Measuring the business value of IT: simplify with caution

Firms should not use single performance or IT metrics, excluding the context, write Rajiv Sabherwal and Anand Jeyara

From Trust to Inter-organizational Innovation: The Differential Mediating Roles of IT-based Process and Knowledge Assets

In the context of inter-organizational relationships, this study links various dimensions of trust, IT-based resources and innovation in two distinct pathways defined by the characteristics of each of those dimensions. We parse out two dimensions of inter-organizational IT-based resources – IT-based Process Institutionalization and IT-based Knowledge Institutionalization – based on the purposes for which those resources are employed by the interacting organizations. Based on prior literature, we identify two dimensions each of trust, namely competence and benevolent trust; and two types of innovation, namely incremental and radical innovation. We then develop a model featuring two distinct sets of linkages: one from competence trust to IT-based process institutionalization to incremental innovation, and another from benevolence trust to IT-based knowledge institutionalization to radical innovation. We validate this model using the meta-analytic procedure, which enables us to glean an overall view of findings in prior literature on the relationships between trust, IT and innovation

The Bass Model of Diffusion: Recommendations for Use in Information Systems Research and Practice

The Bass Model (TBM), first introduced in 1969, has been used in several fields – including sociology, economics, marketing, and communication studies – to understand diffusion of products and innovations, but has received limited attention in information systems (IS) research and practice. TBM views diffusion as occurring through a combination of innovation (p) and imitation (q). Innovation and imitation describe the extents to which influences external to the population and influences internal to the population respectively affect diffusion. To encourage and enable greater use of TBM in IS research and practice, we describe an application process for using TBM and illustrate potential applications of TBM

Social Capital and IT as predicates of Collective Mindfulness and Business Risk Mitigation: A Grounded Theory Development

This study explores the idea that an organization’s internal social capital may underpin its corporate risk mitigation dynamic. We examine factors such as standard work routines, dense personal networks and shared understandings existing within the organization as antecedent to two specific aspects of Collective Mindfulness, being Commitment to Resilience and Deference to Expertise. We further examine the role played by the information systems platform deployed by the firm in amplifying these dynamics. We then examine the impact of these two aspects of collective mindfulness on the Risk Mitigation efforts essayed by employees vis-à-vis both the marketing and the operational functions of the firm. All these dynamics are explored using grounded theory methodology and the case study approach, based on interview data collected at a global commercial receivables management firm. Finally, managerial implications and future avenues of research flowing from insights presented in this paper are discussed

Information Technology Impacts on Firm Performance: An Extension of Kohli and Devaraj (2003)

Despite the importance of investing in information technology, research on business value of information technology (BVIT) shows contradictory results, raising questions about the reasons for divergence. Kohli and Devaraj (2003) provided valuable insights into this issue based on a meta-analysis of 66 BVIT studies. This paper extends Kohli and Devaraj by examining the influences on BVIT through a meta-analysis of 303 studies published between 1990 and 2013. We found that BVIT increases when the study does not consider IT investment, does not use profitability measure of value, and employs primary data sources, fewer IT-related antecedents, and larger sample size. Considerations of IT alignment, IT adoption and use, and interorganizational IT strengthen the relationship between IT investment on BVIT, whereas the focus on environmental theories dampens the same relationship. However, the use of productivity measures of value, the number of dependent variables, the economic region, the consideration of IT assets and IT infrastructure or capability, and the consideration of IT sophistication do not affect BVIT. Finally, BVIT increases over time with IT progress. Implications for future research and practice are discussed

Diagnosis of tubercular brain abscess through ocular manifestation

Central nervous system tuberculosis is a severe form of extra‑pulmonary tuberculosis. It mainly presents as meningitis or tuberculoma. Tubercular brain abscess (TBA) is a rare manifestation of tuberculosis in an immunocompetent patient. We report a case of TBA who presented to us due to the defective vision and headache.Keywords: Brain abscess, papilledema, tuberculosi

Routines, Reconfiguration and the Contribution of Business Analytics to Organisational Performance

Availability of large volumes of data in the firms has given a rise in interest in the potential use of business analytics applications. Research has investigated the potential of business analytics to deliver improved performance and competitive advantage at the firm level. However, a theoretical framework identifying the organisational factors which enables the firms to realise those performance gains and competitive advantage has not been clearly articulated. This paper proposes a theoretical framework identifying the organisational factors involved in realising performance gains and competitive advantage from business analytics. This paper draws on the foundational works of dynamic capabilities, routines and effective use to develop a research model. The data collected to test the research model is described along with the analytical strategies to test the model. Implications for research and practice are discussed

How Organizational Performance Influences Managerial Search? – Towards ‘Informating Search’ Theory

Although we expect managers to use the capabilities of business analytics systems to search for solutions and improve firm performance, we do not have a good understanding of the factors that motivate managers to undertake such search. Drawing on attribution and control theories, we propose a theory that explicates the performance conditions under which managers undertake search activities. Specifically, we theorize that managers are motivated to search for knowledge when both, operational performance and overall organizational performance, are declining. Further, we propose that managers’ search response to sustained organizational performance failure is faster (low search latency) when the magnitude of sustained failure is larger. We tested our hypotheses with longitudinal data collected monthly over a period of four years from seven hospitals. Distributed lag model analysis of the data supports our hypotheses. We conclude with implications for research and practice, and plans for future research

Who kicks whom?\u3csup\u3e1\u3c/sup\u3e Contextual and Temporal Effects in the IT Use - Performance Relationship

This research extends extant literature examining the relationship between IS use and performance. While prior theory has predominantly treated IS use as an antecedent of performance and hypothesized a positive effect of use on performance, this research provides an alternative perspective. Specifically, this paper theorizes that under certain contexts performance can be an antecedent of use and that the effect can be in the opposite direction. In contrast to non-contingent models, this paper proposes a contingent model in which the IS use-performance relationship is contingent on organizational performance and varies over time. The model proposed here is tested on longitudinal data. Distributed lag model was employed for data analysis. The results support our hypotheses that performance is an antecedent of IS use and that the effect is negative, i.e. when organizational performance declines, IS use increases but after a period of increased use, the effect declines to non-significant levels

Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Beyond Obesity

Sleep disorders are of growing concern and are a major public health problem. The obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common among different sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs). Obesity is a known associated risk factor for the OSA but is not limited to them. OSA is also recognized in nonobese population. The description of OSA in non obese patients in the literature is sparse. The clinical presentation is similar as in obese but has few differences as far as pathophysiology and polysomnographic features are concerned. The severity of OSA in nonobese has less severe manifestations thus requires early recognition and different treatment strategy to prevent mismanagement of these patients