Assessing critical success factors for ERP implementation satisfaction: a study of consultants participation and user training

An Enterprise resource planning (ERP) system is a company wide information system that integrates all aspects of a business and promises one database, one application across the entire enterprise. ERP implementation has been an important activity for improving efficiency and is a critical investment that can significantly affect future performance of a company. Consultant participation and user training are essential factors that can contribute to ERP implementation satisfaction. Studies examining the effects of consultant participation and user training on ERP implementation satisfaction are rare. Thus, this present study was designed to fill this gap in research. A relevant research model was developed to test three (3) hypothesized paths among the study’s variables, namely consultant participation, user training, ERP implementation satisfaction. Data was collected by survey questionnaires from 109 of ERP users. The Smart PLS tool was used for data analysis. In sum, the results of this research show that (1) ERP implementation satisfaction depends on consultant participation especially on the quality of consultants’ services and user training. (2) User training plays a mediator role between consultant participation and ERP implementation satisfaction

The effects of perceived organizational support and organizational citizenship behaviors on continuance intention of enterprise resource planning

Although perceived organizational support (POS) and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) have long received research attention, little is known of the effects of POS and OCBs in the IS usage context, specifically in the context of enterprise resource planning (ERP) continuance. In this study, the authors integrate three research streams, including POS, OCBs, and ERP continuance intention into one model in order to investigate whether POS and OCBs: altruism, conscientiousness, courtesy, civic virtue, and sportsmanship affect ERP users' continuance intention. Grounded on social exchange theory (SET), this study examined the influence of POS on OCBs, satisfaction, and continuance. In addition, the authors also assessed the mediating effects of OCBs between POS and continuance. A survey utilizing a questionnaire was used to collect data and a total of 250 usable responses were analyzed by using partial least squares (PLS). The authors found that POS indirectly influence continuance intention through satisfaction and OCBs. Conscientiousness, civic virtue, and sportsmanship mediated the relationship between POS and continuance intention, but altruism and courtesy do not. Also, a number of implications for both researchers and managers are proposed

The Effects of Perceived Organizational Support and Personality Traits on User Involvement

User involvement in information system development has long received research attention due to its significant effects on information system success. Prior studies have tended to focus on the consequences of user involvement, and in contrast, this research focuses on the factors that influence user involvement. The factors deserving more attention are perceived organizational support and personality traits that play significant roles in users’ IS related perceptions and behaviours. This in-progress research aims to explore the relationship among POS, personality traits, and user involvement. To achieve the research objectives, we developed a theoretical model that explains how perceived organizational support and the five personality traits namely: Neuroticism, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Openness, Conscientiousness influence user involvement. Further, this model explains how personality traits mediate the relationship between POS and user involvement

Thrombocytopenia as a marker of outcome in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Introduction: Thrombocytopenia (TP) is associated with poor outcome in patients who are critically ill with pneumonia, burns, and H1N1 influenza. To our knowledge, no similar study in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) has been conducted to date. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of platelet count on the outcome of patients with AECOPD. Material and methods: Patients admitted to our teaching hospital for AECOPD were divided into two cohorts, those with and without TP. The outcome of all patients was followed. Results: Of the 200 patients with AECOPD, 55 (27.5%) had TP. Of these, 14 (25.5%) died in the hospital, whereas of the 145 non-TP patents, 11 (7.5%) died (p-value = 0.001). There was a significantly higher transfer rate to the ICU and mechanical ventilation in TP patients. The mean platelet count was significantly lower in patients who died than those who were discharged (161,672 vs. 203,005 cell/μL; p-value = 0.017). There was negative correlation between duration of hospitalization and platelet count. Conclusion: TP was associated with poor outcome in AECOPD. TP could be considered as a marker for the assessment of inflammation and prognosis in AECOPD patients based on its cost-effective features

Emotional intelligence in agile information systems development

Agile information systems development (ISD) is a socio-technical process where customer requirements are satisfied through the interplay of the social and technical system. Research on social systems has primarily focused on observable behaviors in ISD, however, little attention has been paid to cognitive aspects. We draw on emotional intelligence as an important dimension of cognition and seek to develop theoretical understanding of the mechanisms for managing emotions in agile ISD. To achieve this objective, we conducted a qualitative study of agile ISD teams in two organizations. This research-in-progress presents initial results on the concept of emotional intelligence and its effects in agile ISD. Our research contributes to the literature first by providing a deeper conceptualization of emotional intelligence in agile ISD. Second, it theoretically and empirically demonstrates work outcomes of emotional intelligence

Self-Organization in Agile ISD Teams and the Influence on Exploration and Exploitation

Agile information system development (ISD) teams face the ongoing challenge of balancing exploration and exploitation so as to be innovative while also achieving improvements in performance. Prior research has suggested that the self-organizing nature of agile ISD teams may contribute to the execution of these ideals. Yet, the literature is silent on what comprehensively constitutes a self-organizing agile ISD team and how characteristics of a self-organizing agile ISD team contribute to exploration and exploitation. This study draws on the body of research in ISD and management to identify characteristics of these teams. Using these characteristics, we then theorize how they facilitate exploration and exploitation. This research–in–progress paper contributes first by providing a more complete understanding of the structure of self-organizing teams. Second, it theoretically links self-organization to exploration and exploitation at a granular level

An Effective Model for Evaluating Website Quality Considering Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty: Evidence of Airline Websites

Abstract This paper provides a better understanding of the impact of e-quality on customer satisfaction which leads to the retention of loyal customers to airline e-ticketing websites. In this paper website quality is divided into three levels including: "website performance", "website information" and "website online service". Three sets of E-SERVQUAL criteria are chosen following a review of prior airline website studies in order to map each three levels. To measure customer satisfaction in each level, Additive Difference Model measurement method of Expectancy Disconfirmation Theory is integrated with the proposed model. Thus, the proposed model is comprised of the Expectancy Disconfirmation Theory model, a three-level framework, and E-SERVQUAL model. This model can help airline website decisionmakers to understand the customer's point of view concerning website quality and to identify the strengths and weaknesses of designed airline websites in attracting customers to e-ticketing

How consultant participation lead to ERP implementation satisfaction: a study upon the Iranian industries

Due to high levels of investment required in the implementation of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and considerable differences in ERP adoption results, substantial research attention has been devoted to exploring critical success factors (CSFs) concerning ERP implementation. Little attention, however, has been paid to the mechanisms of how these factors influence successful ERP implementation. This study focused on three CSFs, namely: consultant participation, user training, and IT staff skills. The authors developed a research model including the relationships between the aforementioned CSF variables and ERP implementation success variable, namely ERP implementation satisfaction. The purpose of this research was to explore the direct effect of consultant participation on ERP implementation success (satisfaction) and examines the indirect effect of that via user training, and IT staff skills. Our research model was assessed using a sample of 249 ERP users in Iranian organizations. Partial least squares (PLS) technique was used for data analysis. The PLS results confirmed our six hypotheses. After integrating the results, we found that consultant participation positively influenced ERP implementation satisfaction either directly or indirectly through user training and IT staff skills

An effective model for evaluating website quality considering customer satisfaction and loyalty: evidence of airline websites

This paper provides a better understanding of the impact of e-quality on customer satisfaction which leads to the retention of loyal customers to airline e-ticketing websites. In this paper website quality is divided into three levels including: “website performance”, “website information” and “website online service”. Three sets of E-SERVQUAL criteria are chosen following a review of prior airline website studies in order to map each three levels. To measure customer satisfaction in each level, Additive Difference Model measurement method of Expectancy Disconfirmation Theory is integrated with the proposed model. Thus, the proposed model is comprised of the Expectancy Disconfirmation Theory model, a three-level framework, and E-SERVQUAL model. This model can help airline website decisionmakers to understand the customer’s point of view concerning website quality and to identify the strengths and weaknesses of designed airline websites in attracting customers to e-ticketing

A 64 year-old female with scalp metastasis of papillary thyroid cancer

The skin metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is a rare condition and the lesions should be differentiated from primary skin tumors. The scalp is the most frequent site which is involved in skin metastasis of PTC. It shows the poor outcome and aggressive nature of disease. In this report, we aim to present a case report of a 64 year-old female with scalp metastasis of PTC in the context of disseminated pulmonary and liver metastasis