A Systematic Literature Review on 30 Years of Empirical Research on Information Systems Business Value

Information systems business value (ISBV) has been a key research topic for the IS research community. While the vast majority of ISBV research demonstrates the positive relationship between IS and firm performance, the fundamental question of the causal relationships between IS and business value remains partly unexplained. Moreover, researchers do not share a unified understanding of ISBV concepts. Therefore, this research intends to synthesize the past 30 years of empirical ISBV research, identify the gaps and shortcomings, conceptualize the ISBV concepts, and propose possibilities for further research that will widen the current narrowly-shared ISBV bottom line. The authors aim to synthesize (1) different operationalization of concepts in existing ISBV research; (2) IS determinants, consequences, and the relations among the variables; (3) the role of contextual factors; and (4) the adopted theoretical views.Information systems business value (ISBV) has been a key research topic for the IS research community. While the vast majority of ISBV research demonstrates the positive relationship between IS and firm performance, the fundamental question of the causal relationships between IS and business value remains partly unexplained. Moreover, researchers do not share a unified understanding of ISBV concepts. Therefore, this research intends to synthesize the past 30 years of empirical ISBV research, identify the gaps and shortcomings, conceptualize the ISBV concepts, and propose possibilities for further research that will widen the current narrowly-shared ISBV bottom line. The authors aim to synthesize (1) different operationalization of concepts in existing ISBV research; (2) IS determinants, consequences, and the relations among the variables; (3) the role of contextual factors; and (4) the adopted theoretical views

Constructability obstacles: an exploratory factor analysis approach

Constructability is a concept with relative and not absolute value to increase optimization capacity of resources such as workforce, time, cost, quality, and working environment conditions. Given the growing complexity of projects and the increased number of failed and abandoned projects, the necessity to implement constructability in projects has become more tangible. Although the effects of lack of quantitative definition of constructability role in the traditional construction approaches are evident and have led to lack of coordination in performance of construction projects, so far no comprehensive quantitative approach has been considered to analyze the obstacles to constructability implementation. This study aims to identify and categorize the obstacles to facilitating the presence of contractors in the early stages of planning and design to implement constructability. In this study a comprehensive list of obstacles to constructability implementation is developed as a questionnaire. This questionnaire was presented to the experts, active in the field of construction. Finally, its results were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis method. Totally, 63 obstacles were questioned, then they were categorized by some of the experts of this industry into five categories of macro factors, including contractual, environmental, managerial, technical, and organizational. The significance of this study is due to this fact that identifying and categorizing the key obstacles to constructability implementation provides a useful reference for managers and owners of the construction industry to identify and develop solutions to resolve them. Identifying the obstacles to the presence of contractors in the planning and design stage and having a quantitative view toward this issue affects project implementability. In this regard, one can present more effective solutions to facilitate the presence of contractors in the early stages of design and also improves the effectiveness of constructability.Constructability is a concept with relative and not absolute value to increase optimization capacity of resources such as workforce, time, cost, quality, and working environment conditions. Given the growing complexity of projects and the increased number of failed and abandoned projects, the necessity to implement constructability in projects has become more tangible. Although the effects of lack of quantitative definition of constructability role in the traditional construction approaches are evident and have led to lack of coordination in performance of construction projects, so far no comprehensive quantitative approach has been considered to analyze the obstacles to constructability implementation. This study aims to identify and categorize the obstacles to facilitating the presence of contractors in the early stages of planning and design to implement constructability. In this study a comprehensive list of obstacles to constructability implementation is developed as a questionnaire. This questionnaire was presented to the experts, active in the field of construction. Finally, its results were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis method. Totally, 63 obstacles were questioned, then they were categorized by some of the experts of this industry into five categories of macro factors, including contractual, environmental, managerial, technical, and organizational. The significance of this study is due to this fact that identifying and categorizing the key obstacles to constructability implementation provides a useful reference for managers and owners of the construction industry to identify and develop solutions to resolve them. Identifying the obstacles to the presence of contractors in the planning and design stage and having a quantitative view toward this issue affects project implementability. In this regard, one can present more effective solutions to facilitate the presence of contractors in the early stages of design and also improves the effectiveness of constructability

The role of business analytics capabilities in bolstering firms’ agility and performance

Many companies invest considerable resources in developing Business Analytics (BA) capabilities to improve their performance. BA can affect performance in many different ways. This paper analyses how BA capabilities affect firms’ agility through information quality and innovative capability. Furthermore, it studies the moderating role of environmental turbulence, both technological and in the market. The proposed model was tested using statistical data from 154 firms with two respondents (CEO and CIO) from each firm. The data were analysed using Partial Least Squares (PLS)/Structured Equation Modelling (SEM). Our results indicate that BA capabilities strongly impact a firm’s agility through an increase in information quality and innovative capability. We also discuss that both market and technological turbulence moderate the influence of firms' agility on firms' performance.Many companies invest considerable resources in developing Business Analytics (BA) capabilities to improve their performance. BA can affect performance in many different ways. This paper analyses how BA capabilities affect firms’ agility through information quality and innovative capability. Furthermore, it studies the moderating role of environmental turbulence, both technological and in the market. The proposed model was tested using statistical data from 154 firms with two respondents (CEO and CIO) from each firm. The data were analysed using Partial Least Squares (PLS)/Structured Equation Modelling (SEM). Our results indicate that BA capabilities strongly impact a firm’s agility through an increase in information quality and innovative capability. We also discuss that both market and technological turbulence moderate the influence of firms' agility on firms' performance

Di-ANFIS: an integrated blockchain–IoT–big data-enabled framework for evaluating service supply chain performance

Service supply chain management is a complex process because of its intangibility, high diversity of services, trustless settings, and uncertain conditions. However, the traditional evaluating models mostly consider the historical performance data and fail to predict and diagnose the problems’ root. This paper proposes a distributed, trustworthy, tamper-proof, and learning framework for evaluating service supply chain performance based on Blockchain and Adaptive Network-based Fuzzy Inference Systems (ANFIS) techniques, named Di-ANFIS. The main objectives of this research are: 1) presenting hierarchical criteria of service supply chain performance to cope with the diagnosis of the problems’ root; 2) proposing a smart learning model to deal with the uncertainty conditions by a combination of neural network and fuzzy logic, 3) and introducing a distributed Blockchain-based framework due to the dependence of ANFIS on big data and the lack of trust and security in the supply chain. Furthermore, the proposed six-layer conceptual framework consists of the data layer, connection layer, Blockchain layer, smart layer, ANFIS layer, and application layer. This architecture creates a performance management system using the Internet of Things (IoT), smart contracts, and ANFIS based on the Blockchain platform. The Di-ANFIS model provides a performance evaluation system without needing a third party and a reliable intermediary that provides an agile and diagnostic model in a smart and learning process. It also saves computing time and speeds up information flow.Service supply chain management is a complex process because of its intangibility, high diversity of services, trustless settings, and uncertain conditions. However, the traditional evaluating models mostly consider the historical performance data and fail to predict and diagnose the problems’ root. This paper proposes a distributed, trustworthy, tamper-proof, and learning framework for evaluating service supply chain performance based on Blockchain and Adaptive Network-based Fuzzy Inference Systems (ANFIS) techniques, named Di-ANFIS. The main objectives of this research are: 1) presenting hierarchical criteria of service supply chain performance to cope with the diagnosis of the problems’ root; 2) proposing a smart learning model to deal with the uncertainty conditions by a combination of neural network and fuzzy logic, 3) and introducing a distributed Blockchain-based framework due to the dependence of ANFIS on big data and the lack of trust and security in the supply chain. Furthermore, the proposed six-layer conceptual framework consists of the data layer, connection layer, Blockchain layer, smart layer, ANFIS layer, and application layer. This architecture creates a performance management system using the Internet of Things (IoT), smart contracts, and ANFIS based on the Blockchain platform. The Di-ANFIS model provides a performance evaluation system without needing a third party and a reliable intermediary that provides an agile and diagnostic model in a smart and learning process. It also saves computing time and speeds up information flow

An FCM-Based Dynamic Modelling of Integrated Project Delivery Implementation Challenges in Construction Projects

Question: What are the Integrated Project Delivery Implementation challenges in construction projects, their interrelationships and their effects on the project time, cost and quality?Purpose: The Purpose of this study is applying an efficient method to determine the most important challenges to IPD implementation in construction industry, and also to evaluate the interrelationships among these challenges and their effects on the project time, cost, and quality.Research Method: This study models available Integrated Project Delivery challengesusing a real case data, through applying Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping technique.Findings: Results show that contractual factors have the major influence compared with others. This shows the significance of paying attention to why project stakeholders must be integrated throughout the project life cycle since early contract documentation stage.Limitations/Implications: This study is limited to the caseselectedfrom Tehran of Iran.Value for authors: This study is significantdue to identifying, classifying and determining the intensity of effects of IPD implementation challenges on cost, time, and quality of construction projects. It results in planning, resolving the challenges, enhancing the quality of constructions and lastly saving the construction cost and time

Integrated Project Delivery Implementation Challenges in the Construction Industry

Huge financial resources are spent in the construction industry all over the world, which are frequently wasted largely due to a lack of proper planning. In recent decades, in an attempt to overcome challenges, various contractual and administrative systems have been used by construction owners/clients. One such system has been Integrated Project Delivery (IPD). Its implementation has, however, experienced drawbacks. Identifying such drawbacks is an initial step in attempting to resolve them, and this paper aims to identify and prioritize the IPD implementation drawbacks in the context of the Iranian construction industry. A comprehensive list of IPD implementation drawbacks is prepared using a questionnaire survey. An in-depth literature review of the IPD concept has been combined with a review of various case studies applying the IPD system. The results were analyzed using the Robust Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) method. 22 drawbacks in the Construction Industry were categorized under four themes; contractual, environmental, managerial, and technical. Results show that contractual drawbacks are the most significant. The implication of this research is that identifying and classifying IPD implementation drawbacks provides a useful reference to managers and owners of the construction industry, for identifying and codifying solutions to overcome them.Huge financial resources are spent in the construction industry all over the world, which are frequently wasted largely due to a lack of proper planning. In recent decades, in an attempt to overcome challenges, various contractual and administrative systems have been used by construction owners/clients. One such system has been Integrated Project Delivery (IPD). Its implementation has, however, experienced drawbacks. Identifying such drawbacks is an initial step in attempting to resolve them, and this paper aims to identify and prioritize the IPD implementation drawbacks in the context of the Iranian construction industry. A comprehensive list of IPD implementation drawbacks is prepared using a questionnaire survey. An in-depth literature review of the IPD concept has been combined with a review of various case studies applying the IPD system. The results were analyzed using the Robust Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) method. 22 drawbacks in the Construction Industry were categorized under four themes; contractual, environmental, managerial, and technical. Results show that contractual drawbacks are the most significant. The implication of this research is that identifying and classifying IPD implementation drawbacks provides a useful reference to managers and owners of the construction industry, for identifying and codifying solutions to overcome them

Editorial for the Special Issue on Blockchain: Applications, Challenges, and Solutions

Blockchain is believed to have the potential to digitally transform and disrupt industry sectors such as finance, supply chain, healthcare, marketing, and entertainment [...

Evolution of Information Systems Business Value Research: Topic Modeling Analysis

Information Systems Business Value (ISBV) has been a key research topic within the information systems discipline through time. Over the last three decades, ISBV research has dealt with various aspects such as the type of relationships, research methods, theoretical foundations, influencing factors, and measurement issues. This research applies topic modeling on the abstracts of 2824 articles published between 1990 and 2020. Results show that topics such as IS management, IS implementation, and IS public services had endured over time; topics such as IS strategy and IS design had initially gained and then lost traction; and topics such as IS social practices, IS emerging services, and IS sustainability have gained momentum in recent years. Further, ISBV research tends to examine specific and emerging IS tools, technologies, and applications such as Blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), and business analytics, and seems poised for greater focus on IS sustainability in the near future