Business Commons^™

Systemization & Survival -- “Houston, We Have A Problem” – Business Lessons From Apollo 13, Judith Jacob Iddy, Njeru Zakayo

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

In the business world, there are different factors that determine whether a business will survive or not. Apollo 13 film perfectly demonstrates what every business undergoes throughout its lifecycle. Apollo 13 spacecraft started its journey to the moon successfully with the mission being to land on the moon. Unfortunately, within a very short period of time, Apollo 13 started to experience a series of problems that required quick actions and decisions to be made with the involvement of different sets of technical skills. Ultimately, by using the prototype and systems which NASA had established for Apollo 13, the teams managed …

People, Processes, Systems, And Leadership — Keys To Organizational Performance, Cam Caldwell, Khalfan R. Al Asmi, Zulaikah Albusaidi, Rayan Esmaail

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

Current evidence about successful organizations emphasizes the importance of integrated organizational factors that combine to convey a consistent message to employees that is the essence of an effective organizational culture (Beer, 2009; Shein & Schein, 2016). Although there is much that is positive about the achievements that some organizations are making to create a sustainable organizational culture, there is also overwhelming evidence that organizations and their leaders are struggling to earn the commitment and followership of their employees (Clifton & Harter, 2019; Edelman, 2023).

Outcomes Of Enterprise Resource Planning System On Organizational Productivity, Tambei Chiawah, William G. Dzekashu, Walter R. Mccollum, Evelyn E. Fomuso

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Leaders within local government organizations do not understand how to achieve expected and desired benefits from the implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. The lack of alignment between social and technical elements in ERP implementation continues to depress organizational productivity. The prime objective of our quantitative correlational study was to examine whether social and technical elements increase use and productivity in ERP implementation. Sociotechnical systems theory provided the theoretical basis for our study. We examined six dimensional variables relating to ERP implementation. Our key findings indicated positive significant relationships between ERP and information sharing, between ERP system quality and …

“It Felt Like Having A Second Job”: Perspectives From Deaf Professionals On Communication Equity In The Workplace, Paul B. Harrelson, Brenda S. Nicodemus

JADARA

More than 50 years of nondiscrimination legislation in the United States has resulted in greater diversity in the workplace; however, questions persist about the communication equity of Deaf employees who use a signed language. In this study, we investigate systemic factors that underlie the provision of signed language interpreting services in the workplace. Using the Critical Incident Technique, observations were collected from 17 Deaf professionals regarding the systems of interpreter provision at work. The data resulted in four main findings: (1) Deaf professionals hold a sophisticated understanding of their communication needs, (2) both quality and quantity of interpreting are important, …

Strategy Resilience: Getting Wise About Philanthropic Strategy In A Post-Pandemic World, Jewlya Lynn, Clare Nolan, Peter Waring

The Foundation Review

Public and private systems worldwide have been disrupted by COVID-19, cutting across all types of philanthropic priorities. Amid this uncertainty, some philanthropic strategies have struggled to find their footing while others have adapted easily, harnessing previously unanticipated opportunities to achieve change. Why have some philanthropic strategies been more successful than others? What wisdom can we draw from this moment that can help us prepare for the future?

During times of crisis, the concept of resilience is frequently applied to nonprofit organizations and their leaders. This article flips the vantage point toward funders, proposing a theory to explain what makes some …

Disruptive Innovation Within The Legal Services Ecosystem, Donald G. Billings, Douglas G. Campbell

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Many law firms have done little to address the opportunities and threats presented by potentially disruptive technology (DT), such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies that some law firm leaders use to address the potentially detrimental influences of DT on their organizations. The systems approach to management was employed as the conceptual framework. Data were collected from 6 participants at 2 international law firms with offices in California, using semi-structured interviews and organizational artifacts. Data were analyzed using inductive and deductive coding and thematic analysis, resulting in …

A Neighborhood-Based Family Center Redesign Process: Taking A Systems Perspective, Patricia Bowie, Richard Sussman

The Foundation Review

This article describes how the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, with a subset of its grantees and their program recipients, teamed with the UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families & Communities to redesign its evaluation process.

The foundation’s shift from traditional program evaluation to a more participatory, learning-focused approach resulted in new tools to assess variables that had been previously unexamined but were critical to program success.

This article examines the redesign process and those new tools – the data from which are being used to improve employee engagement and front-line practice as part of a cross-agency learning network – …

Naturalness Of Ontology Concepts For Rating Aspects Of The Semantic Web, Yoo Jung An, Kuo-Chuan Huang, James Geller

Communications of the IIMA

The Semantic Web is expected to be the next generation of the WWW. Ontologies and agents are major ingredients of the Semantic Web. In (Lee and Geller 2005), we have argued that some existing ontologies make use of unnatural concepts. We stated that unnatural concepts make it difficult to use an ontology and they contradict the purpose of an ontology, which includes explanatory power for the purpose of sharing information. In this paper we elaborate what makes a concept unnatural. We also analyze existing ontologies to get numeric measures of how natural their concepts are.

A. Survey Of Entity Resolution And Record Linkage Methodologies, David Guy Brizan, Abdullah Uz Tansel

Communications of the IIMA

A great deal of research is focused on formation of a data warehouse. This is an important area of research as it could save many computation cycles and thus allow accurate information provided to the right people at the right time. Two considerations when forming a data warehouse are data cleansing (including entity resolution) and with schema integration (including record linkage). Uncleansed and fragmented data requires time to decipher and may lead to increased costs for an organization, so data cleansing and schema integration can save a great many (human) computation cycles and can lead to higher organizational efficiency. In …

Explicitly Stated Security Policies Of Web Sites Of Global Banks Of Europe, Australia, Asia And The U.S, Donald R. Moscato, Eric D. Moscato

Communications of the IIMA

This paper is the latest component of a research project conducted by the authors over a three-year period. The first phase emphasized the privacy policies of global banks and other businesses engaged in E-commerce. Over 600 individualized web-sites were visited and evaluated. This, the second phase of the research project, focuses on the security policies in place for global financial institutions. The purpose of this research study is to review, compare and summarize the security policies of global banks as they are expressed on their web sites. A total of over 300 web sites of global banks were included in …

A Case Study Of Pratt And Whitney Aircraft's Commercial Spares Planning, Vincent A. Mabert, Ashok Soni, Gerard Campbell

Communications of the IIMA

This case study, which can be used as a teaching case, deals with jet engine spare parts planning at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Company, a division of United Technologies Corporation. The case includes background on the company's history and an overview of their jet engine manufacturing operations. The primary focus of the case is on the application and evaluation offorecasting models for demand planning within an ERF system environment. An Excel-based decision support system (DSS), which is available from the authors upon request, enables the evaluation of alternative time series forecasting models for a variety of jet engine spare parts. …

Organizational Culture And Telecommuters' Quality Of Work Life And Professional Isolation, Susan J. Harrington, Julie Santiago

Communications of the IIMA

While much has been studied and written about the adjustments managers must make when supervising remote workers in virtual work arrangements, little has been written about the potential change in the organizational culture and the effect the culture has on the virtual worker's quality of work life and professional isolation. Not only may culture affect the implementation and success of telecommuting arrangements, but the increased isolation and independence of a virtual worker may impact the culture surrounding remote workers and create an organizational subculture. This study examines the relationship between quality of work life, professional isolation, and an organization's cultural …

Review Of It Offshore Outsourcing Issues, Helen M. Carothers, Gerhard Steinke

Communications of the IIMA

This paper attempts to take an objective look at offshore outsourcing within the information technology (IT) industry. Background material is provided to establish a clear definition and context for the discussion. Basic benefits, risks, and trends are identified and domestic market impacts are explored.

Factors Affecting The Adoption Of Web Services Technology, Rajshri Chopde, Pruthikrai Mahatanankoon, Joseph H. Wen

Communications of the IIMA

This study aims to finding the factors that affect the adoption of web services technology. The study proposes a web service technology adoption model in which three contexts from Tornatzky and Fleischer's (1990) framework, namely, external environmental context, technological context and organizational context, and two constructs from the TAM (Davis, 1989) model, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, are studied to determine their influence on web services adoption. Exploratory factor analysis is used to explore the factors affecting the adoption of web services technology. Structural Equation modeling is used to validate and analyze the research model.

Policies, Procedures, And Devices Used By U.S. Hospitals For Hipaa Privacy And Security Compliance, Diane C. Davis, Jeff Squibb

Communications of the IIMA

The purpose of the study was to identify the policies and procedures required in U.S. hospitals to meet the requirements of the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). A major aspect of the study focused on the degree of change required to meet the security standards and on the types of security devices used by the hospitals. Findings from a survey of 286 U.S. hospitals found the greatest amount of change needed to meet HIPAA security compliance were changes resulting in increased Information Systems (IS) budget requirements, changes to network monitoring, and additional hiring in the IS department.

An Edi Transaction Set Development Lifecycle (Tsdl): A Case Study In The Food Manufacturing Industry, Robert C. Beatty, Mary C. Jones

Communications of the IIMA

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is widely regarded by organizations worldwide as the business standard for the timely and secure exchange of electronic business transactions in an expanding global marketplace. While numerous research efforts have explored how the adoption, implementation, and integration of this technology can impact an organization's technical, organizational, and competitive environment - few studies have documented the process used by organizations to implement EDI transaction sets with trading partners. This paper advances an innovative lifecycle used by a food manufacturing company to successfully design, implement, and test an EDI transaction set. This paper also describes how this transaction …

The Interrelationship And Effect Of Trust And Strong Cultures In Setting Information Systems Security Goals, Ioannis V. Koskosas, Jyoti Choudrie, Ray J. Paul

Communications of the IIMA

This paper investigates the interrelationship and effect of trust and culture on the level of goal setting within the context of information systems security. In doing so, it explores and discusses the concepts of trust and strong culture and seeks to demonstrate their importance in setting efficiently information systems security goals. The paper contributes to interpretive information systems research with the study of goal setting in a security management context and its grounding within an interpretive epistemology.

Developing Security For E-Commerce Applications: A Teaching Case, Chang Liu, Brian G. Mackie

Communications of the IIMA

The number of severe computer security breaches in e-commerce applications has been on the increase over the last few years. This has become one of the biggest security problems in recent years. Although there are tools to build e-commerce application firewalls to alert and prevent intruder attacks, these tools are not trivial to install (they are not plug-and-play). Internet intruders can create havoc and produce catastrophe results by exploiting weaknesses in e- commerce applications. Therefore, developers of e-commerce web sites have to incorporate ways to systematically identify and eliminate vulnerabilities in the EC applications to enhance their security. This paper …

Managers' Perceived Benefits Of Using Electronic Procurement In Taiwan, Jack Shih-Chieh Hsu, Edward T. Chen

Communications of the IIMA

Facing the competitive pressure from new hospitals and new regulations from the Bureau of National Health Insurance, hospital managers in Taiwan are concentrating on reducing the hospital operation costs and improving the healthcare quality. Practitioners and academic researchers agree that reducing the pharmacy cost is one of the best solutions to sustain competitive advantage. As electronic commerce becomes popular in many industry sectors, e- procurement is growing rapidly in the healthcare industry. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the managers' perceptions of benefits of using electronic procurement system. After surveying 152 hospitals in Taiwan, we find that hospital …

Project Zenith: A Case Study Of Electronic Data Interchange, Charles Frank, Jack T. Marchewka

Communications of the IIMA

This paper utilizes a case study approach to analyze the key decisions, stakeholders, and lessons learned from a project to develop an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) application conceived and developed by a consulting firm. Several individuals within the firm viewed this EDI service as an opportunity for generating new revenue. However, the new system was not embraced fully by several sales and account representatives who did not view this potential product as a service that could make an adequate profit margin and translate into larger commissions. In addition, the consulting firm's president supported the project to the extent that it …

Likelihood Of Purchase On-Line: Reliability, Security, And Design, Milam Aiken, Mahesh B. Vanjani

Communications of the IIMA

Several factors can influence a consumer's likelihood of purchasing on the Web including trust, ease-of-use, and price discounts. This study examines over a dozen different variables that affect the decision to conduct business online. A survey of experienced Web users validated that poor design, security, and reliability tend to decrease a person's willingness to purchase through the Web.

An Analysis Of Safety Culture & Safety Training: Comparing The Impact Of Union, Non-Union, And Right To Work Construction Venues, Harry Miller Csp, Tara Hill, Kris Mason, John S. Gaal Edd

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

The construction industry is one of the most dangerous sectors of the US economy. As such, the safety attitudes and climate within small (residential) contracting firms may play a role in providing a safe culture and working environment. The intent of this practitioner-based research study is to compare and determine if there is a difference in safety practices—based on documented field inspections and their related original number of violations observed by OSHA—between union residential carpentry contractors in the St. Louis area and:

1) non-union residential carpentry contractors in the St. Louis area;

2) non-union residential carpentry contractors across Missouri; and …

Systems Dynamics Modeling For Collaboration And Information Sharing On Supply Chain Performance And Value Creation, Frank Lin, Conrad Shayo

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Collaborations among various parties of the supply chain system are becoming more important in improving performance and creating value. Information sharing plays a vital role in supply chain management. This study proposes a general model for identifying interrelationships among information sharing, collaboration and supply chain performance. Then a systems dynamics approach is used to examine how information sharing and collaboration influence supply chain performance and value creation.

Successful Introduction Of Cloud Computing Into Your Organization: A Six-Step Conceptual Model, Hossein Bidgoli

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Cloud computing is the fastest area of application within the information systems field. The adoption of cloud computing by businesses, government agencies, and academic institutions is on the rise. Cloud computing platforms could reduce cost, offer scale, and increase information systems responsiveness for those companies that are adopting it properly. However, still many decision makers do not really know what exactly cloud computing is, its unique capabilities, and how it may increase the efficiency and effectiveness of IT services. Also cloud computing may mean different things to different people. This paper first examines different applications within the cloud computing domain …

Can Information Systems Foster Emotional Intelligence? A Design Theory-Based Approach, Richard J. Burkhard, Thomas A. Horan, Brian N. Hilton, Michael Leih

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Researchers in Information Systems (IS) have conducted extensive research into various kinds of collaboration systems over the last twenty-five years. A parallel stream of inquiry in psychology and management has developed research in organizational Emotional Intelligence, which contributes to the effectiveness of group interactions by increasing cooperation and reducing conflict. Collaboration systems present a special opportunity to introduce soft management functions such as Emotional Intelligence because they are designed as an intelligent channel of interaction between group members. This research used an Information Systems Design Theory approach to guide the integration of Emotional Intelligence functions into collaboration systems. Two artifact …

Business Risks: When Is Fails To Detect Circumvention Activities, Stanley X. Lewis Jr., J. Scott Magruder, Eddy J. Burks, Carl Smolinski

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

A business must recognize and address various risk factors when establishing and maintaining its information system. The overall risk to management is that the control environment does not protect proprietary business data and the financial reporting system that produces financial statements and other information used by investors, creditors and regulatory agencies. These risks require that management implement efforts to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of control procedures over business activities while being aware of additional system issues such as failing to adequately consider other risks which are more business-oriented including the risk of failing to prevent or detect fraudulent or …

Project Management: Is/It Research Challenges, Debbie Tesch, Lewis R. Ireland, Julie Yu-Chih Liu

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

A major challenge in Information Systems and Information Technology is to improve the ability to conceptualize, design, develop and deliver information systems that meet customer requirements. Project management is often adopted to create solutions that work and meet customer needs. The principles of project management as defined by the Project Management Institute, can improve project success rates. Researchers in the project management need to help practitioners understanding the impact of different principles on the success of IS development. This study undertakes a survey of project management experts on the state of practice and research to examine the need for improving …

Strategies, Contributions And Inhibitors Of Information Systems To Organizational Competitiveness: An Empirical Analysis Within The Caribbean, Stephen Louis, Ashley Braganza, Ray Hackney

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

The study examines the impact of Information Systems (IS) through a consideration of improved competitiveness within a multi-business Caribbean firm. The methodology draws on a participant-observer approach for data collection and compares the application of IS by three business units within each of three organizations. It is argued that while there is already a substantial amount of research on IS effectiveness its value in the context of developing countries such as those of the Caribbean will be most significant. In this context firms are perceived to face more constraints than in developed countries so there is a need to explicitly …

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 …

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 …