An Organizational Learning Approach to Perceiving and Addressing Algorithmic Bias in Agricultural Settings

Organizations are deploying artificial intelligence (AI) to improve decision-making and performance. AI-enabled systems are used to automate the decision-making process or assist human choice by providing algorithmically generated information through predictive analytics and recommendations. However, the ability of these systems to improve organizational performance is constrained by biases within the algorithms. This study proposes to use organizational learning as a theoretical lens to understand how users perceive and respond to these biases using their experiential learning and cognitive search processes. The research is set within the agricultural context, as farm organizations are increasingly adopting AI-enabled systems to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability. However, because of complexities associated with the natural environment, algorithmic biases in the recommendation could threat these outcomes. The study proposes to conduct multiple case studies to explore how users of AI-enabled agricultural systems perceive algorithmic bias and develop coping mechanisms to improve agricultural performance. Keywords Algorithmic bias, agriculture, artificial intelligence, cognitive search, experiential learning

Using AI to Improve Sustainable Agricultural Practices: A Literature Review and Research Agenda

The world is confronted with the grand challenge of food insecurity amidst growing populations and the climate crisis. Artificial intelligence (AI) deployed in agricultural decision support systems (AgriDSS) raises both hopes and concerns for increasing agricultural productivity in sustainable ways. In this paper, we conduct a scoping review to uncover the roadblocks to the use of AI-supported AgriDSS in sustainable agriculture. Based on the corpus of 121 articles, we find that the effective use of AI-supported AgriDSS is hindered at technical, social, ethical, and ecological levels. Then, drawing on the experiential learning perspective, we propose how conjoint experiential learning (CEL) can enhance sustainable agricultural practices by enhancing both AI and human learning and overcoming roadblocks in using AgriDSS. Based on this conceptual framework, we build a research agenda that suggests blind spots and possible directions for future research

Aplicação do Modelo de Aceitação de Tecnologia (TAM) em SAP Fiori

Um sistema ERP é uma infraestrutura que pode assistir a empresa a integrar informação de todos os departamentos internos dos fornecedores e clientes. Liga todas as áreas internas da empresa, funções e processos, tantos os internos como externos, de forma a criar relações entre fornecedores e clientes. Os ERP também permitem que a informação seja partilhada entre diferentes parceiros, suporta a eficiência de fornecer a cadeia de abastecimento e melhorar o fluxo de informação. Isto deverá permitir os gestores tomarem melhores decisões baseadas numa informação mais precisa e atualizada (Al-Mashari & Zairi, 2000). Os sistemas ERP foram introduzidos por fornecedores de ERP como a SAP (Systeme, Anwendungen, Produkt in der Datenverarbeitung), Olacle, PeopleSoft, e outros sistemas, que forneciam uma plataforma singular e integrada, permitindo assim às empresas, obter vantagem competitiva e competir globalmente (Loonam & McDonagh, 2005). De forma a melhorar a eficiência e eficácia do uso do sistema ERP, as organizações necessitam de perceber quais os fatores que influenciam a satisfação do utilizador. Nesta área, o modelo de aceitação de tecnologia (TAM) é um dos modelos mais utilizados para explicar a intenção comportamental e o uso de determinada tecnologia. TAM pode também melhorar a compreender de como os fatores que influenciam o uso de determinada tecnologia podem aumentar a eficácia e eficiência no sistema ERP (Shih et al, 2009). Neste trabalho foi realizado um estudo de caso em duas empresas da implementação do SAP Fiori. Procedeu-se à descrição As-Is e To-Be do processo no qual o SAP Fiori foi implementado. Foram também identificadas as vantagens e desvantagens na utilização de SAP Fiori. O modelo de aceitação de tecnologia (TAM) foi utilizado de forma a compreender quais os aspetos que mais influenciam os utilizadores a considerarem ou não o SAP Fiori como uma mais-valia, e de que forma é que ele vem ou não otimizar as tarefas dos utilizadores. Em TAM existem duas variáveis que vão influenciar a aceitação de uma tecnologia, que são: A facilidade de uso percebida e a utilidade percebida. Com este projeto podemos então constatar que após a implementação de SAP Fiori algumas das tarefas realizadas pelos utilizadores tornaram-se mais fáceis, realizadas de forma mais rápida e intuitiva. Tendo em conta o modelo de aceitação de tecnologia, o fator que mais influencia a facilidade de uso percebida é ser uma aplicação simples e fácil de usar; já para a utilidade percebida, o segundo fator que mais influencia esta variável é a possibilidade de realizar algumas das tarefas do dia-a-dia usando um dispositivo mobile, a mobilidade é então identificada como a grande utilidade desta implementação desta nova aplicação.An ERP system is a technology infrastructure that can assist a company in integrating information from all internal departments with suppliers and customers. It links all areas of a company’s internal functions and processes with the external ones in order to create a close relationship between customers and suppliers. ERP also allows information to be shared between different partners, supports the effectiveness of the supply chain management, and improves the flow of information. These should enable managers to make better decisions based on more accurate and up-to-date information (Al-Mashari & Zairi, 2000). The ERP system was introduced by ERP providers, such as SAP (Systeme, Anwendungen, Produkt in der Datenverarbeitung) (Systems, Applications, & Products in Data Processing), Oracle, PeopleSoft, and others to eradicate legacy system problems, provide single and integrated technological platform, and thereby assist companies in gaining a competitive advantage and thus competing globally. However, implementing ERP system requires changes in the organizational culture as a whole, takes a long time to implement, and consumes a considerable amount of money. Therefore, companies need to know clearly what ERP system is and in what ways the system could affect the company before thinking of implementing the system (Loonam & McDonagh, 2005). To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ERP system use, organizations need to research the factors that impact user satisfaction. In this area, the technological acceptance model (TAM) is one of the most widely used models for explaining the behavioral intention and actual usage and can improve our understanding of how influence on actual usage could help increase efficiency and effectiveness of ERP system use. In this project was made a case study in two companies that implemented SAP Fiori. The As-Is and To-Be description of the process in which SAP Fiori was implemented was performed. The advantages and disadvantages of using SAP Fiori were also identified. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) has been used in order to understand the aspects that most influence users to consider SAP Fiori as an added value, and how it optimizes the tasks of users. TAM has two variables that will influence the acceptance of a technology, which are: perceived ease of use and perceived utility

Developing business process analyst competencies through higher education institution interventions - a Kenyan study

Kenya is currently experiencing large-scale economic growth. With this economic growth has come the need for organizations to have well-defined business processes largely through the development of business process management (BPM) initiatives. There is also an increasing move towards the automation of these business processes mainly through the implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. This has given rise to the need for business process analyst (BPA) role. BPAs are essential to driving both BPM initiatives and ERP systems implementations. Given this scenario, the first motivation for this study was to investigate the status of BPM in Kenya and the role of the BPA in organizations in Kenya. This study specifically investigated BPA competency-building interventions required to drive BPM maturity and ERP systems implementation projects. Given that no BPM curriculum existed in Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in Kenya at the commencement of this study, the second motivation of the study was to investigate how these BPA competency-building interventions could be adapted into BPM curriculum. To answer the research questions for this study, the pragmatic research paradigm was used. A hybrid inductive-deductive research approach was deemed most appropriate. This study used a mixed methods approach. This meant that both quantitative and qualitative data was collected. Data for this study was collected iteratively between March 2016 and October 2018 using a crosssectional or multiple snapshots time horizon. Results from the data analysis explained 12 BPA competency-building interventions. Thereafter, a BPM curriculum was designed using the design science research method (DSRM). The study incorporated the concepts of the 4I framework of organizational learning and the concepts of the activity system. The scientific contributions of this study comprise three aspects. Firstly, this research identified that certain BPA competencies such as business requirements elicitation, business process improvement, business analysis and holistic overview of business thinking were perceived to have been undervalued in the Kenyan context. Business process orchestration competencies were perceived to be critical for driving BPM in organizations and for successfully managing ERP systems implementations. Secondly, the study established that BPA competency-building interventions such as inter-group collaboration, on-the-job/experiential learning and vendor certifications were among the highly impactful interventions. Thirdly, the study designed a novel BPM curriculum, a first for Kenya. The curriculum incorporated the 4I framework of organizational learning and activity systems in its design and implementation. The results of the evaluation of the BPM curriculum established that students found it useful for building critical BPA competencies such as business analysis, business requirements elicitation and business process improvement. Data collection for this study was limited to the BPA role within organizations and Business and Information Technology students undertaking a BPM course in HEI within the Kenyan context. Future research can extend data collection to other key staff members such as managers and human resource experts. Further, the BPM curriculum artefact was evaluated in the last 2 weeks of a 4-month semester within which the BPM curriculum was run. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation could not be carried out due to time constraints. Future studies can extend findings from this study by using a design science approach of artefact evaluation to implement a comprehensive and detailed evaluation of the BPM curriculum. This can provide additional insights into the ways in which the BPM curriculum can be improved. There is also an opportunity to use action research as a methodology to validate the educational interventions established in this study. Action research would drive in-depth engagement with both BPAs in industry and students undertaking BPM curriculum in HEI with the aim of effecting contributions to both theory and practice