Improving Between-group Comparisons in IS Research Through the Use of SEM and Latent Variables: An Introduction and Some Examples

Information Systems researchers are often interested in comparing outcomes across different groups of interest, as in the case of experimental and quasi-experimental studies. These designs have traditionally been modeled, as we show through a review of our literature, by using analysis of variance techniques on observed scores, typically the sum or average of all items measuring the dependent variable of interest. These designs, however, can be analyzed with structural equation modeling and latent variables (SEM-LV) techniques, which can better accommodate measurement error and more complex models than would otherwise be possible using the traditional techniques. This research introduces the foundations of the SEM-LV approach for these research designs and highlights these advantages, and provides several examples that underscore the flexibility of the latent variable techniques discussed here. It also compares the two main alternatives for implementing this approach and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each

Early Cretaceous decapod Crustacea from the Neuquén Basin, west-central Argentina

Marine deposits of the Neuquén Basin of west-central Argentina (southern South America) are richly fossiliferous; its Mesozoic invertebrate faunas, represented mostly by molluscs, have been extensively studied since the nineteenth century. However, Early Cretaceous decapod crustaceans are far less known, although part of the systematic framework has been published (Aguirre-Urreta, 1989). The aim of the present note is to provide updated information based on ongoing research into the systematics and taphonomy of this crustacean group in the Neuquén Basin.Fil: Aguirre-Urreta, Maria Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; Argentin

An Information-Processing Perspective of IS-Business Integration: A Review of Research and a Conceptual Model

This paper presents a review framework of research related to inter-departmental integration, with a focus toward research into the IS-business relationship. While much of the literature reviewed lies outside the Information Systems realm, it is proposed here that related research in other business disciplines has much to contribute to the current interest in the integration between the Information Systems function, and line management in organizations. The main contribution of this manuscript lies in the identification of an appropriate theoretical base that can be employed in the study of this relationship

Estratigrafía y bioestratigrafía del Jurásico Superior-Cretácico Inferior marino de la Cuenca Neuquina-Aconcagüina, Argentina y Chile

Esta revisión presenta información actualizada sobre la estratigrafía y la bioestratigrafía de amonoideos del Jurásico Superior-Cretácico Inferior marino de la Cuenca Aconcagüina-Neuquina de Argentina y Chile. También se discuten las afinidades de las faunas de amonoideos y el nivel de fiabilidad en su correlación con las zonas estándar del Mediterráneo.This review provides updated information on the stratigraphy and ammonoid biostratigraphy of the marine Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous of the Aconcagua-Neuquén Basin of Argentina and Chile. The ammonoid faunal affinities and the level of confidence in correlation with the Mediterranean standard zones are also discussed here.Fil: Aguirre-Urreta, Maria Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; Argentin

Darwin's Geological Research in Argentina

On the occasion of the 200th. anniversary of Charles Darwin´s birth, the Asociación Geológica Argentina decided to prepare a special issue devoted to the geological research undertaken by Darwin in Argentina. As it is well known, during his journeys on board HMS Beagle under the command of Captain Robert FitzRoy, he had the opportunity to survey overland different areas of South America. Darwin spent nearly three years - between August 1832 and April 1835 - visiting and studying different regions of our country. The aim of this special issue is to analyze his important geological observations and to emphasize the validity of many of his ideas under a 21st Century perspective. In order to accomplish this aim, several key localities that Darwin examined from a geological point of view during his voyage were selected. Such an analysis was carried out by several geologists and paleontologists well acquainted with the diverse problems that Darwin faced along his journeys in Argentina.Fil: Ramos, Victor Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; Argentin

Between-Group Equivalence in Comparisons Using PLS: Results from Three Simulation Studies

The examination of between-group differences in theoretical relationships of interest is central to the conduct of research in the organizational and behavioral sciences, including Information Systems research. One such approach for examining these differences relies on the conduct of multi-group PLS analyses, where each group of interest is modeled separately, and the structural results from each analysis are then compared. Though this approach has been employed in the empirical literature, the ability of separate analyses to obtain models that are equivalent from a measurement perspective – which is a pre-requisite to making any comparisons between them – has not been carefully studied. In this research we perform three simulation studies under varying invariant conditions that highlight the performance of PLS in this regard. Our results indicate that sampling variability plays a major role in whether equivalent results can be obtained, and showcase the conditions in which the technique performs best

Sample Size Determination and Statistical Power Analysis in PLS Using R: An Annotated Tutorial

Partial least squares (PLS) is one of the most popular analytical techniques employed in the information systems field. In recent years, researchers have begun to revisit commonly used rules-of-thumb about the minimum sample sizes required to obtain reliable estimates for the parameters of interest in structural research models. Of particular importance in this regard is the a priori assessment of statistical power, which provides valuable information to be used in the design and planning of research studies. Though the importance of conducting such analyses has been recognized for quite some time, a review of the empirical research employing PLS indicates that they are not regularly conducted or reported. One likely reason is the lack of software support for these analyses in popular PLS packages. In this tutorial, we address this issue by providing, in tutorial form, the steps and code necessary to easily conduct such analyses. We also provide guidance on the reporting results

Financial Closing Time And Cost Of Equity: The Role Of Senior Information Systems Executives

Financial closing time is the time lag between a firm’s fiscal year end and earnings announcement. In this study, we first find an association between longer financial closing time and higher implied cost of equity. Improving financial closing time can help firms raise equity capital more efficiently. We posit that senior information executives can help improve firms' IT capabilities and reduce financial closing time. The empirical result suggests that firms having senior information executives (as measured by executive compensation) can reduce financial closing time for more than four days. We contribute by showing that senior IS executives are important for a public company to satisfy investors' information needs in the fast and competitive modern capital markets