Information systems deployment in Libyan oil companies: two case studies

This article assesses information systems deployment in two oil companies in Libya and thereby helps address the general shortage of information on the implementation of information systems in Libyan companies. It explores the information systems strategies of these two companies and explores and analyses how these have been implemented in recent years. One company has pursued an in-house/best of breed approach, whilst the other is in the process of migrating to an integrated ERP software solution. The study uses a number of analytical models developed in a western context in recent years to assess the status and nature of IS deployment, and concludes that a combination of these models is of value in an IS industry context in developing world countries

Testing in the incremental design and development of complex products

Testing is an important aspect of design and development which consumes significant time and resource in many companies. However, it has received less research attention than many other activities in product development, and especially, very few publications report empirical studies of engineering testing. Such studies are needed to establish the importance of testing and inform the development of pragmatic support methods. This paper combines insights from literature study with findings from three empirical studies of testing. The case studies concern incrementally developed complex products in the automotive domain. A description of testing practice as observed in these studies is provided, confirming that testing activities are used for multiple purposes depending on the context, and are intertwined with design from start to finish of the development process, not done after it as many models depict. Descriptive process models are developed to indicate some of the key insights, and opportunities for further research are suggested

General anaesthetic and airway management practice for obstetric surgery in England: a prospective, multi-centre observational study

There are no current descriptions of general anaesthesia characteristics for obstetric surgery, despite recent changes to patient baseline characteristics and airway management guidelines. This analysis of data from the direct reporting of awareness in maternity patients' (DREAMY) study of accidental awareness during obstetric anaesthesia aimed to describe practice for obstetric general anaesthesia in England and compare with earlier surveys and best-practice recommendations. Consenting patients who received general anaesthesia for obstetric surgery in 72 hospitals from May 2017 to August 2018 were included. Baseline characteristics, airway management, anaesthetic techniques and major complications were collected. Descriptive analysis, binary logistic regression modelling and comparisons with earlier data were conducted. Data were collected from 3117 procedures, including 2554 (81.9%) caesarean deliveries. Thiopental was the induction drug in 1649 (52.9%) patients, compared with propofol in 1419 (45.5%). Suxamethonium was the neuromuscular blocking drug for tracheal intubation in 2631 (86.1%), compared with rocuronium in 367 (11.8%). Difficult tracheal intubation was reported in 1 in 19 (95%CI 1 in 16-22) and failed intubation in 1 in 312 (95%CI 1 in 169-667). Obese patients were over-represented compared with national baselines and associated with difficult, but not failed intubation. There was more evidence of change in practice for induction drugs (increased use of propofol) than neuromuscular blocking drugs (suxamethonium remains the most popular). There was evidence of improvement in practice, with increased monitoring and reversal of neuromuscular blockade (although this remains suboptimal). Despite a high risk of difficult intubation in this population, videolaryngoscopy was rarely used (1.9%)

Aim for the critical mass: A handbook-based methodology approach for managing the whole

This thesis presents a structured framework based on the use of a handbook-based approach from several existing bodies of knowledge. The framework can be used to help guide an individual or organization through the process of critically managing assets, services and systems. The primary goal of the framework is the management of continuous improvement and sustained innovation of an organization by emphasizing change management, career development and knowledge sharing throughout the organization. An emphasis is also placed on lean product development utilizing adaptive innovative methodologies to help resolve inefficiencies within a company or process. The purpose is to establish a common language, method and tool set used by managers, executives and service-oriented professionals that can serve as a framework for managing and leading an organization’s people, processes and products or what can be referred to as “Managing the Whole” --Abstract, page iv

A dynamic capabilities perspective of IS project portfolio management

Organizations use information systems project portfolio management (IS PMM) to reconfigure their IS resources and capabilities to match changing market and economic conditions. IS PPM can therefore be characterised as a dynamic capability. We investigate how firms developed and adapted IS PPM to match the turbulent recessionary conditions witnessed after 2008–09. This study contributes to an understanding of IS PPM by identifying the constituent dynamic capabilities and providing empirical examples of adaptation. To our knowledge, the study is the first to apply the notion of second order dynamic capabilities to the IS domain and also makes an important contribution to the more general concept of dynamic capabilities by providing empirical evidence and theoretical justification of the increased detailed, centrally controlled and analytical nature of IS PPM dynamic capabilities in recessionary conditions

Information systems : what sort of science is it?

The academic field of Information Systems (IS) is concerned with a large range of multifaceted questions regarding the development, use and implications of information and communication technologies in organisations. Responsive to the challenge that profound technological innovation in the last 30 years posed to all types of social life, IS studies have developed a wealth of detailed knowledge at the organisational level. Yet, the field of IS is not well understood by academics and professionals in other fields, even in fields related to IS, such as Operational Research, Management, or Psychology. In this paper, written mainly for academics and professionals who are not IS specialists, we outline the IS field in terms of its main thematic areas, theories, and investigation approaches and discuss its institutional characteristics. We argue that the major strength of the field is its responsiveness to a large variety of issues emerging in organisations as they learn to exploit the new technological potential. However, being so far mainly issue oriented rather than theory driven, IS lacks the distinctiveness and rigour usually associated with scientific disciplines and remains institutionally weak