An evaluation criterion for open source software projects: enhancement process effectiveness

Enhancement process is a key process in which open source software (OSS) project responds to user needs in terms of suggesting and implementing software features, thus the dimension of enhancement effectiveness corresponds nicely to adopters' concern about open source software. This study aims to construct a valid, reliable measurement model for the enhancement process effectiveness in an open source environment. We examine the validity and reliability of an initial list of indicators through two rounds of data collection and analysis from 240 and 750 OSS projects respectively, and come up with a measurement model for the effectiveness of enhancement process comprising four indicators. The implication of this measurement model for practitioners is explained through a numerical example followed by implications for research community.Griffith Sciences, School of Information and Communication TechnologyFull Tex

University staff adoption of iPads: an empirical study using an extended Technology Acceptance Model

The adoption of iPads in the university sector has been widespread, with attention predominantly being directed to students’ adoption and use of iPads. However, there is a lack of empirical research which has critically examined the key factors influencing university staff adoption of iPads. The main objective of this research is to empirically examine key factors influencing adoption of iPads by university staff. An online survey was used to collect quantitative data to validate the measurement model and test hypothesised relationships in an extended TAM. The findings from the results of the data analyses show that university staff consider iPads to be easy to use and useful, with a high level of compatibility with their work. Social status had no influence on the attitude of university staff to using an iPad in their workplace. However, older university staff and/or university staff with no previous experience in using a similar technology such as an iPhone or smartphone found iPads less easy to use. Furthermore, a lack of formal university ICT support for end-users impacted negatively on the use of iPads by university staff. This research contributes to theory by validating and establishing support for an extended TAM which is contextualized for iPad adoption by university staff. This model has practical application because it is generalisable for a range of mobile computing devices and can be used to evaluate the adoption and use of mobile computing devices in a range of industries beyond the university sector

Three Decades of Research on Strategic Information System Plan Development

Strategic information system planning (SISP), including aligning business and IS/IT strategies, has been the conventional wisdom known for decades to academics and practitioners. Since the 1980s, many tools and models have been developed to facilitate strategic information system planning and implementation. These are development processes that define a set of steps for SISP or approaches that facilitate part of the SISP process. This article employs a systematic review approach and starts with a search of 2730 papers in nine top-ranked scientific databases. After an in-depth study of these papers, a final set of 85 studies is retrieved that focus directly on SISP development. We use this final set of papers to compare the steps proposed in different processes and the relevant approaches for each step. Additionally, an in-depth analysis of development processes has produced a generic seven-phase framework covering activities introduced in the literature. These seven phases are: initiation, business analysis, IS/IT analysis, strategy formulation, portfolio planning, implementation, and evaluation. The paper also classifies approaches that facilitate SISP and concludes with recommendations for practitioners and researchers