Resolving the Troubled IT-Business Relationship from a Cultural Perspective

This research investigates the effects of the culture of the information technology (IT) group on the relationship between business and IT professionals within two Australian organisations, one a public sector organisation, and the other a private company. The IT groups in these two organisations had many similar themes of culture. Both organisations reported a troubled IT-business relationship. This research investigates the effects of the themes of IT culture that surfaced in each organisation on six essential ingredients of an effective IT-business relationship, providing some suggestions for management to consider to improve their troubled IT-business business relationship

PsyCog:A computerised mini battery for assessing cognition in psychosis

Despite the functional impact of cognitive deficit in people with psychosis, objective cognitive assessment is not typically part of routine clinical care. This is partly due to the length of traditional assessments and the need for a highly trained administrator. Brief, automated computerised assessments could help to address this issue. We present data from an evaluation of PsyCog, a computerised, non-verbal, mini battery of cognitive tests. Healthy Control (HC) ( N = 135), Clinical High Risk (CHR) ( N = 233), and First Episode Psychosis (FEP) ( N = 301) participants from a multi-centre prospective study were assessed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. PsyCog was used to assess cognitive performance at baseline and at up to two follow-up timepoints. Mean total testing time was 35.95 min (SD = 2.87). Relative to HCs, effect sizes of performance impairments were medium to large in FEP patients (composite score G = 1.21, subtest range = 0.52-0.88) and small to medium in CHR patients (composite score G = 0.59, subtest range = 0.18-0.49). Site effects were minimal, and test-retest reliability of the PsyCog composite was good (ICC = 0.82-0.89), though some practice effects and differences in data completion between groups were found. The present implementation of PsyCog shows it to be a useful tool for assessing cognitive function in people with psychosis. Computerised cognitive assessments have the potential to facilitate the evaluation of cognition in psychosis in both research and in clinical care, though caution should still be taken in terms of implementation and study design. </p

Adding 6 months of androgen deprivation therapy to postoperative radiotherapy for prostate cancer: a comparison of short-course versus no androgen deprivation therapy in the RADICALS-HD randomised controlled trial

Background Previous evidence indicates that adjuvant, short-course androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) improves metastasis-free survival when given with primary radiotherapy for intermediate-risk and high-risk localised prostate cancer. However, the value of ADT with postoperative radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy is unclear. Methods RADICALS-HD was an international randomised controlled trial to test the efficacy of ADT used in combination with postoperative radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Key eligibility criteria were indication for radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, prostate-specific antigen less than 5 ng/mL, absence of metastatic disease, and written consent. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to radiotherapy alone (no ADT) or radiotherapy with 6 months of ADT (short-course ADT), using monthly subcutaneous gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue injections, daily oral bicalutamide monotherapy 150 mg, or monthly subcutaneous degarelix. Randomisation was done centrally through minimisation with a random element, stratified by Gleason score, positive margins, radiotherapy timing, planned radiotherapy schedule, and planned type of ADT, in a computerised system. The allocated treatment was not masked. The primary outcome measure was metastasis-free survival, defined as distant metastasis arising from prostate cancer or death from any cause. Standard survival analysis methods were used, accounting for randomisation stratification factors. The trial had 80% power with two-sided α of 5% to detect an absolute increase in 10-year metastasis-free survival from 80% to 86% (hazard ratio [HR] 0·67). Analyses followed the intention-to-treat principle. The trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN40814031, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00541047. Findings Between Nov 22, 2007, and June 29, 2015, 1480 patients (median age 66 years [IQR 61–69]) were randomly assigned to receive no ADT (n=737) or short-course ADT (n=743) in addition to postoperative radiotherapy at 121 centres in Canada, Denmark, Ireland, and the UK. With a median follow-up of 9·0 years (IQR 7·1–10·1), metastasis-free survival events were reported for 268 participants (142 in the no ADT group and 126 in the short-course ADT group; HR 0·886 [95% CI 0·688–1·140], p=0·35). 10-year metastasis-free survival was 79·2% (95% CI 75·4–82·5) in the no ADT group and 80·4% (76·6–83·6) in the short-course ADT group. Toxicity of grade 3 or higher was reported for 121 (17%) of 737 participants in the no ADT group and 100 (14%) of 743 in the short-course ADT group (p=0·15), with no treatment-related deaths. Interpretation Metastatic disease is uncommon following postoperative bed radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy. Adding 6 months of ADT to this radiotherapy did not improve metastasis-free survival compared with no ADT. These findings do not support the use of short-course ADT with postoperative radiotherapy in this patient population

Duration of androgen deprivation therapy with postoperative radiotherapy for prostate cancer: a comparison of long-course versus short-course androgen deprivation therapy in the RADICALS-HD randomised trial

Background Previous evidence supports androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with primary radiotherapy as initial treatment for intermediate-risk and high-risk localised prostate cancer. However, the use and optimal duration of ADT with postoperative radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy remains uncertain. Methods RADICALS-HD was a randomised controlled trial of ADT duration within the RADICALS protocol. Here, we report on the comparison of short-course versus long-course ADT. Key eligibility criteria were indication for radiotherapy after previous radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, prostate-specific antigen less than 5 ng/mL, absence of metastatic disease, and written consent. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to add 6 months of ADT (short-course ADT) or 24 months of ADT (long-course ADT) to radiotherapy, using subcutaneous gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue (monthly in the short-course ADT group and 3-monthly in the long-course ADT group), daily oral bicalutamide monotherapy 150 mg, or monthly subcutaneous degarelix. Randomisation was done centrally through minimisation with a random element, stratified by Gleason score, positive margins, radiotherapy timing, planned radiotherapy schedule, and planned type of ADT, in a computerised system. The allocated treatment was not masked. The primary outcome measure was metastasis-free survival, defined as metastasis arising from prostate cancer or death from any cause. The comparison had more than 80% power with two-sided α of 5% to detect an absolute increase in 10-year metastasis-free survival from 75% to 81% (hazard ratio [HR] 0·72). Standard time-to-event analyses were used. Analyses followed intention-to-treat principle. The trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN40814031, and ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT00541047 . Findings Between Jan 30, 2008, and July 7, 2015, 1523 patients (median age 65 years, IQR 60–69) were randomly assigned to receive short-course ADT (n=761) or long-course ADT (n=762) in addition to postoperative radiotherapy at 138 centres in Canada, Denmark, Ireland, and the UK. With a median follow-up of 8·9 years (7·0–10·0), 313 metastasis-free survival events were reported overall (174 in the short-course ADT group and 139 in the long-course ADT group; HR 0·773 [95% CI 0·612–0·975]; p=0·029). 10-year metastasis-free survival was 71·9% (95% CI 67·6–75·7) in the short-course ADT group and 78·1% (74·2–81·5) in the long-course ADT group. Toxicity of grade 3 or higher was reported for 105 (14%) of 753 participants in the short-course ADT group and 142 (19%) of 757 participants in the long-course ADT group (p=0·025), with no treatment-related deaths. Interpretation Compared with adding 6 months of ADT, adding 24 months of ADT improved metastasis-free survival in people receiving postoperative radiotherapy. For individuals who can accept the additional duration of adverse effects, long-course ADT should be offered with postoperative radiotherapy. Funding Cancer Research UK, UK Research and Innovation (formerly Medical Research Council), and Canadian Cancer Society

Prescription to remedy the IT-business relationship

[Introduction]: Since the introduction of computers in the early 1960s, many organisations have reported a troubled relationship between business and information technology (IT) professionals. Some forty years on, and despite many attempts to resolve the troubled relationship, tensions still exist. These tensions have, in recent times, been attributed to the cultural differences between business people (those who use IT) and IT people (those who make IT work). Establishing an effective relationship between these two disparate groups is essential for organisational success in today’s competitive global economy. In an effective relationship, IT and business professionals work together to understand business opportunities, determine needed functionality, choose among technology options, and decide when urgent business needs demand sacrificing technical excellence for immediate, incomplete solutions (Rockart, Earl & Ross, 1996). This chapter examines the troubled IT-business relationship from a cultural perspective. Firstly, six ingredients necessary for an effective IT-business relationship are explored. Secondly, some of the more typical characteristics of IT groups are identified. Then, the effects of each of these cultural characteristics on each of the six essential ingredients of an effective relationship are discussed. As a starting point for reconciliation between business and IT professionals, insights are provided as to how tensions in the IT-business relationship can be minimised through managing the IT culture

Propeller heads - handle with care: improving the IT-business relationship through cultural awareness

For organisations to fully exploit information technology and remain successful in today's competitive global economy, it is necessary for everyone to work well together. The absence of an effective relationship between business and IT professionals can limit the successful use of IT in organisations and can also be a drain on the productivity and competitiveness of organisations. An effective relationship therefore needs to be established between the two disparate groups of business and IT. This study explores the IT business relationship from a cultural perspective, and from interviews conducted in two Australian organisations provides insights into the IT culture and the effects of this culture on the IT-business relationship

The IT-business partnership: exploring a troubled relationship

[Abstract]: Managing the business relationship between information technology (IT) and business professionals is critical to the success of an organisation. For the IT group to add value to the business, a healthy IT-business relationship is absolutely essential. Unfortunately though in many organisations, the IT-business relationship is riddled with problems. This paper first explores the troubled IT-business relationship, and then explores the troubled IT-business relationship though the application of a model to identify essential ingredients that are lacking in the IT-business relationship. Data is collected from interviews and a questionnaire administered to eleven IT and twenty-one business professionals in five Australian organisations. With knowledge of ingredients that are lacking in the IT-business relationship, practitioners can structure and facilitate actions leading to a more effective IT-business relationship, a healthier work environment, and ultimately greater success within the organisation

An investigation of the effect of information technology (IT) culture on the relationship between IT and business professionals

[Abstract]: The 'cultural chasm' between business and information technology (IT) professionals and the importance of their developing and sustaining a healthy partnership has received attention in the IT literature. This study applies existing theories of culture and inter-group relations from the organizational behavior discipline to investigate how and why the IT culture affects these relationships. Insights as to how tensions in the IT-business relationship can be minimized by managing the IT culture are revealed

IT culture: its impact on communication and work relationships in business

[Abstract]: Establishing an effective relationship between business and information technology (IT) professionals is essential for organizational success in today's competitive global economy. Despite many attempts to improve the IT-business relationships, tensions still exist. The cultural differences between business and IT have recently been blamed for these tensions. However, academic research on IT culture is lacking. This paper discusses and compares seven widely reported models for assessing organizational culture. From this, an appropriate model is selected and applied using a multiple case study approach to explore the culture of the IT group in five Australian organizations