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Full-Text Articles in Business

Does The Internet Improve Business? An Empirical Inquiry Into The Perceived Strategic Value And Contribution Of The Internet, Chang E. Koh, Hyonsong Chong Jan 2002

Does The Internet Improve Business? An Empirical Inquiry Into The Perceived Strategic Value And Contribution Of The Internet, Chang E. Koh, Hyonsong Chong

Journal of International Information Management

The Internet has become an indispensable tool for business. While it is generally presumed that the Internet can provide a competitive edge over competition, no substantive empirical evidence linking the Internet to organizational performance has been presented. This study empirically tests the connection between the use of the Internet and the perceived strategic importance of the Internet and its contribution to business using LISREL confirmatory factor analysis. The findings of this study suggest that management's strategic emphasis on the Internet affect the diffusion of Internet technology in an organization and these two factors collectively improve business performance.


An Examination Of Web-Based Application Development Skills By Industry Professionals: A Pilot Study, Kenneth Sousa, Shaw K. Chen, Maling Ebrahimpour, Kenneth Fougere Jan 2002

An Examination Of Web-Based Application Development Skills By Industry Professionals: A Pilot Study, Kenneth Sousa, Shaw K. Chen, Maling Ebrahimpour, Kenneth Fougere

Journal of International Information Management

The development of web-based, electronic commerce software has grown significantly in recent years. These software development applications have challenged information technology departments in business organizations to implement mission critical, strategic applications for their organization. That in turn creates a significant demand for the technology personnel to support the development process. This research conducts a pilot survey of industry professionals to determine the necessary skills and training required of an undergraduate computer information systems professional seeking an entry-level position in a web-based application development environment. Respondents were asked to provide their opinion relating to the market importance and student competency for …


Community Banking In The E-Business Era, Peter Southard, Keng Siau Jan 2002

Community Banking In The E-Business Era, Peter Southard, Keng Siau

Journal of International Information Management

This paper reviews how existing and potential uses of Internet technology can generate a competitive advantage for rural community banks. To do so, it offers a framework for analyzing Internet technology investment decisions. Organizations in this segment of the banking industry are often more removed from centers of technology and have traditionally been more conservative in their approaches to information technology (among other things). Banking Associations have developed in the U.S., such as the Independent Bankers Association, to try and help community banks coordinate marketing, legislative, and other issues that they have in common. The use of Internet technology can …


Making Knowledge Management Part Of Your Human Capital Strategy: A Look At A Large Government Technical Organization, Dr. Jay Liebowitz Jan 2002

Making Knowledge Management Part Of Your Human Capital Strategy: A Look At A Large Government Technical Organization, Dr. Jay Liebowitz

Journal of International Information Management

The U.S. government is facing a human capital crisis in the next five years whereby around half of the federal civil servants will be eligible to retire. Because of this ensuing dilemma, each government agency is developing a human capital strategy. A key pillar underpinning this human capital strategy should be "knowledge management". This paper discusses the knowledge management strategy for a large government technical organization, and explains how knowledge management, discovery informatics, and lessons learned systems can become a central component of a human capital strategy.


Analysis Of Factors Affecting E-Supply Chain Performances, Frederica Cucchiella, Luciano Fratoocchi, Pacifico Marcello Pelagagge, Frederica Scacchia Jan 2002

Analysis Of Factors Affecting E-Supply Chain Performances, Frederica Cucchiella, Luciano Fratoocchi, Pacifico Marcello Pelagagge, Frederica Scacchia

Journal of International Information Management

The relevance of supply chain (SC) behaviour is continuously increasing, especially with respect to companies adopting e-commerce strategies. Although the huge number of works on this topic, an integrated approach to design and implement effective electronic supply chain (e-SC) - that is supply chain (SC) in which business actors are connected via Internet technologies - is still not available. In order to contribute towards the definition of an integrated and comprehensive framework for e-SC analysis and design, in this paper factors affecting e-SC performances are investigated, including organization, management and control.


The Impact Of Information Technology Outsourcing On Firm Profitability Measures, G. Dwayne Whitten, T Selwyn Ellis, K. Michael Casey Jan 2002

The Impact Of Information Technology Outsourcing On Firm Profitability Measures, G. Dwayne Whitten, T Selwyn Ellis, K. Michael Casey

Journal of International Information Management

Some researchers have concluded that outsourcing of information technology (IT) provides benefits to firms including cost advantages, economies of scale and allowing more of a focus on core competencies. This paper attempts to determine if these benefits actually exist by comparing three financial measures, return on equity (ROE), return on assets (ROA) and profit margin, affirms that have varying levels of outsourcing. To empirically test for the existence of a difference between firms that outsource differing amounts of IT spending, data from 104 companies was gathered. Analysis of variance was selected as the primary statistical tool to test the relationship …


Why Is Middle Management In Conflict With Erp?, Rainer A. Sommer Jan 2002

Why Is Middle Management In Conflict With Erp?, Rainer A. Sommer

Journal of International Information Management

Popular Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system implementation methods focus on process requirements, system transition, user interface, help desk, and training issues. This research suggests that unless high-level management places equal emphasis on "people oriented" factors (especially at the middle management level) many ERP implementation projects are in jeopardy. Without the commitment of middle management and a proactive change management function, project planning and milestone development can easily become bogged down by political trivialities, which can stall the implementation cycle of a project. The research focuses on two ERP implementations. In both cases middle management served as the unit of analysis.


A Structural Equation Model Of Information Systems Development And Supply Chain Management, Chinho Lin, Bertram Tan, Shofang Chang Jan 2002

A Structural Equation Model Of Information Systems Development And Supply Chain Management, Chinho Lin, Bertram Tan, Shofang Chang

Journal of International Information Management

This paper employees structural equation modeling to analyze the effects of information system development and supply chain management on manufacturing objective and organizational performance. Survey data of middle managers from Taiwan s computer and electronics industries was used to test the relationships between the constructs in the model. In general, the survey results supported the proposed structural equation model. It is observed that information system development facilitates supply chain management practice and manufacturing objective attainment. In addition, there are significant relationships between supply chain management and manufacturing objective, as well as between manufacturing objective and organizational performance. However, the impacts …


Implementing Enterprise Resource Planning Systems: A Study Of Benefits And Concerns, Y Helio Yang, Nikhil Varaiya, Sherry A. Irwin Jan 2002

Implementing Enterprise Resource Planning Systems: A Study Of Benefits And Concerns, Y Helio Yang, Nikhil Varaiya, Sherry A. Irwin

Journal of International Information Management

In the 1990's information technology and business process re-engtneermg have combined to provide organizations a competitive advantage. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems were particularly considered examples representing such development. This paper reports the results of a survey on ERF implementation to explore its benefits and concerns. Our results show companies can expect more intrafirm benefits, such as reduced inventory, improved quality, and shortened cycle time, than interfirm benefits from current ERP technology. Existing ERP technology is not yet capable of handling the complexity of the whole supply chain. More supplier relationship management functionalities need to be integrated. Our results also …


Jad Can Get Better, Evan W. Duggan, Cherian S. Thachenkary Jan 2002

Jad Can Get Better, Evan W. Duggan, Cherian S. Thachenkary

Journal of International Information Management

Interviewing and other conventional approaches failed to produce the user-developer understanding required to establish high-quality systems requirements for software development. .Joint Application Development (JAD) was introduced in the late 1970s, and has been widely used to alleviate this problem. But JAD s success has been critically dependent on the excellence of facilitation to deflect many of the relational problems that are typically experienced with the freely interacting group structure used to conduct JAD sessions. While the use of JAD is pervasive, excellent facilitators are scarce, which hampers or even precludes some JAD efforts. In this article we recommend a solution …


A Simple Set Model Of Requirements Representation, Jia-Lang Seng Jan 2002

A Simple Set Model Of Requirements Representation, Jia-Lang Seng

Journal of International Information Management

A successful information systems development (ISD) depends on a complete, correct, and consistent set of requirements specification. In this paper, we present a set model of requirements representation to present functional and non-functional requirements in a systematic and schematic manner. Because the nature of the set operation is mathematical and methodological, requirements representation becomes scholastic and structured. In this paper, we first describe an incremental and iterative process model of requirements analysis where a spiral of requirements acquisition, articulation, and analysis is defined. We then depict a set-oriented data and process model to abstract the analyzed requirements into a hierarchical …


A Multivariate Probit Analysis Of Selected Factors Influencing Electronic Commerce Adoption In Organizations, Adeyemi A. Adekoya, Ago K.M. Quaye, Ephrem Eyob Jan 2002

A Multivariate Probit Analysis Of Selected Factors Influencing Electronic Commerce Adoption In Organizations, Adeyemi A. Adekoya, Ago K.M. Quaye, Ephrem Eyob

Journal of International Information Management

This study investigates factors leading to the "go/no go" decision on organizational innovations, with particular reference to Electronic Commerce (E-Commerce). The goal is to explore important antecedents promoting the adoption of technological innovations and to extend the frontiers of knowledge in this area, by integrating two major research paradigms - basic and applied. Randomly selected organizations in the IT area participated in the study. Variables pertaining to organizations. Information Technology, and users of the technology were assessed and analyzed using an omnibus instrument and probit analysis respectively. This study provides a tentative elucidation of contemporary unresolved issues, and also broadens …


Understanding Web Page Anatomy, Antony Coulson, C.E. Tapie Rohm, Pat Mcinturff, Jake Zhu, James Stanger Jan 2002

Understanding Web Page Anatomy, Antony Coulson, C.E. Tapie Rohm, Pat Mcinturff, Jake Zhu, James Stanger

Journal of International Information Management

The rapid evolution of information technology over the past several decades has opened many new and unique modes of communication. Clearly, the web is one such technology. However, it is quite possible that a fascination with the technology per se can hinder participants from one of its main functions—effective communication. The following essay explores a return to the basics of designing an effective web-based communication strategy. The key components of this strategy are: 1) consistent look and feel, 2) conceptual consistency, and 3) positive attention.


The Roles Of Computer Self-Efficacy, Outcome Expectancy, And Attribution Theory In Impacting Computer System Use, John W. Henry, Robert W. Stone Jan 2001

The Roles Of Computer Self-Efficacy, Outcome Expectancy, And Attribution Theory In Impacting Computer System Use, John W. Henry, Robert W. Stone

Journal of International Information Management

TJte process by which individuals accept or reject information technologies was theoretically explained in a model employing attributional relationships and computer self-ejficacy and outcome expectancy. The model was empirically tested using structural equations modeling and data collected in afield setting. The results provided partial confiirmation of the theory that attributions to ability, effort, luck, and task difficulty impact information system use mediated by computer self-ejficacy and outcome expectancy. The stable attributions of ability and task difficulty had meaningful impacts on computer self-ejficacy. Similarly, task difficulty had a meaningful impact on outcome expectancy. The unstable attributes of effort and luck demonstrated …


A Fuzzy Expert System For Small Business Loan Processing, Vipul K. Gupta, Serkan Celtek Jan 2001

A Fuzzy Expert System For Small Business Loan Processing, Vipul K. Gupta, Serkan Celtek

Journal of International Information Management

In recent years, managerial applications of artificial intelligence, especially in the area of financial services, has received considerable attention. In this paper, a fiizzy logic expert system is developed for approvals of small business loans. Previous studies have used non-fuzzv expert systems. But the fuzzification of the variables used in a business loan approval decisionmaking promises more efficient results. Furthermore, another distinct feature of this paper is its focus on small business loans. CubiCalc fuzzy expert system shell is used to develop the expert system. Knowledge acquisition is made using the resources and expertise of a Small Business Development Center. …


Analyzing And Documenting An Internet Website Using Notecards, Jay M. Lightfoot Jan 2001

Analyzing And Documenting An Internet Website Using Notecards, Jay M. Lightfoot

Journal of International Information Management

Corporate websites are an important component in the world-wide web. The traditional way of creating these websites leads to a variety of structural problems that reduce the effectiveness of the websites. These problems are difficult to locate and correct using the ad hoc analysis methods that currently exist. This paper introduces a new technique to analyze and document websites. The technique uses the NoteCards hypertext environment to build a visual model of the website. The model is semantically rich, dynamically extensible, and allows interactive update. The result of using this technique is a website that is easier to use, easier …


Female Entrepreneur Underperformance: A Puzzle For The Information Age, Sherry Robinson, John Watson Jan 2001

Female Entrepreneur Underperformance: A Puzzle For The Information Age, Sherry Robinson, John Watson

Journal of International Information Management

Women entrepreneurs are a significant and fast-growing force in small business, yet many studies have concluded that their businesses underperfomi men's in terms of sales and size. As both women entrepreneurs and e-commerce become increasingly important parts of the Information Age economy, it is essential to determine if there are differences in success between women- and men-owned businesses, and how those differences, if any, relate to e-commerce. This paper examines the apparent underperformance of women-owned businesses and proposes a number of hypotheses for future research.


Students' Perceptions Of A Course Dedicated Website A Regression Analysis To Predict Its Use, Malini Krishnamurthi Jan 2001

Students' Perceptions Of A Course Dedicated Website A Regression Analysis To Predict Its Use, Malini Krishnamurthi

Journal of International Information Management

There has been an unprecedented surge in the number of web related tools used for course delivery. This paper examined the reasons for students to go to course dedicated websites and the impact these sites have on classroom attendance. An empirical assessment shows that course dedicated websites enhance learning and do not tempt students to turn away from the classroom. A software program called Zlocker which gives students and teachers an opportunity to share a locker in cyberspace was incorporated in the courses that were examined in this study.


A Computer-Based Application For Core Course Outcomes Assessment And Program Continuous Improvement Using An Integrative Business Plan — An Empirical Evaluation, Donald Drost, John Chaney Jan 2001

A Computer-Based Application For Core Course Outcomes Assessment And Program Continuous Improvement Using An Integrative Business Plan — An Empirical Evaluation, Donald Drost, John Chaney

Journal of International Information Management

Outcomes assessment and continuous program improvement has become an increasingly important topic in higher education. ASCSB and governmental bodies often require this type of self-analysis. This paper presents and examines a model of business common core course assessment and improvement using an integrated business plan in the upper division strategic management capstone course. An emphasis is placed demonstrating how computer and information technology is used for instruction and as a means for outcomes assessment. Also, an evaluation of empirical data developed over a one-year period is presented. The manuscript also reflects on some of the problems and issues engendered by …


Adapting E-Business To The Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Curriculum In The New Economy: Development Of An E-Husiness Course With A Focus On Field-Based Projects, Peter H. Hackbert Jan 2001

Adapting E-Business To The Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Curriculum In The New Economy: Development Of An E-Husiness Course With A Focus On Field-Based Projects, Peter H. Hackbert

Journal of International Information Management

Organization creation separates entrepreneurship from other disciplines. In today's rapidly growing net economy and ever-changing entrepreneurial environment, discovering the behaviors of individuals who create new organizations, and observing the behaviors or organizational personnel who exploit new market opportunities within existing organizations are the foci of the behavioral school of entrepreneurship. Business schools that adapt curricula to examine the kinds of activities entrepreneurs perform, the information they process, with whom they must work, where, and how frequently may help describe the emerging needs of the current dynamic new economy. The following paper describes the development of an e-business entrepreneurship course with …


Taking Payments Online: A Framework For Selection, Binshan Lin, Charlotte Jones Jan 2001

Taking Payments Online: A Framework For Selection, Binshan Lin, Charlotte Jones

Journal of International Information Management

Electronic bill presentment and payment (EBPP) is usually viewed as a "killer application" in e-commerce, which will fundamentally change the way customers receive and pay their bills. While many models exist, there is a dearth of information for determining which model would best fit customer characteristics and needs. This paper examines primary models, customer requirements, bill characteristics, and customer types to develop an exploratory framework for determviing which EBPP model a bill-generating firm should employ.


Enhancing Organizational Performance Via Electronic Customer Relationship Management, Santosh S. Venkatraman Jan 2001

Enhancing Organizational Performance Via Electronic Customer Relationship Management, Santosh S. Venkatraman

Journal of International Information Management

An Electronic Customer Relationship Management system or eCRM helps organizations shift from mass marketing of goods and services to customized marketing of personalized offers. As consumers are constantly getting more technologically savvy and sophisticated, eCRM systems allow businesses to tune-in to their customers' needs and design appropriate personalized marketing campaigns. They not only allow more intelligent customer interactions and responses, but also do it in a cost effective manner. The primary purpose of this paper is to explain the eCRM concept and describe the major organizational benefits of eCRM.


User Perceptions Of The Benefits Of Implementing An Erp System: A Case Study, Jaideep Motwani, Dinesh Mirchandani, Victor E. Sower Jan 2001

User Perceptions Of The Benefits Of Implementing An Erp System: A Case Study, Jaideep Motwani, Dinesh Mirchandani, Victor E. Sower

Journal of International Information Management

Given the large time and fitiancial commitment that an ERP project requires and the potential benefits it can offer if successfidly implemented, it is important to understand the factors that facilitate and inhibit the success ofEP,P implementation. By means of a case study of a global energy company, we first examine the factors that facilitate and inhibit the success of their ERP implementation. We draw on the theory of business process change when analyzing the implementation process. Next, we examine the perceptions non-management professional users of the ERP system (who were not members of the ERP implementation team) have of …


Managerial Information, The Basics, Floyd J. Brock, Gurpreet S. Dhillon Jan 2001

Managerial Information, The Basics, Floyd J. Brock, Gurpreet S. Dhillon

Journal of International Information Management

A problem exists in the defitiition of information, particularly in its application in management. The problem emerges from the inability of academics and practitioners alike to differentiate adequately between data and information. Our failure to comprehend the concept of information casts doubt on the efficacy of analyses and development of information systems. As evidenced in the literature and surveys, this paper presents a collection of differing emphases in definitions of information. It then sifts for the basics and proposes a definition of managerial information.


New Concepts In Password Management, S. E. Kruck, John R. Sciandra, Karen A. Forcht Jan 2001

New Concepts In Password Management, S. E. Kruck, John R. Sciandra, Karen A. Forcht

Journal of International Information Management

Passwords have been used for many years in the security of computer systems. The password mechanism has not changed in recent years and has several inherent security problems. This paper examines several password problems including sniffers, dictionary and brute force attacks. A specific Department of Defense incident is cited to illustrate a method to thwart sniffers followed by several suggestions intended to increase the security of the password process.


A Value-Oriented Model In Technology For Business Personnel, Mabel T. Kung, Dag Naslund Jan 2001

A Value-Oriented Model In Technology For Business Personnel, Mabel T. Kung, Dag Naslund

Journal of International Information Management

In this paper a process-based framework is presented for end-user development of software applications. The paper discusses the changes of the education of systems for general users to design their own systems. Guidelines and people issues identify ways to help traditional users in developing systems computing to be successful.


Decision Support System And Design For Reverse Logistics, Bajis Dodin, Mohsen Elhafsi Jan 2001

Decision Support System And Design For Reverse Logistics, Bajis Dodin, Mohsen Elhafsi

Journal of International Information Management

This paper studies the relative positions of some selected elements in relations to flexibility and cost factors in information system and logistics design settings. Moreover, this study investigates the extent to which organizations can relate, today, to the importance of information technology in logistics and design for reverse logistics in their operational planning and activities. The findings show the degree of their in terest and policies for reverse logistics, and the creation of joint efforts to reduce costs and to increase flexibility.


An Integrated Spatial Dss For Site Selection For Service Organizations In Developing Countries, Mehdi Beheshtian Jan 2001

An Integrated Spatial Dss For Site Selection For Service Organizations In Developing Countries, Mehdi Beheshtian

Journal of International Information Management

An Integrated Spatial Decision Support System (ISDSS) is developed for finding locations where people can access post offices with minimum travel time between their residences and the post offices and their next destinations. Location-allocation models may be used to determine sites for these transshipment nodes. Due to the nature of traffic and unstructured zoning and all other non-predictable variables, network models may not be applied to find the optimal solution. Instead a gravity model is used to find a solution, which both minimizes the number of post offices and minimizes before-and-after travel times. The result of this system is a …


Describing Intelligent Agent Behaviors, Walt Truszkowski, Jagannathan V. Iyengar, Fred Mills Jan 2001

Describing Intelligent Agent Behaviors, Walt Truszkowski, Jagannathan V. Iyengar, Fred Mills

Journal of International Information Management

The development of new intelligent agents requires an interdisciplinary approach to programming. The initial challenge is to describe the desired agent behaviors and abilities without necessarily committing the agent development project to one particular programming language. What are the appropriate linguistic and logical tools for creating a top level, unambiguous, program-independent, and consistent description of the functions and behaviors of the agent? And how can that description then be translated easily into one of a number of program languages? This article provides a case study of the application of a simple Belief, Desire, and Intention (EDI) first order logic to …


Physical Security Models, Philosophies, And Context, Karen A. Forcht, S. E. Kruck Jan 2001

Physical Security Models, Philosophies, And Context, Karen A. Forcht, S. E. Kruck

Journal of International Information Management

This paper presents physical security of a computer facility within the context of a corporate environment. The context is established from several different perspectives. It first presents physical security philosophies and illustrates the philosophies via the Onion and Garlic Models. It defines a process for identifying and describing transition strategies between security levels. Once the models are defined, a Macro View of physical security is presented. This view discusses physical security goals and critical factors such as budget, monitoring and redundancy. With this context established, the Micro View is presented. Its focus is on information technology (IT) facilities that protect …