Client-Vendor Collaboration in Information Technology Development Projects And Its Emerging Outcomes

This study investigates the key dimensions of IT project collaboration and its outcomes. We conceptualized key dimensions of client-vendor collaboration, and its emerging outcomes based on literature reviews. Then, we proposed a new research framework that links IT development processes to IT project client-vendor collaboration which in turn affects the outcomes of IT project. We examined the key dimensions of IT project collaboration and their impacts on project outcomes. We identified four critical IT development processes and technologies that contribute to the development of project collaboration. Our results include: (1) Coordination practices and technologies (such as communication quality and coordination technology) significantly influence the effectiveness of IT development.; (2) IT project collaboration can be conceptualized as consisting of two related but distinct constructs: cooperation structure and joint development; (3) IT development processes jointly influence the formation and the development of IT project collaboration. We also found that knowledge-sharing activities significantly improve the usage level of the iterative requirement generation process. (4) Different collaboration behaviors as indicated by IT project collaboration constructs affect two types of outcomes: project performance outcomes and emerging outcomes. IT project collaboration significantly improve both the emerging outcomes (such as team cultivation and relational outcomes) and performance outcomes (time, schedule and functionality). (5) Trust fully mediates the effect of cooperation structure on performance outcomes; suggesting that common rules and structures cannot directly benefit project performance without members’ believing in those rules and agreements. Through IT project collaboration, IT vendors can achieve not only traditional project outcomes but also emerging outcomes such as team cultivation and client-vendor relationship building. The relationships among IT development processes and technologies, project collaboration, and the outcomes of project collaboration are much more complex and dynamic than what the extant literature has portrayed. Multiple factors jointly influence the processes of IT development. Different patterns of client-vendor collaboration also affect the outcomes of the project, in addition, the trust level between the vendor and the client plays a major role in mediating the relationship between client-vendor collaboration and project performance

The technological mediation of mathematics and its learning

This paper examines the extent to which mathematical knowledge, and its related pedagogy, is inextricably linked to the tools – physical, virtual, cultural – in which it is expressed. Our goal is to focus on a few exemplars of computational tools, and to describe with some illustrative examples, how mathematical meanings are shaped by their use. We begin with an appraisal of the role of digital technologies, and our rationale for focusing on them. We present four categories of digital tool-use that distinguish their differing potential to shape mathematical cognition. The four categories are: i. dynamic and graphical tools, ii. tools that outsource processing power, iii. new representational infrastructures, and iv. the implications of highbandwidth connectivity on the nature of mathematics activity. In conclusion, we draw out the implications of this analysis for mathematical epistemology and the mathematical meanings students develop. We also underline the central importance of design, both of the tools themselves and the activities in which they are embedded

“Domain Of Supply Chain Management - A State Of Art”.

A supply chain is a network of facilities and distribution channels that encompasses the procurement of materials, production, assembly and delivery of product or service to the customer. The management of the supply chain and the roles of various actors involved differ from industry to industry and company to company. As a result Supply Chain Management (SCM) has become a vital issue for manufacturers, professionals and researchers. It is felt that to manage the supply chain effectively entire structure of supply chain must be understood properly. This paper attempts to provide the reader a complete picture of supply chain management through a systematic literature review. It presents a state of art on SCM by systematically arranging main activities in supply chain. In addition the step-by-step approach for understanding the breadth and depth of Supply Chain is proposed which consequently explores the domain of SCM.A supply chain is a network of facilities and distribution channels that encompasses the procurement of materials, production, assembly and delivery of product or service to the customer. The management of the supply chain and the roles of various actors involved differ from industry to industry and company to company. As a result Supply Chain Management (SCM) has become a vital issue for manufacturers, professionals and researchers. It is felt that to manage the supply chain effectively entire structure of supply chain must be understood properly. This paper attempts to provide the reader a complete picture of supply chain management through a systematic literature review. It presents a state of art on SCM by systematically arranging main activities in supply chain. In addition the step-by-step approach for understanding the breadth and depth of Supply Chain is proposed which consequently explores the domain of SCM.A supply chain is a network of facilities and distribution channels that encompasses the procurement of materials, production, assembly and delivery of product or service to the customer. The management of the supply chain and the roles of various actors involved differ from industry to industry and company to company. As a result Supply Chain Management (SCM) has become a vital issue for manufacturers, professionals and researchers. It is felt that to manage the supply chain effectively entire structure of supply chain must be understood properly. This paper attempts to provide the reader a complete picture of supply chain management through a systematic literature review. It presents a state of art on SCM by systematically arranging main activities in supply chain. In addition the step-by-step approach for understanding the breadth and depth of Supply Chain is proposed which consequently explores the domain of SCM

Streamlining Information Technology Services in Local Government

This research paper examines the outcome of the City of Toronto\u27s Shared Services foundation project. Drawing on the lessons learned from previous shared services projects at the City, it aims to answer the question: What factors promote or discourage shared services between a local government and its agencies? The paper conducts a systematic literature review with the aim of discovering a candidate set of factors that promote or discourage participation in shared services between a local government and its agencies. It then uses the literature review to explore the potential for future shared services between the City of Toronto and its agencies. Documentary research of the City of Toronto shared services\u27 archival documents and external websites is performed. Employing content analysis methods and a desk research strategy, the paper finds that clearly articulated benefits such as long-term financial sustainability, risk management, and compliance are critical incentives for shared services implementation. Committed senior leadership, a phased approach to implementation, and common IT applications are critical success factors. This paper will contribute to the decision making capability of the City of Toronto\u27s Division heads as well as the inter-agency shared services body of knowledge. It will also connect to the broader public administration conversation of multi-level governance and the relationships between special purpose bodies and their home municipal governments

People in the E-Business: New Challenges, New Solutions

[Excerpt] Human Resource Planning Society’s (HRPS) annual State of the Art/Practice (SOTA/P) study has become an integral contributor to HRPS’s mission of providing leading edge thinking to its members. Past efforts conducted in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999 have focused on identifying the issues on the horizon that will have a significant impact on the field of Human Resources (HR). This year, in a divergence from past practice, the SOTA/P effort aimed at developing a deeper understanding of one critical issue having a profound impact on organizations and HR, the rise of e-business. The rise of e-business has been both rapid and dramatic. One estimate puts the rate of adoption of the internet at 4,000 new users each hour (eMarketer, 1999) resulting in the expectation of 250 million people on line by the end of 2000, and 350 million by 2005 (Nua, 1999). E-commerce is expected to reach $1.3 trillion by 2003, and of that, 87 percent will go to the business to business (B2B) and 13 percent to the business to consumer (B2C) segments, respectively (Plumely, 2000)

Innovative Changes in European Companies (3rd European Company Survey)

[Excerpt] Innovation in its various forms is considered an important driver of improved competitiveness, productivity and the growth potential of companies. By innovating both in their products and in workplace practices and processes, European workplaces may have a better chance to compete internationally. This report critically reflects on common concepts of innovation and explores the links between innovation, practices, performance and workplace well-being across the EU28. In particular, it examines associations between innovative company behaviour and the implementation of bundles of workplace practices. The report also studies the role of social dialogue in translating innovative workplace practices into higher levels of performance and well-being. The report contributes to research and policy debates by examining innovation from a different perspective. It acknowledges that companies need to invest in research and development (R&D), increase the number of patents granted and improve technology. However, it highlights other important factors that contribute to innovation such as the organisation of work, human resource practices and employee participation

Deviations of Governance In IT Multi-Sourcing: A Case Study

IT outsourcing (ITO) refers to the shift of IT/IS activities from internal to external of an organization. In prior research, the governance of ITO is recognized with persistent strategic importance for practice, because it is tightly related to ITO success. Under the rapid transformation of global market, the evolving practice of ITO requires updated knowledge on effective governance. However, research on ITO governance is still under developed due to the lack of integrated theoretical frameworks and the variety of empirical settings besides dyadic client-vendor relationships. Especially, as multi-sourcing has become an increasingly common practice in ITO, its new governance challenges must be attended by both ITO researchers and practitioners. To address this research gap, this study aims to understand multi-sourcing governance with an integrated theoretical framework incorporating both governance structure and governance mechanisms. The focus is on the emerging deviations among formal, perceived and practiced governance. With an interpretive perspective, a single case study is conducted with mixed methods of Social Network Analysis (SNA) and qualitative inquiries. The empirical setting embraces one client firm and its two IT suppliers for IT infrastructure services. The empirical material is analyzed at three levels: within one supplier firm, between the client and one supplier, and among all three firms. Empirical evidences, at all levels, illustrate various deviations in governance mechanisms, with which emerging governance structures are shaped. This dissertation contributes to the understanding of ITO governance in three domains: the governance of ITO in general, the governance of multi-sourcing in particular, and research methodology. For ITO governance in general, this study has identified two research strands of governance structure and governance mechanisms, and integrated both concepts under a unified framework. The composition of four research papers contributes to multi-sourcing research by illustrating the benefits of zooming in and out across the multilateral relationships with different aspects and scopes. Methodologically, the viability and benefit of mixed-method is illustrated and confirmed for both researchers and practitioners.IT-palveluiden ulkoistamisen tarkoituksena on hankkia organisaation tarvitsemat IT-palvelut toiselta organisaatiolta. Hankittavien palveluiden laatu on aiemman tutkimuksen mukaan riippunut siitä, miten palveluiden ulkoistusta on hallittu. Aihepiiristä ei kuitenkaan ole olemassa integroitua tieteellistä viitekehystä. Lisäksi aiempi IT-palveluiden hallintaa käsittelevä empiirinen tutkimus on perehtynyt vain kahdenvälisiin asiakas–tuottaja suhteisiin. Tämän johdosta on tärkeää tutkia lisää IT-palveluiden ulkoistamisen hallintaa yleensä ja erityisesti niissä tilanteissa, joissa IT-palvelut on ulkoistettu useille toimijoille eli kyse on IT-palveluiden moniulkoistamisesta. Tässä tutkimuksessa kehitettiin IT-palveluiden moniulkoistamisen hallintaan soveltuva integroitu, tieteellinen viitekehys, joka sisältää sekä hallinnan rakenteet että hallinnan mekanismit. Työn empiirisessä osassa erityisenä kiinnostuksen kohteena oli se, mitä palvelun hallinnasta oli virallisesti sovittu, kuinka eri osapuolet olettivat hallinnan tapahtuvan, ja miten hallinta käytännössä toteutui. Aihetta tutkittiin tulkitsevan tapaustutkimuksen keinoin yhdistäen puolistrukturoitua haastattelututkimusta ja sosiaalisten verkostojen analyysiä. Tutkimusaineisto kerättiin yhdestä asiakasyrityksestä ja sen kahdesta IT-palveluiden toimittajasta. Aineiston analysointi tehtiin kolmella tasolla: yksittäisen toimittajayrityksen, asiakkaan ja toimittajan välisen suhteen sekä kaikkien toimijoiden välisten suhteiden tasolla. Tutkimuksessa osoitetaan, että aiempi IT-palveluiden ulkoistamisen hallintaa käsittelevä tutkimus on jakautunut kahteen tutkimusalueeseen, joista toinen keskittyy hallinnan mekanismeihin ja toinen hallinnan rakenteisiin. Tutkimuksessa kehitetty IT-palveluiden ulkoistamisen hallinnan uusi viitekehys hyödyntää sekä hallinnan mekanismeihin että hallinnan rakenteisiin liittyviä käsitteitä. Tutkielma osoittaa, että moniulkoistamiseen liittyviä toimijoita kannattaa analysoida sekä itsenäisinä toimijoina että verkoston jäseninä. Tutkimus nostaa myös esille hyötyjä laadullisten ja määrällisten tutkimusmenetelmien yhdistämisestä sekä tieteellisen tutkimuksen tekemisessä että yritysten käytännön kehitystyössä.Siirretty Doriast