The Effect of Telework

Priscilla Arling\u27s letter to the editor of Computerworld

THE HIDDEN VALUE OF IT: A Review of Information Technology and the Productivity Paradox

Book review of Lucas, H. C. (1999). Information technology and the productivity paradox: Assessing the value of the investment in IT. New York: Oxford University Press

The Impact of Telework on Performance: A Social Network Approach

Despite almost thirty years of research in the area of telework, the findings regarding outcomes remain equivocal (Bailey and Kurland, 2002). This research in progress hopes to advance understanding by identifying a key mechanism by which telework affects performance, specifically its influence on the social network properties of cohesion, power and structural holes. With knowledge of how the number, frequency and diversity of relationships influences performance, practitioners and academics can develop processes to improve teleworker social networks. This in turn will enhance the use of social capital and also facilitate shared attitudes and behaviors, which will lead to higher organizational commitment and promotability in a teleworking environment

A State-Sponsored Approach to Quality Improvement in Nursing Homes: Insights From Providers

In 2006, the Minnesota Performance-based Incentive Payment Program (PIPP) was launched to fund provider-initiated quality improvement (QI) projects addressing a wide range of persistent quality issues in nursing homes (eg, falls, pain, mobility, psychotropic medication reduction, care transitions). In this article, the authors describe the perceptions of nursing home providers who participated in a PIPP-funded QI project and completed a survey addressing a variety of QI-related concerns. Respondents noted the importance of support from top leadership, reported being challenged by resource constraints, and generally thought that their project positively impacted quality within their facility. These findings highlight the importance of investing in QI initiatives at both the state and nursing home level to create sustainable QIs

A Network Implementation Class Exercise: BusinessQuest Business Incubator, LLC

One way to bring concepts to life in an introductory data networks course is for students to physically build a network that addresses a real business problem. However it can be challenging to find a suitable business problem, particularly if the network can exist only during the class period. This case presents a realistic business scenario and network implementation exercise that can be completed in one or two class periods in any classroom with Internet access. The objective of the exercise is for students to solve a business problem by applying concepts related to basic network configuration, local area networks and IP addressing. This is accomplished by setting up a small local area network in a classroom using computers, cabling, routers, and switches. Students are also required to implement the software changes needed for the network to have access to the Internet. The business client is an entrepreneurial incubator company called BusinessQuest. Students must work with their own team members as well as other teams to meet the business needs, and must document adherence to established policies and standards

Would student learning orientation impact upon preference of communication media usage?

Different students have different learning orientations. Some of them focus on learning, some of the focus on grade, and some focus on both. Students’ learning orientations have been studies with students’ attitudes towards educations, and their experience with higher educations. In this study, we would like to investigate in higher education, whether students’ learning orientations have impact upon students’ preference of communication media usage. Understanding students’ media usage preference would help to establish the best way to communicate with different type of students. This is particular useful for identifying the strategy for hybrid/ online learning for different type of students

Do Green Lifestyle Consumers Appreciate Low Involvement Green Products?

Green products have become popular and have been targeted toward consumers who lead green lifestyles. Still, some green products are assumed to be more appealing to this group than others, sometimes based on level of involvement. This study tests a low involvement green product in terms of being appealing to consumers with green lifestyles. A theoretical model was developed and tested using a structural equation model. Results indicate that consumers with green lifestyles do value green attributes of low involvement products, in terms of consumer’s attitudes and behavioral intentions. These results imply that companies with green low involvement products should target high-income females and stress the green attribute to motivate purchase intention

The Impact of Team Member Familiarity on Communication Media Use and Subsequent Project Performance

This study explores how team member familiarity is related to the communication media used in the completion of projects and how that use impacts project performance. We surveyed 148 university undergraduate students who were enrolled in information systems courses. The students worked on projects in teams of 3 to 4 students. The results suggest that prior collaboration with current te am members, as well as a stude nt’s class year, are related to what communication media are used. The influen ce of team member familiarity and class year varies by the type of media used. We also find that higher levels of text messaging are related to lower project performance. The results have im plications for practitioners and educators looking to enhance project performance

Vodcast Impact on Students\u27 Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions

Purpose: This paper uses structural equation modeling to assess the effectiveness of Vodcasts (video podcasts) as part of a university’s communication strategy with prospective students. Design/methodology/approach: Three theoretical models were tested using a structural equation model. Findings: We find that perceived informativeness, credibility, and irritation of the advertising are directly related to the value of the Vodcast advertising. However of those three factors, only the informativeness is directly related to the intent to take further action toward enrollment. In addition, while prior work has suggested that perceived entertainment of advertising positively influences its perceived value, we find that for these university Vodcasts, perceived entertainment is not a statistically significant factor. Research limitations/implications: The results suggest that for Vodcasts used for these purposes, less attention should be given to entertainment value, and more attention should be focused on providing useful information in a manner that is credible and not irritating to students. Originality/value: Vodcasts have become part of the Internet multimedia experience and have been integrated into universities’ web-based promotion strategies. While prior work has examined general advertising on the web, few studies have considered the impact of the interactive medium of Vodcasts on attitudes and behavioral intentions

Does Self-efficacy Influence the Application of Evidence-Based Practice?

Background: Implementation of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is complex and consequently, even within organizations that have made efforts to promote EBP use, EBP is often underutilized by individual clinicians. Purpose: The aim of our study was to better understand the relationship between self-efficacy and EBP implementation in clinical environments that have undergone efforts to increase EBP utilization. We suggest that EBP is a set of behaviors that result from individuals acquiring, applying, and sharing new knowledge with others in the organization. We hypothesize, based upon a social cognitive theoretical approach, that these behaviors are influenced by clinician perception of self-efficacy. Methods: We analyzed data provided by a 2011 survey of clinicians working within a national sample of hospitals that were actively participating in the Clinical Practice Model Resource Center (CPMRC), a collaborative consortium of health care organizations working to guide the implementation of EBP into the work worlds of clinicians. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the relationships between the acquisition, application, and sharing of evidence, and self-efficacy. Results: Self-efficacy increased the acquisition of evidence and application of evidence. Self-efficacy did not exert a significant influence on sharing evidence. Acquisition of evidence increased both application of evidence and sharing of evidence. Application of evidence then increased sharing of evidence among sampled clinicians. Conclusions: Efforts to promote self-efficacy in clinicians are powerful in that they directly promote the acquisition and application of evidence, and indirectly encourage communication between clinicians in an effort to justify and reinforce new knowledge. Efforts to boost self-efficacy would benefit from a focus on helping clinicians become more comfortable with actions related to acquiring evidence and generating new knowledge