Against Theory: With Apologies to Feyerabend

This essay explores the fixation the field of information systems has with “theory” and my frustration with this focus, examining where this theory focus came from, why it has been so widely adopted, and how it has led to dysfunction. It also offers some recommended action items that the field can take to redirect its efforts in order to become more relevant, resilient, and resourceful. These actions include, broadening the aperture of what legitimate IS research should include, imploring journal editors to change the way “applied” research is handled, bringing back books as an accepted and valued publication outlet, and moving the field in the direction of engagement

Scholarly Commentaries on Hirschheim’s “Against Theory”

This paper presents seven scholarly commentaries on Hirschheim’s “Against Theory” essay published in this issue of the Journal of the Association for Information Systems. Each commentary is written by a renowned IS researcher. Following the individual commentaries is Hirschheim’s response to the commentaries. Each commentary provides an insightful exegesis on theory in its own right and, collectively, the commentaries and response provide thought-provoking reflections for researchers in IS and beyond

An Information Infrastructure to Improve International Containerized Shipping

This thesis applies theoretical perspectives from the Information Systems (IS) research field to propose how Information Technology (IT) can improve containerized shipping. This question is addressed by developing a set of design principles for an information infrastructure for sharing shipping information named the Shipping Information Pipeline (SIP). Review of the literature revealed that IS research prescribed a set of meta-design principles, including digitalization and digital collaboration by implementation of Inter-Organizational Systems based on Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) messages, while contemporary research proposes Information Infrastructures (II) as a new IT artifact to be researched. Correspondingly, this thesis applies the concept of and design theory for II to improve containerized shipping. Activity Theory has guided the analysis of containerized shipping, following avocados on their journey from the trees in Africa, to the retail shelves in Europe, revealing the plethora of organizations, activities and documents involved. The implication being that containerized shipping becomes inefficiently; costly, unreliably, and risky. These are posited as the major impediments to creating a more efficient shipping industry, and a number of critical issues are identified. These include that shipments depend on shipping information, that shipments often are delayed due to issues with documentation, that EDI messages account for only a minor part of the needed information, that multiple fragmented II are used throughout, and finally, that there is an unleashed potential for IT to support containerized shipping. Based on the above, the SIP was designed, prototyped and evaluated which, through Internetenabled collaboration on shipments, ameliorates the previously mentioned critical issues and major impediments. This is accomplished primarily through increased transparency into the containerized shipping process and through providing direct access to source information about the shipments. Based on the prototypes an accumulated set of design principles for the design of SIP are articulated. In the particular context of Internet-enabled II utilizing the World Wide Web, an extension of design theory is proposed through the formulation of an additional metadesign principle: share meta-information only and govern access to detailed information by the source. Finally, the practical implications of SIP are estimated, including how it facilitates more efficient containerized shipping and in turn sustainable international trade. The positive acknowledgements of SIP prototypes support how II designed in accordance with the developed set of design principles can be used to significantly improve containerized shipping

Tren, metode, dan tantangan dalam penelitian di bidang sistem informasi: systematic literature review

Penelitian di bidang Sistem Informasi telah banyak dilakukan di seluruh dunia. Salah satu bentuk atau hasil dari sebuah penelitian adalah artikel ilmiah. Banyaknya artikel ilmiah di bidang Sistem Informasi membuat topik yang dibahas juga cukup beragam. Mengetahui tren metode yang digunakan dalam artikel ilmiah juga menjadi pembahasan yang menarik. Tentunya dari sekian banyak penelitian yang dilakukan dapat dipastikan ada berbagai macam tantangan yang dihadapi dalam pengerjaannya. Terkadang dalam penelitian juga menyisakan pertanyaan yang masih belum terjawab. Oleh karena itu, penelitian ini memiliki tujuan untuk mengetahui tren dari topik, metode, dan tantangan serta mengumpulkan open question yang belum terjawab pada penelitian bidang Sistem Informasi pada tahun 2017-2021. Analisis tren ini dapat dilakukan dengan menggunakanmetode systematic literature review dengan menggunakan ScienceDirect sebagai sumber data. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan tren topik penelitian di bidang Sistem Informasi adalah “Data/Information Management” dengan persentase sebesar 31.73% dari 104 artikel yang ditemukan. Tren metode yang terjadi adalah penggunaan metode “Survey/Interview” dengan persentase sebesar 22.37%. Tidak semua artikel menyebutkan tantangan yang mereka hadapi sehingga didapat 37 tantangan dari 104 artikel. Tantangan yang paling banyak dihadapi adalah mengenai human resource problem dengan persentase 21.62%. Tidak semua artikel penelitian menyisakan open question, sehingga hanya ditemukan 4 pertanyaan yang masih tersisa dari 104 artikel yang dianalisis

A process for managing benefits of mobile enterprise applications in the insurance industry

Mobile enterprise applications (MEAs) are found in increasing numbers in organisations as smart-devices become an everyday necessity amongst employees and customers. Large amounts are invested in these applications, so it is important to see the value in improved business processes and the consequential improvement in business performance. Realising the benefits from their use is important to obtain the value from these investments. Yet, benefits management (BM) is poorly implemented in companies and a first step to improve this situation is to improve the visibility of the benefits that can be achieved by using MEAs. Hence the primary question asked in this study is “How can MEA benefits be successfully realised?” The strategy used to answer the question was action research in a single organisation using three MEAs in two different action research cycles. The study was conducted in a short-term insurance company in the Western Cape of South Africa with an established IT and project capability. Globally, the short-term insurance industry is under a significant threat from disruption by market entrants who don’t have to navigate legacy systems and who are more agile with their product offerings. Traditional insurers are looking for innovative solutions to transform the way in which insurance is sold and serviced. A BM process, which was modified from the literature, was refined through action cycles in three MEA projects to improve benefits realisation. The result showed that for MEA projects, which are not very large investments relative to other IT projects, a lighter, less cumbersome process was more practical and acceptable in the organisation. The creation of a benefits and risks template, during the action cycles, helped the organisation to build stronger business cases for MEA projects and also allowed for more comprehensive benefit identification, measurement and tracking, ultimately realising business performance improvements. The study also used a survey amongst 88 brokers and assessors to determine the factors which influence their adoption of these MEAs. The most significant factors influencing user adoption were the company’s willingness to fund the smart-devices, the ease of use of the MEA, job relevance and location dependence. A limitation of this study is that the organisation has a particular approach to project funding whereby the importance of BM is weighed against the cost of the project, hence BM is more important for very expensive projects. While the model prescribed in this study was sufficient in this context, it may not be suitable for organisations that are more conscientious about BM. This model would need to be tested in other contexts for transferability. A further limitation was the duration of time available for conducting this study because this was a PhD research project. Further action cycles might have refined the process further. The findings from this study are relevant to researchers and to organisations wanting to deploy MEAs. The BM process defined in this study can be used in MEA projects as a process to manage the identified benefits and ensure that they are realised. The benefits template can be used as a first step in the BM process to build the business case and the risks template can be used to identify potential problems that could hinder benefits realisation and can used to put mitigating actions in place to prevent problems to benefits realisation. The identification of factors influencing adoption of MEA can help organisations focus on these factors to ensure that their MEAs are used and they thereby derive benefits. The theoretical contributions of this study are a process model for the BM body of knowledge and a model explaining the factors influencing symbolic adoption of MEA. The identification and description of benefits and risks extends the body of knowledge for mobile applications research. These specific issues in the context of MEAs in the short-term insurance industry are understudied

Investigating factors influencing the adoption of AIS: Libyan accountants’ perspective

A conceptual model of the adoption of the accounting information systems (AIS) by accountants in developing countries, using Libya as a case study, was developed. The model comprises technological, environmental and individual factors that have been found to have significant influences on the accountants’ behavioural intentions towards the adoption of the AIS

Understanding Local Knowledge – an Interdisciplinary Framework in the Context of Sustainable Development

This dissertation undertakes an in-depth analysis of the notion of ‘local knowledge’ on which basis it develops a structured, comprehensive, interdisciplinary conceptual-analytical framework on ‘understanding local knowledge’. This framework goes not only beyond typically encountered simplifications and the often seen prioritization of the factual perspective or the ecological dimension, but is also compatible with principles of sustainable development. Local knowledge – understood in this research as an overarching term for forms of knowledge such as e.g. traditional, indigenous, traditional ecological, folk or farmers’ knowledge – is locally adapted knowledge developed over time by people living in close interaction with their natural surroundings. Such knowledge proves vital in a myriad of ways and on various societal levels: Not only does it sustain local communities in their livelihoods and, thus, survival, it also is at the base of what is commonly called ‘ecosystem management’. These services are carried out by local communities at local and regional scales, thereby contributing to advancing environmental conservation and sustainable development. Lastly, with respect to the global level, local knowledge also acts as a vast, highly diversified and locally adapted knowledge repository with many current and potential future applications such as e.g. the development or introduction of novel materials, agricultural products or pharmaceuticals. Regrettably, despite its vital multi-functionality and -valency and a certain global recognition through the official integration of local knowledge into the ‘Convention of Biological Diversity’ at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, local knowledge continues to experience serious marginalization, devaluation and, as a result, an ongoing and almost world-wide erosion and decline. Reasons for this development are to be located not only in real-world power dynamics and vested interests at all societal levels, but also in a limited understanding of the actual character of local knowledge. The latter often stems from a lack of insight by the generally highly specialized Western actors into local knowledge’s complexity and the influence of their own biases and constraints on how a given local knowledge form is perceived and made sense of – biases and constraints rooted in their disciplinary, organizational, structural and personal backgrounds. This research contributes to tackling the latter issue by developing a multidisciplinary-based framework approach to ‘understanding local knowledge’. The heuristic instrument is designed generically such that it is applicable to a broad range of local knowledge forms in rural and urban areas in industrializing and industrialized countries and can be applied in the context of research as much as conservation and development cooperation. Methodically, the dissertation is based on extended literature analyses across sociology, philosophy, anthropology, geography, the ethno-sciences and development, cultural and area studies in order to conceptualize and theoretically inform the notions formative for ‘understanding local knowledge’ as broadly and inclusively as possible, namely ‘knowledge’, ‘locality’ and, to a lesser extent, ‘understanding’. In this process, a total of 16 theory-based generic dimensions characterizing and specifying the three notions are identified. In a second step, these 16 dimensions are aggregated in a conceptual-analytical framework whereby I follow the methodology outlined by Jabareen, Dowding and Stanley. This dissertation’s contributions concern various levels. First, on an analytical level, the heuristic developed facilitates the understanding of principally any given form of local knowledge through a theory-based minimal set of interconnected key dimensions and questions. Second, in view of its normative foundation in sustainable development, the framework provides interested parties with a differentiated way to gain comprehensive insights into local contexts as basis for collaboratively determining sustainable conservation, management and/or development strategies. Third, its structured and systematic approach facilitates comparative studies and forth, its interdisciplinary foundation is expected to promote the uptake of scientific findings across disciplinary boundaries, counteracting tendencies of disciplinary isolation. Fifth, by including the aspect of ‘understanding’, the framework also allows for a critical reflection on the contingency of one’s own understanding on pre-existing biases and constraints, thus also taking account of challenges related to understanding across epistemologies. Approaching the topic of ‘understanding local knowledge’ with an instrument specifically developed to analyze local knowledge forms comprehensively and systematically promises to provide a more complex, transparent and at the same time balanced notion of a given local knowledge form that thus contributes to facilitating collaboration, be it in research, conservation or development cooperation

Features of Multi-Age Practice and Adult-Child Interactions: An Exploratory Study from Hungary

It is well-documented that multi-age grouping is a frequently implemented organisational strategy in early childhood settings across the world. So far, it has received mixed reviews based on the developmental outcomes for children. However, there is relatively little known about the complexities of teaching and learning in such environments and how the approach is experienced by its participants. Given the high and growing prevalence of multi-age groups nationally in Hungary, this study set out to explore what features characterise multi-age practice, both reported and enacted, with a sharp focus on the nature of adult-child interactions. Taking a social-constructivist stance, the study employed a mixed method design involving 28 participants. Practice was observed, using semi-structured observations and researcher field notes, and views were elicited by employing the Q-method, which consisted of rank ordering 48 statements and follow-up semi-structured interviews. A phased approach to analysis generated four practice clusters and four reported shared views. Corroborative analysis of the two sets of findings focussed on how group age-diversity was harnessed and/or forgone. As the study’s unique contribution, four classes of multi-age practice, and correspondingly, four kinds of adult-child interactions were identified offering a taxonomy of multi-age practice. Findings interpreted using the bio-ecological Person-Process-Context-Time model (Bronfenbrenner and Morris, 2006) indicate that both the ‘family-centred relational’ and the ‘adult-led intentional’ practice consistently harnessed age-diversity potentially leading to generative proximal processes. This was far outweighed by the ‘adult-centred incidental’ and the ‘confused homogenising’ practice, where the potential of multi-agedness was mostly forgone, potentially leading to inverse proximal processes. In the absence of explicit policy on group organisation in Hungarian Early Childhood Education and Care, the study points to imperatives for national systems of pre-service training and a widely embedded and nuanced understanding of a multi-age educational philosophy through appropriate in-service training, so enhancing early childhood practice.</br

An Action Research Proposal for Enhanced Integration of Filipino Employees into an Aging Japanese Workforce

The pace of workforce decline in Japan is accelerating while its population is shrinking. Such a rapidly aging population has a direct impact on economic competitiveness, which requires the need to address the ensuing labor shortage. Although Japan’s imbalanced population could be rectified through policy to increase immigration, Japanese companies resist hiring foreign workers because immigration has long been taboo as many Japanese prize Japanese identity, ethnic homogeneity and the notion of an island country (shimaguni) culture. Moreover, the Japanese manufacturers do not think that the population decline is a serious issue. Instead, many take a short-term approach by bringing in thousands of foreign workers to help cut labor costs and send them back after their contracts are over. Therefore, the Japanese state finds it difficult to balance its conservative views on immigration although there is a desperate need for younger and skilled workers to boost the Japanese economy. Once a cornerstone of the economy, the paternalistic relationship between Japan’s companies and their salaried employees is also crumbling although the lifetime employment system continues to play an important role in their managerial system. Japanese companies tend to use a patriarchal approach to management, which requires employees showing stronger commitment and loyalty to company goals. As the system is gradually shifting to a neoliberal system, the Japanese organizations face a number of challenges. As an example, my company does business in the Philippines, operates under a patriarchal management system, and, as a result, does not function well within the current global economy. This thesis addresses a research gap in the literature in how the traditional Japanese organization can adapt and compete on a global scale by integrating Filipino employees. In support of this thesis, an Action Research (AR) was conducted at the Manila office of our company. The AR resulted in developing methods to improve the company’s practice and find solutions for the current organizational problems in the Filipino context, in search of gradually shaping a different organizational culture. The AR was designed in four stages to explore a distinct ontology around four empirical questions; (a) What do the Filipinos want? (b) How does that compare with our current practice? (c) What improvements can be made and, (d) What happened? In terms of research methodology, the first AR Cycle invited 140 participants from the Pasig Institute of Science and Technology (PCIST) to understand the character and desires of the Filipino workforce. The second AR cycle analyzed these responses to compare with current practice and decide if there is room for improvement. Finally, the third and fourth cycles planned, acted, observed and evaluated different context-specific actions to enable the development of actionable knowledge to improve organizational practices. The AR results demonstrate that (a) there are serious communication problems between the Japanese and Filipino employees- and it is not from linguistic barriers- but from a traditional Japanese pessimism that cannot effectively communicate with the Filipino optimism, (b) there is an urgent need of orientation and nurturing among Filipino employees because of their numerous violations of the Japanese corporate spirit although perceived that the practice of increased individuality may have improved organizational practice, (c) there is an issue of commitment among Filipino employees, as they would have become quite disappointed about the patriarchal approach of the Japanese company, and (d) there is a serious concern for material success and rewards among Filipino employees. This thesis argues that the employment of Filipinos can strengthen the Japanese economy if there is increased awareness about Japanese organizational practices and implementation of a proper screening process to ensure the selected candidates can cope with the challenges of a foreign corporate environment. My narrative suggests that the employment of Filipinos without any understanding about the organizational context may result in high education costs, an imbalance in skills, and increases quality control risks. However, both the pros and cons of Filipino employees could help a Japanese organization to improve its practice and reconsider some of its basic assumptions, which are rooted in the Japanese corporate value system. Nevertheless, as the Japanese companies are driven by a pessimistic cultural thought, they should be mindful about the positive potential of optimistic thoughts and adopt a more individual-oriented approach to remain competitive in an increasingly global economy. What Japanese companies might have been doing wrong is the treatment of “culture” as a separate entity to create a unique Japanese image based on a myth of homogeneity as the key of their success. This thesis suggests that the positive potential of a “collective organizational system” shall be first understood and embraced by the Japanese workforce, because the lack of such awareness might be the main cause of the economic stagnation that has resulted in Japanese companies to battle a perpetual-catch up syndrome. Finally, the AR cycles also show that the co-existence of both individualistic and collectivist values injures relationships and wellbeing at Japanese organizations. Consequently, it requires a self-reflection on the theory and practice of Japanese cultural relativism and crumbling corporate paternalism. For this reason, this paper proposes a transformation from a hard work/unconditional devotion (ganbaru) to subjective easing with both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards offered to both Japanese and Filipino employees as a new firm-as-family concept. This could increase on- and off-screen skills of all. This thesis also argues that the problem is not cultural- but rather personal. The narrative suggests that some people may be resistant to change and reluctant to adopt a new managerial structure and we may not be able to control each individual and their actions. If Japan is to remain economically competitive, it must first transform the patriarchal-based managerial environment to one that allows every individual to search for and attain a self-concordant goal

Views and experiences of informal caregivers of older adults with dementia in Sri Lanka: a phenomenological study

Introduction: Dementia is a global health concern affecting an estimated 115.4 million people. Dementia has become a research priority in low-and-middle income countries (LAMIC), due to increasing prevalence associated with demographic transition and ageing population. Research on informal dementia caregivers; their cultural and traditional views and experience in LAMIC is scares. Aim: This study explores views and experiences of informal caregivers for older adults with dementia in Sri Lanka. Methods: The study was underpinned by a phenomenological approach. Twenty-six in-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of informal dementia caregivers living in a semi-urban area in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Data analysis was carried out using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results: Overarching findings consist of three super-ordinate themes: meaning of dementia; meaning, practice and purpose of caregiving; and caregivers’ concerns, issues and challenges. Caregivers attributed diverse meanings to symptoms and causes of dementia and caregiving. A shift in their initial views of illness perceptions and causations of dementia symptoms was noted along the journey of caregiving. Dementia awareness was low among majority of caregivers. Alternative traditional healing methods were widely practised, as first-line and sole treatment for dementia or as a complementary treatment along with western medical treatments. Experience of burden was often driven by either caregiving activities with people with dementia (PwD) or the wider socio cultural context. Caregivers were concerned about the service gaps in health care system. Conclusions and Recommendations: Caregivers’ personal values, beliefs, attitudes and their socio-cultural and religious views largely influenced the conceptualisation of meanings of dementia and caregiving role. The findings highlight the importance of increasing dementia awareness in the study context and developing facilities and health care services to support PwD and their family caregivers. Integration of western medical care model and traditional or complementary care models will be beneficial in this particular socio-cultural context