Hypermedia learning and prior knowledge: Domain expertise vs. system expertise

Prior knowledge is often argued to be an important determinant in hypermedia learning, and may be thought of as including two important elements: domain expertise and system expertise. However, there has been a lack of research considering these issues together. In an attempt to address this shortcoming, this paper presents a study that examines how domain expertise and system expertise influence students’ learning performance in, and perceptions of, a hypermedia system. The results indicate that participants with lower domain knowledge show a greater improvement in their learning performance than those with higher domain knowledge. Furthermore, those who enjoy using the Web more are likely to have positive perceptions of non-linear interaction. Discussions on how to accommodate the different needs of students with varying levels of prior knowledge are provided based on the results

Identifying Multiple Categories of Cybersecurity Skills that Affect User Acceptance of Protective Information Technologies.

Cybersecurity threat is one of the major national security challenges confronting the United States, making it imperative to achieve safe user security behavior on information systems. Safe user security behavior hinges on the attitude of a computer user to accept the usage of Protective information technologies (PIT), including security software. Past studies focused on user acceptance of PIT with antecedents such as usefulness, capabilities, and self-efficacy but rarely addressed specific cybersecurity skills needed to improve the user attitude and acceptance of security software use. The purpose of this study is to examine what category of cybersecurity skills can improve the user acceptance of PIT. We propose a theoretical model that examines the effect of cybersecurity computing skills, cybersecurity initiative skills and cybersecurity action skills on user attitude and acceptance of PIT. This research addresses the national cybersecurity threat and has both theoretical and practical implications

The effect of competence-based simulations on management skills enhancements in e-learning courses

There is a growing interest in the assessment of tangible skills and competence among higher education in the United States. Specifically, there is an increase in the offerings of competency-based assessments, and some academic institutions are offering college credits for individuals who can demonstrate adequate level of competency on such assessments. An increased interest has been placed on competence-based computer simulations that can assist learners in traditional and online-courses to gain tangible skills. There has been an acceptable instrument used to measure a set of 12 management skills, as part of business and management courses. While computer simulations and competency-based projects, in general and in management in particular, have demonstrated great value, there are still limited empirical results on their impact in online learning courses. Thus, we have developed a quasi-experimental research, using such instrument on preand post-tests, to collect the set of 12 management skills from online learners attending courses that included both competence-based computer simulations and those that didn’t. Our data included a total of 253 responses. All 12 management skill measures demonstrated very high reliability, results consistent with prior literature. Our results indicate that all 12 skills of the competence-based computer simulations had higher increase than those that didn’t. A t-test on the mean increases indicated an overall statistically significant difference for six of the 12 management skills enhancements between the experimental and control groups. Our findings appear to demonstrate that overall computer simulations and competency-based projects do provide added value when it comes to management skill enhancements

Development of the MyCyberSkills™ iPad App: A Scenarios-Based, Hands-On Measure of Non-IT Professionals’ Cybersecurity Skills

Although advances in Information Technology (IT) have been significant over the past several decades when it comes to protection of corporate information systems (IS), human errors and social engineering appear to prevail in circumventing such IT protections. While most employees may have the best of intentions, without cybersecurity skills they represent the weakest link in an organization’s IS security. Skills are defined as the combination of knowledge, experience, and ability to do something well. Cybersecurity skills correspond to the skills surrounding the hardware and software required to execute IS security to mitigate cyber-attacks. However, the current measures of end-user cybersecurity skills are based on self-reported surveys. This study is the second phase of a larger research project that is aimed to develop a scenario-based iPad application to measure cybersecurity skills based on actual scenarios with hands-on tasks that the participants complete in demonstrating their skills. To design a measure that has both high validity and reliability, subject matter experts’ (SMEs) opinion of the top nine cybersecurity skills and their skill importance weight were identified in the first phase of the study following the Delphi method. This phase of the research in progress involves the design and development of the MyCyberSkills™ iPad application (app) using scenario-based, hands-on tasks related to each of the nine SMEs identified cybersecurity skills

Organizational commitment and users’ perception of ease of use : a study among bank managers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to look at the issue of perceived ease of use of a web-based customer relationship management system and consider the role of organizational commitment as a possible antecedent. Design/methodology/approach – Data for this study were collected from among managers of a major player in the community banking sector within the EU. A total of 274 valid responses were obtained from 398 managers. Findings – Results have been mixed and partially conditioned by service providers’ willingness to leverage the possibilities that the technology can provide. Research limitations/implications – The study was limited to a single organization and consequently the results should be generalized with caution. Replication studies with improved measures, in other countries and contexts are desirable. Practical implications – The results can be useful for management, since Web-based customer relationship management systems have been adopted by many service providers in their quest to offer better one-to-one marketing possibilities to their customers. Originality/value – This paper demonstrates the importance of fostering a sense of organizational commitment amongst key service providers, as this in turn seems to enable them to overcome many impediments pertaining to technology use.peer-reviewe

A medida da «satisfação» dos «utilizadores finais» de sistemas de informação na banca em Portugal: análise e ensaio interpretativo

A presente comunicação tem como principal objectivo apresentar a metodologia e os resultados básicos de um estudo realizado em meados da década de «90» sobre o ambiente de utilizadores finais de sistemas de informação/tecnologias de informação (SI/TI) - end-user computing - no sector bancário em Portugal (Serviços Centrais e Balcões). Aborda-se, basicamente, a problemática da «satisfação» do utilizador de sistemas informáticos (aplicações). Esta investigação constituiu o ponto de partida para uma outra, em curso, relativa ao mesmo tema e sector, mas considerando agora, fundamentalmente, os efeitos da difusão da Internet e tecnologias associadas. A medida da «satisfação do utilizador final» de sistemas de informação constitui uma «proxy», em geral, da performance das organizações.This paper aims to present the methodology and the basic results emerging from a study developed in the middle of the 90s on the end-user computing environment within the Portuguese banking industry (Central Services and Branches). We analysed, basically, the measurement of end-user computing satisfaction (software). This research represented the starting point for another one, already in progress, concerning the same topic and industry, but now, taking into account, fundamentally, the diffusion effects of Internet and other associated technologies. The measurement of end-user computing satisfaction constitutes a proxy, in general, for firm performance

Empirical Testing of Resistance and Misuse Factors Contributing to Instructors’ Use of E-Learning Systems in Saudi Arabia

The purpose of this study was to conceptually replicate the model proposed by Bhatnagar, Madden, and Levy (2016) in a new context of e-learning systems usage and to examine the underlying resistance, misuse, and computer self-efficacy constructs that may contribute to instructors’ usage of e-learning systems in Saudi Arabia. For this study, the original instrument was adapted, the Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval was obtained, data from 187 instructors that use e-learning systems were collected, and the model was analyzed using the Partial Least Squares (PLS). This study demonstrates higher overall model predictability than the original model and has stronger relationships between the constructs. The results show that computer self-efficacy and resistance to use the system contribute significantly to system usage, which are contrary to the original study’s results that were in the context of secured medical teleconferencing. Additionally, computer self-efficacy appears to demonstrate a significant positive impact on ethical severity of misusing the systems, which is also a contrary to the original study’s results. The results of this study indicate that context matters in IS usage, especially when there is a difference between IS used for exchange of private and personal information like medical teleconferencing, compared with an IS used as a productivity tool. However, both studies indicate that the ethical severity of misusing the systems has no significant impact on system usage, which may suggest that such relationship may be mediated by another construct and may call for further research. Discussions and conclusions are provided

Spreadsheet knowledge: Measuring what user developers know

Spreadsheets are frequently used to conduct analyses using organizational data. Spreadsheets, however, frequently contain errors and these affect the quality of the analyses performed by the users who develop their own spreadsheets. This paper describes the development of a diagnostic test for spreadsheet knowledge. The test is designed to be used by individuals, teachers, trainers, and organizations to identify the spreadsheet development training needed by spreadsheet user developers and to examine the success of spreadsheet training programs. Reliability and validity of the test are reported

Conceptualizing Creative Use: An Examination of the Construct and its Determinants

Organizations depend on the creativity of their employees in order to get the best possible outcome from the technologies that have been put into place. Yet IT research exhibits few studies in understanding the types of behaviors that yield new and useful ways of using organizational systems. This research therefore examines the creative use of technologies by individuals, that is, the implementation of novel and useful ways of applying organizational systems to solving business problems. Drawing on a well-established body of literature on creativity/innovation, a theory-based conceptualization of creative use is developed. Creative use is then assessed as the dependent variable in the context of Bandura\u27s (1986) self-efficacy theory, which posits the necessity of domain-related self-efficacy and knowledge as prerequisites for creative use. The results support the theorized model and further suggest that breadth of knowledge is the most influential for creative use

Un enfoque gerencial de factores críticos para el éxito de los sistemas de información: Caso de estudio en PYMEs metalmecánicas venezolanas

Informes oficiales de países en desarrollo señalan, en general, significativas deficiencias en el tratamiento de la información en las pequeñas y medianas empresas (Pyme). Contar con sistemas de información automatizados (SI) es ineludible, pero es más importante que sean exitosos, para lo cual la satisfacción del usuario final es el factor clave que llevará a obtener los beneficios esperados. Los niveles gerenciales y los profesionales de informática deben estar familiarizados con los principales factores relacionados para asegurar su adecuado tratamiento. Este estudio evaluó la satisfacción del usuario final y varios factores críticos de éxito relacionados en una muestra de empresas industriales medianas (Pymi). Para ello, se utilizó uno de los modelos de éxito más reconocidos por la comunidad investigadora del área. Realizados los análisis cuantitativo/cualitativo y comparados los resultados se concluye que el principal factor relacionado con la satisfacción del usuario final es la calidad de la información, lo cual puede ser suficiente para considerar como exitoso un SI; con esto los demás factores quedan en segundo lugar. El beneficio práctico de esta investigación es reflexionar sobre estos factores, contribuir a reforzar la efectividad y calidad de los procesos de desarrollo o adquisición de un SI y reducir su índice de fracasos