Retroduction, set-theoretic configurational approaches and generative mechanisms: some preliminary insights

Retroduction is a thought operation that has been investigated in a limited fashion in Information Systems (IS) research. Yet, it has the potential of reframing IS research because it can shed a new light on the study of causal mechanisms. In this paper, we call for a renewed effort in the use of retroduction in the study of IS phenomena. Specifically, we claim that IS researchers could retroduce causal mechanisms by leveraging Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) counterfactual approach to causation. Preliminary insights are discussed

Reappraising maturity models in e-government research: the trajectory-turning point theory

Drawing on the notion of alignment, this paper endeavors to reappraise e-Government maturity models in the English system of criminal justice. It argues that e-Government maturity models are characterized by relatively-stable trajectories which are punctuated by radical shifts toward full-blown e-Government transformation. Far from being a prescriptive and linear process, e-Government maturity is an unpredictable process where turning points (or radical shifts) play a crucial role in the e-Government strategizing process. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed by developing a new theory of e-Government maturity that explains the twists and turns of e-Government strategizing

Explaining social media acceptance by business-to-business SMEs in the South-East of England: a theory-enhanced qualitative comparative analysis

Drawing on a model of technology acceptance for microbusinesses, this paper deploys a set-theoretic approach to unravel the causal complexity associated with acceptance and non-acceptance of social media by Business-to-Business Small-and-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) based in the South East of England. Our findings show the causal asymmetry between acceptance and non-acceptance. While customer attraction, raising the company’s profile and learning to use social media effortlessly lead to the acceptance of social media, non-acceptance requires finding social media not easy to use in combination with a lack of improvement of customer relations and work not becoming easier to do. Implications are discussed by highlighting the commonalities across positive and negative configurations of acceptance

On the quest for multi-methods in IS evaluation: a qualitative comparative analysis

This paper responds to calls for new approaches to IS evaluation. It does this by introducing fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis as a new IS evaluation approach that augments the qualitative tradition by supporting cross-case analysis and theory development. Rather than disaggregating cases into independent, analytically-separate variables, fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis advocates an approach to IS evaluation which explores the holistic effects of causal conditions working in conjunction with each other. The paper uses qualitative coding procedures and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis in a sequential manner to discover two typologies of monitoring systems success based on automated and manual validations respectively. Theoretical, methodological and practical implications of the use of fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis are discussed in the context of a multi-case evaluation of monitoring systems established in the course of the implementation of a major European Union socio-economic support programme

Coordinating criminal justice: a Qualitative Comparative Analysis of inter-organisational information sharing of four EU Member States

Qualitative-comparative analysis of four cases of inter-organisational information sharing in criminal justice chains demonstrates the causal asymmetry between successful and unsuccessful inter-organisational information sharing. While unsuccessful information sharing requires poor project management, successful information sharing also requires compatible technologies which are implemented either by means of a small-scale, bottom-up approach to standardization or a top-down, centralised architecture. By triggering the radical restructuring of information-sharing workflows, good project management and compatible technologies set in motion underlying mechanisms that generate successful inter-organisational information sharing. Implications are discussed by highlighting the role of coordination by technological feedback in a context of increasing digitization

Digitizing criminal justice: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis of supply-chain integration across four EU Member States

Drawing on Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) techniques, we formally analyse four cases of supply-chain integration within the European Union (EU). Our findings demonstrate the causal asymmetry between successful and unsuccessful digitization of inter-organizational information flows. While unsuccessful digitization requires poor project management skills, successful digitization is much more demanding because it also requires compatible technologies which are implemented either by means of a small-scale, bottom-up approach to standardization or a single, centralised architecture developed in a top-down fashion. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed by highlighting the key role of coordination by feedback in a context of increasing digitization of criminal justice systems

Energetic analysis and optimal design of a CHP plant in a frozen food processing factory through a dynamical simulation model

The proper design of cogeneration plants requires the choice of the technologies that best fits the ratio between heating and power loads. In this paper, a dynamical procedure of selecting and dimensioning a cogeneration plant, using deep and detailed energy, exergy and economic analysis of the entire production process of a frozen food production factory is proposed. The results highlight that a design method, based on a dynamic simulation, optimizes the energy efficiency of the food processing plant involved in the experimental test. Indeed, by considering the overall efficiency of the CHP + National grid system, the energy efficiency is 6% higher in the case of dynamic compared to a static design, resulting in better overall use of resources with a possible lower level of environmental impact. Moreover, the CHP plant designed with the proposed method generates electrical energy which appropriately matches that required by the process, with a surplus/deficit less than 4%, while the classic method never covers the amount required and results in a deficit greater than 20%. Finally, the annual savings of the solution derived from the dynamic method is 12% higher than that obtained with a traditional design technique. Considering the greater absolute cost of the cogeneration plant, this dynamic approach results in more profitable annual investment margins for the company

Low-temperature thin film encapsulation for MEMS with silicon nitride/chromium cap

In this work, a low-temperature fabrication process of thin film encapsulation (TFE) with silicon nitride/chromium cap is proposed for large-size (750 μm x 300 μm) packaging of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). A FEM model was developed to evaluate the shape of TFE as a function of the residual stress and the thickness of the sealing layer, providing useful guidelines for the fabrication process. The low temperature of 200 °C, which was used in the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of the silicon nitride capping layer, allowed an organic sacrificial material to be employed for the definition of the encapsulation area. Silicon nitride/chromium (1 μm/20 nm) bilayer was demonstrated to be successful to overcome the technological limitations that affect the creation of cap holes with size of ~2 μm on high topography substrates, as in the case of MEMS. Plasma focused ion beam (PFIB) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques were used in combination to gain deeper insight into the sealing process of cap holes. Specifically, a PFIB-SEM serial section procedure was developed, resulting to be a powerful tool to directly observe the sealing profile above cap holes. Hence, the presented results greatly contribute to overcome the main technological/reliability issues of TFE, paving the way for the widespread application of the proposed encapsulation methodology to the most used MEMS devices, as radio-frequency (RF) switches, transducers, actuators, sensors and resonators

Triangular Sierpinski Microwave Band-Stop Resonators for K-Band Filtering

Triangular resonators re-shaped with Sierpinski geometry were designed, manufactured, and tested for potential applications in the K-Band. Prototypes of band-stop filters working around 20 GHz and 26 GHz, interesting for RADAR and satellite communications, were studied in a coplanar waveguide (CPW) configuration. Single and coupled structures were analyzed to give evidence for: (i) the tuning of the resonance frequency by increasing the internal complexity of the triangle and (ii) resonance enhancement when coupled structures are considered. The exploited devices were part of the more extended family of metamaterial-inspired structures, and they were studied for their heuristic approach to the prediction of the spectrum using experimental results supported by electromagnetic simulations. As a result, a Sierpinski resonator, not only fed into but also fully embedded into a CPW environment, had a frequency response that was not easily determined by classical theoretical approaches

MEMS-Switched Triangular and U-Shaped Band-Stop Resonators for K-Band Operation

Triangular resonators re-shaped into Sierpinski geometry and U-shaped resonators were designed, linking them with single-pole-double-through (SPDT) RF MEMS switches to provide frequency tuning for potential applications in the K-Band. Prototypes of band-stop narrowband filters working around 20 GHz and 26 GHz, interesting for RADAR and satellite communications, were studied in a coplanar waveguide (CPW) configuration, and the tuning was obtained by switching between two paths of the devices loaded with different resonators. As a result, dual-band operation or fine-tuning could be obtained depending on the choice of the resonator, acting as a building block. The studied filters belong to the more general group of devices inspired by a metamaterial design