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J Mich Dent Assoc November 2021

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Every month, The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association brings news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. No publication reaches more Michigan dentists!

In this issue, the reader will find the following original content:

• Cover stories with a “Focus on Advocacy: Helping Dentistry Succeed”, including “MDA Dental PAC: What It Is and Why It Matters “, “2021 Advocacy Success — and More to Come “, and “Dental Programs Maintained in 2021-22 State Budget”.
• A feature article on “The Anishinaabe Dental Outreach Program”.
• A feature article, “How Your Website and …

J Mich Dent Assoc June 2021

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Every month, The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association brings news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. No publication reaches more Michigan dentists!

In this issue, the reader will find the following original content:

• A cover story “Team-Based Treatment of Oral Cancer: The U-M Experience”.
• A feature article, “Dental Management of the Head and Neck Cancer Patient Treated with Radiation Therapy: Update 2021”.
• A feature article on “Understanding Cyber Threats and the Risk they Pose to Your Practice”.
• "A Train-the-Trainer Education Model and Rural Dental Opioid Prescribing Outcomes”, a …

Efficiency Ranking Of It Service-Producing Firms: Case Of Indian Multinationals, H. D. Vinod, P. M. Rao

International Review of Business and Economics

Production functions often study the output of physical products with capital and labor inputs. Instead, we use 2004 to 2016 data for 55 In- dian multinational companies to assess the production of services. Our estimates of flexible production functions yield estimates of scale elasticity (SCE) and elasticity of substitution (EOS) for pooled data. A subset of 31 companies with relatively complete data yields their individual SCE and EOS values, revealing their heterogeneity. Sorting the 31 companies by their SCE help name scale-efficient (high SCE) and scale inefficient (low SCE) multinationals. Similarly, a listing of 31 companies sorted by EOS allows …

Determining Critical Success Factors For Realizing Innovative It Solutions In Higher Education, Anton Meijer

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

There is much research on Critical Success Factors when implementing novel IT solutions in different industries and contexts. However, for the domain of higher education the amount of studies is limited. This is partially due to the fact that what is considered higher education is different across countries. Universities, Universities of Applied Science, Vocational Universities, Polytechnics and related (research) institutes both have similarities and differences. However, one commonality is that institutions in higher education are not sufficiently capable of supporting the development(s) and requirements of educational processes with adequate (innovative) IT. Therefore the purpose of this study is to determine …

Managing Millennial Turnover In The It Industry: Leading With An “Inside-Outfluence” Approach, Travis J. Hollman, Kyle W. Luthans

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

This paper proposes a new perspective and approach for leaders to strategically manage millennial turnover problems in the Information Technology (IT) industry. Using a combination of interviews from experienced IT managers and existing literature, our goal was to identify and synthesize the problems and best practices for managing and retaining millennial IT talent. Based upon qualitative data, emergent themes were identified and then reviewed against the existing body of literature covering millennial employees’ retention and turnover in the IT industry. Areas of common ground were integrated to develop a new hybrid approach that we call the “Inside-Outfluence” model. In particular, …

Leadership In Information Technology: Leadership Theories, Perspectives And Ethical Dilemmas, Douglas B. Malcolm

The Siegel Institute Journal of Applied Ethics

This paper will describe various leadership theories and how they were formed, current leadership perspectives for information technology (IT) and the impact they can have on an IT workforce due to negative impressions and conditions. It will then relate current ethical issues faced by Information Technology to the key driving forces behind IT today along with detailing the current ethical issues faced by IT Leadership. Finally it will recommend some future research to help IT Leadership navigate the ethical and leadership issues faced today and to prepare for the future issues that will appear as technology advances.

Connectivity Via Web Services: An Analysis For Interoperable E-Commerce., Emmanuel Opara, Omprakash Gupta

Communications of the IIMA

The Web Services platform depicts a systematic, inter operable, and messaging infrastructure on which enterprise systems build sophisticated and dynamic applications for data mobility on the web. This article examine how scalability and interoperability of data using Web Services can promises a dramatic progression for both the technological and the business aspects of ecommerce.

The Octopus In Hong Kong: The Success Of A Smart Card-Based E-Payment System And Beyond, Chun Kit Lok

Communications of the IIMA

The success of the Octopus as a smart card-based E-payment system in Hong Kong is unparalleled by its counterparts worldwide. The number of daily transactions is over 8.1 million, generating over US$7 million in revenue on average. Although the majority of these transactions are transport-related, the Octopus is seeking to extend its arms into retailing payments. This research investigates whether retailers and consumers in Hong Kong would accept the Octopus better than its rivals such as cash, credit cards, or Electronic Payment System (EPS) to become a preferred payment method for retailing in Hong Kong.

Scalability, Interoperability And Movement Of Data On The Web Using Xml Technology, Emmanuel Opara, Omprakash Gupta

Communications of the IIMA

Today's economy pulses with electronic vibrancy, extensible Markup Language (XML) has prompted individuals and organizations to discover new and creative ways of enhancing existing technologies and creating new ones. This study investigates emerging XML-related technologies that cover abroad range of industries and their organizational systems. XML provides access to a plethora of technologies for manipulating, structuring, transforming and querying data.

A Semantic Network For Modeling Biological Knowledge In Multiple Databases, Jeffrey Stone, Xindong Wu, Marc Greenblatt

Communications of the IIMA

We have developed a semantic network of biological terminology to aid in the retrieval and integration of biological information from a variety of disparate information sources. Our semantic network strives to provide a categorization of biological concepts and relationships among these concepts. The semantic network will impart a knowledge structure through which computers can "reason " and draw conclusions about biological data objects and will provide a federated view of the many disparate databases of interest to biologists. In the development of our system, we have included the concepts from several established controlled vocabularies, chief among them being the National …

Semi-Automatic Query Expansion Approach To Web- Based Information Retrieval, Chaoyang Zhang, Kuo Lane Chen, Huei Lee, Hong Lan, Qijun Chen, Jiangyan He

Communications of the IIMA

The query used for Web searching is usually short and may not be able to reflect the intrinsic semantics of the user information need. The purpose of the paper is to take into account user information feedback, and to develop a semi-automatic query expansion approach to improve the effectiveness of Web searching. A search engine has been developed using the vector information retrieval model to validate the semi-automatic query expansion approach. The experiments show that this approach may improve the effectiveness of web searching.

Utilizing Mobile Phones For Payment, Ook Lee, Woonghee Lee

Communications of the IIMA

This study introduces a sound-based mobile payment system. Using a mobile phone for payment for mobile commerce is essential for its success. The proposed system will use sound that is generated from the existing mobile phone and the sound can be recognized by the existing credit card reader of the shop with an installation of an ordinary microphone and simple software to process sound input. This system is a better system since it doesn't require customers to buy a new mobile phone and the cost for the microphone and the software is very low.

An Analysis Of Electronic Meeting Comment Translation, Mmilam Aiken, Jose Ablanedo, Mahesh B. Vanjani

Communications of the IIMA

Multilingual groups often find communication difficult. Even with human interpreters, these groups still suffer from the inherent limitations of oral meetings: only one person at a time can talk, comments are not anonymous, and ideas must be recorded manually. Group Support Systems (GSS) have been used to increase the productivity of traditional, oral meetings by allowing participants to exchange automatically recorded, typed comments simultaneously and anonymously. Integration of language translation software with these systems could enable multilingual groups to achieve the same benefits obtained by monolingual groups. This paper investigates the feasibility of using automatic language translation in GSS meetings …

The Next Generation Of Mobile Computing For Hospitals, Warren Adis

Communications of the IIMA

Mobile computing in the broadest sense is when multiple communications devices work together within an environment, unhampered by equipment limitations, distance, or interference. As computer and networking devices are put into smaller and smaller envelopes, their workplace usefulness increases. These mobile devices offer the potential of increasing the quality of healthcare services by making better use of hospital resources, including improved communications among medical and support staff, and increased patient monitoring. This paper depicts several hospital scenarios in order to conceptualize the planning and design of future mobile networks, taking into consideration patient care, management thinking, and technical issues.

How Does Alignment Of Business And It Strategies Impact Aspects Of It Effectiveness?, Shankar Babu Chebrolu, Lawrence Ness

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Alignment between information technology (IT) and business stakeholders on their strategies has traditionally been viewed as the means to achieve greater IT delivery capabilities, but there is lack of empirical evidence as to how strategic alignment impacts individual aspects of IT effectiveness (e.g., quality of service [QoS], user satisfaction, and IT helpfulness to users); there is also a lack of empirical evidence surrounding how each individual element of strategic alignment impacts overall IT effectiveness. The intent of this research was to contribute to the body of knowledge that could be applied by researchers, businesses, and IT organizations alike to achieve …

It As A Resource For Competitive Agility: An Analysis Of Firm Performance During Industry Turbulence, Shoshana Altschuller, David S. Gelb, Theresa F. Henry

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

In an increasingly fast-paced business context, agility is crucial to firm performance. Competitive agility, the ability of a firm to rapidly sense and respond to changes in its environment, is especially important during industry turbulence. This research examines whether investment in Information Technology (IT) enhances firms’ competitive agility using analysis of firm performance during industry growth and contraction. The research approach addresses the causality question faced by previous IT productivity studies by focusing on ex-ante IT investment and subsequent firm performance during periods of unanticipated industry shocks. Findings indicate that IT investment enhances competitive agility but only in industries with …

Rapid Development Of Multimedia Instructional Modules For Information Technology Education, Nanda Ganesan

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

A multifaceted learning model was developed for implementing e-learning in a largely commuter campus. The primary objective of the model was to build a flexible learning environment that combined the learning effectiveness of in-class learning with the flexibility and accessibility of online learning. One of the components of the model was the multimedia instructional modules produced to teach various Information Technology courses. Several different types of modules were produced representing chalk-and-talk type of lectures, PowerPoint presentations and software tutorials. The chalk-and-talk type of lecture modules and the software tutorials that emulated the in-class learning experience contributed positively towards enhancing the …

Entrepreneurial Opportunities And Market Analysis Of The Information Technology And Software Development Sector Of Pakistan, Toshio Fujita, Hassan Tajuddin

Business Review

This study investigates the Information Technology and the Software Development sector of Pakistan. It discusses the reasons for the lack of trust in Pakistani IT companies and different problems faced by an entrepreneur starting an IT company in Pakistan. The data was analyzed by qualitative content analysis. The findings are discussed with reference to previous research, and implications for entrepreneurial setups are noted.

Comparing The Prioritization Of Erp System Effectiveness Measures By Organizational Actors: A Focus On It Professionals And Business Managers, Princely Ifinedo

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Modern organizations adopt Enterprise Resource Planning systems (ERP) to integrate their organizational data resources into unified systems. Researchers tend to concentrate on ERP implementation issues with only a handful studying ERP system effectiveness or success in adopting organizations. In fact, none has studied how key organizational actors prioritize or rank relevant measures or items related to the effectiveness of such systems. This study is designed to fill this gap in research as it aims at investigating how two organizational stakeholder groups, i.e. information technology (IT) professionals and business managers prioritize relevant measures related to ERP systems effectiveness. Using surveys in …

Integrating It-Enabled Social Networks With Transaction Cost Economics And The Resource Based View Of The Firm, Ganesh D. Bhatt, Jatinder N. D. Gupta, Sushil K. Sharma

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Prior research has mostly focused on transaction cost economics (TCE) to interpret the effect of information systems (IS) on organizational governance structures. A TCE based approach predicts that information technology (IT) will lead to increased use of electronic markets to coordinate economic transactions from electronic hierarchies. However, there is contradictory evidence in the literature regarding the rise and importance of cooperative relationships, joint ventures, and value-added partnerships integrated through information systems. To reconcile these contradictions, this paper analyzes the effect of IT on governance structures based on the TCE, social network theory, and the resource based view (RBV) of the …

An Application Of The Deming Management Method For Information Technology Projects, Jack T. Marchewka

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Although the ideas and teachings of W. Edwards Deming have been implemented in organizations world- wide for over the past 50 years, only three studies have empirically tested a theoretical model grounded in the Deming Management Method. These studies focused on the manufacturing and services area. Today, quality management continues to be an area of interest both in project management and software engineering. The focus of this study is to test the Deming Management Method in information technology (IT) projects. A survey of 63 IT professionals provides empirical support for the Deming Management Method and its application to IT projects. …

In Search Of Factors To Online Game Addiction And Its Implications, Yangil Park, Jeng-Chung V. Chen

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Research has explored online users who are hooked on Internet applications such as chat rooms, web surfing, and interactive games. Online game addiction is one of the problems arisen from the use of the Internet. This study is motivated by a causal connection found from previous research of computer game addiction. The study describes two typical types of online games and looks further into the causes of the addiction by using two main theories. We also propose research hypotheses and discuss possible implications of online game addiction.

Internet Entrepreneurship And Economic Growth, Gerald V. Post, John F. Pfaff

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

This paper looks at national attempts to promote economic growth through the Internet. Growth can be driven through service exports or internally through increased service transactions and fostering entrepreneurship. India is often held as an example of service exports, but economic statistics show that India might not be a good example for other nations because net service trade is negative and wages have been economically distorted. Ultimately, developing nations need to find internal growth models. Internal growth could be driven though increased consumption due to improved information, or increased investment expenditures from infrastructure investments.

Project Management Practices In The Information Technology Departments Of Various Size Institutions Of Higher Education, Charles R. Johnston, David C. Wierschem

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

The demand for information technology at institutions of higher education is increasing at a rapid pace. It is fueled by student, faculty, and administrative needs. This paper examines project management practices at these institutions with respect to the sizes of the institutions. Survey results indicate an emphasis on operational concerns at small and medium size institutions when selecting IT projects. The prominence of the role of project manager and adoption of formal PM tools/techniques by IT departments generally increase with the sizes of the institutions. The importance of having a project plan is recognized by all sizes of institutions of …

A Collaborative Project Management Approach And A Framework For Its Supporting Systems, Fang Chen, Nicholas C. Romano Jr, Jay F. Nunamaker Jr

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

The project management (PM) paradigm has changed during the past decade due to the globalization of business and advancement of information technology (IT). Increasingly, projects involve members from different geographical locations more than at any other time in history. Traditional PM methods may be inadequate to manage distributed projects, and new information systems are needed to support distributed PM. This article provides the rationale for a collaborative PM approach to manage distributed projects and proposes a conceptual framework for the collaborative PM software development. The objective is to present a collaborative PM framework that can guide further research and development …

The Role Of Convergence In Information Systems And Business Planning, Sharath Sasidharan, Jiming Wu, Dennis Pearce, Grover S. Kearns, Albert L. Lederer

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

A key challenge to top management is the alignment of IS and business plans for the purpose of producing an IT-based competitive advantage. This study uses a well known communication theory to provide new insight into the impact of CEO and CIO planning participation on IS and business alignment via the convergence of views between the CEO and CIO regarding the current and future strategic impact of IT on the firm’s success. One hundred and nine matched pairs of questionnaire responses from CIOs and CEOs were collected using a postal survey. Results indicated that CIO participation in business planning predicted …

Information View Of Organization, Bob Travica

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

This article proposes an information view of organization that brings the information systems field closer to organization theory. Although voluminous bodies of literature have been developed within each of these disciplines and links between them do exist, their mutual informing is still insufficient. The proposed view of organization is intended to help convey results of information systems research to organizational scholars, while broadening theoretical horizons of the former. This article discusses the premises, conceptual framework, examples, and preliminary evidence of the information view of organization.

Development Of An It Balanced Scorecard, Theophilus B.A. Addo, Chee W. Chow, Kamal M. Haddad

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

There is a generally acknowledged dearth of metrics for effectively measuring organizational performance. This is particularly true of the IT function, whose contribution to a firm’s “bottom line” has been frequently called to question. This paper describes the development of a performance measurement tool called the Balanced Scorecard, which can be used to assess IT performance within the context of overall corporate strategy and financial performance. Data for the scorecard was obtained via a survey of senior IT executives in various organizations. The paper concludes with a set of guidelines for successfully implementing an IT Balanced Scorecard, as well as …

The Ecology Of Interorganizational Information Sharing, Jane Fedorowicz, Janis L. Gogan, Amy W. Ray

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Increasingly, companies use interorganizational information systems to support business process partnerships, such as automatic replenishment systems and other supply chain initiatives, invoicing and payments, and insurance claims processing. Inter-firm networking in turn can increase the visibility of information generated and used by business partners. These business partners may experience intended and unintended impacts from the changes in the partnering relationship, in effect altering the ecology of the organization. Yet IT researchers rarely study an organization’s ecology, focusing instead on impacts upon internal processes. Our goal in this paper is to propose a definition of interorganizational information ecology, to provide IT …

A Study Of The Relationship Between Internet Diffusion And Culture, Ravi Nath, N.R. Vasudeva Murthy

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

The unevenness in the diffusion rates of the Internet across nations is commonly referred to as the “digital divide.” Technological, economic and political factors are often mentioned as the primary contributing factors to this digital gap. However, there is sufficient evidence in support of the proposition that a nation’s culture also plays a role in how citizens adopt and use technology innovations. This paper examines the relationship between the cultural dimensions proposed by Hofstede and the Internet adoption rate of nations. Data from sixty-two countries are used to establish a regression model and the empirical results show that cultural traits …