The Internet Factor

Abstract not available

Overview, not Overwhelm: Framing Operational BI Tools using Organizational Capabilities

In contexts where fragmentation of information systems is a problem, data warehouse (DW) has brought disparate sources of information together. While bringing data together from multiple health programs and patient record systems, how does one make sense of huge amounts of integrated information? Recent research and industry uses the term, “Operational BI” for decision making tools used in operational activities. In this paper, we highlight the use of DHIS 2, a large-scale, open-source, Health Management Information System (HMIS) that acts as a DW. Firstly, we present the results of a survey done in 13 countries to assess how Operational BI Tools are used. We then show 3 generations of BI Tools in DHIS 2 that have evolved from action-research done over 18 years in more than 30 countries. Secondly, we develop the Overview-Overwhelm (O-O) analytical framework for large-scale systems that need to work with Big Data. The O-O framework combines lessons from DHIS 2 BI Tools design and implementation survey results

Based BIM techniques to clash detection for construction projects

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has brought about a qualitative change in the design and management of construction projects because it represents a digital simulation of the physical characteristics of the building, and this increases its efficiency before the actual construction begins. In Iraq, most construction projects still use CAD two-dimensional drawing for the purpose of the implementation process, especially government projects, and this causes many problems due to the difficulty of communication between the various disciplines involved in the design and misunderstanding during implementation. This type of problem is reduced by combining BIM drawings prepared by designers and making them into a single model. In this process of merging conflicts are found using BIM tools such as Autodesk Navisworks. There are three main types of detections. This article includes how a clash detector can help improve clashes in the design phase before starting to construct a specific building using BIM applications and focuses on hard detection type (overlap of a particular element with else). The methodology involved in this research is to study an educational building (24-classroom model school) consisting of structural and architectural BIM models only, clash detection analysis is done using Autodesk Revit and Autodesk Navisworks Manage software

SAP as Emergent Infrastructure in a Global Organization

This article presents and discusses globalization and IT infrastructure development and use in the European fertilizer division of Norsk Hydro. The main element of the infrastructure discussed is a new SAP based solution for this division. However, this solution is not an isolated artefact. Its important aspects are emerging, as it is becoming an integrated part of a larger infrastructure. An SAP installation in a global organization becomes a large and complex infrastructure. Just as much as this infrastructure is designed and controlled by managers and IT personnel, it becomes an actor shaping its environment as well as its own future. Like any actor, the technology builds alliances with others. However, the alliances might change over time. In the case reported here, SAP first got allied with top management, playing the role as a powerful change agent. Later on, however, SAP got allied with local managers and users, helping them bring the change process under their influence and into the speed they preferred. Currently, SAP is changing its role as it gets installed and integrated into a larger corporate infrastructure. As such, it becomes everybody\u27s enemy by resisting all organizational change. (1) More precisely the article addresses the emergence of an IT infrastructure in which SAP R/3 installations are important elements. Just for convenience, we denote this an SAP infrastructure. (2) An earlier version of this article was presented at and published in the proceedings from ICIS \u2798 in Helsinki

COLLABORATIVE KNOWLEDGE MAKING AND SHARING ACROSS SITES: THE ROLE OF BOUNDARY OBJECTS

A number of researchers on Science and Technology Studies (STS) have criticized the western view treating knowledge as objective and universal, with the argument that all knowledges are locally situated. In this article we draw on this view of decentring of scientific knowledge and on the concept of boundary objects to discuss an empirical case of a ‘global’ collaborative network called Health Information System Programme (HISP) involving a number of countries in a process of knowledge creation and sharing. The network consists of knowledge objects with seemingly universal characteristics shareable across sites. The paper discuss the ‘localness’ of the knowledge produced by looking at its originality and how it is made mobile, thereby giving it the seemingly universal characteristics. The article further, discuss how the involved multiple social worlds characterized by different knowledge practices, cultures and visions, participate through boundary objects shareable across the network and thereby contribute new knowledge in the network. The collective boundary objects created and shared within the network play a significant role in creating synergies which in turn sustains the involved countries’ local initiatives

Distributed Development to Enable User Participation: Multilevel design in the HISP network

Through the study of a long term, globally targeted effort to design health information systems in the Global South, we explore challenges to distributed participation within and across countries, and describe efforts at addressing these. Networked action research projects can enable pooling of resources, skills, best practices and tools, and cross-country collaboration does not have to preclude local ownership, as illustrated by the case material in this article. We highlight specifically the need for circulation of people, artefacts, and standards, to both support local practices and foster the capacity of all stakeholders to take active part in the design and implementation of information systems. The deep effects of global technological change call for a multilevel approach bridging local implementations with global research and participatory design efforts and co-evolution of standardised tools

Writing PD: accounting for socially-engaged research

As participants in participatory process, PD academics report on the practices and outcomes of their work and thereby shape what is known of individual projects and the wider field of participatory design. At present, there is a dominant form for this reporting, led by academic publishing models. Yet, the politics of describing others has received little discussion. Our field brings diverging sensibilities to co-design, conducting experiments and asking what participation means in different contexts. How do we match this ingenuity in designing with ingenuity of reporting? Should designers, researchers and other participants all be writing up participatory work, using more novel and tailored approaches? Should we write more open and playful collaborative texts? Within some academic discourse, considerable value is placed on reflexivity, positionality, inclusivity and auto-ethnography as part of reflecting. Yet, PD spends no time in discussing its written outputs. Drawing on the results of a PDC’16 workshop, I encourage us to challenge this silence and discuss “Writing PD”

En innovativ og bærekraftig utvikling i BAE-næringen

Bygg, anlegg og eiendomsnæringen har en nøkkelrolle mot en bærekraftig utvikling grunnet deres påvirkning på miljøet. Denne næringen omtales ofte som 40% næringen, da de globalt står for cirka 40% av utslipp, ressurs-, og energibruk. Næringen henger etter andre når det kommer til innovasjon og utvikling, så hvordan denne næringen kommer opp med nye løsninger, og tar grep som reduserer deres klimapåvirkning er avgjørende. Formålet med denne studien er dermed å se på hvilke faktorer som påvirker næringen mot en innovativ og bærekraftig utvikling, samt hvordan rådgivning fra et ledende rådgivningsselskap kan påvirke og bidra i utviklingen. Forskningsspørsmålet for oppgaven er: ̈Hvilke faktorer påvirker bygg, anlegg og eiendomsbransjen fram mot en innovativ og bærekraftig utvikling, og hvordan kan ekstern rådgivning påvirke denne utviklingen? ̈ Det teoretiske rammeverket er forankret i teorier omkring bærekraftig utvikling, ulike aspekter ved innovasjon og forretningsmodeller. Studien tar utgangspunkt i dybdeintervjuer med fire ledere/direktører fra ulike firma i bygg, anlegg og eiendomsbransjen, og fire ansatte i rådgivningsselskapet COWI. De viktigste funnene som kom fram gjennom forskningen er at det er mange ulike faktorer som påvirker bransjen mot en innovativ og bærekraftig utvikling. For å nevne noen er faktorer som økonomi, behov for samarbeid, risiko, og nye forretningsmodeller sentrale. Videre til hvordan rådgivning fra COWI kan påvirke, kommer strategiske valg, kunnskap og kompetanse, og direkte påvirkning gjennom samarbeid med kunder fram. Studien konkluderer dermed med at det er en rekke faktorer bransjen blir påvirket av, og må ta hensyn til fram mot en innovativ og bærekraftig utvikling. Disse faktorene må jobbes med parallelt, og det er ikke mulig å velge ut en og en faktor, men de må sees helhetlig. Det helt sentrale er at bransjen har et felles ansvar for å sette kursen mot en bærekraftig utvikling, og jobbe mot felles verdiskaping. Rådgivning fra COWI, og deres kompetanse konkluderes også til å kunne bidra ytterligere mot en innovativ og bærekraftig utvikling i næringen.The construction industry plays a key role towards sustainable development due to their impact on the environment. This industry is often referred to as the 40% industry, as they globally contribute to around 40% of emissions, resource-, and energy use. The industry lags behind others when it comes to innovation and development, so how this industry comes up with new solutions, and takes action that reduces its climate impact is crucial. The purpose of this thesis is therefore to investigate which different factors that affect the industry towards a more innovative and sustainable development, and how consulting from a leading consulting company can contribute and affect this development. The research question for this thesis is: ̈Which factors affect the construction industry towards a more innovative and sustainable development, and how can external consulting affect this development? ̈ The theoretical framework is rooted in theories around sustainable development, various aspects of innovation, and business models. The study is based on in depth interviews with four managers/directors from various companies in construction industry, and four employees in the consulting company COWI. The most important findings that emerged through this research is that there are many different factors that influence the industry towards innovative and sustainable development. To name a few of the findings, finances, the need for collaboration, risk, and new business models are central. Furthermore, related to how consulting from COWI can contribute, strategic choice, knowledge and expertise, and direct influence through collaboration with customers emerge as important. The study concludes that there are several factors that affect the industry, and they must take into consideration when moving to a more innovative and sustainable development. These factors must be seen together, and it is not possible to pick out one factor at a time, because they must be seen holistically. The most important is that the industry has a joint responsibility for setting the course towards sustainable development and working towards joint value creation. Consulting from COWI, and use of their expertise can also contribute further towards an innovative and sustainable development in the industr

Knowledge exchange partnership leads to digital transformation at Hydro-X Water Treatment, Ltd

To attract a generation of workers and consumers who have never known a world without Wi-Fi, smartphones, or social media, organizations increasingly have no choice but to incorporate digital technology into every aspect of their operations and processes. The leaders of Hydro-X, a privately owned British enterprise, met the challenge of digital transformation by forming a knowledge exchange partnership with a local university and applying two business models to assess the current state of digital maturity at the firm and map out a strategy to improve it. Their experiences reflect the HINGE project planning methodology: Horizon scanning to evaluate the competition, Internal auditing, New model creation, Gap analysis, and Evaluation of options to determine next steps. As a result of their efforts, Hydro-X fostered an intrapreneurial spirit among its staff and refined its e-commerce platform to digitally target key audiences in order to tap into a new source of revenue