Arlyn Melcher

Why provide an online review? An extended theory of planned behavior and the role of Big-Five personality traits

Online review, an important form of reputation systems, has been studied intensively because of its powerful impact on online retailers, intermediaries, and customers. However, to date, very little attention has been paid to factors that influence an individuals intention to provide an online review. An extended theory of planned behavior and Big-Five personality framework are used in this study. We empirically examine our model by using a cross-sectional survey study, collecting data from a sample of 171 online shoppers. Results show that attitude, perceived pressure, neuroticism, and conscientiousness are significant predictors of an individuals intention to provide an online review. Findings may help online retailers and/or intermediaries increase the number of online reviews provided, which will lead to more accurate rating information about transactions, products, or services and may serve as a stepping-stone to continuous improvements. Implications, limitations, and future research directions are discussed.

The Importance of Social Structure in Implementing ERP Systems: A Case Study using Adaptive Structuration Theory

Abstract Many organizations report problems implementing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems. These projects often do not meet financial and functional expectations. While managers often criticize the ERP product and vendor support, the problem may lie elsewhere. In this paper, adaptive structuration theory is used to develop a research framework that is used to analyze the transition from the mainframe legacy system environment to the distributed ERP environment. An exploratory case study analysis of a mid-sized university that experienced a failed ERP implementation showed that the failure was not the result of a poor ERP product but rather related to the organization’s social structure. The social structure which enabled the mainframe legacy system to be successful needed to be modified for the new ERP system. Findings underscore the importance for managers to facilitate the change management process.

A review of buyer-supplier relationship typologies: progress, problems, and future directions

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to review the existing typologies of buyer-supplier relationships (BSRs) in the literature, to critically assess their dimensions and underlying assumptions, and to propose a more complete BSR typology and future directions for BSR typology research. Design/methodology/approach – This study takes a conceptual approach in highlighting the limitations of existing BSR typologies and synthesizing their key typology-defining variables when proposing an alternative BSR typology. Findings – The proposed BSR typology is based on alternative behavioral assumptions: bounded rationality and choice-determinism, and uses relationalism, supplier dependence and buyer dependence as the typology-defining variables. This BSR typology captures four prominent BSR types in the extant literature (i.e. market/discrete relationship, captive-buyer/supplier-dominant relationship, captive-supplier/buyer-dominant relationship and strategic/bilateral partnership) and four new BSR types developed...

A meta-analysis of information system success: A reconsideration of its dimensionality

Information quality, system quality (ease of use), perceived usefulness, and user satisfaction measure information system success. A meta-analysis shows only one common construct underlies these variables. This result implies a new way to view success surrogates.

Toward a production classification system

Presents a classification for production systems in manufacturing and processing industries. The proposed classification is intended to enlarge the scope of production systems that can be meaningfully classified. This is accomplished by including production system properties used in previous classifications and incorporating new characteristics that describe major changes in emerging automated production systems. The proposed classification is intended to provide better understanding of the functioning of production systems and management approaches available to improving their processes.

Applying Adaptive Structuration Theory to Health Information Systems Adoption: A Case Study

Adaptive Structuration Theory (AST) is rapidly becoming an important theoretical paradigm for comprehending the impact of advanced information technologies. In this paper, a modified AST model was designed to illustrate the changing inter-relationships among the variables affecting the adoption and application of a new technology into a medical organization setting. Using findings from a case study conducted over a 10-month period, the authors apply the case to the model to illustrate the complex interactions between medical billing technology and organizational processes. As the organization attempted to install and implement the new system, they found that in order to maintain daily operations, they would have to modify and adapt several aspects of the organization, technology, and operations. As the system was slowly integrated into operations and the organization’s needs evolved through the adaptation process, the study, in turn, found that different iterations of the model could emphasize different structures. The case illustrated that the capacity to manage health information systems (HIS) often requires the organization to prioritize its needs and focus its energies on a critical structure while temporarily disregarding others until the primary healthcare processes are under control.