79 research outputs found

    Containing Risk when Maximizing Supply-Chain Performance

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    The objective of this dissertation is to develop and test an approach that will quantify the level of risk in the supply chain, evaluate the cost and impact of risk mitigation strategies, validate event management protocols pre-implementation, and optimize across a portfolio of risk mitigation strategies. The research integrates a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model and a Discrete Event Simulation model to investigate a production-inventory-transportation problem subject to risk. The MILP model calculates the optimal Net Profit Contribution of the supply chain in the absence of risk. Deviation risks are introduced as volatility in final demand and lead times, with lead time volatility affecting raw material lead times from suppliers to manufacturing plants and finished goods lead times from manufacturing plants to the warehouses. Disruption risks are modelled as temporarily impeding production at the manufacturing plants, in-bound distribution of raw materials from suppliers to the manufacturing plants, and out-bound distribution of finished goods from the manufacturing plants to warehouses. Computational experiments are run to examine the impact of risk on the supply chain. Further experiments explore the consequences of three risk mitigation strategies (inventory placement, expediting, and production flexibility) on supply chain performance in the presence of risk with the aim of discovering whether one strategy dominates or whether a portfolio approach to risk mitigation performs best. In sum, this research seeks to develop a framework that can inform efforts in understanding, planning for and controlling risk in the supply chain

    A Knowledge-Based System for Measuring Business - IT Alignment

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    Toward Gamified ERP Application: Enhancing User Motivation and Engagement Using a DSR Framework

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    Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are an integral part of companies’ technology landscape. ERPs automate and streamline business processes and provide visibility into business transactions to support external and managerial reporting. Despite its many benefits, organizations face many challenges with ERPs, of which user resistance is one of them. Lack of user engagement, motivation, and satisfaction increases the challenge of implementing ERPs. One potential mechanism organizations can consider for improving user engagement, motivation, and satisfaction in using ERPs is gamification. This study presents the design and implementation of a Gamified Web Application (GWA) integrated with the SAP-Fiori ERP system. Leveraging design science research methodology (DSRM), our GWA artifact integrates gamification design principles and elements to effectively engage and motivate users to use the ERP system. The novelty of our approach lies in the development of an independent GWA that seamlessly connects to the ERP system in real-time, addressing both instrumental outcomes and experiential outcomes of accomplishing core ERP tasks and fostering user motivation and engagement which are crucial for a successful gamified ERP system. Additionally, we outline the evaluation procedure, through a pilot study, for assessing the effectiveness of our artifact contributing valuable insights to the field of gamified ERP systems

    When IS Success Model Meets UTAUT in a Mobile Banking Context: A Study of Subjective and Objective System Usage

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    The objective usage of mobile banking (MB) reflects more validated measure when compared to subjective usage. Although objective system usage has been seldom studied, it has been never investigated in a MB context to the best of our knowledge. This research in progress develops an integrative conceptual framework that incorporates relevant-context factors into well-established models of IS success and UTAUT to examine their direct and indirect effects on MB usage. This examination can expand our knowledge of system usage in the context of mobile banking. Contribution and implications are discussed

    Vehicle Trade Time Application Service Design for Fintech using Action Design Research

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    We study the critical aspects of vehicle trade-in time and its benefits to consumers and financial institutions. While previous research has explored the exchange or trade-in of the existing or used vehicle toward a reduction in the price of a new good, it has not contributed to suggesting the best time to trade-in a vehicle. This study fills this gap by examining the requirements and usefulness of forecasting vehicle trade-in time (VTT). Furthermore, the study evaluated how VTT service benefits consumers for informed decision-making and Fintech to gain more customers using behavioral science. For this research, by applying Design Science Research, we designed a machine learning(ML) based VTT information systems(IS) research framework and developed an application service prototype for instantiation using non-linear trend time series and hierarchical forecasting models and integrated it with an existing Fintech loan service by applying collaborative system design. We engaged the financial institution Digital Federal Credit Union to develop and evaluate the prototype. It serves as a preliminary model or mock-up that allows designers, stakeholders, and users to interact with and evaluate the concept more concretely. For prototype evaluation, we proposed the Hybrid IS Success (HISS) model that combines the refined Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with the DeLone and McLean (D&M) updated IS success (ISS) model. Our study makes three contributions. First, it contributes to descriptive knowledge concerning the problem space by identifying the critical aspects of vehicle trade-in time. Second, it contributes to prescriptive knowledge concerning the solution space by offering a VTT IS research framework based on machine learning forecasting models for Fintech and consumers. Finally, our prototype and the proposed HISS evaluation model contributed to the instantiated artifact with DSR. In a nutshell, our research contributes to the knowledge base in the form of an expanded understanding of the kernel theories and the development of new behavioral theories for designing ML artifacts in the Fintech context. The paper provides a comprehensive VTT IS research framework from which select components were used for the DCU bank pilot study. Our long-term goal is to utilize the full framework for a full study

    Perceived Relationship between Teachers’ Acquisition of Higher Degrees and Students’ Academic Performance in Kenya

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    There has been increased demand for university education by secondary school teachers in the recent past in Kenya. Universities have expanded to accommodate this increasing demand with serving teachers being given the opportunity to further their studies. Acquisition of higher education by secondary school teachers has implications on teaching and learning in secondary schools. The study set out to determine the perceived effects of teachers’ acquisition of higher degrees on teaching and learning. Specifically it investigated the perceived effect of teacher’s acquisition of higher degrees on students’ academic performance. The study was carried out in public secondary schools in Kakamega Central district of Kenya. It used descriptive survey design. Target population was 510 respondents who included serving secondary school teachers, heads of departments and principals. Stratified, purposive, random and systematic sampling techniques were used to obtain the sample for the study. A sample size of 168 respondents was used. The instruments that were employed were questionnaires and interview schedules. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data collected. The results were presented in form of frequency tables, pie charts and bar graphs. The study findings as opined by respondents revealed that there was a relationship between a teacher’s higher academic qualification and student’s academic performance. These findings could be crucial to the TSC and other policy makers in the education sector in designing proper policies that will support continuing education for teachers. The study concluded that acquisition of higher degrees by secondary school teachers had an effect on students’ academic performance in secondary schools. It was therefore recommended that professional development of serving teachers should be enhanced so that teacher effectiveness is maintained. Further studies are necessary to investigate the effect of higher degrees on teaching and learning by using observation and achievement tests. Keywords: Higher Degree, Academic Performance, Teacher effectivenes

    Understanding Mobile Banking Success Through User Segmentation

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    Mobile banking (MB) which involves the use of mobile devices to access bank accounts for conducting financial transactions has grown rapidly but unevenly with users. Banks realizes the strategic role of user’s satisfaction and the importance of MB systems in their business models. Yet, the diversity of users and disparity of system usage behaviors make difficult to measure MB success. This study segments the MB users on system use behavior of 4,478 users with objective measures by analyzing the MB system log files on various system usage metrics. Then, a subjective measures study surveys the same users on the system success factors of the information systems (IS) success model by using 445 responses. Results indicate that the influence of success factors significantly varies among user segments for intention to use, which makes an important contribution to enhance interpretation of the IS success model

    Mobile Learning with Micro-content: A Framework and Evaluation

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    Micro-learning (ML) combines micro-content delivery with a sequence of micro interactions which enable users to learn without information overload. This has the potential to enable better learning results in terms of retention of propositional content. Learners familiar with Web2.0 technologies, like Tweets and SMS, expect a personalized learning solution and the KnowledgePulse (KP) system researched and developed by the RSA FG delivers this in a work context. ML has potential for enhancing mobile learning which has lacked success despite the explosive popularity of mobile devices. This paper presents the micro-learning approach and the KP sytem that delivers micro-content on mobile devices and allows learning anytime, anyplace and any pace. Three case studies of different product stages of KP are reported with 100+ users in three settings. Results show high usage levels and good satisfaction of learners. These preliminary results provide encouraging signs for the further development of micro-learning systems. Future research needs to expand to a much large scale and also develop an evaluation framework which can serve as standard to investigate how micro and mobile learning can be integrated to create more effective learning
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