Pub Date : 1999-03-01DOI: 10.1108/13287269980000741
P. Beynon-Davies, D. Tudhope, H. Mackay
In this paper we discuss some of the particular features of user involvement in information systems (IS) development projects with reference to the idea of the trajectory of development being a political/cultural process. The main aim is to attempt to supply more depth to an understanding of the pragmatics of user involvement in IS development projects. We illustrate how in one particular project, differences in organisational sub‐cultures, and in particular the way in which the technology was ‘framed’, led to differences in the way in which an information system was conceived. These differences, in turn, contributed to elements of organisational conflict between stakeholder groups over the future trajectory of the IS development. We conclude with a critique of some generally held assumptions concerning user involvement.
{"title":"User involvement, organisational sub‐cultures and development trajectory","authors":"P. Beynon-Davies, D. Tudhope, H. Mackay","doi":"10.1108/13287269980000741","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/13287269980000741","url":null,"abstract":"In this paper we discuss some of the particular features of user involvement in information systems (IS) development projects with reference to the idea of the trajectory of development being a political/cultural process. The main aim is to attempt to supply more depth to an understanding of the pragmatics of user involvement in IS development projects. We illustrate how in one particular project, differences in organisational sub‐cultures, and in particular the way in which the technology was ‘framed’, led to differences in the way in which an information system was conceived. These differences, in turn, contributed to elements of organisational conflict between stakeholder groups over the future trajectory of the IS development. We conclude with a critique of some generally held assumptions concerning user involvement.","PeriodicalId":38615,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Systems and Information Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1999-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1108/13287269980000741","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"62339665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 1999-03-01DOI: 10.1108/13287269980000743
R. F. D. Frutos, Mercedes Gracia-Díez, T. Pérez-Amaral, Pedro J. Vega‐Catena
In this paper we address the question of how telecommunications affect economic growth, by estimating the effect of direct investment in telecommunications infrastructures on aggregate output, employment, and investment in Spain. In contrast with previous studies, the problem is analyzed in a dynamic multivariate framework which allows for explicit consideration of feedbacks among all the variables. We find significant effects of the investment in infrastructures of telecommunications on aggregate output, employment and investment which extend for several years. This might justify a policy for stimulating investment in this sector.
{"title":"The economic impact of investment in infrastructures of telecommunications in Spain: 1964‐1993.","authors":"R. F. D. Frutos, Mercedes Gracia-Díez, T. Pérez-Amaral, Pedro J. Vega‐Catena","doi":"10.1108/13287269980000743","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/13287269980000743","url":null,"abstract":"In this paper we address the question of how telecommunications affect economic growth, by estimating the effect of direct investment in telecommunications infrastructures on aggregate output, employment, and investment in Spain. In contrast with previous studies, the problem is analyzed in a dynamic multivariate framework which allows for explicit consideration of feedbacks among all the variables. We find significant effects of the investment in infrastructures of telecommunications on aggregate output, employment and investment which extend for several years. This might justify a policy for stimulating investment in this sector.","PeriodicalId":38615,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Systems and Information Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1999-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1108/13287269980000743","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"62339784","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 1999-03-01DOI: 10.1108/13287269980000742
R. McQueen, Kathryn E Rayner, N. Kock
Face‐to‐face business meetings are a widely used method of group interaction, and a rich source of data on what actually happens in group discussions. Active participation in a meeting is usually perceived to be making an oral contribution of some kind to the discussion. This paper describes a field study of ten face‐to‐face business meetings which were videotaped and subsequently analysed. Participant contributions were coded, and the data summarized. The mean contribution was approximately 12 seconds and 18 words. The most common contribution type was information giving. The highest single contributor in each meeting captured, on average, about 30% of the available airtime, while the two highest, combined, captured over half of the airtime. These findings are discussed within the context of requirements for designers of collaborative technology systems to support group interpersonal communication through the use of computing and data communication technologies.
{"title":"Contribution by participants in face‐to‐face business meetings: Implications for collaborative technology","authors":"R. McQueen, Kathryn E Rayner, N. Kock","doi":"10.1108/13287269980000742","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/13287269980000742","url":null,"abstract":"Face‐to‐face business meetings are a widely used method of group interaction, and a rich source of data on what actually happens in group discussions. Active participation in a meeting is usually perceived to be making an oral contribution of some kind to the discussion. This paper describes a field study of ten face‐to‐face business meetings which were videotaped and subsequently analysed. Participant contributions were coded, and the data summarized. The mean contribution was approximately 12 seconds and 18 words. The most common contribution type was information giving. The highest single contributor in each meeting captured, on average, about 30% of the available airtime, while the two highest, combined, captured over half of the airtime. These findings are discussed within the context of requirements for designers of collaborative technology systems to support group interpersonal communication through the use of computing and data communication technologies.","PeriodicalId":38615,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Systems and Information Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1999-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1108/13287269980000742","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"62339728","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 1999-03-01DOI: 10.1108/13287269980000744
Athanassios P. Papakonstantinou, V. Rogakos, K. Metaxiotis
Within the last decade many projects have been implemented in order to provide technical assistance (TA) to countries, which have initiated their transition from centrally planned to market economies (mainly countries of Central and Eastern Europe being previously under the Soviet regime). The monitoring and evaluation exercise aims at assisting these TA projects in achieving their objectives, by providing management information on the projects’ implementation, so that structured management decisions can be taken, if and when needed. In this framework, the necessity for creation of an overall M&E database system emerged. The IMES was developed for the needs of the European commission (DGLA) and its main objective was to improve the Management Reporting on Tacis progress and results, by extracting relevant information on projects’ performance from the monitoring and evaluation reports and by producing overall statistics at NIS (New Independent States) level.
{"title":"Conceptual IMES: An integrated monitoring and evaluation system in the internet world","authors":"Athanassios P. Papakonstantinou, V. Rogakos, K. Metaxiotis","doi":"10.1108/13287269980000744","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/13287269980000744","url":null,"abstract":"Within the last decade many projects have been implemented in order to provide technical assistance (TA) to countries, which have initiated their transition from centrally planned to market economies (mainly countries of Central and Eastern Europe being previously under the Soviet regime). The monitoring and evaluation exercise aims at assisting these TA projects in achieving their objectives, by providing management information on the projects’ implementation, so that structured management decisions can be taken, if and when needed. In this framework, the necessity for creation of an overall M&E database system emerged. The IMES was developed for the needs of the European commission (DGLA) and its main objective was to improve the Management Reporting on Tacis progress and results, by extracting relevant information on projects’ performance from the monitoring and evaluation reports and by producing overall statistics at NIS (New Independent States) level.","PeriodicalId":38615,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Systems and Information Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1999-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1108/13287269980000744","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"62339807","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 1998-12-01DOI: 10.1108/13287269880000738
P. Blakey, C. Phillips, Julie Bunnell
It has been suggested that conceptual models can be used to enhance the training of novice end‐users. This paper discusses the part played by metaphor in conceptual models, provides examples of end‐user training incorporating metaphors, and contends that metaphors facilitate the development of accurate mental models. The more specific issue of the role of conceptual models, and by implication metaphor, in the training of end‐users remains to be investigated, and a research agenda for this purpose is outlined.
{"title":"On the role of metaphor in conceptual models for end‐user training","authors":"P. Blakey, C. Phillips, Julie Bunnell","doi":"10.1108/13287269880000738","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/13287269880000738","url":null,"abstract":"It has been suggested that conceptual models can be used to enhance the training of novice end‐users. This paper discusses the part played by metaphor in conceptual models, provides examples of end‐user training incorporating metaphors, and contends that metaphors facilitate the development of accurate mental models. The more specific issue of the role of conceptual models, and by implication metaphor, in the training of end‐users remains to be investigated, and a research agenda for this purpose is outlined.","PeriodicalId":38615,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Systems and Information Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1108/13287269880000738","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"62340035","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 1998-12-01DOI: 10.1108/13287269880000739
C. Standing, G. Roy
Developing macro queries in software systems is a complex task for many users. Geographical information systems (GIS) are large software systems that require much effort to develop expertise in. A functional programming design approach has a number of distinct strengths that can be represented in a graphical query language interface to aid users in macro query development. A visual functional query language (VFQL) for Geographical Information Systems is presented and its strengths and weaknesses discussed. The system is based on a visual functional programming design approach. This offers a consistent, non‐procedural, strongly typed environment where users can develop their own higher order functions. The approach integrates functional programming, visual programming and knowledge and rules. VFQL’s effectiveness is evaluated compared with a text based command language for GIS macro query development. The results of an experiment indicate that users could develop solutions to simpler tasks more quickly and with fewer errors than a comparative text based command language. On more complex tasks there was no significant difference. From this we deduce that VFQL demonstrates certain design features to help the development of macros or small programs for users but that the complexity of the problem in difficult tasks is likely to be the most important determinant of the error rate and time to complete the task.
{"title":"A functional programming approach for macro development","authors":"C. Standing, G. Roy","doi":"10.1108/13287269880000739","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/13287269880000739","url":null,"abstract":"Developing macro queries in software systems is a complex task for many users. Geographical information systems (GIS) are large software systems that require much effort to develop expertise in. A functional programming design approach has a number of distinct strengths that can be represented in a graphical query language interface to aid users in macro query development. A visual functional query language (VFQL) for Geographical Information Systems is presented and its strengths and weaknesses discussed. The system is based on a visual functional programming design approach. This offers a consistent, non‐procedural, strongly typed environment where users can develop their own higher order functions. The approach integrates functional programming, visual programming and knowledge and rules. VFQL’s effectiveness is evaluated compared with a text based command language for GIS macro query development. The results of an experiment indicate that users could develop solutions to simpler tasks more quickly and with fewer errors than a comparative text based command language. On more complex tasks there was no significant difference. From this we deduce that VFQL demonstrates certain design features to help the development of macros or small programs for users but that the complexity of the problem in difficult tasks is likely to be the most important determinant of the error rate and time to complete the task.","PeriodicalId":38615,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Systems and Information Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1108/13287269880000739","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"62340049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 1998-12-01DOI: 10.1108/13287269880000740
J. Nosek, Munir Mandviwalla, N. Kock
Mobile technology research focuses on supporting the individual mobile worker. CCSW research has primarily focused on supporting distributed, but fixed‐site workers. This research bridges both research foci by expanding to include mobile, anytime, anyplace support. The VLab (Virtual laboratory) provides anytime, anyplace process support for mobile software development teams. A longitudinal evaluation of group interactions in multiple extant teams establishes a baseline that helps to identify process support requirements. This baseline can be used to judge the effect of introducing process support technology that addresses specific context variables in group interactions.
{"title":"Identifying process support requirements to facilitate distributed group work: A longitudinal study","authors":"J. Nosek, Munir Mandviwalla, N. Kock","doi":"10.1108/13287269880000740","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/13287269880000740","url":null,"abstract":"Mobile technology research focuses on supporting the individual mobile worker. CCSW research has primarily focused on supporting distributed, but fixed‐site workers. This research bridges both research foci by expanding to include mobile, anytime, anyplace support. The VLab (Virtual laboratory) provides anytime, anyplace process support for mobile software development teams. A longitudinal evaluation of group interactions in multiple extant teams establishes a baseline that helps to identify process support requirements. This baseline can be used to judge the effect of introducing process support technology that addresses specific context variables in group interactions.","PeriodicalId":38615,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Systems and Information Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1108/13287269880000740","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"62340059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 1998-03-01DOI: 10.1108/13287269880001058
D. Paper, D. Nicol
This paper provides a longitudinal view of one organization’s experiences with IT implementation and Business Process Reengineering since 1990. The organization is EuroProducts; a manufacturer of air freshener and related products located in thecountry, in the West of England, EuroProducts has identified data integration and data standardization as critical to leverage increased performance from its materials requirements process flow. As a result, a new MRP system is being introduced to integrate data input from factory floor workers, management, staff, and IS professionals. The goal is to use the new MRP system as a rallying point to facilitate redesign of material requirements work flows. Aspects of innovation and systems theory are introduced to help the authors organize and identify root causes of the problems EuroProducts has had with its IT implementation and reengineering efforts.
{"title":"IT solutions for data integration at europroducts, inc.*: A case study","authors":"D. Paper, D. Nicol","doi":"10.1108/13287269880001058","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/13287269880001058","url":null,"abstract":"This paper provides a longitudinal view of one organization’s experiences with IT implementation and Business Process Reengineering since 1990. The organization is EuroProducts; a manufacturer of air freshener and related products located in thecountry, in the West of England, EuroProducts has identified data integration and data standardization as critical to leverage increased performance from its materials requirements process flow. As a result, a new MRP system is being introduced to integrate data input from factory floor workers, management, staff, and IS professionals. The goal is to use the new MRP system as a rallying point to facilitate redesign of material requirements work flows. Aspects of innovation and systems theory are introduced to help the authors organize and identify root causes of the problems EuroProducts has had with its IT implementation and reengineering efforts.","PeriodicalId":38615,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Systems and Information Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1108/13287269880001058","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"62339608","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 1998-03-01DOI: 10.1108/13287269880000737
A. Cavaye
The use of a multi‐disciplinary research team can often enhance the investigation of IS phenomena ‐ particularly when the construct under study is multi‐dimensional. This paper explores the challenges and benefits of carrying out IS research with a multi‐disciplinary team. By way of illustration a study is described which purposefully pulled together researchers from different (but related) disciplines to carry out an IS research project. The challenges confronting the team included miscommunication, initial disagreement concerning research constructs, and the amount of time required for meetings. The benefits far outweighed the difficulties. Benefits accrued to the study itself and to the research participants. The study was more holistic and included better construct definition. The participating researchers benefited from critically examining their own views and outlooks whilst being exposed to viewpoints from other disciplines.
{"title":"Using a multi‐disciplinary research team to carry out research in IS","authors":"A. Cavaye","doi":"10.1108/13287269880000737","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/13287269880000737","url":null,"abstract":"The use of a multi‐disciplinary research team can often enhance the investigation of IS phenomena ‐ particularly when the construct under study is multi‐dimensional. This paper explores the challenges and benefits of carrying out IS research with a multi‐disciplinary team. By way of illustration a study is described which purposefully pulled together researchers from different (but related) disciplines to carry out an IS research project. The challenges confronting the team included miscommunication, initial disagreement concerning research constructs, and the amount of time required for meetings. The benefits far outweighed the difficulties. Benefits accrued to the study itself and to the research participants. The study was more holistic and included better construct definition. The participating researchers benefited from critically examining their own views and outlooks whilst being exposed to viewpoints from other disciplines.","PeriodicalId":38615,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Systems and Information Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1108/13287269880000737","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"62339938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 1997-12-01DOI: 10.1108/13287269780000736
Jeffrey Clark, F. Soliman
This paper presents a method designed to measure the value of Knowledge Based Systems (KBSs) to the employees involved in their development, implementation and use at an organisation. The method is based upon the scoring approach to valuation. The major advantage of using this approach stems from the fact that many KBSs are typified by numerous intangible benefits and costs. Traditional cost benefit models are unable to account for the contribution of intangible benefits to the value of an evolving KBS project. The method presented here overcomes this difficulty by using managers, users, and experts involved in a KBS project to measure its perceived value from both tangible and intangible sources. It produces an overall measure of value which is separated into three critical categories ‐ time, finances, and quality. Time and finances are tangible, while quality is intangible. These categories are meaningful to decision makers at all organisational levels and are critical in making an informed investment decision. The paper applies the method to two KBS projects from a large manufacturing and sales organisation. Suggestions are made for practical uses to which the method can be applied.
{"title":"Application of a scoring method for measuring the value of knowledge‐based systems to key employees","authors":"Jeffrey Clark, F. Soliman","doi":"10.1108/13287269780000736","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/13287269780000736","url":null,"abstract":"This paper presents a method designed to measure the value of Knowledge Based Systems (KBSs) to the employees involved in their development, implementation and use at an organisation. The method is based upon the scoring approach to valuation. The major advantage of using this approach stems from the fact that many KBSs are typified by numerous intangible benefits and costs. Traditional cost benefit models are unable to account for the contribution of intangible benefits to the value of an evolving KBS project. The method presented here overcomes this difficulty by using managers, users, and experts involved in a KBS project to measure its perceived value from both tangible and intangible sources. It produces an overall measure of value which is separated into three critical categories ‐ time, finances, and quality. Time and finances are tangible, while quality is intangible. These categories are meaningful to decision makers at all organisational levels and are critical in making an informed investment decision. The paper applies the method to two KBS projects from a large manufacturing and sales organisation. Suggestions are made for practical uses to which the method can be applied.","PeriodicalId":38615,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Systems and Information Technology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1997-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1108/13287269780000736","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"62339770","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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