Aurora Volume 25

College formerly located at Olivet, Illinois and known as Olivet University, 1912-1923; Olivet College, 1923-1939, Olivet Nazarene College, 1940-1986, Olivet Nazarene University, 1986-https://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/arch_yrbks/1091/thumbnail.jp

A Theory of User Acceptance of IS Project Management Methodologies: Understanding the Influence of Psychological Determinism and Experience

Despite the overwhelming advantages of using an IS project management methodology, organisations are rarely able to motivate their staff to use them: Consequently, this lack of methodology usage by individuals fails to deliver the expected advantages of better quality, control, less time and effort. We analyse the determinants of an individual‘s intention to use IS project management methodology in order to enable organisations to engineer those that meet the needs of actual users and are really used by them. Results from an exploratory field study conducted in a service organisation, are used to construct a conceptual model. Based upon this research model, we posit that: a) value of a methodology, b) workgroup influence, c) self-beliefs, d) organisational characteristics, and e) previous habits influence intention to use a methodology. Additionally, we find that the strength of these relationships depends upon the needs of an individual and the degree of prior experience they have in using similar methodology

Structural Equation Modeling in Information Systems Research Using Partial Least Squares

Empirical studies that use structural equation modeling (SEM) are widespread in information systems research. During the last few years, the component-based approach partial least squares (PLS) for testing structural models has become increasingly popular. At the same time, this approach’s limitations have become a greater concern. Some researchers even suggest using alternative approaches that are considered superior to PLS. However, we believe that PLS is an adequate choice if the research problem meets certain characteristics and the technique is properly used. Thus, the intention of this article is to resolve potential uncertainties that researchers intending to use PLS might have. Consequently, we provide a nontechnical overview of PLS and outline the ongoing discourses on SEM in general and the PLS approach in particular. Furthermore, we present a basic framework for empirical research applying PLS as well as a detailed explanation of the different process steps. Finally, examples of information systems research using PLS are summarized to demonstrate its beneficial application and the appropriateness of the proposed framework. This article can serve as a helpful guide for inexperienced researchers applying PLS for the first time, but also as a reference guide for researchers with a better understanding of the field

Resistant Use of Project Management Methodologies – Using Psychology to Rethink the Influence of Methodology Attributes

Even though practitioners and researchers generally agree that project management methodologies are very useful in managing IT-related projects, organizations are rarely able to motivate their staff to use them. Even when employees use these methodologies, the question of how they are being used still remains. To better understand the way in which employees use project management methodologies, we develop the construct “resistant use.” Applying a diffusion of innovations perspective, we develop a conceptual model to examine how methodology attributes interact with users psychological needs to influence a user’s resistant use behavior. Based on a sample size of 2645 participants, and using the structural equation modeling technique, we find that a user’s need for achievement and need for cognition moderate the impact of project management methodologies\u27 attributes (relative advantage, complexity, and compatibility) on their resistant usage behavior

THE INFLUENCE OF USEFULNESS OF AN IT PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGY ON ITS ACCEPTANCE AND APPLICATION BY INDIVIDUALS – MODERATING EFFECTS OF NEEDS, GENDER, AND AGE: A NEEDS EXPECTANCY

Despite the overwhelming advantages of using an IT project management methodology, organizations are rarely able to motivate their staff to use them. While empirical research states that the usefulness of a methodology is the single most important determinant of its acceptance and use by actual users, studies have not examined which aspects of usefulness are more important for which type of people in which situations. Our study is a step toward filling the gap in methodology evaluation, development, and adoption literature, which to date has not developed a theoretically and practically complete as well as relevant typology of the usefulness of a methodology and has also not studied the effect of personal traits such as needs. Based on needs and expectancy theories, we develop a conceptual model that holds that individual needs and contextual factors such as gender and age determine which aspect of the usefulness of a methodology has a bigger effect on individuals’ intentions to actually use the methodology

Understanding Acceptance of Information System Development and Management Methodologies by actual Users: A Review and Assessment of Existing Literature

Despite the advantages of using IS methodologies, they are often rejected by actual users. Consequently, researchers have repeatedly attempted to understand why individuals accept certain methodologies while rejecting others. In order to differentiate what has been done from what needs to be done in research, a systematic review of academic studies that examine the acceptance of IS methodologies by actual users was conducted. This review revealed 19 articles. We found that the studies were either: a) descriptive, b) focused on specific determinants, or c) applied a holistic approach, examining methodology acceptance from a number of dimensions. Furthermore, while cognitive aspects have received considerable attention, none of the publications studied the effect of habits, emotions and the personal characteristics of individuals. We also examined the studies with respect to the reported research practices, and thereby identified areas of improvement. Based upon our findings, we developed a research agenda to guide future studies on this crucial subject

Understanding Benefits Management Success: Results of a Field Study

The realization of benefits from IS/IT investments has consistently been reported as one of the major challenges of organizations. This paper reports on the findings from an exploratory field study on how benefits management success ultimately contributes to better IS/IT exploitation. A total of 34 semistructured interviews were held within 29 organizations. The study applies resource-based theory to examine the benefits management resources required and the process through which organizations translate such resources into benefits management competencies. The result is a framework offering items under three dimensions to outline how benefits management ultimately contributes to better IS/IT exploitation. The dimensions are: (1) benefits management resources, (2) benefits management capability and (3) contextual factors. The analysis finds that organizations develop benefits management capability in various stages: (1) benefits measurement competency, (2) benefits planning competency, and (3) benefits implementation competency. The results of our study also reveal that resources alone are not sufficient for successful benefits management. Organizations also need to establish the contextual factors: business/IT alignment, integration of benefits management into management processes and top management support

How do Cost-Benefit Evaluations Determine Committed Use of IT Project Management Methodologies –Enriching Our Understanding through Psychology

Despite the overwhelming advantages of using an IT management methodology, organizations are rarely able to motivate their staff to use them in a dedicated manner. While empirical research states that the usefulness of a methodology is the single most important determinant of its acceptance and use by actual users, studies have not examined which methodology use outcomes are more important for which type of people in which situations. Our study is a step toward filling the gap in methodology evaluation, development, and adoption literature, which to date has not developed a theoretically and practically complete as well as relevant typology of the costs and benefits of using a methodology and has also not studied the effect of personal traits such as needs. We develop and test a conceptual model, using a pre-test sample of 65 participants, that holds that individual needs determine costs-benefits have a bigger effect on individuals’ committed use of a methodology

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE OF IT PROJECT VALUE REALISATION: UNDERSTANDING BENEFITS MANAGEMENT PRACTICES – DO INCENTIVES AND MANAGEMENT SUPPORT REALLY HELP?

Although organisations continue to make substantial investments in information systems and information technology (IS/IT), the successful realisation of value (i.e. benefits) from such investments has consistently been reported as a major organisational challenge. From a project perspective, this paper examines whether benefits management (BM) practices can be considered a viable approach to achieve such anticipated value. Drawing on a field study conducted by investigating BM practices in 29 organisations as well as the BM literature, we derive a structural equation model that is tested using data collected from 456 individuals. Our data analysis, by means of partial least squares, finds that specific BM competencies positively impact benefits realisation success (BRS). Furthermore, the findings suggest that the development of effective BM competencies are facilitated by an alignment of business and IT processes reflected in the constructs a) business process knowledge, and b) business- IT communication. We also find that incentives negatively influence the positive effect of benefits review practices in realising project benefits. Collectively, the results have important theoretical and practical implications, as they provide quantitative evidence of how IS/IT investments should be managed to successfully realise benefits. We expect our research to spur organisations to instil a shared understanding of how IS/IT relates to the business and vice versa within their project teams, which will intensify BM’s positive effect on BRS

Towards a Design Theory for Customer Satisfaction-Oriented IT Vendor Management

IT vendor management (ITVM) plays an increasingly relevant role for IT organizations; many companies already spend more than half their IT budgets on services from external providers. These providers are often in direct contact with internal IT and business staff, thus significantly impacting their satisfaction. Although recent studies reveal that companies are often dissatisfied with external IT suppliers, the ITVM literature does not propose practices that directly address customer satisfaction. We extend the ITVM literature by developing a design theory for customer satisfaction-oriented ITVM. To answer our research question, we have been conducting an action research study at a professional service company. Our work makes a twofold contribution. First, we present generalized design principles (DP) for implementing customer satisfaction-oriented ITVM. Second, we explain why these DPs should be considered by organizations seeking to enhance customer satisfaction and how these DPs should be implemented