1) illustrates the use of the "hermeneutic circle" to understand the role of computer-based tools in business process redesign; 2) argues that the role of BPC tools can be better understood by focusing on the sociotechnical interaction of the redesigners with the BPC tools in an organizational context rather than by studying the tools in isolation; and 3) indicates that the effect of tools on redesign effectiveness depends on the relative strengths of the two opposing effects of BPC tool use discussed above.