User evaluation of the performance of information systems

Information technologies (IT) are considered the primary survival factor for many organizations and the most critical success factor in businesses today. To justify the necessary investment in IT, user evaluation of information systems\u27 performance in organizations is a key consideration. This research investigated a comprehensive and convenient means for end users to assess this performance. Among the existing theories and models on the evaluation of information system performance based on intrinsic technological properties, the Web of System Performance (WOSP) model provides the most comprehensive basis for information system evaluation, and therefore merited further investigation. The research question was how well the eight WOSP performance criteria, namely functionality, usability, flexibility, reliability, security, extendibility, connectivity, and privacy, applied in the context of an individual evaluating one or more information systems for use by an organization. For this, it was important to show that, while these performance criteria were abstract concepts, they can be established and identified clearly, in a manner that is valid in the sense of the meaning and that users would consider important. Illustrative statements for each of the eight criteria were therefore obtained, which users were asked to evaluate. Next, it was necessary to show that users prefer the choice of the eight WOSP criteria to the current dominant instrument for evaluation when evaluating software. This was done using a preference questionnaire where subjects rated both the WOSP model and an alternative means of evaluation along various dimensions, the results being compared by statistical analysis. Finally, it was necessary to show that users rate at least three of the WOSP criteria as being important for evaluating information systems. For this, conjoint analysis was used. A browser was selected as the experimental software for this research. The results showed that users found illustrative statements clear, valid and important for the evaluation of browsers. They also preferred using the WOSP model for the evaluation of browsers over TAM, the current dominant model. Finally, while users attached different levels of importance to the various performance criteria for the selection of browsers, five of the criteria were important to a significant degree

IT EVALUATION MODEL FOR SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS

In this paper, a model and an evaluation method are proposed expanding technology assessment model (TAM) to enable a comprehensive evaluation and selection of socio technical systems relevant in today’s Internet environment. The proposed evaluation model called WOSP is practical and easy to integrate in decision support system tools for comparing IT software involving socio-technical factors

The Impact of the Asian Economic Crisis on Southern African Economies

Although southern African economies appear to have escaped the initial phase of the East Asian economic crisis relatively unscathed, the second stage of the contagion was somewhat less benevolent in its influence on southern African economies. This paper seeks to investigate the impact of the Asian contagion on southern African economies within a general equilibrium framework. We use the GTAP (Global Trade Analysis Project) model to examine the implications of the Asian crisis for southern African economies

An Empirical Analysis of the Proposed Australia-Japan Free Trade Agreement

The success of the proposed Australia-Japan Free Trade Agreement will depend, to a considerable degree, on the manner in which it deals with the problem of agricultural trade between the two countries. This paper seeks to provide a quantitative assessment of the potential impact of an Agreement between Australia and Japan by simulating two scenarios (full trade liberalisation and trade liberalisation excluding agricultural trade) and using the Global Trade Analysis Project model to estimate the effects. The results indicate the possible welfare gains under the two envisaged trade regimes

Association for Information Systems AIS Electronic Library (AISeL) The Web of System Performance: Extending the TAM Model Recommended Citation The Web of System Performance: Extending the TAM Model

ABSTRACT Information technology can substantially enhance a wide variety of work performances, but such gains are lost if people cannot use the applications. Hence the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) model successfully made usability a key application quality requirement, alongside functionality. However the field of quality systems requirements includes factors distinct from usability. The Web of System Performance (WOSP) model extends the TAM approach, adding requirements like security, connectivity, flexibility, extendibility, privacy, and reliability as possible factors. This paper reports a conjoint analysis of the contribution of these factors in a proposed corporate software purchase of browser. It finds security, privacy, usability, functionality, reliability and connectivity are the main factors users would consider in such a software purchase

Dietary fish oil increases acetylcholine- and eicosanoid-induced contractility of isolated rat ileum

Patten, Glen S. ; Abeywardena, Mahinda Y. ; Mcmurchie, Edward J. ; Jahangiri, Anis