A DELPHI STUDY OF OBSOLETE ASSUMPTIONS IN FREE/LIBRE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE

Free/libre and open source software (FLOSS) has evolved significantly over the past 20 years and estimates suggest that it accounts for 80-90% of any given piece of modern software. A consequence of this evolution is that many of the assumptions made by FLOSS researchers may be obsolete. This would have major negative implications for research validity and hampers theory generation on FLOSS. This study sought to identify significant obsolete assumptions that persist in FLOSS research. Using Delphi research design with a panel of 20 expert researchers, 21 obsolete assumptions about FLOSS were identified and ranked. We performed a thematic analysis and grouped these obsolete assumptions into six themes: Sampling, Project/Community, Product, Contributor, Evaluation, and Development Process. The Sampling theme was ranked as having the most significant obsolete assumptions although only two assumptions were associated with this theme. The Project/Community theme contained six obsolete assumptions – the most of any theme

Driving Strategy with Employees: A sustainable Maturity Model approach for Intraorganizational Online Collaboration

Die vorliegende Dissertation untersucht die digitalen Transformationen in der Arbeitswelt und die daraus resultierenden Anforderungen an die Intraorganisatorische Online-Zusammenarbeit (IOC). Vor dem Hintergrund der dynamischen VUCA-Welt wird die Notwendigkeit hervorgehoben, die IOC-Fähigkeiten von Organisationen ganzheitlich zu bewerten und zu verbessern. Als zentrale wissenschaftliche Beiträge werden ein umfassender Anforderungskatalog für IOC-Steuerungsinstrumente dokumentiert und angewendet, die IOC-Literatur durch die systematische Aufarbeitung von 334 wissenschaftlichen Publikationen synthetisiert und deren Erfolgsfaktoren kategorisiert. Zudem wird ein IOC-Reifegradmodell mit domänenrelevanten Fähigkeiten und einer Entwicklungsstrategie vorgestellt. Der DEDAC-Reifegradmodell-Rahmen stellt einen domänenunabhängigen konzeptuellen Ansatz zur Verbesserung der Reifegradmodell-Praktikabilität dar, ergänzt durch Richtlinien für die Gestaltung von Delphi-Studien zur Reifegradmodell-Entwicklung. Aus praktischer Perspektive bietet die Arbeit einen Anforderungskatalog für IOC-Steuerungsinstrumente, eine systematische Übersicht über IOC-Erfolgsfaktoren, eine Kategorisierung und einen Reifepfad für das Management von IOC. Der DEDAC-Reifegradmodell-Rahmen dient zudem als Ansatz zur Steuerung und kontinuierlichen Verbesserung von IOC und anderen Bereichen. Trotz der umfangreichen Beiträge gibt es Limitationen, insbesondere die fehlende weitere Evaluierung des DEDAC-Reifegradmodell-Rahmens und die fehlende praktische Anwendung des IOC-Reifegradmodell-Prototyps in Organisationen. Zukünftige Forschungen könnten sich auf die Anwendung und Evaluation des IOC-Reifegradmodell-Prototyps in realen Organisationen konzentrieren, die Anpassungsfähigkeit an die Organisation untersuchen und den Reifepfad dynamisieren

Assessment of clinical trial quality and its impact on meta-analyses

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether different quality assessment tools applied to a group of clinical trials could be correlated, and what would be their impact on meta-analysis results. METHODS: Thirty-eight randomized controlled clinical trials were analyzed. These had been selected for a systematic review of the therapeutic efficacy of alpha interferon for treating chronic hepatitis B. The following tools were utilized: Maastricht (M), Delphi (D), Jadad (J) and the Cochrane Collaboration (CC) method (gold standard). The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to compare the results from the three methods. The Kappa test was used to assess the concordance between the reviewers in applying the tools, and the weighted Kappa test was applied to compare the quality ranking determined by the tools. The outcomes assessed in the meta-analyses were clearance of HBV-DNA and HBeAg. RESULTS: The studies presented regular to low quality. The concordance between reviewers varied according to the instrument utilized: D=0.12; J=0.29; M=0.33; and CC=0.53. The correlation was moderate and homogeneous (D/J=0.51; D/M=0.53; and J/M=0.52). Thje meta-analysis result relating to HBV-DNA ranged from RR=0.71 (95% CI: 0.66-0.77) to RR=0.67 (95% CI: 0.58-0.79). For HBeAg, the results ranged from RR=0.85 (95% CI: 0.80-0.90) to RR=0.85 ( 95% CI: 0.77-0.93). These results depended on the quality of the studies included. CONCLUSIONS: The quality assessment tools presented good correlation. In systematic reviews with the same direction of effect, the quality assessment may not significantly change the results. The Cochrane Collaboration method was the most reproducible method and easiest to apply.OBJETIVO: Analisar se diferentes instrumentos de avaliação de qualidade, aplicados a um grupo de estudos clínicos que se correlacionam e qual seu impacto no resultado na metanálise. MÉTODOS: Foram analisados 38 estudos clínicos randomizados e controlados, selecionados para a revisão sistemática sobre a eficácia terapêutica do Interferon Alfa no tratamento da hepatite crônica pelo vírus B. Utilizaram-se os seguintes instrumentos: Maastricht (M), Delphi (D) e Jadad (J) e o método da Colaboração Cochrane (CC), considerado padrão-ouro. Os resultados definidos pelos três instrumentos foram comparados pelo teste de Correlação de Spearman. O teste de Kappa (K) avaliou a concordância entre os revisores na aplicação dos instrumentos e o teste de Kappa ponderado analisou o ordenamento de qualidade definido pelos instrumentos. O clareamento do HBV-DNA e HbeAg foi o desfecho avaliado na metanálise. RESULTADOS: Os estudos foram de regular e baixa qualidade. A concordância entre os revisores foi, de acordo com o instrumento: D=0.12, J=0.29 e M=0.33 e CC= 0,53. A correlação foi moderada e homogênea (D/J=0,51; D/M=0,53 e J/M=0,52). Os resultados da metanálise (HBV-DNA), variaram de RR=0,71; IC 95%: 0,66-0,77 a RR=0,67; IC 95%: 0,58-0,79 e (HbeAg) de RR=0,85; IC 95%: 0,80-0,90 a RR=0,85; IC 95%:0,77-0,93, dependendo da qualidade dos estudos incluídos. CONCLUSÕES: Os instrumentos de avaliação de qualidade têm boa correlação. Nas revisões sistemáticas que apontem à mesma direção do efeito, a avaliação pode não alterar significantemente seu resultado. O método da Colaboração Cochrane é o mais reprodutível e de simples aplicação.Faculdade Estadual de Medicina de MaríliaUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do NorteUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de MedicinaUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

The Role of Cultural Values for Digital Transformation: Insights from a Delphi Study

The rapid advancement of digital technologies has fundamentally changed the competitive dynamics of industries. To cope with an increasingly unstable environment and to fully leverage the opportunities opened by new technologies, organizations need to transform their businesses. Digital transformation initiatives are prevalent throughout industries, yet often experience failure due to inert organizational cultures preventing change. We adopt a value-centric approach to organizational culture to identify cultural values critical for digital transformation success. Our exploratory Delphi study with 25 research and industry experts resulted in twelve identified cultural values. The results point to an ideal combination of two culture types of the competing values framework, emphasizing values that foster innovation and concern for people. With the identification of an ideal target culture for cultural change initiatives, we extend the knowledge in IT-enabled business transformation literature and lay the foundation for future research on the role of culture in digital transformation

Identifying ICU patient safety priorities within a Northern Ontario setting : a delphi study

The purpose of this study was to explore patient safety priorities as perceived by clinical experts working in a northern Ontario adult ICU. A modified Delphi was used to elicit consensus regarding patient safety priorities from the perspective of an expert panel of registered nurses and intensivists. At the onset of the study, the consensus level was set at 70%. Data was collected through serials rounds with researcher-developed questionnaires. Descriptive statistical analysis was completed. No consensus was reached at Round 1. Three points of consensus regarding patient safety priorities were reached at Round 2: improving pain and agitation management; incorporating a checklist into the bullet round reporting tool; and implementing use of visual cues for high-risk lines. These strategies support the need for anticipation, recognition, and management of at risk situations. The results have the potential to guide the advancement of the patient safety mandate within an ICU setting.Master of Science (MSc) in Nursin

Lean Management in IT Organizations: A Ranking-type Delphi Study of Implementation Success Factors

Lean management (LM) is well established in manufacturing organizations, and LM adoption in service organizations has recently increased. However, we lack research that focuses on the success of lean management implementations in IT organizations (lean IT). This paper contributes to knowledge of the success factors of lean IT implementation and the relative importance of each factor based on the insights of field experts. The experts identified, agreed on, and ranked 12 implementation success factors for lean IT in a Delphi study using the best/worst scaling technique. The most important factors were leadership involvement, change culture and work ethic, employee involvement, and performance management. Factors of intermediate importance were implementation facilitation, training and education, clear vision and direction, long-term focus, communication, and a holistic approach. Least important factors were existing skills, organizational changes/standardization, and financial resources. This paper contributes a more nuanced understanding of the relative importance of lean IT success factors, proposes relationships between them, and comprehensively explains how to use the rigorous best/worst scaling method in a traditional ranking-type Delphi study

The Delphi Method Research Strategy in Studies of Information Systems

In this paper, we discuss the nature and use of the Delphi methodology in information systems research. More specifically, we explore how and why it may be used. We discuss criteria for evaluating Delphi research and define characteristics useful for categorizing the studies. We review Delphi application use in IS research over the last 23 years, summarize lessons learned from prior studies, offer suggestions for improvement, and present guidelines for employing this distinctly useful qualitative method in future information systems research studies

Unlocking the drivers of big data analytics value in firms

Côrte-Real, N., Ruivo, P., Oliveira, T., & Popovič, A. (2019). Unlocking the drivers of big data analytics value in firms. Journal of Business Research, 97(April), 160-173. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2018.12.072Although big data analytics (BDA) is considered the next “frontier” in data science by creating potential business opportunities, the way to extract those opportunities is unclear. This paper aims to understand the antecedents of BDA value at a firm level. The authors performed a study using a mixed methodology approach. First, by carrying out a Delphi study to explore and rank the antecedents affecting the creation of BDA value. Based on the Delphi results, we propose an empirically validated model supported by a survey conducted on 175 European firms to explain the antecedents of BDA sustained value. The results show that the proposed model explains 62% of BDA sustained value at the firm level, where the most critical contributor is BDA use. We provide directions for managers to support their decisions on BDA strategy definition and refinement. For academics, we extend BDA value literature and outline some potential research opportunities.authorsversionpublishe

Movement Skills Assessment tool: A validation study using a modified Delphi method

Physical activity is integrated in preventive health programs due to its health-related benefits. Increasing physical activity levels in children and adolescents is a global objective that focuses in cognitive, affective, and behavioral factors. Physical literacy and models of motor development suggest a positive association between movement competence and physical activity. Poor movement competence is associated with a sedentary lifestyle and is a risk factor for musculoskeletal injury. Promoting physical activity and sports participation is crucial; however, participating in physical activity and sports has been related to increased risk of musculoskeletal injury. Assessments of physical literacy and movement competence are mainly focused on motor development factors, but injury prevention techniques are not considered in these assessments. Our objective was to establish the face and content validity of four movement skills, each with four evaluation criteria, to create a movement skills assessment tool for 8-12-year-old children to fill the gap between movement competence and injury prevention assessments. We used a modified Delphi method to survey an international expert panel of clinicians, researchers, and practitioners (n=22). Three rounds of surveys were used to achieve consensus on the validity of four movement skills and evaluation criteria. Consensus was achieved when 75% or more of the experts scored “Agree” or “Strongly Agree” using a 5-point Likert scale. In the first and second Delphi-rounds, the expert panel achieved consensus on the validity of eight movement skills and 53 evaluation criteria. In the third round, the experts ranked the movement skills and evaluation criteria to identify the top four movement skills and top four evaluation criteria per movement skill to create the movement skills assessment tool. This study provided preliminary validity evidence for the movement skills assessment tool. Future research should evaluate other psychometric properties and assess injury outcomes of a movement-oriented intervention. The movement skills assessment tool will be used to screen movement competence and identify movement patterns that present risk factors for musculoskeletal injury in different settings with minimal equipment

Evaluating Business Process Maturity Models

Maturity models have become important aids to support process improvement. However, researchers have frequently criticized the many business process maturity models (BPMMs) for differing in quality, which creates a demand for comparing and evaluating these models. This paper describes a well-founded, ranked, and weighted set of critical criteria for BPMMs that are most important to prospective users. The paper also demonstrates how this set can serve as a standard or guideline for designing BPMMs. In evaluating the used sample of BPMMs against the set of criteria, we reveal gaps and shortcomings of current BPMMs, make suggestions for raising the quality of BPMMs, and highlight future research avenues