Information systems outsourcing in public administration: an emergent research topic

After reviewing the most relevant academic sources, we believe that there is still little academic literature on information systems (IS) outsourcing specialized for public administration (PA). In this paper we present the few we have discovered references while deriving and expanding some analysis from them. The sparse results of this analysis are then summarized and classified. This situation contrasts with the clear importance of PA as an IS consumer and often as a change leader in IS management practices, which is also depicted in the paper. As an example of what future research questions could be posed and of what findings could be expected from this research domain, we present a real IS outsourcing case of study which appears to be rather original in the approach taken by the involved PA. Hence, with all the issues outlined in this preliminary research work, we believe that it is possible to justify an interest in researching this topic and to encourage new scientific activities resulting from it, such as new proposals for PA of specific IS outsourcing frameworks, methods or in-depth case studies like the one introduced here.Postprint (published version

HOW EUROPEAN TENDERING LEGISLATION AFFECTS SOFTWARE SELECTION

European tendering legislation aims to enhance competitiveness by promoting equality, proportionality, transparency and non-discrimination. This legislation applies to the purchase of software packages by large public institutions. This study aims to clarify how this tendering legislation shapes software selection processes. \ \ By examining the selection of a strategically important software package at a professional service organization, this study provides initial evidence on how the decision-making process in software selection is affected by the tendering process in terms of the following dimensions: 1) juridification, 2) objectivity, 3) linearity, 4) formalization and 5) communication. \ \ The decision-making quality of this tendering process is evaluated from the buyer´s perspective against functional, economic and political norms of rationality. From each of these rationalities, the tendered software selection process results in losses as well as gains. A notable finding is that tendering does not exclude political manoeuvring, with power and influnce practiced in other ways. \ \ Key words: Tendering, Software selection, Decision-making process, Functional Rationality, Political Rationality, Economic Rationality, Decision-making quality

Research on Public Procurement of Information Systems: The Need for a Process Approach

n this paper, I take stock of the current state of research on public procurement of information systems (IS). Based on a review of the extant literature, I identify several research gaps. A key finding is that little attention has been paid to the process of public procurement, and most of the papers focusing on the process are limited to one specific task, such as tendering and vendor selection. A substantial proportion of these studies are variance or snapshot types. I emphasize the need for more longitudinal research that covers the whole process, and suggest a research approach that focuses on issues such as stakeholder involvement and management, and the application of dialectics

Scoring rules and competitive behavior in best value construction auctions

This paper examines the extent to which engineers can influence the competitive behavior of bidders in Best Value or multi-attribute construction auctions, where both the (dollar) bid and technical non-price criteria are scored according to a scoring rule. From a sample of Spanish construction auctions with a variety of bid scoring rules, it is found that bidders are influenced by the auction rules in significant and predictable ways. The bid score weighting, bid scoring formula and abnormally low bid criterion are variables likely to influence the competitiveness of bidders in terms of both their aggressive/conservative bidding and concentration/dispersion of bids. Revealing the influence of the bid scoring rules and their magnitude on bidders’ competitive behavior opens the door for the engineer to condition bidder competitive behavior in such a way as to provide the balance needed to achieve the owner’s desired strategic outcomes

A NEW HYBRID MODEL BASED DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR SUPPLIER SELECTION PROCESS: A CASE STUDY FROM PURCHASING DEPARTMENT, UTP

Decision making process is a huge and crucial activity that must be given high attention by decision makers and managers as it affects all business strategies in organizations. Computer Based Decision Support System (DSS) is built and developed to assist decision makers in the activity of decision making process. DSS includes different components that integrate together out of which the most important part is the model based system. As a result of the rapidly increasing and sustainable needs of organizations, suppliers have become essential to any business. On the other hand, decision makers and managers face challenges when they are about to select suppliers due to the strong competitiveness among suppliers, obstacles that they will face when poor decisions are made, and many other reasons. Evaluating and selecting suppliers has been considered as the most critical and important process among the whole purchasing processes. However most of the existing models that have been proposed to support supplier selection decisions have various shortcomings. All the drawbacks of these models will be discussed during this research in details which indicates the urgent need for new suitable model. This research intends to develop a new hybrid model base DSS for supplier selection process that can guarantee better decision making. The new proposed model provides a suitable tool for assisting decision makers and managers to make the right decisions and select the most suitable supplier. The proposed model depends upon linear weightage model and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach. The proposed hybrid model will be applied using a real life case study to assess its effectiveness. In addition, What-if analysis technique will be used for model validation purpose. Finally, DSS software will be developed to utilize the proposed model to assist supplier selection decisions

A NEW HYBRID MODEL BASED DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR SUPPLIER SELECTION PROCESS: A CASE STUDY FROM PURCHASING DEPARTMENT, UTP

Decision making process is a huge and crucial activity that must be given high attention by decision makers and managers as it affects all business strategies in organizations. Computer Based Decision Support System (DSS) is built and developed to assist decision makers in the activity of decision making process. DSS includes different components that integrate together out of which the most important part is the model based system. As a result of the rapidly increasing and sustainable needs of organizations, suppliers have become essential to any business. On the other hand, decision makers and managers face challenges when they are about to select suppliers due to the strong competitiveness among suppliers, obstacles that they will face when poor decisions are made, and many other reasons. Evaluating and selecting suppliers has been considered as the most critical and important process among the whole purchasing processes. However most of the existing models that have been proposed to support supplier selection decisions have various shortcomings. All the drawbacks of these models will be discussed during this research in details which indicates the urgent need for new suitable model. This research intends to develop a new hybrid model base DSS for supplier selection process that can guarantee better decision making. The new proposed model provides a suitable tool for assisting decision makers and managers to make the right decisions and select the most suitable supplier. The proposed model depends upon linear weightage model and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach. The proposed hybrid model will be applied using a real life case study to assess its effectiveness. In addition, What-if analysis technique will be used for model validation purpose. Finally, DSS software will be developed to utilize the proposed model to assist supplier selection decisions