Knowledge transfer: Benefits of playing MMORPGS towards enhancing IT managerial skills

This study is concerned with the positive effects, learnability and real-life skill knowledge transfer of commercial off-the-shelf video games.While extensive studies being carried out in exploring skill transfer from virtual world to real world in domains such as education and healthcare, it is felt that further study is needed to explore if these skills can be applied towards enhancing IT managerial skills.The focus of this study is on Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs).MMORPGs are 3D online virtual worlds that allow players to interact with millions of other players through avatars.On the other hand, IT managerial skills definitions are determined by referencing the Skills Framework for Information Age (SFIA), a comprehensive ICT competency framework of nearly 100 IT professional skills.Thus this study is framed around answering the following question: What are the perceptions on the benefits of playing MMORPGs towards enhancing IT managerial skills

The role of human and organizational culture in the context of technological change

The purpose of this paper is to understand the role of three main factors of management: information technology (IT), people, and organizational culture. The first section identifies some managerial challenges, which are inherent in any technological change. Essentially, the change process highlights the interdependent relationship of those three main factors. In the second section, issues of technology, people and organizational culture are discussed in further detail, with some examples from literature. Why people change, what it takes to minimize resistance and how to make change successful are questions that emerge again and again and need further understanding. Consequently, by reviewing the relevant literatures, the authors summarize some of the research with a focus on the decisions made by management when selecting new systems. They investigate those decisions with respect to the three distinct "threads" or factors that directly influence technological change. Lastly, by establishing fundamental propositions, the final two sections provide some implications and conclusions as well as possibilities for future researc

Issues and Challenges in Applying Computer-Based Distance Learning system as an alternative to traditional training methods

Many scholars have listed the problemsthat prevent organizations’ employees to attend face toface training methods. Additionally, they havepresented Information and Communication Technology(ICT) especially distance learning system as importantway to overcome these obstacles. However, they did notdepend on empirical studies to mention those problemsand to compare between traditional training methodand applying computer-based distance learning system.Therefore, this survey aims to distinguish between thetraditional training methods and computer-baseddistance learning system as an important way toovercome employees’ problems with traditionaltraining, including the challenges and some issues

Understanding the Business Value Creation Process for Business Intelligence Tools in the UAE

Background: In today’s dynamically changing business environment, organizations are constantly striving to improve their organizational performance, and the use of business intelligence (BI) aids in this process. This is a key reason why BI has captured the attention of many academicians and practitioners. Most of the research on BI highlights its importance and the ways in which it facilitates decision-making; however, there is limited research on how the use of BI tools and applications benefits the organization by enabling it to convert the millions of dollars spent on BI investment into business value. This study validates the “business value of BI” framework by evaluating the business value creation process for BI tools in the UAE. Method: The data for this empirical study were collected via interviews with 15 middle managers from various industries in the UAE, with a focus on BI tools and the use of BI in their organizations. Results: The results show that a business value creation process for BI exists and that it is divided into three subprocesses: the BI conversion process, BI use process, and BI competitive process. Conclusions: The use of BI has become necessary for organizations to compete effectually. The results of this study identify the various BI tools that organizations in the UAE use. Furthermore, the results highlight the business value creation process of BI tools and how the effective use BI offers an information advantage that facilitates decision-making and eventually promotes financial and non-financial benefits for the organization. Available at: https://aisel.aisnet.org/pajais/vol11/iss3/4

Islamic perspective: Virtual worlds as a western-centric technology

Although the number of virtual worlds and their participants is growing rapidly, this phenomena is primarily a Western Culture dominated environment. There is little if any attention paid to other cultures.This article examines this issue from an Islamic perspective? It examines the assumption that if virtual worlds are to become a truly global platform for collaboration, particularly in multinational enterprises, then it will be essential to "encode" the flexibility for social interactions to take place in a way that is sensitive to other cultures

Exploring the state of discipline on the formation of swift trust within global virtual teams

The study of global virtual teams (GVTs) is important in the Information System (IS) field because GVTs employ a work structure that is heavily dependent on information communication technology.Besides the use of technology, GVTs are also composed of people from different cultural backgrounds.As such, GVTs are challenged not only to collaborate and coordinate projects in a virtual environment, but also to promote a trusting working relationship among culturally diverse members. In this meta-synthesis research, we sampled 3239 documents spanning fifteen (15) years, from 1995-2010 in seven (N=7) top IS journals.Trained coders read through all the articles systematically and coded the contents manually; only 55 useable articles were found that matched three or four of the codes (i.e., GVTs, virtual teams, trust, and swift trust).In the 15-year period, we found a startling result: less than 2% of articles published in the selected top IS journals have discussed this crucial topic. Hence, many more studies are warranted in order for the topic to be fully understood by IS scholars. We present the findings based on two thematic analyses: 1) GVTs vs. virtual teams and 2) GVT and trust and swift trust

The understanding of social networking site adoption as s-commerce platform

The popularity of social networking sites’ (SNSs) services is changing the landscape of e-commerce.SNSs are providing consumers and businesses the platform to engage in social commerce (s-commerce).The use of SNSs to conduct s-commerce activities is utilising the advantages of the synergetic experience and motivation to buy in crowds.Through SNSs, businesses are able to reach more consumers at lower advertising and marketing cost.This is due to the fact that the products or services are marketed by consumer to consumers.Despite the growing advantages associated with SNSs as s-commerce platform, very little is known about issues related to SNSs adoption as s-commerce platforms.The main objective of this research in progress paper is to introduce a conceptualized research model that can be used to examine the adoption of SNSs as s-commerce platform.This paper also discusses the methodology adopted in this study

The architectures of SMS management system as a tool for communication

This paper describes the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of a SMS Management System to be used in the educational environment. This system is hoped to encourage communication among lecturers and students in the teaching and learning process. The context of the study was carried out at Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok, Kedah as higher learning institution in Malaysia and the study focused on the teaching and learning process in the Division of Applied Science, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS).The motivation of the study is due to undergraduate students having to deal with many issues relating to academic difficulties such as instance communication with lecturers regarding matters such as assignments, group projects, quizzes and examination problems.Therefore, the SMS Management System architecture will be explored to identify what are the main elements and characteristics that must exist in designing and developing an Academic Alert System (AAS) concerning with academic management environment

Current practices of self-employed knowledge teleworkers in managing work and family

The purpose of this study is to explore the practices of self-employed knowledge teleworkers in managing work and family life in order to attain balance.Effective ways in managing work and family could help self-employed knowledge teleworkers who are struggle to create harmony in the contexts of work and family life and may strengthen and enhance their business achievement. This study employed a qualitative methodology using a single case study of 76 self-employed teleworkers from the e-Homemakers organization in Malaysia.Three types of techniques in collecting data were used; 1) face to face interviews; 2) online open ended survey; and 3) observations of online discussion forum.The interpretative analysis technique was used to analyze the data. The results will provide insight into practices and development needs of knowledge teleworkers that may lead to the development of a guideline for individuals who choose to telework.This is also important to better understand the working arrangement, without incurring any family and personal problems, in balancing work and family life.Thus, this can further improve the quality of work-family life