A Research Framework for the Impact of Cultural Differences on IT Outsourcing

Contracting Global Virtual Teams as part of global IT outsourcing is currently en vogue. As might be expected when virtual team members are from different countries, cultural factors play an important role in the success of outsourcing. However, there have been very few studies that assess the effect of culture on IT outsourcing and virtual teams. This conceptual paper addresses this oversight by looking at the effect of cultural differences on IT outsourcing and virtual teams\u27 performance. The applicable literature on outsourcing, virtual teams and culture is analyzed and a framework of offshore outsourcing success is developed. This framework includes the concept of psychic distance to better understand the phenomenon of virtual teams and outsourcing success. Adding this as a key research component provides a more realistic way of researching global virtual teams. Future directions for research based on the developed framework are also provided. By assessing the cultural differences of virtual teams in IT outsourcing, our research framework will help academics pursue this growing business phenomenon

Learning in Multi-Agent Information Systems - A Survey from IS Perspective

Multiagent systems (MAS), long studied in artificial intelligence, have recently become popular in mainstream IS research. This resurgence in MAS research can be attributed to two phenomena: the spread of concurrent and distributed computing with the advent of the web; and a deeper integration of computing into organizations and the lives of people, which has led to increasing collaborations among large collections of interacting people and large groups of interacting machines. However, it is next to impossible to correctly and completely specify these systems a priori, especially in complex environments. The only feasible way of coping with this problem is to endow the agents with learning, i.e., an ability to improve their individual and/or system performance with time. Learning in MAS has therefore become one of the important areas of research within MAS. In this paper we present a survey of important contributions made by IS researchers to the field of learning in MAS, and present directions for future research in this area

An Empirical Investigation on Customer’s Privacy Perceptions, Trust and Security Awareness in E-commerce Environment

Privacy concerns of the users have been listed as one of the hindrances in the growth of e-commerce. Understanding the consequences of privacy and its relationship with risk perceptions may help in finding solutions to this problem. Internet users may use different strategies to protect their privacy so that they can become confident in taking part in e-commerce. In this study, we investigate how users can lower their risk perceptions in the context of e-commerce. The relationships among privacy, risk, trust and internet security measures are empirically investigated to predict the behavioral intention to take part in e-commerce. Theoretical contributions and implications are discussed

Understanding the Determinants of User Acceptance of Enterprise Instant Messaging: An Empirical Study

As modern organizations increasingly depend on information systems (IS) to enhance work productivity and seek new business opportunities, communication effectiveness has become one of the key factors that underlie the effective performance of IS implementations and applications. Instant Messaging (IM) presents a revolution in enterprise communication. As more organizations are findings ways to utilize this near-synchronous computing communication technology to enhance communication effectiveness in the workplace, there is a compelling need to understand the factors that are important for the adoption of enterprise IM. We have developed an integrative model based on constructs of the existing IT adoption models as well as theories on motivation, innovation diffusion, and critical mass. Using responses from 140 intended subjects, we have found the results of survey data support the contentions that perceived usefulness, compatibility, enjoyment, and security are significant predictors of intention to use enterprise IM. Although perceived connectivity did not predict the intention directly, it did indirectly through perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Implications and future research are discussed

Workplace Management and Employee Misuse: Does Punishment Matter? Journal of Computer Information Systems

With the ubiquitous deployment of Internet, workplace Internet misuse has raised increasing concern for organizations. Research has demonstrated employee reactions to monitoring systems and how they are implemented. However, little is known about the impact of punishment-related policies on employee intention to misuse Internet. To extend this line of research beyond prior studies, this paper proposes an integrated research model applying Theory of Planned Behavior, Deterrence Theory, and Theory of Ethics to examine the impact of punishment-related policy on employees’ Internet misuse intentions. The results indicate that perceived importance, perceived behavioral control and subjective norms have significant influence on employee intention to avoid Internet misuse. Contrary to expectations, there is no support for the influence of punishment severity and punishment certainty

Validating Perception and Use of Mobile Social Network Service: A Cross-Cultural Comparison Study

The rapid developments of Social Network Services (SNS) and mobile technology have offered opportunities to revisitseminal theories of technology use in today’s socio-technical environment. Mobile technology based SNSprovides various service channels that are highly correlated with their respective service contexts, in which culturalinfluences are omnipresent. Investigating use intention in a cross-cultural mobile SNS study implies new theoreticaldiscoveries and managerial practices. This research in progress (RIP) paper suggests that important distinctions existbetween U.S. and Chinese SNS subscribers in terms of SNS use and perceptions. Taking the perspective of SNSusers, we strive to explore the effects of cultural factors (e.g., collectivism vs. individualism) on trust formulation,degree of social awareness, and privacy concern. We examine the antecedents and consequences of legacyconstructs (e.g., technology acceptance and social capital) in SNS. This paper describes the research design to testthe research hypotheses. A triangulation methodology (i.e., qualitative and quantitative methods) is desired andproposed in the design. A discussion of research implications and business practices is also included in this RIPpaper

Effect of Magnesium Sulphate with Bupivacaine in Ultrasound-guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in patients undergoing Total Abdominal Hysterectomy

Background: Transversus abdominis plane block is a valuable component of multimodal analgesia regimen. Magnesium sulphate has been shown to increase the duration of action of different peripheral nerve blocks. We assessed the efficacy of magnesium sulphate as an adjuvant to bupivacaine in transversus abdominis plane block in patients scheduled for total abdominal hysterectomy under general anaesthesia. Methods: Sixty-six patients undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy under general anaesthesia were divided into two groups. Ultrasound-guided bilateral transversus abdominis plane block was performed in both groups before extubation. Bupivacaine alone group received block with 20ml of 0.25% bupivacaine while Bupivacaine with Magnesium group received block with 20ml of 0.25% bupivacaine with 150mg of magnesium sulphate on each side. Pain scores at 0, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively along with time to first request of analgesia, total consumption of fentanyl, and incidence of nausea or vomiting were noted. Results: Group BM showed significantly lower pain scores at 4 and 6 hours (p=0.001 and 0.017 respectively). Time to first request of analgesia was significantly more in Group BM [285 minutes (85, 370) vs. 75 minutes (52.5, 150), (p<0.001)]. Total postoperative fentanyl consumption was significantly less in Group BM (230±59.06 mcg vs. 289.85±69.13 mcg, p<0.001). Conclusions: Bupivacaine with magnesium sulphate in transversus abdominis plane block after total abdominal hysterectomy under general anaesthesia results in lower post-operative pain scores, longer duration of analgesia and less postoperative fentanyl requirement with no difference in the incidence of nausea/vomiting compared with bupivacaine alone

Visualizing Sustainability of Selective Mountain Farming Systems from Far-eastern Himalayas to Support Decision Making

Mountain farming systems rely on both empirical and academic knowledge. Their sustainability depends on how effectively diverse knowledge is used for solution-oriented decision making. For mountains, decisions must be conducive to rural farmers whose livelihoods depend on agriculture and related activities. Adopting transdisciplinary research approach, we define a composite Sustainability Space indicator that will help decision makers better understand the ingredients for sustainability, and formulate policy and management decisions to reinforce on-the-ground sustainability. Sustainability Space was derived through analysis of the positive and negative impact factors co-defined by community and disciplinary experts, and visualized through a radar diagram. We used Principal Component Analysis to understand relationships between factors. The results on Sustainability Spaces for eight cases of farming systems from the far-Eastern Himalayas indicated that the sustainability of farming systems is strengthened if decisions holistically cater to (i) geophysical pre-requisites, (ii) ecological foundations, (iii) integrated processes and practices, (iv) resources, knowledge, and value systems, (v) stakeholders’ development and economic aspirations, (vi) well-being of farming communities, and (vii) government support mechanisms. More equitable the attention to these seven components, the higher the sustainability of farming systems in this region could be