Showing papers in "Information Technology & People in 1999"
2,984 citations
TL;DR: The authors analyse the reasons for failure, and suggest that the project failed because of institutional forces which inhibited dramatic changes in work habits.
Abstract: Discusses the use of information technology to facilitate communication and collaboration. In this action research project a groupware product called Lotus NotesTM was implemented to facilitate communication and collaboration amongst the senior management team. Although there was a real need for change, and the project received strong support from senior management on the basis that it would enable radical changes in coordination within the workgroup, these radical changes did not occur. The authors analyse the reasons for failure, and suggest that the project failed because of institutional forces which inhibited dramatic changes in work habits.
229 citations
TL;DR: The paper argues that traditional IS development methodologies are treated primarily as a necessary fiction to present an image of control or to provide a symbolic status, and are too mechanistic to be of much use in the detailed, day‐to‐day organization of systems developers’ activities.
Abstract: This paper describes the findings of a field study that explores the process of information systems (IS) development in a large organization. The paper argues that traditional IS development methodologies are treated primarily as a necessary fiction to present an image of control or to provide a symbolic status, and are too mechanistic to be of much use in the detailed, day‐to‐day organization of systems developers’ activities. By drawing on the insights gained from this study, the paper outlines some implications for IS development methodologies. A secondary purpose of the paper is to illustrate the use of an “ecological” research approach to IS development as advocated by Shneiderman and Carroll.
206 citations
TL;DR: The IS action research framework proposed recently by Lau is refined and presented as a set of guidelines in this paper and the implications of this refined framework on IS research and practice are discussed.
Abstract: Based on recent reviews regarding its use in information systems (IS) studies, this paper argues that action research is still not well recognized by IS researchers and mainstream IS journals especially in North America. To make the situation worse, existing criteria used to assess the quality of action research studies are found to be inadequate when applied to IS. In order to advance its understanding and use by IS researchers and practitioners, the IS action research framework proposed recently by Lau is refined and presented as a set of guidelines in this paper. The implications of this refined framework on IS research and practice are discussed.
177 citations
TL;DR: Findings from ethnographic studies of two large insurance organizations are presented to illustrate how cultural assumptions about IT are implicated in IT management and generate five archetypes of IT culture: the revered, controlled, demystified, integrated, and fearful IT cultures.
Abstract: Much research on information technology (IT) emphasizes the rational aspects of IT use. However, cultural analyses have considered IT as a symbolic artifact open to social interpretation. This article presents findings from ethnographic studies of two large insurance organizations to illustrate how cultural assumptions about IT are implicated in IT management. We employ the metaphor of magic as an interpretive lens to generate five archetypes of IT culture: the revered, controlled, demystified, integrated, and fearful IT cultures. Each of these archetypal cultural patterns reflects different assumptions about the “magic” of IT and the “wizards” who control its powers. These patterns are similar to social responses to the unknown that have been found in human cultures for hundreds of years. The metaphor itself was drawn from the language of the two organizations. All five archetypes were manifest in both of the companies studied, suggesting that organizations do not necessarily develop unified symbolic meanings of IT. Although separately each archetype invites novel insights into the management of IT in organizations, together they reveal even deeper interpretations consistent with contemporary theories of cultural differentiation and fragmentation.
156 citations
128 citations
TL;DR: The problems of evaluating the benefits of an investment in information technology and systems against a background of institutional change are considered and formative evaluation will be beneficial, but where the contingencies are uncertain, structural changes in the organisation may be more effective in achieving benefits.
Abstract: This paper considers the problems of evaluating the benefits of an investment in information technology and systems against a background of institutional change. It is based on a case study in the National Health Service and follows the progress of a project to introduce benefits realisation in NHS Trusts. The case illustrates the importance of personal, hands‐on attention to benefits management and calls attention to the different contingencies faced by managers in attempting to introduce evaluation or benefits realisation schemes. It concludes that, where managers face “certain” contingencies, formative evaluation will be beneficial, but where the contingencies are uncertain, structural changes in the organisation may be more effective in achieving benefits. The paper ends with a plea for evaluation activities to be re‐integrated into their organisational context.
86 citations
TL;DR: A taxonomy based on institutional theory and six broad diffusion drivers that might be considered to sustain the implementation process of intranets are adapted and it seems that the critical drivers are knowledge building, subsidy and mobilization in the early stages of implementation.
Abstract: Intranets hold great promise as “organizational Internets” to allow information sharing and collaboration across departments, functions and different information systems within an organization. Yet not much is known about how to implement intranets. We adapt a taxonomy based on institutional theory and distinguish six broad diffusion drivers that might be considered to sustain the implementation process. An exploratory field study of four intranet implementations was conducted to analyze which drivers were used and the results that were yielded. We draw several conclusions. First, all six drivers were deployed in the analyzed cases. Second, the choice of drivers varied with the level of the intranet (corporate or unit), the implementation stage, and existing organizational practices and contingencies. Third, it seems that the critical drivers are knowledge building, subsidy and mobilization in the early stages of implementation. In the later stages knowledge deployment, subsidy and innovation directives were most commonly used.
83 citations
64 citations
TL;DR: It was found that different modes of use of the OSS identified related to contextual features, such as democratic versus authoritarian management traditions, the sharing of power versus authority of power, the culture of consultation versus obedience to superiors, and the role OSS played in the process.
Abstract: Reports preliminary results from an ethnographic study of a consultative process in an Australian university during 1997 By providing a “virtual discussion forum” an organisational support system (OSS), based on e‐mail and Intranet, was expected to enable equal participation in the consultative process, freedom of expression (“everybody will have their say and will be heard”) and to contribute to more participative and consensus‐based decision making The analysis of data collected (messages, documents, interviews, notes) suggests that the OSS was not used uniformly across the institution by departments, groups and individuals Different modes of use of the OSS identified related to contextual features, such as democratic versus authoritarian management traditions, the sharing of power versus authority of power, the culture of consultation versus obedience to superiors It was found that these contextual features conditioned the modes of use and consequently the role OSS played in the process On the other hand, it was observed how, in the course of the process, the OSS affected these contextual factors themselves
55 citations
TL;DR: Members of an Australian beef producer group have become users of electronic communication as a precursor to fuller engagement in electronic commerce and the apparent success of the project suggests it can be used or adapted for other members of the beef industry, having regard for their particular circumstances.
Abstract: Members of an Australian beef producer group have become users of electronic communication as a precursor to fuller engagement in electronic commerce. The research team’s immediate aim was to assist this group to become effective users of the Internet. In addition, using interpretive methods of enquiry, aims to provide a basis from which subsequent wider usage of the Internet in the red meat industry could be enabled. Presents data from the project using diffusion theory as a framework, with rich description to allow for further interpretation of the views of all parties. The apparent success of the project suggests it can be used or adapted for other members of the beef industry, having regard for their particular circumstances.
TL;DR: The best ebooks about Information Systems An Emerging Discipline that you can get for free here by download this Information systems An emerging discipline and save to your desktop.
Abstract: The best ebooks about Information Systems An Emerging Discipline that you can get for free here by download this Information Systems An Emerging Discipline and save to your desktop. This ebooks is under topic such as information systems an emerging discipline ttpltd setting the landscape for an emerging discipline insa the emerging academic discipline of knowledge management service science,management, engineering, and design (ssmed survivable network systems: an emerging discipline evaluating and developing theories in the information information system concepts: an integrated discipline survivable network systems: an emerging discipline the discipline of information systems: issues and challenges information technology in educational management as an social informatics: an emerging discipline? social informatics: an emerging discipline? springer information systems, dominant paradigms, and emerging service science, management, engineering, and design information technology platforms: conceptualisation and a key issues in information systems management: a shift the emerging discipline of knowledge management knowledge management: an emerging discipline rooted in a information systems (discipline) sweethaven02 survivable network systems: fin emerging discipline developing information systems design knowledge: a the information technology model curriculum jite dental informatics: an emerging biomedical informatics science in nformation esearch welcome @ wise nanotoxicology an emerging discipline veterinary world component 6: health management information systems improving student learning about a threshold concept in understanding the difference between information management foster mohrhardt: connecting the traditional world of lnai 4200 emerging information and communication designing to inform: toward conceptualizing practitioner is information systems a science? an inquiry into the a theory of theories in information systems what is informatics the university of edinburgh the information systems academic discipline in australia developing the content of the discipline «information the information systems academic discipline in australia information systems and qualitative research chapter 0
TL;DR: The symbolic role of social institutions in exerting control over system development decisions is analyzed and three regulatory mechanisms, developed by institutional theorists, are used to explain how specific social institutions exert their control.
Abstract: Examines sources of control over information system development decisions. Although past research has examined sources of internal organizational control that were solely determined by technical/rational goals, this article analyzes the symbolic role of social institutions in exerting control over system development decisions. Three regulatory mechanisms, developed by institutional theorists, are used to explain how specific social institutions exert their control. The mechanisms of coercive isomorphism, mimetic isomorphism and normative isomorphism help illustrate the types of social forces that enhance similarity of systems across organizations. Three conditions also are identified which moderate these effects: dependence on external institutions having control over an organization’s resources; unclear performance standards for system development; and interaction patterns during development. These conditions imply that social control would differ greatly according to whether the major influences on the process of system development arise from within the organization or are imposed from external institutions. The examination of symbolic/institutional forces in system development is useful in both the evaluation of system effectiveness and the assessment of the “appropriateness” of managerial interventions in the process. Future research should empirically examine these manifestations of social control and their influence on system development decisions.
TL;DR: The interaction that took place between an analyst and a client in a public sector agency in Tasmania, Australia is described in detail, using a theatrical metaphor to give a representation that encompasses chronological and contextual aspects.
Abstract: Discusses the qualitative analysis of a case study of analyst‐client communications using grounded theory and themed analyses. Describes in detail the interaction that took place between an analyst and a client in a public sector agency in Tasmania, Australia. Uses a theatrical metaphor to give a representation that encompasses chronological and contextual aspects, providing an immediacy that enables the reader to appreciate how the interaction developed over time. Using concepts derived from the use of grounded theory techniques, demonstrates how these concepts and themes operated in this particular case. Concludes with a general discussion of themes and contextual influences as they occur in the case of the student assistance scheme and other cases studied by the author.
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that e‐mail features make it amenable to political abuse and elaborates on the more general, theoretical, practical and ethical implications from this research.
Abstract: The changing role of technology in the virtual workplace has been accompanied by a proliferation of research activity focusing initially on the technical aspects and, more recently, on the social and political aspects of the diffusion process, including power and politics. This paper builds on the work of Kling and Markus on power and politics in IT, extending it to e‐mail and more specifically, to the use of e‐mail for petty tyranny. Reviews the literature on petty tyranny and its implications to IT and e‐mail. Presents a case study in which e‐mail was used by a department chair to manipulate, control, and coerce employees. The discussion links the events in the case with the literature on petty tyranny. In conclusion, demonstrates that e‐mail features make it amenable to political abuse and elaborates on the more general, theoretical, practical and ethical implications from this research.
TL;DR: The analysis of the rich, multidimensional information offered by participants reveals that reengineering projects elicit complex experiences involving a multitude of horizons, and suggests that, by taking the discourse of efficiency to extremes, reeengineering ends up by unveiling the conflicts inherent in the arrangements that generally characterize workplace.
Abstract: This work employs a phenomenological approach to investigate how people experience the radical transformation of their work lives caused by reengineering (BPR) processes. The common essences of the experiences of three co‐researchers are synthesized into a composite textural‐structural description of the reengineering phenomenon. The analysis of the rich, multidimensional information offered by participants reveals that reengineering projects elicit complex experiences involving a multitude of horizons. In particular, the analysis suggests that, by taking the discourse of efficiency to extremes, reeengineering ends up by unveiling the conflicts inherent in the arrangements that generally characterize workplace. This proposition goes beyond the traditional belief that the basic reason for resistance in BPR projects is the fear of layoffs or the modification of power arrangements. Indeed, such factors seem to be part of the problem. It is also necessary to understand the important role of the crisis that reeengineering may generate in individuals’ ongoing process of sense making.
TL;DR: This article compares trials for renewing grocery purchasing process as a part of home help for the elderly and disabled in Finland using the time efficiency of home‐helpers as a primary criterion and concludes that the intermediary based EC seems to be most suitable for this customer group.
Abstract: Increased demand for organized home help for elderly and disabled people and parallel budget cuts of social care require new efficient solutions to save home‐helpers’ time and ensure the current quality of provided services. A number of trials for renewing grocery purchasing process as a part of home help for the elderly and disabled have lately been initiated in Finland. In all but one of these trials electronic commerce (EC) services are included in the purchase process. In this article we compare these trials using the time efficiency of home‐helpers as a primary criterion. Using electronic order delivery gives even additional benefits, releasing the home‐helper from the need to visit the grocery store. The Full EC Model would be the best solution. However, it might not be feasible for most customers, who do not necessarily have the technology or ability to use it. Therefore, the intermediary based EC seems to be most suitable for this customer group.
TL;DR: It is suggested that social, organisational and political factors are inherent in all such research enterprises, and that in order to facilitate a rich understanding of complex systems, these factors must also be considered as part of the research data.
Abstract: Considers the problems of a multi‐disciplinary team working together to understand and evaluate a healthcare information system, which itself is situated in a complex organisational and political environment. Provides general discussion of problems faced by evaluators of such systems. Describes this specific evaluation project (Electronic Patient Records in the UK National Health Service), gives an account of the evaluation process as it occurred, highlights some of the problems encountered, and discusses attempts to overcome these. Suggests that social, organisational and political factors are inherent in all such research enterprises, and that in order to facilitate a rich understanding of complex systems, these factors must also be considered as part of the research data.
TL;DR: Key areas to consider when changing practice identified from this study are time availability, intended use, adequate training, clinical champions, work practice fit, system refinement, around‐the‐clock support and environment influence.
Abstract: This paper describes our experiences from a two‐year research study to introduce evidence‐based practice (EBP) through a set of electronic information tools into two Canadian health regions. The improvisational model of technological change by Orlikowski and Hofman (1997) is used to provide the conceptual foundations for understanding the pattern of evolution associated with the tools observed in these two settings over time. Key areas to consider when changing practice identified from this study are time availability, intended use, adequate training, clinical champions, work practice fit, system refinement, around‐the‐clock support and environment influence. Health organizations should also distinguish anticipated, emergent and opportunistic changes and improvise accordingly when introducing EBP information tools in a setting that is characteristically complex, dynamic and unpredictable.
TL;DR: A model ‐ “Active reflection” ‐ of the reflective practice processes used by the trainee facilitators are presented, which describes the trainees’ accounts of the two complementary action reflection processes.
Abstract: Reports part of a grounded theory study in which 15 facilitators, already experienced in conventional meetings, were trained to become facilitators of face‐to‐face electronic meetings. Presents a model ‐ “Active reflection” ‐ of the reflective practice processes used by the trainee facilitators. Active reflection is a term which describes the trainees’ accounts of the two complementary action reflection processes: reflection on action (thinking back on what was done) and reflection in action (thinking about the action while one is doing it). Identifies a number of implications for group support systems facilitation training and practice.
TL;DR: This paper deals with a problem relevant to the development and use of the Electronic Patient Record, and in particular looks forward to the time when such records are shared between large numbers of health carers.
Abstract: This paper deals with a problem relevant to the development and use of the Electronic Patient Record, and in particular looks forward to the time when such records are shared between large numbers of health carers. It asks questions concerning decision‐making about how much of the health care record an individual Health Care Practitioner of any stated specialism (notionally in the British National Health Service, but generally applicable) should be able to see of the record, in relation to his or her perceived need. The authors conclude that a Health Care Practitioner meeting the criteria for a Health Care Professional should largely determine the information he or she needs to allow the practice of good health care (“need‐to‐know”). On the other hand those whose work does not accord them Health Care Professional status should, where appropriate, be granted access to data by the Health Care Professionals for whom they work (“allowed‐to‐know”). Finally, it presents and briefly describes an object‐oriented model to illustrate the authors’ conclusions.