A Framework for Information Security Risk Management in IT Outsourcing

Qualitative researchers in business and management information systems fields often need to employ a method of inter-coder reliability to test the trustworthiness of the findings of their content analysis. A suitable method for checking the inter-coder reliability enables researchers to rigorously assess the degree of agreement among two or more independent qualitative coders. By employing this method, researchers can identify mistakes in the content analysis before the codes are used in developing and testing a theory or a measurement model and avoid any associated time, effort and financial cost. However, little guidance is available on what method of inter-coder reliability check should be used. In this paper, we present a critical analysis of these methods that are suitable for qualitative business and management IS research, and provide an example of how we employed the most rigorous method among these methods for a qualitative behavioural IS study

Prioritisation of sustainable supply chain practices with triple bottom line and organisational theories: industry and academic perspectives

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices on triple bottom line (TBL) measures from the perspective of organisational theories. This study identified five SSCM practices using a comprehensive literature review and feedback from industry experts. These five practices were prioritised using a fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP). The results from FAHP analysis were further confirmed by conducting semi-structured interviews in five electronics parts/components manufacturing organisations. This study also prioritised theoretical drivers of SSCM adoption based on the consideration of three organisational theory perspectives – Institutional Theory; Resource-based View, and; Social Network Theory. The results indicate that the economic dimension was the most important measure for implementing SSCM while sustainable design was the most important SSCM practice for achieving the TBL. The study also found that Institutional Theory is the most important theoretical driver for implementing SSCM. The research findings provide insight for management to allocate necessary resources and to develop effective strategic directions for the implementation of SSCM practices

Productive area utilisation : towards measuring the effectiveness of facilities layout

In order to improve the effectiveness of a facilities layout, it is necessary to measure the effectiveness of the existing layout. Since, available layout measurement methods are only suitable for construction type layout problem, it is necessary to have an appropriate measurement method to determine the effectiveness of an existing layout by considering all significant factors. Hence, a set of three layout effectiveness factors and their measurement methods are developed in our research. The proposed method will enable the decision-maker of a manufacturing enterprise to analyse their existing layout in three different aspects to decide whether the layout is to be re-designed for productivity improvement or maintained as it is. Due to the depth of analysis involved in evaluating the factors, this paper, mainly discusses about measurement of single factor, productive area utilisation, which is developed in respect to the objective of improving the effectiveness of utilised area

Product returns management for environmentally conscious manufacturing and sustainability in a supply chain

In recent years, recovelY operations in a supply chain has been gathering momentum as a business trend/or improving organisational competitiveness and sus/ainability by minimising waste to landfill. This review paper summarises a strategy of environmentally consciolls mamifacturing towards product recovelY, by emphasising product utilisation level and articulating a need for integrated pelformance evaluation. With intense demands on environmental pollution prevention, the consideration of peliormance evaluation based on a trade-off scenario is required for economic and environmental justifications towards sustainability. However, there is limited research for promoting the integrated pelformance measures of cost, time, waste and quality to assess supply chain pelformance due to complexity oj handling product return streams.

A resilience model for cold chain logistics of perishable products

Ali, I ORCiD: 0000-0002-8912-5760Purpose: Most of the extant literature on resilience builds on normative, conceptual or silo approaches, thereby lacking an integrative approach to cold chain logistics risks (CCLRs) and resilience. The purpose of this paper is to bridge the current research gap by developing a model, based on broad empirical evidence, of the interplay between CCLRs, resilience and firm performance (FP) in perishable product supply chains (PPSCs). Design/methodology/approach: A mixed method approach is used with qualitative data from interviews and quantitative data from a survey across the supply chain. The analysis is framed by contingency theory and resource-based theory. Findings: Four significant sources of CCLRs and six resources used to build resilience are identified. Then, supply chain resilience (SCR) as a moderator of the negative relationship between CCLRs and FP is corroborated. Practical implications: The findings will help improve managerial understandings of critical sources of risks in cold chain logistics and resources indispensable to build resilience. The scope of the research is cold chain logistics for PPSCs, which has relevance to other cold supply chains as well. Originality/value: While some theoretical frameworks suggest resilience being a moderator in the negative relationship between cold chain risks and a firm’s performance, this study empirically tests this relationship using the survey across the entire supply chain. A new empirically and theoretically driven definition of SCR is also developed. © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

Supplier selection and ranking towards sustainable procurement with multiple decision makers

The paper proposes a holistic selection and ranking approach for supplier evaluation and purchasing order allocation among suppliers who meet acceptable triple bottom line (TBL) performance. Supplier ranks are developed using judgements from multiple decision-makers. Purchasing order allocation among the ranked suppliers is determined using a linear programming (LP) model, which minimizes the total purchasing cost subject to multiple TBL based constraints. This research enables decision-makers to incorporate sustainability conditions in the supplier evaluation as the basis for best practice with an industry friendly approach, which relies on input from key functional units for a holistic organization wide decision. The proposed approach is expected to motivate decision-makers to consider sustainable perspectives in supplier evaluation and order allocation processes in a global supply chain. This paper illustrates the applicability of the approach using a cementmanufacturing scenario in an emerging economy

Building resilience in SMEs of perishable product supply chains: Enablers, barriers and risks

Ali, I ORCiD: 0000-0002-8912-5760SMEs of perishable product supply chains (PPSCs) are critical to sustaining fresh food supply and global economy. However, they face immense challenges given the nature of their operations. Surprisingly, the literature lacks research on the distinct intra- and inter-organisational factors intertwined to build resilience in these firms. From the semi-structured interviews conducted with 30 managers of a PPSC in Australia, we developed a holistic framework to build resilience in SMEs of PPSCs. The findings offer novel insights into research and practice including an optimal portfolio of enablers, barriers and risks towards building resilience. The analysis reveals that most risks stem from the factors that are internal to the supply chain, thus necessitating a strong supply chain collaboration. The level of resilience, barriers and risks varies considerably within SMEs depending on their size (small vs. medium) and location of nodes in the supply chain. Interestingly, the SMEs with consortium support demonstrate better resilience and performance. © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Factors Impacting Information Security Risk Management in IT Outsourcing: An Agency Theory Perspective

Modern businesses increasingly depend on other service organisations. Hence IT outsourcing (ITO) is on the rise and is now a USD multi-trillion industry. Nevertheless, the success rate is low, suggesting the need for scrupulous risk management in ITO. The researchers have long raised information security risk management (ISRM) among the top concerns in ITO. This paper investigates the factors impacting ISRM in ITO. The study follows a qualitative approach using the case study method. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Three organisations with distinct ITO orientations were investigated. The investigation applied the technology-organisationenvironment framework supplemented with agency theory to suit the ITO context of this research. The study presents the findings in a seven-dimensional framework - technology, organisation, people, process, legal, environment and strategy (TOPPLES) framework. The framework was verified through a focus grou