Digital Integration: Understanding the Concept and its Environmental Predictors

This study investigates the impact of environmental factors on the decision to electronically integrate operations with international customers and/or suppliers. The following research question motivates the study: How does the environmental context affect the level of electronic integration of an organization with its international partners? This study elaborates on the concept of electronic integration. Studies on integration in general and electronic integration in particular adopt a loose definition of integration: they all agree in that integration is the opposite of markets, but they define this opposite in different terms: relationship contracting, long-term contracting, coordination, etc. Finally, the study also responds to Wathne and Heide’s (2004) call for a more comprehensive study of governance mechanisms in B2B, with emphasis on monitoring mechanisms

Public IT Policies in Less Developed Countries: A Critical Assessment of the Literature and a Reference Framework for Future Work

How well do extant diffusion models originating in developed countries explain adoption of information technologies in less developed countries? m a t is the current status of the literature with respect to public IT policies? The authors explore the literature on public IT policies to answer these questions. Findings indicate that, due to differences in environmental factors, existing models may not be readily applicable to less developed countries without careful consideration of the structural differences between developed countries -where most models originated- and less developed countries. Within extant studies of public IT policies, this article identifies typical research characteristics - e.g., case study methodologies, single country selection, single project scope, and little theory development. Finally, an integrative framework for the rationalization of existing models is proposed

The UMass Boston Bachelors of Science in Information Technology

The BSIT is a 21st Century degree that supports and extends the BATEC vision of curriculum – advanced in content and pedagogy, regionally-coordinated, and industry-linked. Every exercise assigned throughout the BSIT emphasizes collaboration, competence, and outcomes assessment. Faculty and business partners regularly participate in professional and curriculum development to ensure the program’s continued industry relevance

Knowledge Spheres and the Diffusion of National IT Policies

How do national ICT policies disseminate in a country? Why would there be a differential awareness of policies among various sectors and/or professions? These are the two major research questions addressed in the study reported here. Motivation for ICT adoption and use, it is argued, will generally be influenced by the set of policies on which certain sectors or professional-groups focus. This, in turn will influence the nature of development of the ICT industry within the nation. The study uses quantitative techniques to assess sectoral differences in the diffusion of national ICT policies in Egypt by gauging the awareness of ICT policies by key decision makers within each major economic sector. Interviews with 33 top-ranking government and IT-sector executives are used to elicit the key ICT policies. These policies were then further studied in interviews with 47 policy-makers and private sector managers who form the respondent base for this study. Findings show a skewed distribution of awareness of national ICT policy diffusion and that, as predicted, this distribution is related to sector-affiliation. Thus, the sets of policies that are closest to the inherent interests of chosen sectors and professional affiliations are identified. The findings suggest that correctly positioning ICT policies can be a critical element for the implementation of national strategies that shape the direction and pace of a country-wide development of ICT capabilities and capacity. This is especially so in developing countries, where the effects of ICTs in leveraging economic and social development are deemed to be substantial

The UMass Boston Bachelors of Science in Information Technology

The BSIT is a 21st Century degree that supports and extends the BATEC vision of curriculum – advanced in content and pedagogy, regionally-coordinated, and industry-linked. Every exercise assigned throughout the BSIT emphasizes collaboration, competence, and outcomes assessment. Faculty and business partners regularly participate in professional and curriculum development to ensure the program’s continued industry relevance