Telecommunications/ transportation substitution and energy conservation. Part 1

The substitution of telecommunications for transportation is held to have major potential for increasing energy conservation within the USA, other developed nations, and even developing nations. This article is the first of a two-part re-examination of the substitution hypothesis based on research and experience of the past decade. This part examines the theoretical potential of telecommunications-transportation substitution for energy conservation, and reviews recent research both on public attitudes towards substitution of telecommunications for travel and on the operational experience with substitution experiments in organizations. Part 2, which appears in the June 1982 issue of Telecommunications Policy, examines the major factors which influence whether individuals and institutions will in fact choose telecommunications over travel, and then discusses government policy which could facilitate telecommunications substitution for travel. © 1982

Computer-Based Systems for Cooperative Work and Group Decision Making

Application of computer and communications technology to cooperative work and group decision making has grown out of three traditions: computer-based communications, computer:based information service provision, and computer-based decision support. This paper reviews the group decision support systems (GDSSs) that have been configured to meet the needs of groups at work, and evaluates the experience to date with such systems. Progress with GDSSs has proved to be slower than originally anticipated because of shortcomings with available technology, poor integration of the various components of the computing package, and incomplete understanding of the nature of group decision making. Nevertheless, the field shows considerable promise with respect to the creation of tools to aid in group decision making and the development of sophisticated means of studying the dynamics of decision making in groups. © 1988, ACM. All rights reserved

The chief executive in local government information systems: Catalyst or barrier to innovation?

This study develops a construct of executive support for technological innovation and explores the correlates of its components. The context involves the perceptions of local government chief executives regarding the current and expected utility of computing technology. The findings suggest that executive support for the adoption of computing is flawed by unrealistic expectations and might contribute to overadoption of the technology. © 1977

International Dimensions of the Productivity Paradox

Despite the fact that the productivity paradox of IT is an international phenomenon, virtually all of the considerable debate on the subject has been restricted to the U.S. The purpose of this article is to go beyond the U.S. and examine the experiences of other developed countries with respect to returns on IT investments