An Alternative Theory of Legacy Information Systems

Organisational dependence upon IT continues to grow yet experiences of satisfaction vary widely. Problematic, aged IT is often cited as being a fundamental problem in this respect and this is commonly termed legacy information systems. However, in this paper the author offers an alternative, and arguably more comprehensive, theory of legacy information systems that accommodates multiple viewpoints and recognises its inherent dynamism. The paper suggests a theory of legacy information systems that comprises of the concepts of temporal effects, interpretations and characteristics. It is argued that legacy information systems are constructed of many ‘legacies’ that are handed down continuously, forming an amorphous set of sociotechnical interdependencies and relationships

Gay men, Gaydar and the commodification of difference

Purpose To investigate ICT mediated inclusion and exclusion in terms of sexuality through a study of a commercial social networking website for gay men Design/methodology/approach The paper uses an approach based on technological inscription and the commodification of difference to study Gaydar, a commercial social networking site. Findings Through the activities, events and interactions offered by Gaydar, we identify a series of contrasting identity constructions and market segmentations which are constructed through the cyclic commodification of difference. These are fuelled by a particular series of meanings attached to gay male sexualities which serve to keep gay men positioned as a niche market. Research limitations/implications The research centres on the study of one, albeit widely used, website with a very specific set of purposes. The study offers a model for future research on sexuality and ICTs. Originality/value This study places sexuality centre stage in an ICT mediated environment and provides insights into the contemporary phenomenon of social networking. As a sexualized object, Gaydar presents a semiosis of politicized messages that question heteronormativity while simultaneously contributing to the definition of an increasingly globalized, commercialized and monolithic form of gay male sexuality defined against ICT

Achieving enterprise integration through software customization: part I - evidence from the field

Achieving business and IT integration is strategic goal for many organisations – it has almost become the ‘Holy Grail’ of organisational success. In this environment Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) packages have become the defacto option for addressing this issue. Integration has come to mean adopting ERP, through configuration and without customization, but this all or nothing approach has proved difficult for many organisations. In part 1 of a 2 part update we provide evidence from the field that suggests that whilst costly, if managed appropriately, customization can have value in aiding organisational integration efforts. In part 2, we discuss in more detail the benefits and pitfalls involved in enacting a non-standard based integration strategy

Generic Information Systems Design Strategies

Legacy systems are now recognised as a major problem in the design and implementation of information systems to support new business strategies and novel business processes. Information Systems (IS) research into the strategic applications of the technology typically focuses on the alignment of business and IS strategies. However it does not explicitly consider the impact of legacy information systems and their impact on new systems design strategies. Similarly the Business Process Reengineering (BPR) literature assumes a green-field site and does not prescribe strategies for overcoming problems associated with the existing systems and business practices. In this paper the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) approach is compared with other generic strategic options. The results suggest that although ERP projects are inherently riskier than less radical approaches the potential benefits are much higher, and the resulting systems provide a platform for longer-term development

Identifying Misalignment Between Strategic Vision and Legacy Information Systems in Organizations

Legacy information systems are usually defined from a technical perspective only. However, there is also a business dimension to the legacy information system problem represented by the organisation structure, business processes and procedures that are bound up in the design and operation of the existing IT systems. Legacy information systems have evolved over long periods of time in response to incremental changes in business strategy. Firms are now being forced to change more radically and quickly due to a changing business environment than was the case in the past. Evidence from case study research has shown that the legacy information system problem includes both business and technical dimensions, resulting in misalignment between the strategic vision of the business and the old business model embodied in the legacy. Understanding legacy information systems is necessary when forming new strategies to overcome the legacy problem and to realign IT with the new strategic vision

A Study of User Involvement in Packaged Software Selection

This paper is concerned with the decision-making processes surrounding the adoption of packaged software in organizations. We begin by looking at its increasing utilization and consider some of the strengths and limi- tations of employing a standardized approach, particularly in relation to its consideration of end-user requirements. We note the highly problematic nature of installing a global standardized product in the local environment. Using a field study concerning the adoption of a customer relationship management package in a small organization, we go on to illustrate the limited amount of end-user involvement in the selection and procurement of the product. We argue that the art of salesmanship by the third party vendor and project team, which focuses on the interests of senior management, ultimately secures the selection and procurement of the software package

Beyond The Traditional \u27SME Challenges\u27 Discourse: A Historical Field Study Of A Dot.Com Failure In Ghana

To date the literatures on ebusiness have predominantly focussed upon cases within the developed world. That said, increasing attention is being given to this area in developing countries. However, this strand of work is further limited in that it focuses upon macro level issues of bringing countries ‘up to the level’ of the developed world in the context of discourses around the global knowledge economy. In this paper, we draw upon an interpretive historical field study to extend this body of work, focussing upon the isuses presented to a dot.com SME in Ghana. Current accounts of ebusiness failure tend to emphasise problems arising due to a lack of substance in business ideas, and in SME terms, issues associated with acquiring and maintaining the necessary resources, skills and technical expertise to keep the business going. In our case, the company did not significantly suffer from any of these issues. Moreover, whilst it experienced problems as a result of its geographical location it was ultimately a period of financial instability throughout Ghana that led to the company’s downfall. The findings of this study thus challenge some of the assumptions around SMEs and the capacity of those in developing countries to engage with technology

INTERPRETING DIGITAL GAMING PRACTICES: SINGSTAR AS A TECHNOLOGY OF WORK

Embedded within discourses of the enactment of information and communications technologies (ICTs) at work is often a tightly constrained range of legitimate application areas of study, a rather thin concept of user-developer relations and a context of use that precludes simultaneity, multiplicity and informality. This situation persists despite the increasing relocation of work to informal settings beyond the traditional boundaries of the work organization. In this paper we argue for the consideration of digital games as premier and hallmark examples of socially rich ICTs and demanding the attention of researchers concerned with work orgainzations. Through two intersecting ethnographies of the use of the Sony PlayStation console game, SingStar, we provide an account of ICT mediated experiences associated with playing the game. We consider SingStar in particular as socially rich as it invites us to think about: the wider capabilities of ICTs beyond work-orientated organisations; the expansion of conditions of ICT appropriation, extended collaboration practices and the co-production of sociotechnical arrangements in situ. We argue that SingStar can be thought of as glue technology that assists in crafting and strengthening social linkages amongst players. Our examination of the play and experience of this game provides a fuller account of the interrelationships of people to socialising technologies that reaches beyond traditional discourses regarding technology, organizations and work

Knowledge Management Systems: The Role of Encouragement

Some organisations appear to be more successful than others at adopting and implementing Knowledge Management (KM) systems. In this paper, the authors investigate why this situation may occur through a case study analysis of two organisations that have implemented KM systems. In the first case, the authors consider why one supposedly technologically literate organisation experienced problems implementing what could be termed a ‘tried and tested’ technical solution. In the second, the authors consider a supposedly technologically illiterate organisation’s more positive experiences with a ‘state of the art’ application. The focus of the analysis is on the interplay amongst the organisational factors that inhibited and facilitated the KM projects. Our case analysis suggests that a key factor is the levels of encouragement/discouragement for the use of the system that occur and their source: the technology, the organisation or both