Integrating ICT Into higher education: onsite and online students’ perceptions in a large vs a small university

For the past two decades, information and communication technologies (ICT) have transformed the ways professors teach and students learn. This paper aims to compare the perceptions of onsite students (blended mode) and of those taking the same courses on the Internet (online mode) in a large vs a small university. To guide the studies, a moderatortype theoretical research model was developed, out of which eight hypotheses were formulated. The model was tested in a field experiment in two universities located in two different countries in Canada: a large university with an enrollment of 48,000 students and a small university with an enrollment of 4,000 students. To collect data, we used a multimethod approach, that is, a Web survey involving open- and closed-ended questions. The samples were formed of 313 onsite and online students from the large university and of 192 onsite and online students from the small university. The quantitative data analysis was performed using a structural equation modeling software, that is, Partial Least Squares (PLS); the qualitative data were analyzed following a thematic structure using QSR NVivo software. In this paper we present a comparison between the two universities of the quantitative results (closed-ended questions) supported and enriched by the qualitative results of the students (open-ended questions)

Conception d'un modèle de maturité des capacités organisationnelles spécifiques à la gestion des connaissances : application à deux centres hospitaliers

La présente thèse a pour objectif la conception d'un modèle de maturité des capacités organisationnelles spécifiques à la gestion des connaissances (MMCOSGC). Elle constitue une recherche fondamentale parce qu'elle cherche à comprendre les fondements du concept des capacités organisationnelles spécifiques à la gestion des connaissances (COSGC). Il s'agit en même temps d'une recherche appliquée, parce qu'elle utilise le MMCOSGC dans le but d'évaluer sa capacité à poser un diagnostic acceptable des COSGC dans une organisation quelconque. En effet, depuis une vingtaine d'années, les gestionnaires considèrent que certaines ressources et certaines capacités spécifiques des entreprises s'avèrent cruciales pour expliquer la performance d'une entreprise (Amit et Schoemaker, 1993). Un des défis à relever, pour les organisations, est d'identifier, de développer, de protéger et de déployer ces ressources dans une direction qui assure à l'entreprise l'avantage concurrentiel et la performance organisationnelle.\ud En se basant sur la théorie des ressources pour identifier la connaissance comme ressource stratégique (Barney, 1991), la présente thèse combine les perspectives de la théorie du cycle de vie et de la téléologie pour expliquer le processus du développement des COSGC. Ainsi, la progression à travers différents niveaux de maturité se base sur la théorie du cycle de vie qui adopte la croissance organique comme unité heuristique afin d'expliquer les changements des comportements organisationnels et leur progression comme un processus. Or, depuis une vingtaine d'années, la littérature en gestion des connaissances (Abou-Zeid, 2002; Asoh et al, 2003) s'est surtout penchée sur l'alignement des stratégies de gestion des connaissances aux stratégies d'affaires afin de démontrer que cet alignement permettait d'atteindre la performance d'affaires. Cependant, Peppart et Ward (2004) constatent que l'alignement seul ne suffit pas pour atteindre la performance d'affaires, mais que c'est plutôt le développement des capacités organisationnelles spécifiques à une ressource qui contribue effectivement à atteindre la performance d'affaires.\ud C'est pour cette raison que la présente thèse se penche sur le développement des capacités organisationnelles spécifiques à la gestion des connaissances, en tenant compte de trois dimensions: infrastructures, processus et compétences des personnes. Pour y arriver, le plan de la thèse respecte chaque étape de la méthodologie SSM (Soft System Methodology), le consensus sur les concepts clés des COSGC par la méthode Delphi et valide le MMCOSGC à l'aide de deux études de cas. Ainsi, les principaux résultats de la présente étude sont: 1-l'obtention du premier consensus au tour des concepts définissant les COSGC à l'aide de la méthode Delphi; 2-la conception du MMCOSG tenant compte des trois dimensions des COSGC issus du consensus Delphi; 3-l'application du MMCOSGC à deux organisations de santé qui prouve sa capacité à poser un diagnostic acceptable des COSGC au sein d'une organisation. Enfin, les résultats de la présente étude pourraient bien intéresser aussi bien les chercheurs que les praticiens, les gestionnaires et les décideurs au sein des organisations. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : Capacités organisationnelles, Gestion des connaissances, Modèle de maturité, Méthodologie SSM, Méthode Delphi, Étude de cas

Using UTAUT to identify the influencing factors on the use of ERP systems in medium- to large-sized Canadian enterprises

Individual acceptance and use of new technologies has been studied extensively over the last two decades. And, as more and more organizations move from functional to process-based information technology (IT) infrastructure and that enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are becoming one of today’s most widespread IT solutions to this movement, the research literature on ERP systems has exponentially grown in recent years. Effectively, the importance of the ERP industry to the professional information systems (IS) community is further underscored by projections indicating that it will be a $47.7 billion industry by 2011 (Jacobson et al., 2007). To study acceptance and use of ERP systems by enterprises and their employees, several models of technology adoption are used, including the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) (Davis, 1989), its successor the TAM2 (Venkatesh & Davis, 2000), a combination of TAM2 and the model of determinants of perceived ease of use, that is TAM3 (Venkatesh & Bala, 2008), as well as the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) (Venkatesh et al., 2003). But, at our knowledge, acceptance and use of ERP systems has not been yet studied in medium- to large-sized Canadian enterprises. The aim of this study is then to fill this gap. Using UTAUT model, we gathered the feelings of middle managers and end-users in six medium- to large-sized enterprises from three Canadian countries in order to identify the influencing factors on their use of ERP systems. Data analysis was performed using the structural equation modeling software Partial Least Squares (PLS). The results got highlight the key role of three independent variables (facilitating conditions, anxiety, and behavioral intention) and a moderator variable (age) of UTAUT model as influencing factors on the use of ERP systems in medium- to large-sized Canadian enterprises. The independent variable social influence can also play a less significant role (at p < 0.10) on the use of ERP systems

Improving municipal information and knowledge management capabilities: case study

This study aims to better understand the process of knowledge management capabilities (KMC) development at the municipal context to assess its impact on organizational performance. This process is a part of organisational learning school that promotes organizational learning processes and knowledge accumulation that could be spread in time and in different levels of maturity. Thus, using the KMC maturity model (KMCMM) which has five levels of maturity, this study helps to better understand the phenomenon of KMC in the municipal context

Using a moderator-type research model to identify the determining factors in satisfaction of using high speed internet in household

Telecommunications industry is continually in a shift of change, alimented by technological innovation and consumers’ demand for always better and faster communication tools. High speed Internet is now an integral part of everyday life of more than a billion people. And, as the tendency is showing up, its use will be still increasing in the future. Thus, this technology has and will continue to have major social and economic impacts. Individual adoption of technology has been studied extensively in the workplace, but far less attention has been paid to adoption of technology in household (Brown & Venkatesh, 2005). So, few studies have been conducted until now to verify satisfaction of household people using high speed Internet. The aim of this study is then to investigate the determining factors in satisfaction of using high speed Internet by people in household. On the basis of the moderator-type research model developed by Brown and Venkatesh (2005) to verify the determining factors in intention to adopt a personal computer in household by American people, this study examines the determining factors in satisfaction of using high speed Internet in household by Canadian people. The methodology followed to conduct the study was the telephone survey research. Data were collected from 322 randomly selected Atlantic Canadian people using high speed Internet at home. Data analysis was performed using the structural equation modeling software Partial Least Squares (PLS). The results got revealed that near from half of the variables examined in the study showed to be determining factors in satisfaction of using high speed Internet by people in household

Assessing KM capabilities in two African healthcare organizations: case study

Cette étude vise à mieux comprendre le processus de développement des capacités organisationnelles spécifiques à la gestion des connaissances (COSGC) dans le contexte des organisations de santé. Ce processus s’inscrit dans le cadre de l’école d’apprentissage (Cyert & March, 1963 ; Nelson & Winter, 1982 ; Burgelman, 1988 ; Cohen & Levinthal, 1990) qui favorise un processus d’apprentissage organisationnel et d’accumulation des connaissances pouvant s’étaler dans le temps et en plusieurs niveaux de maturité. Ainsi, à l’aide du modèle de maturité des COSGC qui présente cinq niveaux de maturité (Booto Ekionea, 2008), cette étude présente un diagnostic des COSGC de deux centres hospitaliers de l’Afrique subsaharienne. Enfin, soulignons que les conclusions de cette étude ne constituent pas une recherche quantitative, mais bien une étude qualitative qui vise la compréhension du phénomène de éveloppement des capacités organisationnelles spécifiques à la gestion des connaissances (COSGC), dans un contexte particulier, à l’aide de l’étude de cas

The influencing factors of using a mobile phone in Cameroon

Individual adoption of technology has been studied extensively in the workplace, but far less attention has been paid to adoption of technology in the household (Brown & Venkatesh, 2005). Obviously, the mobile phone is now integrated into our daily life. Indeed, according to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, global mobile phone shipments grew about 1% annually to reach 362 million units in the second quarter of 2012 (Business Wire, 2012), that is, more than 1.5 billion units will be sold this year. In addition, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) inventoried 4.6 billion subscriptions in 2010, from which 57% come from the developing countries. The purpose of this study is to investigate the determining factors that make people around the world use the mobile phone. On the basis of the moderator-type research model developed by Brown and Venkatesh (2005) to verify the determining factors in intention to adopt a computer in the household by American people, this study examines the determining factors in the use of mobile phone in household by Cameroonian people. Data were randomly gathered from 505 Cameroonian people (from Yaounde and Douala; the two more important cities in Cameroon) who own a mobile phone. Data analysis was performed using the structural equation modeling software Partial Least Squares (PLS). The results revealed that half of the variables examined in the study were found to be determining factors in the use of mobile phone by Cameroonian people

Testing an extension to the model of acceptance of technology in household with undergraduate and graduate students of four universities in three global countries

Individual adoption of technology has been studied extensively in the workplace, but far less attention has been paid to adoption of technology in the household (Brown & Venkatesh, 2005). Obviously, mobile phone is now integrated into our daily life. Indeed, according to International Data Corporation (IDC), the market reached 1.472 billion mobile phones sold in the world in 2017 (ZDNet, 2018). In addition, according to Statista, there was 4.77 billion mobile phone users worldwide in 2017 while the population was reaching 7.6 billion people, and there will be 5.07 billion mobile phone users worldwide by 2019 (Statista, 2018). The purpose of this study is then to pursue the investigation on the determining factors that make such people around the world are so using the mobile phone. On the basis of the model of acceptance of technology in household (MATH) developed by Brown and Venkatesh (2005) to verify the determining factors in intention to adopt a computer in household by American people, this study extends this moderator-type research model to examine the determining factors in the use of mobile phone in household by undergraduate and graduate students from four universities within three countries over the world. Data were randomly gathered from 750 undergraduate and graduate students from Yaounde in Cameroon, Kinshasa in Congo, and New Brunswick in Canada who own a mobile phone. Data analysis was performed using the structural equation modeling software Partial Least Squares (PLS). The results revealed, among others, that two-third of the variables examined in the study, including the three new variables we added to the Brown and Venkatesh’s research model, showed to be determining factors in the use of mobile phone by undergraduate and graduate students

A Framework for Developing and Aligning a Knowledge Management Strategy

Businesses today, including non-profits, recognise the need for knowledge management (KM). KM may require new strategies and goals before it can be implemented, or it can be aligned with current business strategies for quicker implementation. The framework presented here is for managers in companies and organisations to use to align their KM strategies with business strategies to improve performance involving financial growth, cost reduction and customer satisfaction. A study of three strategic types of organisations (defender, prospector, analyser) and interviews at a large corporation and a non-profit organisation suggests that the conceptual framework presented in this paper can be verified. More empirical evidence of alignment is planned, as organisations become more sophisticated users of KM.The authors have been working for over three years on the taxonomy and conceptual framework for KM/BS Alignment (also known as KMSABS) and present a procedure for implementation in this paper. The KM/BS Alignment model involves concepts, actors, actions and processes. An important aspect of the methodology is for businesses and organisations to identify their strategic character to support appropriate interactions associated with knowledge. As shown in this paper, product and knowledge managers can affect goal alignment and interaction in an organisation if they implement change based on the suggested framework.Alignment, collaboration, conceptual framework, knowledge management, performance, strategy, taxonomy

Les technologies de l’information, la gestion des connaissances et un avantage concurrentiel soutenu : une analyse par la théorie des ressources

La théorie des ressources présente une approche stratégique par laquelle une organisation a recours à ses ressources internes en vue d’obtenir un avantage concurrentiel durable. En effet, depuis une vingtaine d’années, les gestionnaires considèrent que certaines ressources et certaines capacités spécifiques des entreprises sont cruciales pour expliquer la performance en affaires. Un des défis à relever, pour ces gestionnaires, est d’identifier, de développer, de protéger et de déployer ces ressources dans une direction qui assure un avantage concurrentiel durable. Or, la connaissance est reconnue comme l’une de ces rares ressources organisationnelles intangibles susceptibles d’accorder un avantage concurrentiel durable. Ainsi, reprenant l’étude de cas de Cooper, Watson, Wixon et Goodhue (2000), cette note de recherche applique la théorie des ressources en gestion des connaissances et en technologies de l’information et contribue à conscientiser les gestionnaires sur le potentiel stratégique et l’importance de développer un leadership spécifique en gestion des connaissances et en technologies de l’information.The resource based view presents a strategic approach by which an organization uses its internal resources to obtain a sustained competitive advantage. Indeed, during the last two decades, managers have considered that certain resources and specific capabilities of an organization are crucial to explain its performance. One of the challenges confronted by managers is to identify, develop, protect and deploy these resources in a direction which ensures a sustained competitive advantage. Knowledge is recognized like one of these rare intangible organisational resources likely to grant a sustained competitive advantage. Thus, resuming the case study of Cooper, Watson, Wixon and Goodhue (2000), this research note applies the resource-based theory of knowledge management and information technologies. Also, it contributes to help managers on the strategic potential and the importance of developing a specific leadership in knowledge management and information technologies