An Exploratory Study of the Implementation of an Energy Management Information System using an Adapted Adaptive Structuration Theory Model

Oil prices globally have risen 500% since 1999. Ireland will have to pay €1.45bn in penalties next year and up to €4.3bn by 2012, as CO2 emissions are currently 23% over the agreed Kyoto allowances. Over the next 25 years, population and economic growth will cause global energy needs to increase by approximately 50%. Consequently, Energy Efficiency (EE) has become an essential part of most organisations. This paper reports on research-in-progress which explores the implementation of an Information System (IS), which is used to manage and monitor energy usage and implement energy efficiencies within several organisations. Adaptive Structuration Theory (AST) provides the conceptual model that helps to capture the longitudinal change process. There is currently no published research in the area of IS implementation investigating an energy management system using AST. Preliminary results show that stricter imperatives to adopt the IS will not necessarily lead to a successful system

An Action Research Case Study of the Facilitators and Inhibitors of E-Commerce Adoption

"El objetivo de la investigación de manera genérica es: comparar, analizar y reflexionar sobre los diferentes comportamientos de los actores políticos, las Instituciones y la población, con respecto a las Políticas Públicas en México después de la alternancia del 2000, poniendo énfasis en las características que se adquieren con la implementación de dichas políticas en la nueva administración, y como estas han impactado de forma negativa o positiva en la eficacia, articulación y/o desarticulación de los programas federales en la materia.

Keyworking in residential child care: Lessons from research

Developing quality relationships is recognised as an active ingredient for effective interventionswith young people in care. Essentially, care staff has the opportunity and capacity to positively influence the young person's experiences in care, through the positive relationships they form. This paper presents selectively on the findings of two separate but related qualitative Irish studies exploring relationship-based approaches in residential child care practice, fromthe perspectives of both residential child careworkers and young care leavers. Thirty-two professionals and four care leavers participated in either focus group or individual interviews. The findings are integrated in this paper with the wider literature on young people leaving care, with the aim of identifying core knowledge that is needed by service providerswho are taskedwith the support of young peoplemaking the transition out of care and towards independent living. In this paper we attempt to identify the knowledge base on relationship-building which is needed by care staff in order to carry out their role. It is argued that an explicit knowledge base is overdue now that the complex needs of young people in care are increasingly visible through advances in research and more recently the emerging literature concerning the personal testimonies of care graduates

Energy Management Information Systems: An Exploratory Study Of Implementations Using Adaptive Structuration Theory

This research is focusing on the implementation of an Information System (IS), more specifically a building energy management system (BEMS) within several organisations. One of the EU\u27s 7th Framework Programme\u27s (FP7) objectives is to \u27transform the current fossil fuel based energy system into a more sustainable one combined with enhanced energy efficiency (EE)\u27. This research is concerned with the use of information systems to achieve the latter of these objectives; enhanced energy efficiency. The research is being undertaken using a multi methodological approach incorporating case study methodology and grounded theory. Advanced structuration theory (AST) will provide the conceptual model that will help to capture the longitudinal change process. A modified AST model is proposed which will provide a theoretical framework that further investigates and explains the implementation process, using several organisations at different stages of BEMS implementation. The researcher has confirmed access to these organisations and data collection commenced on October 1st 2006. The paper concludes with an overview of how the research will progress