Values and propensity to adopt new HRM web-based technologies as determinants of HR efficiency and effectiveness: a firm level resource-based analysis

"This paper explores the usefulness of analyzing a firm's performance from a combination of a web-based human resource view and strategic human resource characteristics. In addressing issues pertaining to HR efficiency and HR effectiveness, the Technology Adoption Life Cycle (TALC) model (Moore 2001) is introduced. The latter helps to classify HR practitioner's adoption behavior along the 'TALC' continuum where HR functions and the web-based HRMS are classified. This classification facilitates a better understanding of the HR information technology and strategic HR relationship. The empirical study is based on a web-based portal in which 192 SAP client-users organizations across 5 continents participated. The findings identify the configurations which add significantly to good or poor HR efficiency and HR effectiveness dimensions throughout the usage and implementation of HR technology. It seems that innovative HR technologies play a strategic and operational role in adding value to the HR department's performance. The results show that when some HR technology functionalities are absent or poorly implemented, there are noticeable consequences for the HR department." (author's abstract

Un modelo empírico de aceptación y uso de la web. Utilidad, facilidad de uso y flujo percibidos

Una propuesta basada en el modelo de aceptación de la tecnología (TAM) y el estado de flujo se diseña para describir la utilidad, la facilidad de uso y el flujo percibidos y sus influencias en la aceptación y uso de la Web entre los usuarios dirigidos por un objetivo. El objetivo de esta investigación es pues examinar y sintetizar en una propuesta unificada el modelo TAM y el estado de flujo; el desarrollo empírico evidencia la necesidad de la extensión del modelo TAM hacia visiones de carácter intrínseco también en situaciones de comportamientos dirigidos. El flujo podría representar un rol esencial e incluso superior al representado por la facilidad de uso y la utilidad en la determinación de la intención de uso dentro de un contexto online. En resumen, mejores medidas para predecir y explicar el uso de la Web tendrá un gran valor práctico. Los sitios web podrían adaptarse a sus usuarios con nuevos diseños que faciliten la calidad de servicio electrónico y el estado de flujo. Los usuarios, a su vez, encontrarían un sitio web adecuado para potenciar una relación eficiente y continuada en el tiempo.A model based on technology acceptance (TAM) and flow, is proposed to describe the perceived usefulness, ease of use and flow, and their influences on Web acceptance and use among Web task-oriented users. The aim of the research is thus to investigate how well flow-model theory can be aligned with TAM, and to provide a relationship with the Web acceptance and its proper usage. The empirical development suggests that there is scope for further extension of TAM to adapt to the Web acceptance and usage and its profitable consequences. The main contribution of the extended model is that it expands TAM’s range towards flow (i.e., intrinsic motives). Flow might play a more influential role than ease of use and usefulness in determining the intention within the Web-based context. Better measures for predicting and explaining Web use will have also greater practical value. Singular Web sites would like to assess user demand for new design ideas to facilitate electronic service quality and flow. Users would like to find a Web site leading to an enduring and cost-effective relationshi

A New Generation Gap? Some thoughts on the consequences of increasingly early ICT first contact

One possible consequence of ICT’s rapid rise will be a new ‘generation gap’ arising from differing perceptions of the learning technologies. The nature, causes and consequences of this gap are of interest to educational practitioners and policymakers. This paper uses data from an ongoing project together with a synopsis of research to describe the ICT-based generation gap that currently exists between students and their teachers and parents. It is argued that this gap may exist between students differing in age by as little as five years. Results from a related project exploring Networked Information and Communication Literacy Skills (NICLS), are used to introduce a discussion on the nature of any skills gap that must be addressed in the light of this generation gap

Computers, the internet, and cheating among secondary school students: Some implications for educators

This article investigates in greater depth one particular aspect of cheating within secondary education and some implications for measuring academic achievement. More specifically, it examines how secondary students exploit the Internet for plagiarizing schoolwork, and looks at how a traditional method of educational assessment, namely paper-based report and essay writing, has been impacted by the growth of Internet usage and the proliferation of computer skills among secondary school students. One of the conclusions is that students’ technology fluency is forcing educators to revisit conventional assessment methods. Different options for combating Internet plagiarism are presented, and some software tools as well as non-technology solutions are evaluated in light of the problems brought about by “cyberplagiarism.

Media Usage in Post-Secondary Education and Implications for Teaching and Learning

The Web 2.0 has permeated academic life. The use of online information services in post-secondary education has led to dramatic changes in faculty teaching methods as well as in the learning and study behavior of students. At the same time, traditional information media, such as textbooks and printed handouts, still form the basic pillars of teaching and learning. This paper reports the results of a survey about media usage in teaching and learning conducted with Western University students and instructors, highlighting trends in the usage of new and traditional media in higher education by instructors and students. In addition, the survey comprises part of an international research program in which 20 universities from 10 countries are currently participating. Further, the study will hopefully become a part of the ongoing discussion of practices and policies that purport to advance the effective use of media in teaching and learning

Age related cognitive impairments and assistive web-base technology

Several researchers argue that age related cognitive impairments have detrimental affect on use of web services by older adults. However little and systematic applied research has been conducted on how age related cognitive impairments might affect the usage of web services by older adults. Undoubtedly, understanding the relationship between the cognitive changes that accompany aging and their impact on older adults’ usage of web services will be beneficial for designing web services for this group. The paper demonstrates how such understanding has been employed to develop an assistive technology in order to improve older adults’ interaction with online forms

The Impact of Trust on Acceptance of Online Banking

Major benefits of Online Banking include for banks cost savings, and for customers convenience. Nevertheless, many people perceive Internet banking as risky. This paper introduces a tentative conceptual framework. Trust will be integrated into the Technology Acceptance Model – TAM - (Davis, 1989). Recent research showed that Trust has a striking influence on user willingness to engage in online exchanges of money and personal sensitive information. Detailed literature about Online Banking and Trust is provided. TAM is discussed in depth; external variables that are suitable for the Online Banking context is suggested. In addition the theoretical justification for the conceptual framework integration is discussed. Finally managerial implications and recommendations for Online Banking acceptance are suggested

Conceptualising the digital divide

The term “digital divide” emerged in the 1990s to define inequalities in access to the Information Communication Technologies (ICTs), framing it as a matter of having or not having access to ICTs (Compaine 2001). The firsts empirical researches have shown how some specific socio-demographic variables, such as employment status, income, education level, geographic location, ethnicity, age, gender and family structure, influenced the access to the ICTs, creating a digital gap or divide among citizens (domestic digital divide) or countries (global digital divide). Such inequalities have widened during the years, despite the fact that the World Summit on the Information Society, held in Geneva (2003) and then in Tunis (2005) has stressed the idea that no one should be left out from the benefits offered by the information society. The importance of the Internet as a pre-requisite for economic and social development, has been further stressed by the United Nations in 2015 when the Internet has been included among its goals for resolving the most persistent social and economic challenges of our time (UN, 2015: 15). Indeed, in a digital enabled society, part of the human activities depends on how we access, generate and process information. It is then worth asking how the phenomenon of digital divide and digital inequalities has been approached and analysed by both scholars and policy makers and how such approach has changed over the years. Hence, the aim of this chapter is to discuss the change of perspectives in analysing and attempting to bridge the digital divide, and reconceptualise this concept by offering a nuanced theoretical approach to analyses the rise and persistence of digital inequalities

Enhancing integrated environmental modelling by designing resource-oriented interfaces

Integrated environmental modelling is gaining momentum for addressing grand scientific challenges such as monitoring the environment for change detection and forecasting environmental conditions along with the consequences for society. Such challenges can only be addressed by a multi-disciplinary approach, in which socio-economic, geospatial, and environmental information becomes inter-connected. However, existing solutions cannot be seamlessly integrated and current interaction paradigms prevent mainstream usage of the existing technology. In particular, it is still difficult to access and join harmonized data and processing algorithms that are provided by different environmental information infrastructures. In this paper we take a novel approach for integrated environmental modelling based on the notion of inter-linked resources on the Web. We present design practices for creating resource-oriented interfaces, driven by an interaction protocol built on the combination of valid linkages to enhance resource integration, accompanied by associated recommendations for implementation. The suggested resource-oriented approach provides a solution to the problems identified above, but still requires intense prototyping and experimentation. We discuss the central open issues and present a roadmap for future research