Government Services Architecture

To enable \u27future state\u27 service strategies new architectures are required to enable government and regulatory operations to be more open to disruption and innovation. Through a service science perspective, this paper outlines a government services architecture (GSA) to enable social welfare delivery to be driven by, and responsive to, changing social and economic forces. Using Service Dominant Logic as a kernel theory, we developed an initial set of requirements from which three models were derived: 1. GSA Theoretical Framework (research and theories); 2. GSA Meta-Model (objects and relationships) and; 3. GSA Functional Model (functions and interactions). The research provides a practical application of SD-Logic by responding to limitations of government service business models and supporting approaches to architecture. The implications for government and further research is identified

Conceptual modeling research in information systems: What we now know and what we still do not know

Much of conceptual modeling research over recent times has been guided by a seminal research agenda developed by Wand and Weber (2002), which identified twenty-two research opportunities. In this paper, we explore whether existing research has provided sufficient answers to these questions. Our findings from a review of the literature show a dialectic: several of the opportunities noted in 2002 have been addressed substantially while others have been entirely neglected. We also found several path breaking studies that addressed problems not spotted by the initial framework. To stimulate a forward-looking wave of conceptual modeling research, we provide a new framework that draws the attention of conceptual modeling research to the interplay between digital representations and outcomes

A study of the combined use of conceptual models

This thesis investigates the use of representations of the relevant features of a system domain, often called conceptual models, during information systems analysis and design. Conceptual models play a significant role in the early detection and correction of information systems development errors. However, understanding of the use of different types of models in practice remains outstanding. Through multiple studies, this thesis provides both an empirical understanding of the combined use of conceptual models in practice and extensions and contingencies to existing theories that explain how and why practitioners use model combinations

Combined use of conceptual models in practice: An exploratory study

Conceptual models are fundamental to system analysis and design. However, the actual usage of conceptual models remains poorly understood, in particular, how and why practitioners would use multiple models in combination when doing their work. In this paper, the authors explore the reported use of multiple conceptual models for system analysis and design to determine the circumstances that lead professionals to use multiple models. They uncover both semantic and pragmatic reasons that influence the choice and selection of different models for system analysis and design tasks. Contrasting these findings to existing ontological theories, the authors find that the extent and type of multiple model use is determined by not only ontological factors but also contextual factors that can override ontological qualities and in so doing bring forth desired qualities for users. The authors offer several novel propositions about the implications of ontological theory that will be worth exploring in future research

The role and relevance of IT governance and IT capability in Business - IT alignment in medium and large companies

The key role of information technologies application in companies’ business strategy toolset is undeniable in current market. However, in order to improve organizational efficiency and also to achieve competitive advantage, information technologies should be in line with organization’s business strategies. The purpose of this study is to identify the impact of IT governance and IT capabilities on strategic alignment between business and IT, and also the extent of their influence. Quantitative method was used for this study and data were collected through survey questionnaires answered by business and IT managers and executives. Examined constructs are IT resource management, Performance measurement, knowledge sharing, IT architecture, and IT infrastructure. According to the findings of this study, all five factors influence the alignment of business and IT positively, and among them, performance measurement has the highest impact

Critical factors influencing the performance of e-business in SMEs

E-business technologies have significantly affected business processes of companies. As a result, it is critical for organizations to have an effective and efficient e-business performance, particularly, for small and medium sized enterprises due to their lack of financial and human resources. The purpose of this paper is to study the factors influencing the performance of e-business in Malaysian small and medium sized enterprises. Quantitative method was used for this study and data were collected through survey questionnaire from managers working in SMEs performing in Malaysia. E-communication, e-intelligence, e-collaboration, knowledge sharing, IT employee, and External IT are the examined factors. All six hypotheses were supported by results of the study. Knowledge and expertise of IT employees and external IT were reported to be the most influential aspects on the performance of e-business in SMEs. Theories used in this study include resource-based view, knowledge-based theory, and competence-based theory

Prior domain knowledge and ontological overlap in combinations of conceptual models

IS Professionals often use multiple types of models because most information systems are too complex to represent in a single model. When a domain is represented through different models, some features of the envisaged system can feature in multiple models. This situation may lead to overlap between models. The literature is unclear whether overlap is beneficial in understanding multiple models, and how overlap should be designed – or avoided. We propose that understanding multiple models with overlap is a function of both pragmatic and semantic factors. We will execute an experiment to investigate our propositions, which will include eye-tracking to examine how users identify and deal with information overlap between multiple conceptual models. The results of this study can contribute to the existing theories of domain representation by analyzing the interaction between pragmatics and semantics. We can provide practical guidance on how different domains should be presented through multiple models

Designing Experiments to Test the Theory of Combined Ontological Coverage

Conceptual models are used to graphically capture the requirements of an information system. Research on conceptual modelling has focused on improving the modelling process. The vast majority of studies has focused on evaluations of single grammars or models; however, practitioners typically use multiple, and different types of models in system analysis and design tasks. Recker (2014) proposed a theory of combined ontological coverage to predict and explain faithful use of multiple models in combination, but this theory has not been tested yet. The aim of this research in progress paper is to describe how experiments can be designed to examine the propositions of Recker’s theory of combined ontological coverage. The findings of our experiments, once executed, will provide grounding that will justify further research on conceptual modelling use as well as provide deep insights and foundations to understand how conceptual models are used in today’s system analysis and development process

From Representation to Mediation: A New Agenda for Conceptual Modeling Research in a Digital World

The role of information systems (IS) as representations of real-world systems is changing in an increasingly digitalized world, suggesting that conceptual modeling is losing its relevance to the IS field. We argue the opposite: Conceptual modeling research is more relevant to the IS field than ever, but it requires an update with new theory. We develop a new theoretical framework of conceptual modeling that delivers a fundamental shift in the assumptions that govern research in this area. This move can make traditional knowledge about conceptual modeling consistent with the emerging requirements of a digital world. Our framework draws attention to the role of conceptual modeling scripts as mediators between physical and digital realities. We identify new research questions about grammars, methods, scripts, agents, and contexts that are situated in intertwined physical and digital realities. We discuss several implications for conceptual modeling scholarship that relate to the necessity of developing new methods and grammars for conceptual modeling, broadening the methodological array of conceptual modeling scholarship, and considering new dependent variables