Information and communication technology adoption for business benefits: a case analysis of an integrated paperless system

This case study analyses the benefits of implementing a paperless software solution (Alert®pfh–Alert Paperfree Hospital, developed by Alert Life Sciences Computing) in a Portuguese Hospital, the Espírito Santo Hospital, in the city of Évora. Alert®pfh is a complete hospital clinical information system with real time clinical information input. It was implemented in emergency medical services, inpatient and outpatient services, and operating room services. Data were collected between 2006 and 2011 prior to, during and after the system's implementation. The case analysis demonstrates that paperless software systems have a significant potential when applied in healthcare organization services. Besides financial benefits, other important organizational features were identified, namely higher levels of patient and professional satisfaction; an increase in efficiency in hospital operations; improvement in the quality of information for management decision-making; and a reduction in medical errors. Lessons learned are noted and conclusions drawn for both theoretical and practical ICT benefits analysis

Linking benefits to balanced scorecard strategy map

In this paper the authors propose a link between the Benefits Dependency Network, from a Benefits Management approach, and a Strategy Map, from Balanced Scorecard, to improve the management of business benefits and to ensure that actions taken along the investment life-cycle lead to foreseen benefits realization. The goal of this integration is to build a framework that combines useful features of both methods. We sustain that they can be complementary. As a Strategy Map is committed with strategic alignment, communication and monitoring of strategy execution at all levels of an organization, a Benefits Dependency Network is aimed at explaining how benefits are going to be obtained through organizational change. Using the results of a case-study research, we explain how a Strategy Map can cross with the Benefits Dependency Network. The integrated contribution is meant to increase the investments effectiveness, giving to stakeholders the confidence on a clearer delivery path for their expected benefitsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Linking benefits to maturity models

Many organizations today need to deliver more complex products and services in a better, faster, and cheaper way. The business problems that some companies address require enterprise-wide solutions that call for an integrated approach and an effective management of organizational resources to achieve business objectives with an acceptable level of risk. A maturity model is a process improvement approach that provides organizations with the essential elements of effective change. It can be used to guide process improvement across a project, a division, or an entire organization. Maturity models help integrate traditionally separate organizational functions, set process improvement goals and priorities, provide guidance for quality processes, and provide benchmark for appraising current processes outcomes. The benefits management approach emerges as a complement to traditional management practices and proposes a continuous mapping of benefits, implementing and monitoring intermediate results. Benefits management reinforces the distinction between project results and business benefits. Based on a case study the authors show how a set of business objectives can be obtained from identifying, structuring and monitoring business benefits, supported by information technology enablers and organizational transformations, and as a result of a certain maturity level. The authors also state that the main focus of an investment success lies not only in technology implementation, but mainly in changes in organizational performance and business efficiency by means of improved processes and modifications in the way the work is done. We emphasize that the integration between a Maturity Model and a Benefits Management approach can increase the effectiveness of projects, programs or portfolios outcomes. Besides, this linkage can also improve decision-makers confidence that the investments done match the desired maturity stages and will then, with more probability, collect more value for businessesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Are we really competent? : Assessing organizational ability in delivering IT benefits

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present organizational competencies for gaining information technology (IT) benefits within organizations. Following the analysis of 16 in-depth case studies, a set of six high level, fundamental competencies and 17 facilitating competencies are identified.Aframework for orchestrating the organizational competencies is also presented. The results of this research would be useful to academics in developing measures for assessing the level of organizational competence and for practitioners in identifying and nurturing competencies for organizational benefits realization. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology involved two phases. Phase 1 entailed conducting 16 extensive case studies. Case study methodology employed follows guidelines provided by Yin and Benbasat et al. Case studies are a suitable means to collect the data since the notion of competencies in delivering IT benefits has not been well understood in the literature. By analyzing and understanding the particular situation and factors in each organization in an in-depth manner, the paper develops a sound interpretation of the abilities that organizations need to have in place to deliver IT benefits. Findings – In order to gain business benefits from IT investments, organizations must develop competencies to exploit IT. These competencies involve individual skills and organizational processes that enable those skills to be effectively applied. This paper identifies 23 competencies categorized into fundamental and facilitating competencies that firms need to have in place if IT services are to be delivered adequately and business benefits achieved. Also developed is a network of competences based on the data collected in the 16 cases studied. Research limitations/implications – Like any research, this paper has its limitations. Given the qualitative and interpretive nature of the research, a lot of assertions are interpretations of the authors. While in the literature, this has been argued as a valid way to undertake research, clearly there are biases that creep into the research. Practical implications – The model of competencies presented forms a good basis for enterprises to fine-tune their abilities for harnessing IT. Originality/value – While management researchers have been researching the notion of organizational competence for a while, it has not been well considered in the information systems arena; it is felt that this research makes a positive contribution to that effect.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The implementation of the Spa Select System : coming to grips with the cog in the machine

This paper illustrates the tribulations of implementing a technology-based system to aid management of information at a Spa and a Salon. While the implementation may itself appear to be rather simplistic, a number of issues of concern emerge. These range from inadequate planning, inability to define organizational processes, and resistance to change due to poor management of user skills and interests. While the organization eventually achieved the investment objective it had set out for itself, the process of implementation was riddled with problems—disgruntled employees, unfair compensation plans and a general discontentment with the system. The paper contextualizes a range of issues related to information management and how a technological solution resulted in resistance to change and business process management challenges.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Customer Relationship Management Adoption: Using A Dynamic Capabilities Approach

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) adoption is both a relevant research topic in academia and a challenge for practitioners. We understand CRM as a complex concept that includes technology, strategy and philosophy. In this research, we propose an analysis of CRM organisational dynamic capabilities. The main goal is to apply a dynamic capabilities perspective to analyse how companies can improve their CRM initiatives. In order to achieve this purpose, a qualitative, interpretative, case-based research strategy was implemented. We conducted a case study in a Portuguese telecommunication enterprise for one year. The case study was based on semi-structured interviews and document analysis. We used qualitative techniques to analyse the collected data and ground our interpretation in a dynamic capabilities theoretical approach. We propose a theoretical framework related to CRM dynamic capability that is corroborated with empirical evidence. We believe that because organisations which adopt a CRM strategy are in a competitive environment, a dynamic model needs to be used to analyse and explain how they can improve their CRM strategy in order to achieve success

Using resource-based theory to interpret the successful adoption and use of information systems and technology in manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises

The purpose of this paper is to consider how resource-based theory can be used to explain success with the adoption and use of information systems and information technology (IS/IT) in manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A number of authors have explored the applicability of resource-based theory to the IS/IT domain, mainly at a conceptual level. Overall they infer that the key differentiators for long-term successful IS/IT deployment reside within the internal context of an organisation, based on organisational competences. This paper is based on in-depth case study research in 12 Portuguese manufacturing SMEs, which identified two factors that, from the empirical evidence, appeared to be the determinants of the different levels of success in IS/IT adoption and use. These factors were also primarily associated with the internal context of the organisations. Therefore, the findings were analysed from the perspective of resource-based theory, to understand why and how the attributes of these factors caused the differential levels of IS/IT success in the firms studied..info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A bumpy road to success (or not) : The case of Project Genesis at Nevada DMV

This paper presents findings from the implementation of an integrated information system, Project Genesis, at Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), USA. While the development and implementation was riddled with problems, the project was still labeled as successful. The case study identifies a range of issues in the organization and evaluates these based on different interpretations of various stakeholders. In a final synthesis, a contextual analysis of the emergent issues is conducted. Considerations for defining and managing the relative success of an implementation are presented.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

What’s the story here? The effect of volatility on university leader sensemaking of undocumented student access

This paper examines the effects of volatility on sensemaking. While multiple studies have explored sensemaking in crisis situations, none have explicitly investigated the impact of volatility on organizational sensemaking. Interviews with 55 top leaders in U.S. Catholic universities reveal the effects of volatility on leader sensemaking of undocumented student access to their institutions. Under conditions of high volatility, leaders experienced a strong temptation to restrict communication, which is precisely the wrong thing to do since it reduces requisite variety. With less requisite variety, people miss more cues, which can lead to constrained sensemaking and premature simplification. Based on these findings, we can better understand the impact of volatility on organizational sensemaking and resulting consequences as sensemakers engage volatile issues.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Organizational information systems competences in small and medium-sized enterprises

We used resource-based theory and evidence from empirical studies to evolve a framework of IS competences in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The framework significantly improved our understanding of internal IS expertise in SMEs. We used relevant IS competence and SME literature, as well as empirical data from SME case studies. Our set of twenty two IS competences were organized around six macro competences. Each competence refers to a specific ability at the organizational rather than the individual level and they cover a broad range of activities, such as those associated with recognising business opportunities, IS planning, accessing IS knowledge, defining requirements, software and hardware sourcing, applications development, and managing relationships with IS suppliers. The framework was tested against prior literature, including studies of IS adoption, IS success, and entrepreneurial competence. Each competence was fully explained and discussed using evidence from the case studies. The framework creates a comprehensive set of IS competences that can be used in both SME practice and research.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio