Conducting Multi-Level Research in Information Systems

Information systems research involves an exploration and understanding of the interplay between technologies and human actors who can be grouped in different ways, ranging from simple pairings of employee-manager (dyadic relationship) to complex global virtual teams (group) to societies. Though researchers sometimes identify the impact of technologies and accompanying socio-technical systems over several units of analysis, few researchers investigate their effects across multiple levels of analysis. Yet, IS phenomena, like other research domains, involve variables or constructs found at multiple levels. For example, in virtual team research, investigators often examine individuals’ perceptions and abilities and their impact on group level outcomes such as performance or cohesion. Similarly, in IT implementation research, individual resistance to a new system is often studied as affecting success or failure of the implementation for the organization as a whole. The workshop is highly interactive, allowing participants to evaluate how their own research can or should be conducted in a multilevel framework. The session begins with a discussion of what multilevel research is, presenting the characteristics of and methodological issues associated with multilevel research. The workshop then offers participants opportunities to explore how multilevel research can be included within their own research area, using guidelines for each of six phases of research development

Telecommuters and Work Groups: A Communication Network Analysis

Today’ workforce comprises an increasing number of telecommuters. At the same time, more and more of the work being performed by both telecommuters and office workers involves the manipulation of information, otherwise known as knowledge work. Most knowledge workers need substantial communications to perform their jobs. Before the advent of telecommuting, most communications were mediated by the physical proximity of workers. Today, however, communication technologies play an ever increasing role in supporting individual and organizational communications. In this research, telecommuting is defined as working away from the traditional office at least one day a week, while using computers and telecommunication facilities to maintain a link to the office (Belanger and Collins 1998)

Trust and Risk in eGovernment Adoption

Citizen confidence in the competence of the government and the reliability of the technology used to implement egovernment initiatives is imperative to the wide-spread adoption of e-government. This study analyzes how citizens’ trust in technology and government affect their willingness to engage in e-government transactions. We proposes a model of egovernment trust composed of disposition to trust, institution-based trust (IBT), characteristic-based trust (CBT) and perceived risk. Data were collected via a survey of 214 citizens ranging in age from 14 to 83 old. The model was tested using Structural Equation Modeling techniques. Results indicate that disposition to trust positively affects IBT and CBT trusts, which in turn affect intentions to use an e-government service. CBT trust also affects negatively perceived risk, which affects use intentions as well. Implications for practice and research are discussed

Digitizing Government Interactions with Constituents: An Historical Review of E-Government Research in Information Systems

As information and communication technologies began to support new forms of interaction between governments and their constituents, the concept of e-government emerged as a new domain for Information Systems (IS) researchers. The past decade has seen a variety of e-government themes researched and presented by scholars in IS, public administration, and political science. In order to reflect on the history of the IS discipline, this article provides an historical assessment of electronic government research. In particular, we review highly cited e-government articles and e-government articles published in the AIS Senior Scholars’ basket of journals to assess existing publication outlets, theoretical foundations, methodological approaches, sampling, and topic areas. The analysis of the literature reveals significant insights about the metamorphosis of e-government research over time, the assessment of which serves as a basis for recommendations for future research on this global phenomenon

Applying Learner-Centered Principles to Information Systems Education

A large, growing body of evidence demonstrates the effectiveness of learner-centered education. In addition to being effective in terms of learning outcomes learner-centered education is also more satisfying for the learner. The focus of a learner-centered class is on a learner-student partnership with shared responsibility for learning. The learner-centered approach fits well with the characteristics of Millennial generation students, who are team-oriented, value continuous learning and seek frequent feedback may find the learner-centered approach particularly satisfying. For some time, learner-centered approaches have been recommended for information systems courses; these principles may be especially important for today’s students. This tutorial will introduce the concepts of learner-centered education, illustrate how learner-centered concepts can be applied to information systems courses, and help participants understand how they can employ learner-centered education in their courses. We will also present a methodology for developing learning activities. Participants will have the opportunity to apply the methodology. The tutorial will use the principles of leaner-centered education. Participants will receive a link to tutorial materials and additional resources

An In-Depth Investigation of Communication Mode Choices in Distributed Teams

Advances in information technologies facilitate new organizational forms and new ways of structuring work, such as the use of distributed teams. In distributed environments, individuals have many choices of communication modes for use with colleagues. Previous research has primarily addressed the need for richness of a medium to ìfitî the characteristics of the communication task being performed. There has been little research on when and how different communication technologies are used in the performance of specific communication-based work processes (e.g., information gathering, relationship development). Using an interpretive case study approach, and guided by a hermeneutic perspective, texts from interviews of 40 individuals working in distributed teams in two organizations were analyzed. Analysis was conducted in three stages: (1) key patterns of meanings expressed by each employee, (2) key patterns of meaning that emerge across organizations, and (3) broader conceptual and managerial implications from the analysis. Some initial individual patterns include the relationship between media choice and the specific communication-based work process performed, and the influence of the type of team structure in which the communication-based work process is embedded on the choice. Findings at all stages of analysis will be discussed

Cybertools for Instructors: Using the Internet and the World Wide Web to Enhance Learning in the Classroom

The population of Web users was estimated at 37 million in the United States and Canada (16.6% of adult population) at the end of 1995. Like any new innovation on the market, organizations will take various amounts of time to assimilate this new technology. Web users already include executives, professionals, and others from all industries, special interest groups, families, government, and nonprofit organizations. The proliferation of interest in and the development of web resources, by and for mainstream America, means that the knowledge required to effectively navigate and use web resources will become an expected skill for graduating students in the near future. Organizations need knowledge workers more than ever and, in the face of rapid changes, may not be able to afford the time required to train new employees. Clearly, the basic set of technological skills expected of students entering the job market has evolved over past decades from typing to the use of personal productivity tools like word processing, spreadsheets, and databases. Students are now expected to be familiar with computer networks. If usage trends are any indicators, students will be expected by future employers to have developed proficiency in accessing and using Web resources. A recent survey suggests that 90% of companies with a portfolio of $350 million and over include the Web as a strategic component of products and services that they have to offer

Religiosity and Information Security Policy Compliance

Information security is a top concern of managers, often addressed with technical, behavioral and procedural solutions. Information Security Policies (ISPs) are among these solutions. ISPs require organizational members to conform to security measures but individuals often fail to comply with them. While prior studies investigated several factors leading to compliance, the effect of religiosity on intention to comply with ISP (ICISP) has been overlooked. This research, therefore, studies the role of religiosity and conservation value in addition to existing factors. The proposed model is tested with students in universities in Ethiopia and USA to obtain a wide array of religious beliefs. The findings show subjective norm and religiosity indirectly but positively affects ICISP via attitude. They also show direct positive effect of religiosity on ICISP. Contrary to prior studies, conservative-value affects ICISP positively; and, when moderated by religiosity, the relationship becomes stronger. Consistent with prior studies, self-efficacy positively affects ICISP