Web 2.0-support for change management during BPMS implementation using an open source approach

The authors argue that business process management systems (BPMS) are exposed to similar risks of failure as are traditional enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Change management is a significant critical success factor, and has to be managed well. Given the socio-technical nature of the implementation environment, communication and collaboration are crucially important to the success of change management. The authors provide an example of how collaboration and communication, as part of change management during BPMS implementation, can be achieved in practice, based on the use of Web 2.0 tools and an open source approach.Die outeurs voer aan dat besigheidsprosesbestuurstelsels aan soortgelyke falings-risiko’s blootgestel is as tradisionele ondernemingshulpbron-stelsels. Veranderings-bestuur is 'n beduidende kritiese suksesfaktor wat goed bestuur moet word. As gevolg van die sosio-tegniese aard van die implementeringsomgewing is kommunikasie en samewerking van deurslaggewende belang as deel van die veranderingsbestuurs-proses.Die outeurs wys met behulp van ’n voorbeeld hoe samewerking en kommunikasie as deel van veranderings-bestuur bewerkstellig kan word met behulp van Web 2.0 gereedskap en ’n oopbron-benadering.http://www.journals.co.za/ej/ejour_indeng.htm

Self-perceived intrinsic and extrinsic differences between Information Systems and Computer Science university students

Strong arguments exist that the sub-disciplines of Information Systems (IS) and Computer Science (CS) can be meaningfully distinguished, and the literature indicates that teams in which there are variety of personalities and divergent career interests are more likely to successfully complete computing projects. This paper set out to identify di erences in terms of personality and career objectives between those entering universities with the intention of pursuing a career in CS and those intending to study IS. First-year students from South African tertiary institutions in 2010 and 2012 were studied in terms of self-reported personality factors (using the Five Factor Model as frame of analysis) as well as perceived environmental factors associated with career choice. Surprisingly, the only persistent signi cant di erence found was that IS students consider well-paid employment as soon as possible after graduating to be more important than CS students do. In terms of the other factors studied no signi cant di erences were found to occur in both years for which data was analysed. Hence, the results show that combining data collected from the students studying di erent sub-disciplines of computing is justi ed for research that speci cally studies personality or factors such as interest, self-e cacy, career outcomes and how the career choice impacts on quality of life. At a practical level, the ndings inform e orts in attracting, retaining and teaching students in these sub-disciplines.http://www.journals.co.za/ej/ejour_comp.htmlam201

The expatriate information flow model : towards understanding internet usage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Expatriate adjustment research has identified a number of challenges that expatriates experience when adjusting to the host country. These include spousal influence, cultural training/understanding, fluency in the host language and the personality or emotional readiness of the expatriate. These challenges are amplified when considered in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), which has large cultural distance when compared to the average Western culture and therefore provides a setting for an interesting study. This paper describes how the degree of information flow", a substantive category derived through the grounded theory methodology, provides an understanding of the emotional relationship expatriates in KSA have with the Internet. An expatriate information ow model was developed explaining the pre-conditions to and the consequences of information ow. The paper shows that the pre-conditions to information ow include overcoming the challenges experienced by Internet users in KSA in addition to their intention to use the Internet based on their personal needs, status and personality. The consequences of information ow were indicated as having an overall positive impact on the expatriate's well-being. This was operationalised as giving expatriates an extended control over their environment, increased social presence and an increased exchange of information between the expatriates and their benevolent communities.http://www.journals.co.za/ej/ejour_comp.htmlam201

A first step towards service-dominant logic as a new approach to overcome challenges in business intelligence

High expectations are set for Business Intelligence (BI), yet it fails to consistently deliver accordingly: there are numerous reports of BI challenges and failures. Existing approaches to address BI challenges are largely found to be ineffective, highlighting the need for a new approach. This paper examines how BI is perceived or understood and establishes that, firstly, BI is inherently grounded in Goods-Dominant (G-D) logic and secondly, that this can be linked to the challenges that are experienced within BI. A recommendation is made for a shift to Service-Dominant (S-D) logic as a new avenue of exploration to assist in overcoming BI’s prevailing challenges. Identifying the inherent G-D logic in BI provides the first step necessary in making this shift. Research findings are based on an interpretive case study of a South African Banking institution as well as a literature review.http://www.sajems.org/am201

WEB 2.0-SUPPORT FOR CHANGE MANAGEMENT DURING BPMS IMPLEMENTATION USING AN OPEN SOURCE APPROACH

<p>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The authors argue that business process management systems (BPMS) are exposed to similar risks of failure as are traditional enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Change management is a significant critical success factor, and has to be managed well. Given the socio-technical nature of the implementation environment, communication and collaboration are crucially important to the success of change management. The authors provide an example of how collaboration and communication, as part of change management during BPMS implementation, can be achieved in practice, based on the use of Web 2.0 tools and an open source approach.</p><p>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die outeurs voer aan dat besigheidsprosesbestuurstelsels aan soortgelyke falings-risiko’s blootgestel is as tradisionele ondernemingshulpbron-stelsels. Veranderings-bestuur is 'n beduidende kritiese suksesfaktor wat goed bestuur moet word. As gevolg van die sosio-tegniese aard van die implementeringsomgewing is kommunikasie en samewerking van deurslaggewende belang as deel van die veranderingsbestuurs-proses.Die outeurs wys met behulp van ’n voorbeeld hoe samewerking en kommunikasie as deel van veranderings-bestuur bewerkstellig kan word met behulp van Web 2.0 gereedskap en ’n oopbron-benadering.</p&gt

Practice-as-research : an example of the use of action research to link practice and theory in a case of information systems strategy development

The ability to link IS practice to a sound theoretical and scientific basis has been an ongoing endeavour for both IS practitioners and researchers. This stems from the need of both practitioners and theorists to be able to ensure that the relationship between practical knowledge and experience gained in the workplace can be grounded in theory with due consideration of the converse requirement for theory to be based on practice. This paper provides an example of how Action Research (AR) was successfully applied by a practitioner as method in a South African strategic IS management environment. The paper describes the specifics of the process that was used and highlights various issues that had to be considered in this specific instance of use of AR as method

Transformation in IS education : whose concepts should be changing?

By its very nature education aims to change learners’ knowledge and this inevitably has an impact on the learners’ world views. This paper explores the dilemmas facing Information Systems (IS) educators with respect to their role in the process of changing learners’ conceptual views of IS. IS as an academic discipline has moved from a ‘technical’ to a ‘socio-technical’ domain, but IS practitioners still work in an IS field dominated by a ‘technical’ world view. Curricula at undergraduate levels reinforce this ‘technical’ standpoint. However, the contemporary debates in IS literature and the ‘socio-technical’ divide facing South Africa suggest the need to adopt a more ‘socio-technical’ approach to IS teaching. Such an approach is adopted, if at all, only at postgraduate level. This raises the question for us as educators regarding the future role for which we educate our IS learners: technical expert; enactor of shared meaning (facilitator), or moral agent for emancipation

WEB 2.0-SUPPORT FOR CHANGE MANAGEMENT DURING BPMS IMPLEMENTATION USING AN OPEN SOURCE APPROACH

The authors argue that business process management systems (BPMS) are exposed to similar risks of failure as are traditional enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Change management is a significant critical success factor, and has to be managed well. Given the socio-technical nature of the implementation environment, communication and collaboration are crucially important to the success of change management. The authors provide an example of how collaboration and communication, as part of change management during BPMS implementation, can be achieved in practice, based on the use of Web 2.0 tools and an open source approach.Die outeurs voer aan dat besigheidsprosesbestuurstelsels aan soortgelyke falings-risiko’s blootgestel is as tradisionele ondernemingshulpbron-stelsels. Veranderings-bestuur is 'n beduidende kritiese suksesfaktor wat goed bestuur moet word. As gevolg van die sosio-tegniese aard van die implementeringsomgewing is kommunikasie en samewerking van deurslaggewende belang as deel van die veranderingsbestuurs-proses.Die outeurs wys met behulp van ’n voorbeeld hoe samewerking en kommunikasie as deel van veranderings-bestuur bewerkstellig kan word met behulp van Web 2.0 gereedskap en ’n oopbron-benadering.http://www.journals.co.za/ej/ejour_indeng.htm

Challenges in ascertaining ICT skills requirements in South Africa

World wide, a number of far-reaching decisions regarding ways to address the ICT skills shortage are made by both the public and private sectors. These are based on information obtained from various sources and in various ways including quantitative research reports commissioned by government authorities. This paper reports on findings of a systematic textual examination of existing ICT skills shortage research reports with the South African reports receiving particular attention. This analysis shows that the collection of accurate data on ICT skills availability is extremely difficult, if not impossible, as the skills categories used in a diverse, ever-changing ICT environment are ill-defined, the data collection procedures are flawed and the results are difficult to interpret. In addition, successive reports frequently note the weaknesses of the data, but then use it as the basis for their findings. A recommendation from this research is that a Research Methodologies group be formed specifically to discuss this and with the brief to suggest some guidelines and to monitor and endorse future data collection and analysis

The use of the repertory grid for collaboration and reflection in a research context

The Repertory Grid (RepGrid) technique has been used extensively in Management Sciences research, including Information Systems research, in order to reveal the personal views of individual research subjects regarding the issue being studied. These individual constructs are then used to propose criteria for success amongst other things. This paper uses a distinctly different form of RepGrid, renamed a ReflectionGrid, as a collaboration tool. Members of a research team use this new technique to probe their individual understanding of what happened and what was achieved during a research event and then to share these insights. Hence, not only is the application new (reflection and construction of shared meaning rather than the analysis and synthesis of personal constructs) but the original grid technique has evolved