Business Commons^™

Digital Counterfeiting: States Regulation Of Federal, Foreign & Digital, Ralph E. Mckinney, Lawrence P. Shao, Dale H. Shao, Dale C. Rosenblieb Jr.

Ralph E. McKinney

The relatively recent appearance of Internet-based transactions necessitated the develop of digital forms of payment. These payments have evolved into various forms, including digital currency. This paper discusses the regulatory authority and/or lack of authority, of the sovereign States of the United States to regulate the counterfeiting of financial instruments used as currency, including digital currency. Federal and Foreign (non-U.S.) currencies are explicitly examined. Some digital currencies are not regulated or authorized specifically by a government. Can a currency without formal codification from a government be regulated by a State? As financial transactions have shifted historically from various governments' legal …

User Perceived Service Quality Of Mhealth Services In Developing Countries, Shahriar Akter, John D'Ambra, Pradeep Ray

Shahriar Akter

Health challenges present arguably the most significant barrier to sustainable global development. The introduction of ICT in healthcare, especially the application of mobile communications, has created the potential to transform healthcare delivery by making it more accessible, affordable and effective across the developing world. However, there is growing concerns about the quality of such services with regard to the robustness of the service delivery platform, knowledge and competence of the provider, privacy and security of information and above all, their effects on satisfaction, future use intentions and quality of life. The aim of this paper is to explore, analyze and …

Service Quality Of Mhealth: Development And Validation Of A Hierarchical Model Using Pls, Shahriar Akter, John D'Ambra, Pradeep Ray

Shahriar Akter

Advancing research on service quality requires clarifying the theoretical conceptualizations and validating an integrated service quality model. The purpose of this study is to facilitate and elucidate practical issues and decisions related to the development of a hierarchical service quality model in mobile health (mHealth) services research. Conceptually, it extends theory by reframing service quality as a reflective, hierarchical construct and modeling its impact on satisfaction, intention to continue using and quality of life. Empirically, it confirms that PLS path modeling can be used to estimate the parameters of a higher order construct and its association with subsequent consequential latent …

Trustworthiness In Mhealth Information Services: An Assessment Of A Hierarchical Model With Mediating And Moderating Effects Using Partial Least Squares (Pls), Shahriar Akter

Shahriar Akter

The aim of this research is to advance both the theoretical conceptualization and the empirical validation of trustworthiness in mHealth (mobile health) information services research. Conceptually, it extends this line of research by reframing trustworthiness as a hierarchical, reflective construct, incorporating ability, benevolence, integrity, and predictability. Empirically, it confirms that partial least squares path modeling can be used to estimate the parameters of a hierarchical, reflective model with moderating and mediating effects in a nomological network. The model shows that trustworthiness is a second-order, reflective construct that has a significant direct and indirect impact on continuance intentions in the context …

Gradual Changes In Repeat Customers' Adoption Behavior Toward Responses To Mobile Direct Mail Coupon Promotions, Shahriar Akter

Shahriar Akter

Service businesses record the number of visitors as a measure of the performance of their business. However, summarized observations such as the total number of visits per month provide little insight on individual-level visiting behavior. In addition, behavior may change over time, especially in a swiftly changing environment induced by mobile promotions. This paper presents an individual level model for shop visiting behavior based on data of a beauty salon. The model focuses on gradual changes toward responses to mobile direct mail (DM) coupons based on the shop visit interval (SVI) of the beauty salon. This means that as someone …

Quality Modeling In Healthcare: A Study Of Mhealth Service, Shahriar Akter

Shahriar Akter

No abstract provided.

Mobile Dm Coupon Promotion In Japan: A Case Study On Response Behavior Changes In Services Consumption, Shahriar Akter

Shahriar Akter

This chapter investigates the changes in customers’ responses to mobile direct mail (DM) coupons on the shop visit probability (SVP) of a beauty parlor. Two experiments were carried out to examine the promotional effects of mobile DM coupons. The first experiment, conducted in 2004, compared mobile DM coupons with postcard DM coupons. The mobile DM coupons were found to have no effect on SVP, although positive effects were observed for postcard DM coupons. The second experiment, conducted in 2005 with three types of mobile DM coupons, compared the responses of new customers with those of repeat customers. The results varied …

Exploring Loyalty In Mobile Information Services: The Role Of Sound Amusements, Shahriar Akter

Shahriar Akter

The aim of this research is to explore consumer loyalty in mobile amusement information services, using a behaviors-atisfaction‐ loyalty framework. Among many different frameworks of satisfaction‐loyalty, we investigated the impact of ‘use behavior’ on ‘satisfaction’ and that of ‘satisfaction’ on ‘loyalty,’ which results in a strong support of the existing model. It confirms that, on both paths, there are significant associations between a latent variable and a measurement variable of stronger amusement element than that of weaker ones. The results show that amusement contains seven types of measurement variables (i.e., E‐mail, SMS, MMS, Music, Ringtones, Video Streaming, Games) which have …

Serving The Poor By Marketing Information, Developing A Sustainable Village Phone Model In Bangladesh, Shahriar Akter, Jay Rajasekera, Mahfuzur Rahman

Shahriar Akter

Wireless technologies have created an unprecedented opportunity for rural customers in the developing world to solve their communication and information problems in an instantaneous, interactive and customised way. The framework of the study focuses on existing mobile village phone model in Bangladesh and suggests ways to make it sustainable through mobile information services marketing. The study has treated ‘village phone’ as a cost effective and interactive channel through which various information services can be marketed to serve customers in the rural settings.

Mhealth- An Ultimate Platform To Serve The Unserved, Shahriar Akter

Shahriar Akter

Objectives: To summarize major current developments and research in the field of mobile health (mHealth) services. Methods: Reports on the unique characteristics of mHealth platform and its role in delivering health services to the resource poor settings. Also, it evaluates different mHealth applications and identifies key success factors and challenges. Results and Conclusion: mHealth, based on the most ubiquitous and widely accepted technology, offers an unprecedented opportunity to serve the unserved by right time medical information services. There is growing evidence that it has already transformed healthcare delivery in many resource poor settings through its low cost, high reach and …

Production Planning And Control Systems-State Of The Art And New Directions, V. Sridharan, John Kanet

John J. Kanet

This chapter begins with a description of the role of production planning and control (PPC) within the manufacturing function. After discussing the impact of the operating environment on the choice a system for PPC, we describe some recent empirical evidence regarding the use and performance results of various PPC systems. This is followed by a brief overview of the two most widely used systems for production planning and control. We then describe a recent development in the area of short-term detailed scheduling exploiting the latest developments in computing technology. The chapter concludes with a discussion of an emerging paradigm for …

Operations Research For Freight Train Routing And Scheduling, Steven Harrod, Michael Gorman

Michael F. Gorman

This article describes the service design activities that plan and implement the rail freight operating plan. Elements of strategic service design include the setting of train frequency, the routing of cars among trains, and the consolidation of cars, called blocking. At the operational level, trains are dispatched either according to train paths configured in advance, called timetables, or according to priority rules. We describe the North American and European practice along with selected modeling and problem solving methodologies appropriate for each of the operating conditions described.

Operations Research Approaches In Asset Management In Freight Rail, Michael Gorman, Steven Harrod

Michael F. Gorman

This article describes operations research methodologies as they apply to asset management in freight rail. We describe state-of-the-art methods for locomotive, crew, rail-car, line and yard planning and management. We conclude with emerging areas of research in rail.

An Application Of The Socio-Technical Systems Approach To Implementation Of Electronic Evidence Into Practice: The Clinical Practice Model Framework, Kathleen Abrahamson, Priscilla Arling, Bonnie Wesorick, James Anderson

Priscilla Arling

Implementation of electronic evidence into the practice environments of clinical staff is an ongoing challenge in health care organizations. Despite localized efforts to integrate point-of-care technology with clinical practice, system-wide transformation across multiple clinical settings has not commonly occurred. This paper examines a framework designed to guide the implementation of evidence-based practice using technology in health care settings from the theoretical lens of the Socio-Technical Systems (STS) approach. The framework under study is called the CPM Framework™, developed by the Clinical Practice Model Resource Center (CPMRC). The CPMRC is a collaborative consortium of health care providers representing over 300 rural, …

Comparing Electronic And Face-To-Face Communication In The Success Of A Long-Term Care Quality Improvement Collaborative, Priscilla Arling, Edward Miech, Greg Arling

Priscilla Arling

Researchers have long debated the effectiveness of electronic communication for getting work done in organizations, with many arguing that face-to-face interaction is key to high quality work and desired outcomes. Yet in healthcare quality improvement (QI) collaboratives, membership is frequently comprised of individuals from different, geographically dispersed organizations. This study examines the relationship between electronic and face-to-face interaction and the outcomes of a specific QI collaborative, the Empira Fall Prevention project in Minnesota. Outside of regularly scheduled meetings, the level of electronic communication reported by participants was associated with better outcomes in terms of reducing the percentage of new falls …

Redefining And Measuring Virtual Work In Teams: An Application Of Social Network Analysis, Priscilla Arling

Priscilla Arling

For several decades organizational researchers have explored the practice of using electronic technology to communicate when team members work physically apart from each other. Yet despite a growing body of research in the areas of telework and virtual teams, findings regarding the antecedents and outcomes of virtual work have often been inconsistent and many questions remain [1, 2]. One possible reason for the equivocality of findings regarding this practice is the lack of a common definition and method of measuring virtual work. The purpose of this paper is to present a definition and measure of virtual work that can capture …

Systems Theory And Knowledge Management Systems: The Case Of Pratt-Whitney Rocketdyne, Priscilla Arling

Priscilla Arling

Despite a growing body of research on knowledge management (KM) systems, many managers are still unsure how they can implement a KM system that will effectively contribute to the firm’s competitive advantage. A common framework is one that breaks down KM into four main activities: knowledge creation, storage, transfer, and application. This paper describes one company’s use of an alternative perspective–a systems thinking approach–to define and improve KM within the firm. Pratt-Whitney Rocketdyne moved away from viewing KM as separate processes, to view the organization holistically as a system of people, processes, and technology. Based on this perspective, the company …

Getting The Most Out Of Third- Party Trust Seals: An Empirical Analysis, Koray Özpolat, Wolfgang Jank

Koray Özpolat

No abstract provided.

Strategic It Alignment: An Evaluation And Process-Level Reconceptualization Of The Construct, Magno Queiroz, Tim Coltman, Rajeev Sharma, Paul Tallon, Peter Reynolds

Magno Queiroz

Strategic IT alignment is an important construct that has been the subject of considerable scholarly attention. However, a close examination of how the construct has been defined and operationalized in the literature reveals a number of limitations and inconsistencies. In particular, the construct has been defined too broadly and used loosely to account for diverse phenomena. This situation is problematic because it undermines the relevance of IT alignment research for IS scholars and practitioners. This paper reviews enduring challenges to strategic alignment research and proposes a process level conceptualization for the construct. In particular, the proposed re conceptualization meets two …

The Role Of Alignment Between Corporate It And Sbu It In Creating Sbu Agility, Magno Queiroz

Magno Queiroz

Information technology (IT) is considered to be an important enabler of organizational agility. Yet, managers continue to speak of their frustration with IT-based rigidities that hinder responsiveness to market threats and opportunities. This implies that the IT function is not always aligned to the aims of an agile business. Prior research has not investigated this issue in multi-business organizations where strategic business units (SBUs) compete across distinct market segments. To establish synergy across the organization, management defines a corporate IT platform to be shared by SBUs. In contrast, each SBU defines its own IT portfolio to increase local flexibility. This …

Strategic Information Technology Alignment: Conceptualization, Measurement, And Performance Implications, Magno Queiroz

Magno Queiroz

Explaining the effect of information technology (IT) on organizational performance is a primary concern for strategic IT alignment research. The central hypothesis is that performance is a function of the alignment between IT and the organization’s business strategy. Preceding theories explain the performance implications of IT alignment within a single line of business. However, they do not explain the need for IT to be aligned with distinct strategies developed at the corporate and strategic business unit (SBU) levels in a multi-business organization. This thesis begins the task of unpacking the concept of IT alignment to explain the performance implications of …

Green Freight Asia (C): The Road Ahead, Jason Woodard, Christopher Dula

C. Jason Woodard

Green Freight Asia is a three-part case series featured in the 2014 APEX Business-IT Global Case Challenge. The case is best used for group projects or workshop assignments concerning business-IT related topics. In this case, students take on the role of a small firm pitching to collaborate with GFA on an IT solution partnership to support GFA’s programme for the adoption of green freight practices in the Asia Pacific region. The case could also be adapted for classroom facilitation with adequate preparation.

Green Freight Asia (C): The Road Ahead is the third and final part of the case series. It …

Green Freight Asia (A): Driving The Adoption Of Sustainable Supply Chain Practices, Jason Woodard, Christopher Dula

C. Jason Woodard

Green Freight Asia is a three-part case series featured in the 2014 APEX Business-IT Global Case Challenge. The case is best used for group projects or workshop assignments concerning business-IT related topics. In this case, students take on the role of a small firm pitching to collaborate with GFA on an IT solution partnership to support GFA’s programme for the adoption of green freight practices in the Asia Pacific region. The case could also be adapted for classroom facilitation with adequate preparation. The first part, Green Freight Asia (A): Driving the Adoption of Sustainable Supply Chain Practices, chronicles the formation …

Green Freight Asia (B): Navigating Toward A Successful Partnership, Jason Woodard, Christopher Dula

C. Jason Woodard

Green Freight Asia is a three-part case series featured in the 2014 APEX Business-IT Global Case Challenge. The case is best used for group projects or workshop assignments concerning business-IT related topics. In this case, students take on the role of a small firm pitching to collaborate with GFA on an IT solution partnership to support GFA’s programme for the adoption of green freight practices in the Asia Pacific region. The case could also be adapted for classroom facilitation with adequate preparation. The second part, Green Freight Asia (B): Navigating Toward A Successful Partnership, explores how a collaborative partnership between …

Reorienting The Information Systems Function To Support Increasing Levels Of Business Service, Magno Queiroz, Tim Coltman

Magno Queiroz

Business scholars and practitioners are becoming increasingly aware of the opportunities that exist when service is added to traditional product offerings. However, the literature has not previously explored the question of how the IS function is responding to greater emphasis on service. In this paper, we employ a multi-case research design to investigate the role of the IS function in supporting increasing levels of service. Our study contributes to the literature by showing that differences in IS service orientation and collaborative capabilities affect the ability of firms to support service. The implications for IS and managerial practice are discussed by …

Modeling The Evolution Of Generativity And The Emergence Of Digital Ecosystems, C. Jason Woodard, Eric K. Clemons

C. Jason Woodard

Recent literature on sociotechnical systems has employed the concept of generativity to explain the remarkable capacity for digital artifacts to support decentralized innovation and the emergence of rich business ecosystems. In this paper, we propose agent-based computational modeling as a tool for studying the evolution of generativity, and offer a set of building blocks for constructing agent-based models in which generativity evolves. We describe a series of models that we have created using these building blocks, and summarize the results of our computational experiments to date. We find in several different settings that key features of generative systems can themselves …

Triangulating System Requirements For Users With Severe Motor Disabilities, Adriane Randolph

Adriane B. Randolph

By giving a voice to users in the design process of information systems, they often feel more empowered and engaged. The inclusion of users with disabilities in the design process, however, can be markedly more difficult. User profiling allows a user's preferences and interests to be captured and represented. However, for a user with severe motor disabilities, information related to his or her user profile must be obtained through a variety of means. Because feedback from a person with a severe motor disability may be limited and, at times, unreliable, system requirements must be triangulated using multiple sources to help …

Transformational Leadership In China: The Role Of Trust And Harmony, Wai Kwan (Elaine) Lau

Wai Kwan (Elaine) Lau

Transformational leadership attracted a significant amount of scholarly attention in the past few decades. This study is designed to develop an effective transformational leadership model that works in the Chinese context. A model is proposed to clarify the mediating effects of trust and harmony on the relationship between transformational leadership and its effectiveness. The model provides a new perspective on leadership in the Chinese context that is ignored in the Western leadership literature. It also offers a clearer understanding of how best transformational leadership practice combines with traditional Chinese wisdom to do a better job in accounting for the leader-follower …

Success Mass Customization: The Role Of Market Segment Favorableness, Wai Kwan (Elaine) Lau

Wai Kwan (Elaine) Lau

Mass customization (MC) emerged as a new paradigm that shifted from mass production. It achieves both volume and cost efficiency of mass production and customization capabilities at the same time. The challenge for manufacturing managers is to find ways to cope with the market and increase product variety through MC without affecting lead-time, cost or quality. Based on the previous literature review, a conceptual summary of MC is discussed. According to the conceptual summary, a model is built to discuss how each of the elements associated with MC contributes to improved firm performance. It further proposed that the market segment …

Information Privacy: Understanding How Firms Behave Online, Gerald Kane, Kathy Schwaig, Veda Storey

Kathy S Schwaig

The acquisition and use of personal information by large corporations continues to be a leading issue in the age of virtual communication and collaboration. This research reviews and analyzes the privacy policies of large US companies to evaluate the substance and quality of their stated information practices. Six factors are identified that indicate the extent to which a firm is dependent upon consumer personal information, and therefore, more likely to develop high quality privacy statements. The study’s findings provide practical and theoretical implications for information privacy issues, particularly for consumers who need to decide whether to disclose their personal identifying …