IT CAPABILITIES IN GLOBAL ENTERPRISES

Organizations are globalizing rapidly for growth. However, with globalization they constantly struggle with the often competing objectives of global scale and responsiveness to local conditions and global trends. Prior research suggests that IT capabilities are critical to achieving organizational goals; however there has been relatively little research that explicitly examines IT capabilities in the MNC context. This paper examines in-depth the IT capabilities in a global organization. Drawing on recent research that suggests a goal-oriented approach to IT capabilities, we identify MNC capabilities of Global Scale, Global-Local Responsiveness and Global Coordination. The paper also notes the distinction between resources and processes in the conceptualization of capabilities, and provides empirical support for the resources and associated processes that comprise each of the global IT capabilities

IT Governance in Global Enterprises: Managing in Asia

As businesses reconfigure their value chains and scale up their global expansions, they have to cope with a myriad of complex IT management challenges. This research examines how enterprises realign their global IT strategies for scale, speed, and innovation. Anchored in the IT governance literature, we seek to unravel the required governance structures and processes in balancing the inherent global-local tensions. Through field interviews with CIOs of global enterprises with established Asian presence, we derived a research framework for global IT management. Our findings suggest evolving global-regional-local structural elements in global IT organization supplemented by the institution of horizontal/linking mechanisms. Specifically, the key tension points appear to be in the flexible design of IT service delivery, the facilitation of IT innovation flow, and the nurturing of a global IT management mindset

Erwerbsbiographien und Qualifikationsprofile von Diplomierten Pflegebediensteten

In der von der Abteilung Arbeitsmarktforschung und Berufsinformation des AMS Österreich beauftragten Studie 'Erwerbsbiographien und Qualifikationsprofile von Diplomierten Pflegebediensteten' lagen die Erhebungsschwerpunkte auf der Berufswahl, dem Berufseinstieg und dem weiteren Karriereverlauf, der Bewertung der Aus- und Weiterbildung, auf allfälligen beruflichen Unterbrechungen und beruflichen Neuorientierungen sowie auf der Beurteilung der aktuellen beruflichen Rahmenbedingungen in diesem Berufsfeld. Um das breite Spektrum berufsbiographischer Aspekte in der Diplomierten Gesundheits- und Krankenpflege abbilden zu können, wurde ein Mix aus qualitativen und quantitativen Verfahren eingesetzt. Neben ExpertInneninterviews, die der Sondierung des Forschungsfeldes und der Vorbereitung des Erhebungsinstrumentes dienten, kamen eine standardisierte Fragebogenerhebung bei mehr als 300 Diplomierten Gesundheits- und Krankenpflegekräften (Beschäftigte sowie Arbeitslose) und zusätzliche qualitative Interviews zum Einsatz. Dadurch waren einerseits Repräsentativität und Vergleichbarkeit gegeben, andererseits aber auch dichte, vertiefende Einblicke in das Berufsfeld der Gesundheits- und Krankenpflege möglich. Basierend auf den vorliegenden umfangreichen Ergebnissen (vgl. Langfassung) werden im vorliegenden AMS info die im Rahmen der Studie gezogenen Schlußfolgerungen sowie Handlungsoptionen für den Bereich der Diplomierten Gesundheits- und Krankenpflege resümiert

Arbeitssituation von Beschäftigten in der Tourismusbranche im Salzkammergut

'Aufgrund des demografischen Wandels in Österreich wird der Anteil der älteren MitarbeiterInnen im Beherbergungs- und Gaststättenwesen steigen. Eine rechtzeitige Auseinandersetzung mit der Frage nach der Erhaltung der Arbeitsfähigkeit und -motivation der ArbeitnehmerInnen ist daher notwendig. Die in diesem Beitrag vorgestellte Erhebung liefert auf Basis einer telefonischen Befragung eine detaillierte Beschreibung der Arbeitssituation von länger beschäftigten ArbeitnehmerInnen über 35 Jahre in der Touris-musbranche im oberösterreichischen Salzkammergut. Spezifische Arbeitszufriedenheiten und -belastungen sowie deren Auswirkungen wurden untersucht. Anerkennung und Wertschätzung sowie Verminderung von einseitigen Arbeitsabläufen tragen beispielsweise wesentlich zur Verbesserung der Arbeitssituation bei. Vermutete Vorurteile von ArbeitgeberInnen gegenüber älteren ArbeitnehmerInnen wurden in der Studie nicht bestätigt.' (Autorenreferat)'The share of elderly employees in the Austrian hotel and restaurant industry is expected to grow because of demographic changes. Therefore, it appears necessary to find ways how to sustain their workability and motivation for work. Based on a telephone survey, the presented study describes in detail the working conditions of long-term employees aged 35 plus in the hotel and restaurant industry of a tourism region in Austria, the 'Salzkammergut'. Specific work-related satisfication, strains and their consequences were analysed. Working conditions can be improved by recognition, appreciation and a less one-sided job profile. Assumed prejudices against elderly workers, on part of the employers, were not verified by this study.' (author's abstract)

MANAGING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN TRANSNATIONAL ENTERPRISES

Abstract Multinational enterprises (MNEs) are increasingly shifting from global or multinational strategies towards a transnational strategy (Barlett & Ghoshal 1989

Threat-Balancing in Vendor Transition

While many outsourcing contracts are expiring, and vendor transition is becoming an increasing concern, little research helps organizations manage vendor transition. This paper explores vendor transition across two case sites. In one case, the outgoing vendor cooperated with the client which resulted in the client distancing itself from interactions between vendors. In the second case, the outgoing vendor was openly hostile, with the result that the client allied with the incoming vendor to manage vendor transition. These findings mirror expectations from balance of threat theory, a political science theory about interactions between nations. Balance of threat theory predicts that outgoing vendor hostility and the capability of the client to mitigate hostility determine whether a client takes a hard or soft balancing strategy during vendor transition

Barriers and Facilitators for Conducting Implementation Science in German-Speaking Countries: Findings from the Promote ImpSci Interview Study

On a global scale, implementation science has developed considerably as a discipline in recent years. In German-speaking countries, the field has been gaining significance as well, but respective efforts in building capacity and advancing the research infrastructure are still rare. The present study investigates barriers and facilitators for conducting implementation science in German-speaking countries with the goal of formulating recommendations for creating a more supportive research infrastructure. We conducted an interview study with nine well-established implementation researchers affiliated with universities in Austria, Germany, or Switzerland. The interviews were held via Zoom or phone in November and December 2020, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis. Barriers that relate to characteristics of the discipline were difficulties in building a common understanding of the field and the complexity of implementation research projects. Although supportive scientific networks were important facilitators, interviewees mentioned challenges in connecting with likeminded researchers. A further barrier was the lack of opportunities for education and training in implementation science, especially in the German language. Also, participants reported a missing readiness in academia for establishing implementation science that should be addressed by advocacy of the discipline toward academic decision makers. Moreover, since most national funding agencies prioritize basic research over applied research, some interviewees named flexibility in handling research funds as a facilitator for implementation research. The results inform an agenda for promoting implementation science in German-speaking countries and can be beneficial to other countries that are currently advancing their implementation research capacity and infrastructure

A NEW IT ORGANIZATIONAL FORM FOR MULTINATIONAL ENTERPRISES

Abstract Globalization has been a major phenomenon since the 1980s. As many multinational enterprises (MNEs

Dissemination of Evidence by Cochrane Public Health Europe in German-Speaking Countries: An Online Stakeholder Survey

Objectives: To investigate the reach and impact of “Infomails”, email summaries of Cochrane reviews in German, regularly disseminated by Cochrane Public Health Europe (CPHE) to stakeholders in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Methods: We analysed email campaign reports from 15 Infomails delivered until November 2020. Furthermore, we invited all previous Infomail recipients to participate in an online survey on the impact and perceptions regarding our Infomails in November 2020. We analysed the results using descriptive statistics. Results: The Infomails’ open rate ranged from 10.9% to 39.3% (median 26.0%), and the median click rate on the embedded links was 28.0% (range 8.6–53.8%), highest for nutrition and prevention topics. Out of 1259 recipients, 267 (21.2%) completed our survey. Infomails were most used in discussions, writing reports or statements, for policy or strategy development or programme or guideline development. Persons who remembered receiving Infomails rated them as useful, comprehensible or informative. Conclusion: Infomails summarising recent Cochrane reviews were considered useful for the daily work of public health stakeholders in German-speaking countries. Regular targeted messaging may increase the perceived usefulness

Vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor for dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Sunlight exposure and high vitamin D status have been hypothesised to reduce the risk of developing dementia. The objective of our research was to determine whether lack of sunlight and hypovitaminosis D over time are associated with dementia. Methods We systematically searched MEDLINE (via PubMed), Cochrane Library, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Web of Science, ICONDA, and reference lists of pertinent review articles from 1990 to October 2015. We conducted random effects meta-analyses of published and unpublished data to evaluate the influence of sunlight exposure or vitamin D as a surrogate marker on dementia risk. Results We could not identify a single study investigating the association between sunlight exposure and dementia risk. Six cohort studies provided data on the effect of serum vitamin D concentration on dementia risk. A meta-analysis of five studies showed a higher risk for persons with serious vitamin D deficiency (<25\ua0nmol/L or 7\u201328\ua0nmol/L) compared to persons with sufficient vitamin D supply (\u226550\ua0nmol/L or 54\u2013159\ua0nmol/L) (point estimate 1.54; 95% CI 1.19\u20131.99, I 2 \u2009=\u200920%). The strength of evidence that serious vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of developing dementia, however, is very low due to the observational nature of included studies and their lack of adjustment for residual or important confounders (e.g. ApoE \u3b54 genotype), as well as the indirect relationship between Vitamin D concentrations as a surrogate for sunlight exposure and dementia risk. Conclusions The results of this systematic review show that low vitamin D levels might contribute to the development of dementia. Further research examining the direct and indirect relationship between sunlight exposure and dementia risk is needed. Such research should involve large-scale cohort studies with homogeneous and repeated assessment of vitamin D concentrations or sunlight exposure and dementia outcomes