Internal and External Boundary Spanning in Outsourced IS Development Projects: Opening the Black Box

This study applies the boundary spanning theoretical perspective to a client behavior during outsourced IS development projects. Previous research shows the importance of internal communication in an organization when it adopts an integrated IS. It also points to the importance of managing communication with outsourcing vendor. The proposed research makes a unique contribution to the literature by investigating the connection between these two types of communication. The two main questions of the study are how a boundary spanning culture in an organization affects internal and external boundary spanning during an outsourced project, and if a client’s boundary spanning contributes to success of the outsourced project by improving the quality of relationship. Survey based data collection contributes to the methodology of boundary spanning research, which was previously based exclusively on qualitative analysis. Uncovering the implications of client boundary spanning capabilities for outsourcing relationship management will be of significant value for practitioners

KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE IN OUTSOURCED ISD PROJECTS: THE BOUNDARY SPANNING APPROACH

This study is focused on intra- and inter-organizational communication managed by client organizations in outsourced information system development (ISD) projects. Previous research shows the importance of internal communication in an organization when it adopts an integrated IS. Outsourcing literature also notes the importance of managing communication and knowledge exchange with the vendor. However, these two types of communication have not been studied together, and their conceptual commonalities have been overlooked. The proposed research makes a unique contribution to the literature by studying the connection between internal and external communication in the same organization, and assessing the impact of yet third communication type, client’s routine internal communication, on client’s behavior during an outsourced project. I show why different types of communication in an outsourcing organization may require different approaches to knowledge and to the process of its exchange, and explain why building successful communication practices in an outsourced project is more challenging for some organizations than to others. This is an original theoretical contribution of this study to outsourcing research. Quantitative analysis of data collected through a survey instrument will make a sound methodological contribution to boundary spanning theoretical reasoning which has been supported so far by interpretive qualitative research alone

Teenagers\u27 Elective Use of Computer Technology in Middle and High Schools: The Role of Gender

The decline in new entrants to IT professions coincides with the burgeoning use of new information and communications technologies among adolescent users. Teenage girls embrace a wide range of new technologies, yet are less interested in ITrelated careers or college majors than their counterparts in earlier years. In order to forestall further declines in IT college majors, educators in middle schools and high schools must learn how to better instill an appreciation for IT career opportunities in their students. The purpose of this paper is to report on our descriptive study of teenagers’ technology-based perceptions, habits and interests, and to explore the link between these usage patterns and other personal attributes concerning technology access in their homes and schools. With this understanding of current usage patterns, educators and employers will be in a better position to review IT-related pedagogy and curricula, and to appraise IT career options in a more informed light

Gender Differences in Teenagers’ Elective Use of Computer Technology

The decline in new entrants to IT professions coincides with the burgeoning use of new information and communications technologies among adolescent users. Teenage girls embrace a wide range of new technologies, yet are less interested in IT-related careers or college majors than their counterparts in earlier years. In order to forestall further declines in IT college majors, educators in middle schools and high schools must learn how to better instill an appreciation for IT career opportunities in their students. The purpose of this paper is to report on our descriptive study of teenagers’ technology-based perceptions, habits and interests, and to explore the link between these usage patterns and other personal attributes concerning technology access in their homes and schools. Analysis of more than 300 surveys reveals both similarities and differences in male and female elective technology use. Of particular note is that many of the gender-related differences do not appear until high school. This signals that students must be made aware of the importance and benefits of computing technology for purposes other than leisure or social interaction in the lower grades, and also in the home. We also find significant differences in gender-based usage patterns and perspectives on computing. With this understanding of current usage patterns, educators and employers will be in a better position to review IT-related pedagogy and curricula, and to appraise IT career options in a more informed light