The Effectiveness of Using Computers for Software Training: An Exploratory Study

Both academic institutions and corporations have invested huge amounts of resources in computer-based training and education. The evidence in support of the effectiveness of computers and instructional technology in the classroom is mixed at best, and much of the practice is based on faith and ongoing trends in education. In this study, we conduct an exploratory experimental investigation into the effectiveness of four computer-based software training methods; traditional, delayed, asynchronous, and synchronous. We do not find any evidence to support the commonly held beliefs that there is an improvement in the computing literacy scores of students if the instructor has access to computers or if the students have access to computers during the software lesson. On the other hand, students find the practice of using computers both by themselves and by the instructors more satisfying than not being able to use them in the classroom. Our results have serious implications for instructors and decision-makers in both education and industry. While our results are directed at the lower levels of the Bloom\u27s taxonomy of learning, we recommend research into higher levels in order to assess the full impact of computer-based education

Journal Self-Citation IV: Citations Analysis of IS Journals – Separating Facts from Fiction

This article is inspired by a recent posting on the AISWorld listserv eliciting thoughts on the practice of self-citations by journals in the IS field. While emotions ran high in the ensuing online discussion, we try to provide an objective and informed analysis of the actual citation patterns of both top tier journals and non-top tier journals. Results show that the practice of self-citation is fairly common among both types of journals. Additional analyses showed that the preference for top-tier citations was more prevalent in top-tier journals than in non-top-tier journals. Supported by the data, we provide several arguments for these practices

The Impact of Mobile Payment on Consumer Behavior: A Unified Model

The adoption of mobile payment solutions is increasing worldwide at a rapid rate. However, in comparison to the research on the impact of traditional payment methods on consumer behavior, research examining the impact of mobile payment is scarce. In this study, based on psychology literature and mobile payment literature, we develop a unified model to examine the impact of mobile payment on consumer behavior that incorporates both pain and pleasure and their antecedents: payment transparency and payment decoupling. We also include the value perception of the payment method (a second order construct) to understand its relationship with the two hedonic constructs. The model is evaluated using the positivist survey method. Results show that the value perception of mobile payment affects purchase intention through its positive relationship with payment decoupling. Payment transparency positively affects pain of payment, while payment decoupling moderates (positive) the relationship (negative) between pain and pleasure. Pain and pleasure then jointly affect mobile payment user’s purchase intention. This research contributes to both the literature on the post adoption impact of mobile payment as well as the literature on the psychological effects of payment method

Influence Factors and Control in International IT Outsourcing Management: A Contingency Perspective

Rapid advances in technology and increased globalization and competitive pressures have forced many firms to search for alternatives that will reduce organizational cost, and at the same time create and/or maintain their competitive advantage in the global market. In this respect, many firms are turning to global outsourcing as a means of leveraging information technology (IT) for competitive advantage without having to worry about factors like technological obsolescence and skyrocketing IT expenditures. Of course, jumping onto an outsourcing deal without prior analysis of the situation and the vendor could make the organization worse off than before. Recent studies and anecdotal evidence point to the fact that even though a ‘watertight’ contract can absolve the client from many would be problems, the success and outcome of the outsourcing partnership ultimately depends on the management of the relationship. The management of the outsourcing contract becomes more complicated in cases where the vendor is based in a foreign country (International Outsourcing). The focus of this article is to present a contingency perspective of global IT outsourcing management (vis-a-vis control mechanisms) under various scenarios of the outsourcing context. Additionally, this study identifies a number of future research areas and proposes a direction for future research in the area of global IT outsourcing management

Towards Developing A Model for Global Business Process Reengineering

Business Process Reengineering (BPR) and globalization of companies are two trends that have converged in the last few years. This convergence has led to several global companies taking the effort to re-assess their global business processes and in many cases reengineering these processes. This paper proposes a model and presents some of the preliminary findings based on few interviews. Though the model here is based on the pilot studies on the topic, the initial responses from the field do seem to validate the fundamental tenets of the model

Understanding Information Technology (IT) Induced Changes in Culture

The Internet, World Wide Web, and related information and communication technologies (ICTs), have rapidly spread to a large number of countries and cultures. Many of these technologies facilitate and mediate activities whose modes and means bind closely to culture. Research has suggested that communication technologies can affect values and norms for behavior. Therefore, the goal of this research is to examine IT induced changes in culture. Particularly, this research is interested in answering the following question: How does IT impact culture? The goal of the study is to describe the impact of IT on culture’s components, including cultural values, norms, and behavior using a phenomenological method to address the research question. We are currently involved in collecting data to explore the phenomenon of interest. The findings will help to provide an alternative view of the relationship between IT and culture and lend new insights into our understanding of their linkage

Challenges of Blind Students and IT-Based Mitigation Strategies

In the knowledge driven world, quality education is an absolute necessity in order to succeed and advance. Most of the current educational curriculum is oriented towards the use of the eyesight. This requirement poses paramount challenges to the blind and visually impaired (BVI) students. This paper undertakes a qualitative and subsequent quantitative inquiry to understand the academic challenges faced by BVI students in high school and college, their resolution strategies and the use of technology to resolve their problems. The pilot study and the subsequent survey identify the extent of visual disability, knowledge of Braille, availability of materials in Braille, availability of alternative formats such as tactile models, availability of human assistance reader/scribe, affordability of the solution technology and perceived use of the solution technology as antecedents for the choice of the resolution strategy