Business Commons^™

Gdss And Idea Generation: A Theoretical Examination Of Technology Supported Group Creativity, J. Robert Evaristo, Michael A. Eierman

Journal of International Information Management

While the importance of creativity and innovation in organizations continues to grow, many organizations rely on questionable mechanisms such as group brainstorming and other such techniques to facilitate creativity. Group decision support systems (GDSS) promise to provide an effective means of enhancing group creativity. However, much of the research on GDSS focuses on group processes. This paper takes the position that the individual is the primary determinant of group creativity and develops a model of the individual process of idea generation. This model is applied to GDSS to examine the implications of this perspective on group creativity output.

A Generalized Methodology For Spreadsheet Applications (Gmsa), Jack T. Marchewka, Joseph L. Sessum

Journal of International Information Management

Most information system methodologies are intended to be used by information systems (IS) professionals. However, few tools and methodologies have been proposed and developed for the non-IS professional. The methodology presented in this paper is designed to provide the non-IS professional with a set of tools to take advantage of the rich features associated with present spreadsheet software packages. Moreover, the methodology presented in this paper is intended to serve as an education and training device to aid in the identification and subsequent solution of general business problems without requiring total reliance on the features of any specific spreadsheet software …

Solver And Backsolver New Additions To The Manager's Computerized Tool Kit, Richard R. Lebsack

Journal of International Information Management

This article describes and illustrates the use of two spreadsheet problem-solving tools— Solver and Backsolver. These tools are available in high-end software spreadsheet packages such as Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows and Excel for Windows. The illustrations and examples provided in this article use 1-2-3 for Windows and Windows 3.1 as the operating platform. Any business owner using a DOS based operating system and the Windows Graphical User Interface has access to the Solver and Backsolver. Both tools utilize a form of what-if analysis. Traditional what-if analysis requires that the business owner manually alter the contents of a spreadsheet cell and …

Mosaic: A Dynamic Menu Interface For End Users And System Administrators, Jay M. Lightfoot

Journal of International Information Management

The environment for corporate computing has become much more complex than the average end user is willing to comprehend. A solution to this problem is the development of menu shells and user-interface management systems. This paper describes the design and use of a menu shell called Mosaic. In addition to the traditional shell function of running user programs, Mosaic provides security, improves data integrity, furnishes debugging and data usage support, and aids the system administrator in day-to-day tasks. Mosaic was used successfully at a medium- sized electronics corporation for two years.

Developing An Optimization Model For Two-Operator Data Entry, Roger G. Nibler

Journal of International Information Management

Firms sometimes use two-operator data entry as a method to achieve or maintain database quality. When in-house staff are used, the firm typically selects data entry operators from a pool of junior staff and then assigns them into operator pairs, often on a random basis. Keying discrepan cies between operator pairs are compared to determine incorrect entries, in the same row and column. Because the likelihood of making an error on a given key varies among operators, the objective of this study was to optimize database quality by systematically matching operators. The model was developed by having 32 operators key …

A Study Of End User Anxiety And Attitude In Computer Conferencing, Nabil Alghalith

Journal of International Information Management

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of Computer Conferencing (CC) training and use on end users' computer anxiety level and general attitudes toward computers. The study was conducted for a four-month semester. Forty students from two sections of introductory level Management Information Systems course participated in the study. Participants took the Computer Anxiety Rating Scale (CARS) at the beginning and at the end of the semester. Reactions to a Computer Conferencing survey was given at the end of the semester. Participants in each of the two sections were randomly assigned to small groups to do cases …

The Use Of Quality Function Deployment In Systems Development: A Case Study, Michael D. Myers, Kambiz Maani

Journal of International Information Management

It is now generally recognized that organizations need great flexibility to remain competitive. This paper looks at one company's attempt to mandate flexibility by the use of a technique known as Quality Function Deployment (QFD). QFD is a customer-driven planning and communication process for designing, developing or improving products or services, and is a particular implementation of the Total Quality Management philosophy. The QFD approach is multi-functional-various stakeholders in the design process come together from the project's inception to concurrently plan, design and produce a product or service. In this particular case the company has not only applied the principles …

Emoticons: Breaking Down E-Mail Facilitated Communication, Patrick Mcinturff, Pat Mcinturff

Journal of International Information Management

The use of E-Mail expedites the rapid transfer of facts, data and reports, making the Information Super Highway an efficient communicative process. However, E-Mail is not historically well suited for personal, quality, one-on-one communication. The purpose of this article is to discuss devices, techniques and strategies to enhance the personal nature of E-Mail transfers.

Theoretical Framework For A Comprehensive Model Of End User Acceptance, Friedrich Jacobi, Karen Forcht, Faye P. Teer

Journal of International Information Management

Numerous previous studies in the area of user acceptance have proposed several models of user acceptance. These studies have each investigated different components of the user acceptance model. No significant research has been accomplished to combine factors which influence user acceptance into one overall model, which then could be subject of further validation. The purpose of this paper is to provide the foundation for a comprehensive model of user acceptance by building a theoretical framework that brings together individual models of user acceptance.

Is End User Productivity An Oxymoron?, Barbara A. Schuldt

Journal of International Information Management

The primary goal of end user computing is to increase the productivity of the end user. By using information technology the end users have changed the scope and depth of their job tasks, making productivity changes hard to measure.

Social Influence Effects On Remote Group Interactions, Ross Hightower, Constanza Hagmann

Journal of International Information Management

This paper discusses the results of an experiment exploring the effects of information technology intervention on decision making groups. Specifically, the study examines the effects communication modality {remote vs. face-to-face) and information load on the types of social influence used by group members and the amount of group polarization or choice shift exhibited by group members. The findings suggest that face-to-face groups use more informational influence than remote groups and that this difference increases as information load increases. Also, face-to-face groups experienced greater choice shift than remote groups at high information loads.

Management Information Systems Professionals—The Requirement To Be True Renaissance People Within The Organization, Paul Buddy Clark

Journal of International Information Management

Management Information Systems (MIS) is not simply data processing, nor computer science, nor computer services, nor computer information systems, nor computer information services, nor information systems. Management Information Systems is a comprehensive, academic and business discipline requiring a knowledge of business operations as a whole, the human decision making cognitive process, plus automated processing of data into information. This paper suggests that, as opposed to only being highly technical individuals as they are often viewed, MIS professionals must have a knowledge of various business functions and the nature of the related decision making timeframes plus draw on and blend knowledge …

Microsoft Powerpoint For Windows 4.0, Frank M. Lin

Journal of International Information Management

Starting in 1994, professional presentation using presentation graphic programs has become a norm. Everyone began using presentation graphics; Professors give presentations to students on their lectures. Students are also required to give presentations in class.

Fast Cycle Time And The Role Of Information Technology: A Framework For Analysis, Amarnath Prakash

Journal of International Information Management

Achieving fast cycle time is increasingly becoming an overriding objective for organizations wanting to succeed in the global business environment. In such an increasingly competitive and global environment of declining margins, information technology is both driving and enabling business. The focus of these organizations is the adoption of a fast cycle time (FCT) strategy that achieves increased customer satisfaction and/or cost reduction. This paper examines the organizational processes in the context of interdependence, and indentifies areas where information technology can play a pivotal role in bringing about an effective and responsive transformation. It also, with the help of a framework, …

Top Management Perception Of Strategic Information Processing In A Turbulent Environment, Pien Wang, Peng S. Chan

Journal of International Information Management

Extant strategic management literature provides only partial answer to the important question: What variables affect top managers' ability to process complicated, novel, ambiguous, or dynamic strategic information in a turbulent environment? Drawn upon cognitive psychology, personality theory, management theory, organizational theory, and management information systems literatures, this paper proposes that nine personal attributes and four contextual attributes affect top managers' information processing capability. The nine personal attributes are: cognitive complexity, knowledge, mental model of success, open-mindedness, time orientation, personal values, tolerance for ambiguity, locus of control, and time devoted to environmental scanning. The four contextual attributes are: rewards and incentives, …

Critical Success Factors For Organizational Case Success, Chad Strauss

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

Practitioners and researchers have suggested that Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) technology can significantly improve the productivity of systems analysts and the quality of systems development. Before CASE can succeed, however, specific components must exist. This paper explores CASE and the components necessary for its widespread acceptance and use within information systems departments. Specifically, this paper will examine the systems development life cycle (SDLC), the possible benefits of CASE, the current state of CASE, critical success factors for CASE, and finally CASE use.

Transplanting Manufacturing Power: Observations From Five Years At Fujitsu, Steven M. Miller

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Within a factory, what are the underpinnings of manufacturing power? During my thirty-month residency at Fujitsu's factory in Oyama, Japan, I constantly reflected on this question. The standard view of a factory structure provided by an organization chart was inadequate for summarizing my observations.

Case-Based Reasoning: Application Techniques For Decision Support, James V. Hansen, Rayman D. Meservy, Larry E. Wood

Faculty Publications

Decision-support systems can be improved by enabling them to use past decisions to assist in making present ones. Reasoning from relevant past cases is appealing because it corresponds to some of the processes an expert uses to solve problems quickly and accurately. All this depends on an effective method of organizing cases for retrieval. This paper investigates the use of inductive networks as a means for case organization and outlines an approach to determining the desired number of cases-or assessing the reliability of a given number. Our method is demonstrated by application to decision making on corporate tax audits.

Present Status And Perceived Importance Of Computer Skills In A Taiwanese Service Industry, En-Ming Tseng

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to provide researchers,computer technologists, management and trainers with information concerning the current status and importance regarding computer skills for agents in the Taiwanese life insurance industry. In addition to identifying important computer skills for this population, this research investigated differences in perceptions of computer directors (major computer system developers), sales managers(major training providers), and life insurance agents(computer end-users) regarding the current status and importance of computer skills for life insurance agents.

Survey instruments were developed through the literature review as well as through expert interviews and validations. Investigated samples include all 30 computer directors …

A Model For Merging Information Systems: A Case Study Of The Air Force Material Command Merger, John A. Ellis, Matthew T. Pirko

Theses and Dissertations

As the Department of Defense continues to shrink, downsizing and rightsizing are terms that often indicate that changes are inevitable to many military units and organizations, some of these changes result in organizational mergers. One of the critical areas for such mergers lies within getting the information systems of the premerger organizations to work together. This thesis presents a model for merging information systems as part of an organizational merger. The proposed model, synthesized from existing technical and non- technical models and guidelines, addresses five key areas for consideration for a successful information systems merger. Those areas are: (1) Organizational …

Evaluation Of An Air Force Information Resources Management (Irm) Overview Course, Joseph L. Cox, Brenda R. Forcht

Theses and Dissertations

The federal government has passed laws and issued directives recognizing that information is a valuable national resource. To help assure that Air Force information managers are capable of implementing policy in support of such laws and directives, the Secretary of the Air Force's Directorate of Information Management (SAF-AAI) directed a team from the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) to design and construct an exportable course to provide an overview of information resources management (IRM) concepts and principles. Such an IRM overview course was completed in the Summer of 1994. The authors evaluated this course quantitatively and qualitatively. During a …

No. 124 1994 November

International Journal for Business Education

SIEC Historical Documents

Managing Risk In Information Technology Project: A Case Study Of Tradenet, Boon Siong Neo, Kwong Sin Leong

Research Collection School Of Accountancy

The development and implementation of IT (Information Technology) projects are plagued with problems of cost and time overruns, technical inadequacy, inability to meet user requirements, lack of utilization and failure to achieve anticipated benefits. These problems occur to some projects and not to others because 1) IT projects have different profiles of risk, and 2) IT projects risks have been managed more or less effectively. This paper synthesizes the literature into four classes of risks and applies it to evaluate TradeNet, an EDI-based trading system implemented in Singapore in 1989. Through a case study of TradeNet, we derived a typology …

No. 123 1994 April

International Journal for Business Education

SIEC Historical Documents

Graphical Oodb Modeling For Medical Information Standards (Gommis), Jiping Liu

Theses

The graphical representation of database schemata has been a useful tool for the designer and users of database systems. Such a tool for OODB schemata should incorporate a wide variety of symbols which cover most concepts of existing Object-Oriented Database (OODB), so it is sufficient to support a diverse group of object-oriented data models.

In this paper we created a. graphical representation, using the OOdini system and language, of the European Prestandard for Medical Informatics on Message Exchange of Laboratory Information. This European Prestandard describes a standardized format for messages to be exchanged between a. health care provider and a …

Smalltalk: Big Things Forecast, Brian D. Lynch

Journal of International Information Management

No abstract provided.

Perceived Usefulness Of Expert Systems For Mba Advisement: A Discriminant Model, John K. S. Chong, Steven B. Moser

Journal of International Information Management

Based on questionnaire data collected from 123 AACSB-accredited business schools, a discriminant model was developed to generate a descriptive profile of MBA Advisors in regard to their perceived usefulness of expert systems (ESs) for advising MBA students. Characteristics related to organization, advisee, advisor, and job/task structures were considered in formulating the model. Stepwise discriminant analysis resulted in 8 out of 15 independent variables entering the model.

A Neural Network Model For Decision Making With Application In Construction Management, Mirza B. Murtaza, Debroah J. Fisher

Journal of International Information Management

In this paper, an innovative approach is presented to decision making using self-organizing multi-layered neural networks. The model helps make a decision whether to use a conventional stick-built method or to use some degree of modularization when building an industrial process plant - a problem considered very important in construction management because of its economic impact. The objective of this paper is to show that both expert system and neural network approaches can be useful for decision making problems. However, in some situations a neural network approach can outperform the expert system approach. A brief overview of prior approach to …

Managing The Motivation Of Information Technology Staff For Higher Organizational Productivity And Employee Job Satisfaction, Ephrem Eyob

Journal of International Information Management

Motivating Information Technoloty (IT) employees has become more and more difficult because of the rapid technological changes and global competitiveness in the marketplace. IT managers can use a plethora of techniques to improve staff productivity and quality of output through better employee motivation techniques. This paper discusses some of those methods that can improve productivity as well as staff satisfaction with their work.

Measuring The Impact Of Information Systems, Warren Adis

Journal of International Information Management

For the last 35 years, the business strategy of corporate America has been to equate information services (IS) spending with business growth, increased re\'enue, and overall business success. This logic was based on the premise that productivity gains can be realized through efficient and effective delivery of business transactions and decision support. Yet, after significant financial resources have been invested in IS technology, the relationship between IS investments and business outcomes is still supported largely with anecdotal evidence and productivity measurements that mainly emphasize technical benchmarks. Such productivity criteria as volume throughput, shorter response time, and decreased processing costs, while …