The Value of IT: Explaining the Strategic Role of Information Systems for Fast Growing SMES

This article investigates fast growing and successful small and medium enterprises (SMEs). We focus particularly on the role and relevance of information systems (IS) skills and knowledge for their success. Although many theories account for the relationship between IS and organizational performance, they target mostly the context of large corporations, thus overlooking the special conditions that fast growing SMEs face. We specifically investigate fast growing SMEs for the following reasons: these companies are subject to constant organizational change due to their continuous growth and thus rely critically on having the right IS setup and strategy, while at the same time they are often too small and specialized for out-of-the-box enterprise IS solutions. Based on an interpretive multiple-case study design, we present three generic, archetypal IS strategies, ranging from full identification with and capitalization on IS to complete cost-based outsourcing of all IS related services. We analyze the inherent chances and risks associated with each of these strategies and present anecdotal evidence from the case companies to illustrate our findings

O que conduz a formação de cooperação tecnológica entre universidade e indústria em sistemas de inovação menos desenvolvidos? Evidências do Brasil

Diversas formas de colaboração interorganizacional têm sido reconhecidas na literatura por seu potencial em promover aprendizagem e capacidades inovadoras, em especial aquelas envolvendo interações entre universidade e empresa. No entanto, elas são relativamente escassas em Sistemas de Inovação pouco desenvolvidos, como o brasileiro, e pouco se sabe sobre o porquê ou como estão estabelecidas. Com base em um estudo de caso comparativo, este trabalho investiga o contexto em que a cooperação tecnológica entre universidade e indústria surge no Brasil. Os resultados indicam que a formação da cooperação tecnológica é um processo co-evolutivo, que emerge por meio de práticas de compartilhamento de conhecimento com parceiros externos, bem como pelo esforço de articulação de cientistas em rede.Interorganisational patterns of collaboration have long been recognised in the literature for their potential to promote learning and innovative capabilities, in particular those encompassing university and industry interactions. Yet they are scarcely found in underdeveloped Innovation Systems such as the Brazilian one and little is known about why or how they are established. Drawing upon a comparative case study, this paper investigates in which context technological cooperation between university and industry emerges in Brazil. The findings indicate that the formation of technological cooperation is a co-evolutionary process, which emergences from the practice of knowledge sharing with external partners, as well from the connecting effort of ‘linked scientists’

Identifying Critical Issues in Smart City Big Data Project Implementation

Many cities across the globe are adopting smart city initiatives, as smart city holds the promise of better quality of life and equity for city\u27s residents, more efficient use of city\u27s infrastructure, and more effective city planning. Big data analytics is the backbone of smart city and the drive engine to achieve smart city\u27s promises. However, statistics indicate that more than 50% of big data projects fail; they either never finish or do not offer the expected value. Resulting in severe consequences as such projects tends to be expensive and require allocating the organization\u27s best resources while doing the project. This is even more crucial in the case of smart city, as cities usually have limited budget and resources. This paper conducted literature review and perspectives analysis to identify challenges, which can cause big data projects to fail, with focus on smart city related big data projects. The goal is to offer a list of challenges, that a project manager can consider as an initial list of risks for the upcoming project, and evaluate the city\u27s readiness against each of them