An Empirical Study on the Effect of Attitude Toward Change and Computer Self-Efficacy on ERP Adoption: A Comparison of the Local and Global Packages

Despite the promised benefits of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, more than two thirds of ERP system projects result in failure. In this study, some plausible reasons for their failure are proposed from the socio-technical systems perspective. This study has two research objectives. First, it introduces and tests a theoretical model which views ERP systems as both an organizational change driver and a sophisticated information system in order to better explain the phenomenon of ERP systems adoption. For this purpose, the proposed model includes attitude toward change and computer self-efficacy, which may affect ERP systems adoption behavior through perceived usefulness for the systems. Second, this paper attempts to shed some light on how the localization differences of ERP systems may affect users’ intention to adopt the ERP systems. The results based on survey data using subjects from two different ERP systems support the proposed research model and identify the moderating effect of the localization differences. Theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed along with its limitations

Multi-agent knowledge integration mechanism using particle swarm optimization

This is the post-print version of the final paper published in Technological Forecasting and Social Change. The published article is available from the link below. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. Copyright @ 2011 Elsevier B.V.Unstructured group decision-making is burdened with several central difficulties: unifying the knowledge of multiple experts in an unbiased manner and computational inefficiencies. In addition, a proper means of storing such unified knowledge for later use has not yet been established. Storage difficulties stem from of the integration of the logic underlying multiple experts' decision-making processes and the structured quantification of the impact of each opinion on the final product. To address these difficulties, this paper proposes a novel approach called the multiple agent-based knowledge integration mechanism (MAKIM), in which a fuzzy cognitive map (FCM) is used as a knowledge representation and storage vehicle. In this approach, we use particle swarm optimization (PSO) to adjust causal relationships and causality coefficients from the perspective of global optimization. Once an optimized FCM is constructed an agent based model (ABM) is applied to the inference of the FCM to solve real world problem. The final aggregate knowledge is stored in FCM form and is used to produce proper inference results for other target problems. To test the validity of our approach, we applied MAKIM to a real-world group decision-making problem, an IT project risk assessment, and found MAKIM to be statistically robust.Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (Korea

Individual Readiness for Change in the Context of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems Implementation

The present study takes a bottom-up approach and investigates the organizational implications of ERP systems implementation in organizations. We adopt a likely point of view of employees and study the ERP integration process along 3 dimensions: people, processes, and information. In this manner we discover the ERP-specific sources of resistance that could affect negatively the deployment of the software. Then, we argue that a general set of beliefs shapes employees readiness to change to ERP use and provides the foundation for resistance or for adoptive behavior. We define the concept of readiness for change in the context of ERP and introduce a readiness for change assessment approach. Then, we test empirically the study hypotheses upon which the research model was build. The results obtained offer insights into factors that can improve the effectiveness of ERP implementation strategies and underline the importance of change management for the success of such projects

A Model for Interprofessional Health Disparities Education: Student-Led Curriculum on Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

Although health disparities are commonly addressed in preclinical didactic curricula, direct patient care activities with affected communities are more limited. To address this problem, health professional students designed a preclinical service-learning curriculum on hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection, a major health disparity affecting the Asian/Pacific Islander (API) population, integrating lectures, skills training, and direct patient care at student-run clinics. An urban health professions campus. Medical and other health professional students at University of California, San Francisco, organized a preclinical didactic and experiential elective, and established two monthly clinics offering HBV screening, vaccination, and education to the community. Between 2004 and 2009, 477 students enrolled in the student-led HBV curriculum. Since the clinics’ inception in 2007, 804 patients have been screened for chronic HBV; 87% were API immigrants, 63% had limited English proficiency, and 46% were uninsured. Serologically, 10% were found to be chronic HBV carriers, 44% were susceptible to HBV, and 46% were immune. Our student-led didactic and experiential elective can serve as an interprofessional curricular model for learning about specific health disparities while providing important services to the local community

Mobile application user behavior in the developing countries : a survey in Iran

Mobile applications are increasingly presented by service providers to fulfill the users’ tendency for mobility and access to services from anywhere and anytime; thereby, service platforms and a long range of tasks from banking to gaming are enabled by this technology. Although different companies offer a growing number of mobile services for potential users, only a few of them become popular and are perceived to be useful from the users’ viewpoint. The purpose of this research is to investigate the factors, which directly or indirectly influence mobile applications’ adoption by users. In other words, this study investigates the decision making process of users considering different factors such as subjective norms, attitude, perception and quality. Employing analytical approach in the literature review led to the development of a comprehensive model covering influential factors from different theories such as TPB and TAM as well as system quality, information and service quality approach. Incidentally, 39 hypotheses were developed and classified into nine different groups based on the originated theories. The model and hypotheses were tested by a sample of 1348 potential mobile application users in Iran and the data were analyzed through structural equation modeling techniques. Different internal and external variables were investigated, among which the effect of satisfaction on intention to recommend, the trace of trust on subjective norms and the influence of perceived ease of use on perceived behavioral control were more potent. In addition to offering a few suggestions for mobile application providers and marketers, this research proposes an integrated model of influential variables from different perspectives for scholars

Administrative Placement of the Information Systems Academic Discipline: A Comparative SWOT Analysis

This study uses SWOT analysis to explore perceptions of differential administrative placement of the Information Systems academic discipline within four universities across two countries, Australia and Korea. The analysis provides a useful basis for decision makers to exploit opportunities and minimize external threats. The study also offers useful insights for Information Systems academics contemplating administrative relocation of their group. The paper serves the dual-purpose of (1) informing the positioning of IS in the four case institutions, while (2) evolving an approach and related tools for usefully extending the SWOT analysis to other institutions and states, and across time. The extension of the analysis to other states and to IS groups in differing circumstances will broaden the relevance of study findings, while improving our understanding of differential placement of IS and perceptions of the relative advantages of the alternatives

Smart City 4.0 User-centered City Service Design

We are now facing one of the largest waves of disruptive changes known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It is expected to change almost every aspect of the way we interact with the world. Those changes will not just happen overnight. Behind the scenes, we must struggle with the challenging mission of harnessing ‘connectedness and intelligence' into our lives. As a user experience strategist, my goal has always been reinventing technology and business to be more human-centered. Therefore, the advent of a connected and intelligent information era is analogous to new opportunities to collaborate with professionals in a variety of technology and business domains to make the world a better place for people to live in. This speech aims to unfold the behind story of a user experience strategist who is creating the human-centered, connected, and intelligent future, also known as the ‘Smart City.’2

Smart City: A Collaborative Technology for the Human-centered Future

We are now facing one of the largest waves of disruptive changes known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It is expected to change almost every aspect of the way we interact with the world. A variety of smart devices are being introduced. Besides those personal and/or privately owned devices we are already quite familiar with, public devices such as the intelligent street lights are being deployed on the road, and almost every component that constitute the city such as vehicles, roads, and buildings, is becoming smarter. Likewise, a variety of solutions are also being introduced such as water, waste, energy, and safety, to name only a few. This speech aims to unfold the story of a user experience strategist who is creating the human-centered, connected, and intelligent future, also known as the ‘Smart City.’2

User-centered Smart City Service Design

We are now facing one of the largest waves of disruptive changes known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It is expected to change almost every aspect of the way we interact with the world. A strong wind of ‘connectedness’ and ‘intelligence’ is now blowing towards the city where we live, which is gradually turning our living environment into a smart city. A variety of smart devices are being introduced. Besides those personal and/or privately owned devices we are already quite familiar with, public devices such as the intelligent street lights are being deployed on the road, and almost every component that constitute the city such as vehicles, roads, and buildings, is becoming smarter. Likewise, a variety of solutions are also being introduced such as water, waste, energy, and safety, to name only a few. Behind the scenes a group of well-known technologies such as IoT, Big Data, Blockchain are enabling the change. But to most of us, it seems like a pile of jigsaw pieces scattered all around us. We are in fact struggling with the challenging mission of harnessing connectedness and intelligence into our lives without making people who use them puzzled. Aiming at the IoT world, a lot of IoT products appeared in the market but many of them were disappointing. They were often useless, and as a result, failed to attract people, i.e., the market. On the other hand, some features recently deployed in premium cars such as intelligent headlights or advanced driver assistant systems are quite attractive. Just like the products, I believe there are bad and good smart cities as well. As a user experience strategist, my goal has always been reinventing technology and business to be more human-centered. Therefore, to me, the advent of a connected and intelligent information era is analogous to new opportunities to collaborate with professionals in a variety of technology and business domains to make the world a better place for people to live in. This speech aims to unfold the story of a user experience strategist who is creating the human-centered, connected, and intelligent future, also known as the ‘Smart City.’ I’d like to talk about two things: what makes a good ‘smart city’ and how to make it.2