Business Value of Information Technology in A Network Environment

Business value of information technology (IT) continues to be an important issue for both practitioners and academic scholars. Most IT business value literature focuses on the scope of an individual firm and overlooks the impact of the network environment it resides in. On the other hand, interorganizational system (IOS) studies tend to rely on a single information system and fall short on providing a complete picture of IT business value in a network environment. This study extends current IT business value models with explicit inclusion of the network environment factors and examines effects of IT resources on network capabilities and firm performance. Considering theories of dynamic capabilities, flexible specialization, and social network, we propose that IT resources are directly related to both network characteristics and network capabilities. In turn, these network characteristics and capabilities affect firm performance. By referring to different theoretical bases and proposing a nomological model, we advance current IT business value research and provide guides for IT practitioners. This study is planned with both archival and survey data in large, multidivisional and multinational companies in high-tech industries

The impact of disruptive technologies on designated organisations within the IT industry in South Africa

Disruptive Technologies can assist an organisation to maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Different terminology is used in the literature to describe disruptive technologies associated with uncertainty and risk. The term “disruptive technologies” is described and explained in comparison to sustaining technology. The aim of the research is to determine the impact of disruptive technologies on the ICT environment of an organisation. The impact of disruptive technology is discussed in terms of the business value of information technologies, the value network of the organisation, the current security framework of the information technology architecture, business processes and standards, approaches to business strategy, involvement of executive management and influence on customers and clients of the organisation. Three organisations within the South African environment agreed to be the subjects of the case studies. These were described and recommendations were made at the completion of the research.Dissertation (MIT)--University of Pretoria, 2008.Informaticsunrestricte

Web services strategy

Thesis (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2003.June 2003.Includes bibliographical references (p. 116-123).This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.Everything is connected to everything. El Aleph (1945), by Jorge Luis Borges[1] This thesis addresses the need to simplify and streamline web service network infrastructure and to identify business models that best leverage Web services technology and industry dynamics to generate positive business results. Web services have evolved from the simple page-display protocol of their origin and now reach beyond the links that simply updated web data dynamically from corporate databases, to where systems can automatically transact. These Web services represent a series of network business technology standards and capabilities that irrevocably change the way in which businesses will do business. In fact, every business today is a networked business and has opportunities to grow using Web services. This study focuses on the implementation challenges in the financial services market, specifically the On Line Transaction Processing (OLTP) sector where legacy mainframes interface with multiple tiers of distribution through proprietary EDI links. The OLTP industry operates under stringent regulatory requirements for availability and audit-ability of not only who performed what transaction, but who had access to the information about the information. In this environment organizational demands on network infrastructure including hardware, software and personnel are changing radically, while concurrently Information Technology (IT) budgets are under pressure. The strategic choices for deploying web services in this environment may contain lessons for other industries where cost effective large scale processing, high availability, security, manageability and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are paramount concerns. In this paper we use a systems dynamics model to simulate the impact of market changes on the adoption of innovative technologies and their commoditization on the industry value chain, with the aim of identifying business models and network topologies which best support the growth of an Open Systems network business. From the results of the simulation we will derive strategic recommendations for networked business models and web services integration strategies to meet Line Of Business (LOB) objectives.by Stephen B. Miles.S.M.M.O.T

Sicherheit im Umgang mit chemischen Stoffen im globalen Umfeld

We are taking part in an intense change in industry and social environment. Today's industrial and business network is rapidly expanding to global dimension. Workplace, production, product shipment and business process is under rapid change and global adaptation. The ongoing setting of direction noticeably includes the scope of regulatory requirements. It's clearly evident: the safe handling of hazardous chemicals is given sustainable priority, from local to global scale.The broad commitment to safety- and health-related information (to safety data sheet, label, classification of substances and mixtures, risk assessment, waste handling), from a multi language perspective, reflects the concern for a safe operation in the broadest sense (safe workplace, health protection, product stewardship).There is a shift in mind-set. Emphasis is on wide-scale conceptual solution, cost-effective, rapidly doable, tuned for integration and adaptability to change ('less complex', 'dynamic', adaptable to the business requirements). Modern hardware-, software- and communication technologies allow having the safety information for hazardous products available, through today's communication network, wherever needed, for the benefit of the producer and user.The following article is written from a practical viewpoint and with the scope of a large international company. The content describes the development and implementation of information systems relating to safety data sheets, product labels, classification (expert system), in review over the recent years. The focus is on various perspectives, i.e. workprocess, information technology, value creation (productivity gain and competitive edge)

Cloud Computing: TOE Adoption Factors By Service Model In Manufacturing

Organizations are adopting cloud technologies for two primary reasons: to reduce costs and to enhance business agility. The pressure to innovate, reduce costs and respond quickly to changes in market demand brought about by intense global competition has U.S. manufacturing firms turning to cloud computing as an enabling strategy. Cloud computing is a service based information technology model that enables on-demand access to a shared pool of computing services provisioned over a broadband network. Cloud is categorized across three primary service models, Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS), differentiated by the cloud provider’s level of responsibility for managing hardware services, development platforms and application services. While prior research in cloud computing has sought to define the concept and explore the business value, empirical studies in the Information Systems literature stream are sparse, limited to exploratory case studies and SaaS research. Using the Technology, Organization, and Environment framework as a theoretical foundation, this research provides a holistic cloud adoption model inclusive of all cloud service layers. The study analyzes factors influencing organizational cloud adoption utilizing survey data from 150 U.S. manufacturing firms. The results find organizational innovativeness as a crucial factor to cloud computing adoption in manufacturing. An inverse factor relationship suggests the more innovative the firm culture, the less likely it is to adopt cloud. Other significant adoption factors include trust and technical competency. Findings also suggest variations in adoption influences based on the cloud service model deployed. The study has strategic implications for both researchers and managers seeking to understand the antecedents to adoption, and for practitioners developing an organizational cloud strategy spanning multiple cloud service models. For vendors, the study provides insights that can be leveraged to inform product design, solution strategy, and value proposition creation for future cloud service offerings

Research Exchange - November 10, 2020 Writing Good Reviews and Getting Noticed with Sue Brown and Rajiv Kohli

This is a video recording from the online AIS Research Exchange that took place on November 10, 2020. The topic of this Research Exchange is Writing Good Reviews and Getting Noticed hosted by Alan Dennis with Sue Brown and Rajiv Kohli. IS research is more important than ever as the world continues to face monumental changes in light of the global pandemic. Now is the time to hone your reviewing skills, network with others, and improve opportunities for collaboration. Join IS scholars Rajiv Kohli and Sue Brown as they discuss the keys to writing good reviews, getting noticed within research networks, and standing out to advance your career. This session will be moderated by Alan Dennis. Rajiv Kohli is the John. N. Dalton Professor of Business at William & Mary. Dr. Kohli received his PhD in information systems from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He has taught at the University of Notre Dame, Lehigh University, University of Maryland College Park, and University of Maryland University College where he was awarded the Teaching Recognition Award. Studies have ranked Dr. Kohli among the top 20 MIS researchers worldwide. Dr. Kohli is ranked as #1 scholar in a recent study on Health Information Technology (HIT) thought leadership. Kohli has held visiting positions at the MIT Sloan School of Management, Tsinghua University, RWTH Germany, National University of Singapore, City University of Hong Kong, as an Erskine fellow at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. He was a visiting Gillings Fellow at the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, England. Kohli\u27s research is published in MIS Quarterly, Management Science, Information Systems Research, MIS Quarterly Executive, Journal of Management Information Systems, Journal of Operations Management, and Decision Support Systems, among other journals. He is a coauthor of the book The IT Payoff: Measuring Business Value of Information Technology Investment, (2002) published by Financial Times Prentice-Hall. Sue Brown joined the Eller College of Management as associate professor in 2005 after teaching at Indiana University for nine years. She was appointed head of the Department of Management Information Systems in 2017. She earned her PhD in Management Information Systems from the University of Minnesota in 1997. Her primary research interests focus on the adoption and diffusion of information technology by organizations and individuals, including the overall process of finding, evaluating, implementing and using information technology. She is also interested in how people use communication technologies in organizations and educational settings and how theories of traditional communication translate into the electronic environment. In 2017, she was given the Association of Information Systems (AIS) Fellow Award

Relationship of Value Chain Flexibility and Supply Chain Capability Towards Supply Chain Performance

The originality of this dissertation derived from the approach to study value chain flexibility from the perspective of combining operation management with supply chain management. The originality also yielded new instrument developments and relationship among the variables established. In a competitive business environment, competing on cost and quality is no longer an order-winner. Supply chain management has been widely recognized to deliver competitive advantage. Supply chain management that creates value and is adaptive to changes in technology, competition and volatile demand yields overall supply chain performance. These factors motivated a study on value chain flexibility, supply chain capabilities and supply chain performance. There are three objectives for this research. The first objective is to understand the determinants and relationship of supply chain capabilities towards value chain flexibility. The second objective is to understand the determinants and relationship of value chain flexibility towards supply chain performance. The third objective is to investigate if environmental factor moderates the relationship between value chain flexibility and supply chain performance. This dissertation accumulated supply chain management information from 121 Malaysian's electrical and electronic organizations and detail experiences from four leading companies. The research findings supported the hypotheses that core, relational and organizational supply chain capabilities positively impact the value chain to be flexible in terms of operation, supply and logistic network. Value chain flexibility has also a positive impact on supply chain performance comprised dimensions of business tangible and intangible customer benefits. The total effect of supply chain relational capability to supply chain performance via value chain flexibility is higher than the direct relationship between supply chain relational capabilities to supply chain performance indicated the intervening effect of value chain flexibility. At statistical level of investigation, the research also found certain dimensions of the core, relational and organizational capabilities such as lean manufacturing, postponement, supplier alliance, information dissemination, knowledge management and management leadership have positive impacts on the level of value chain flexibility. Likewise, the value and flexibility acquired from operational and supply network impact positively on supply chain performance. Environmental factor does not moderate the relationship between value chain flexibility and supply chain performance. The second part of case study confirmed that leading companies have leverage operational practices as supply chain capability to gain supply chain competitive benefits. Irrespective of the environmental factor, these companies have realized to leverage supply chain management to be flexible and stay competitive

The business value of XBRL reporting for Finnish public organizations

Objectives of the Study: The aim of this study is to investigate the potential business value of XBRL for the main financial report receivers in Finland: Finnish Tax Administration, National board of Patents and Registration in Finland and Statistics Finland. The focus of the research is in XBRL adoption. Firstly, the current situation in these authorities regarding XBRL adoption was explored and any potential challenges in the current financial reporting process identified. Secondly, the leading European public authorities in XBRL adoption - Netherlands Tax & Customs, National Bank of Belgium and Danish Business Authority - were studied and their best practices and achieved benefits concerning XBRL investigated. Academic Background and Methodology: The thesis is qualitative in nature and exploratory in character. First, relevant literature on the characteristics of business value of IT is reviewed. Then, the theory basis is used as a background for choosing the themes with help of which to study the business value of IT in the specific case of XBRL for the Finnish report receivers. The academic background of the thesis comes mainly from literature concerning the business value of IT: the concepts of network effects as well as quality of information were seen relevant for the purpose of this thesis. These two concepts together with a summary of the existing research on XBRL form the theoretical part of this study. In addition, a number of previously used models and frameworks that have been used in the IT business value research are reviewed. Out of these models, the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework by Tornazky et al. (1990) has been chosen as the most suitable one for the purpose of this study. Qualitative data was gathered from XBRL experts in three Finnish case organizations that receive financial reports as well as three European case organizations from the same field. Findings and Conclusions: The findings from the empirical part of the study were discussed using the TOE framework as a lense. The concepts of "Technology", "Organization" and "Environment" were used as explanative factors that may affect the adoption of XBRL in the Finnish case organizations. It was found that most of the potential business value resulting from the use of XBRL is related to better accessibility and understandability of the data. When the data is in a machine readable format, it is easier to disseminate and distribute among different government officials. No monetary or financial benefits from the use of XBRL were found in the research

The implementation of information strategies to support sustainable procurement

In our research context, sustainable procurement can be seen as a process to reduce damage to the environment by integrating certain aspects into making procurement decisions, such as value for money throughout the whole life cycle and being of benefit to society and the economy. This research has found more than one way of interpreting the ‘sustainable system’, for example, ‘green-friendly’ versus remaining effective in the long term. Sustainable procurement requires specific information to support the procurement process. The study reported in this thesis aimed to investigate the type of information needed in order for organisations to make correct sustainable procurement decisions. From these findings, information architecture for sustainable procurement in UK universities has been derived. While the initial focus has been on the information needed to make informed decisions in purchasing sustainable information technology (IT) equipment, it is believed that the framework would also be more widely applicable to other types of purchases. To ensure that these findings would support the university aspiration in terms of sustainability practices, a goal-context modelling technique called VMOST/B-SCP was chosen to analyse the sustainable procurement strategy in order to evaluate the alignment of IT strategy and its business strategy. A goal-context model using VMOST/B-SCP was produced to evaluate the procurement strategy, with this validated by procurement staff. This research helps to improve the way that goals and context are identified by integrating another technique, namely, social network analysis (SNA) to produce actor network diagrams. The VMOST/B-SCP technique is transferrable to the mapping of action strategies. The findings from goal-context modelling show that a goal-context model is not static: it changes as external circumstances and organisational priorities change. Most changes to the strategy occurred where external entities on which the change programme depended did not act as planned. The actor networks produced in our version of VMOST/B-SCP can be used to identify such risks. This research was pioneering in its use of VMOST/B-SCP in examining a business change while it was actually taking place rather than after it had been completed (and thus needed to accommodate changes in objectives and strategies). In addition, the research analysed a system with some IT support but where human-operated procedures predominated. The original B-SCP framework used Jackson’s problem frames which focus on possible software components: in our scenario, SNA-inspired actor diagrams were found to be more appropriate

Business model requirements and challenges in the mobile telecommunication sector

The telecommunications business is undergoing a critical revolution, driven by innovative technologies, globalization, and deregulation. Cellular networks and telecommunications bring radical changes to the way telecom businesses are conducted. Globalization, on the other hand, is tearing down legacy barriers and forcing monopolistic national carriers to compete internationally. Moreover, the noticeable progress of many countries towards deregulation coupled with liberalization is significantly increasing telecom market power and allowing severe competition. The implications of this transition have changed the business rules of the telecom industry. In addition, entrants into the cellular industry have had severe difficulties due to inexistent or weak Business Models (BMs). Designing a BM for a mobile network operator is complex and requires multiple actors to balance different and often conflicting design requirements. Hence, there is a need to enhance operators’ ability in determining what constitutes the most viable business model to meet their strategic objectives within this turbulent environment. In this paper, the authors identify the main mobile BM dimensions along with their interdependencies and further analysis provides mobile network operators with insights to improve their business models in this new ‘boundary-less’ landscape