Bob Travica

Diffusion of Electronic Commerce in Developing Countries: The Case of Costa Rica

Abstract Costa Rica is one of the developing countries that are making inroads into electronic commerce (e-commerce). It has achieved initial results while dealing with technological, economic, and cultural specificities that have similarities with and differences from the model of e-commerce diffusion in developed countries. A multi- phase investigation into e-commerce in this Central American country has been conducted. The main finding is that there are some favorable conditions to diffusing e- commerce in Costa Rica but the obstacles are not insignificant.

Virtual organization and electronic commerce

The purpose of this article is to contribute to understanding the virtual organization and its relationship with electronic commerce. The relevant literature on virtual organization forms through which business-to-business e-commerce is organized is reviewed. A model of the virtual organization is presented and its use in a case study demonstrated. Implications for further research are discussed.

Information Politics and Information Culture: A Case Study

This article introduces the concepts of information politics and information culture and presents a case study that explores these concepts. The literature from the areas of IS theory and organization theory that provides a backdrop to these concepts is discussed. A case of an organization that has characteristics of both small business and voluntary organization is presented as initial validation of the concepts of information politics and information culture. The case draws on a longitudinal interpretivist study and tracks a trajectory of organizational design, information politics, information culture, management and organizational performance over 25 months. The primary finding is that the organization studied exhibited two distinct information politics and information cultures, each related to different development phases—the era of clan and the era of teams. The article also discusses particular aspects of information politics and information culture and how these relate to organizational performance. Derived are implications for further research on information politics and information culture as well as for a broader parent framework called Information View of Organization.

Information aspects of new organizational designs: exploring the non-traditional organization

The purpose of the study presented in this article aims at broadening our understanding of information and concomitant aspects of a non-bureaucratic organizational design. With current changes in organizational environments, the century-long domination of the bureaucratic organization is being shaken. New organizational designs have been proposed as alternatives to the bureaucracy, including the information-based organization, networked organization, and adhocracy. Our knowledge of these designs, however, is still meager. This particularly applies to their information aspects, such as the role of information technology (IT), and exchanges of information and knowledge. In order to fill the void, an organizational design which will be called the “non-traditional organization” was created on the basis of relevant literature and was preliminarily tested on a sample drawn from the public accounting industry. The study discovered a strong positive relationship between the amount of IT usage and non-traditional dimensions, invoking the notion of an organic, “informated” organization. This relationship primarily rests on the relationships IT forms with centralization and formalization (both negative), and trust and communication beyond team boundaries (both positive). Information and knowledgerelated interactions are in relation with team-based accountability in this networked, “information-rich” organization. Communication beyond team boundaries serves several purposes, including integration and creation of a dialogue-based, adhocratic, “interactive” organization. Hierarchy appears to be the most resilient dimension of the traditional organization in the sample studied. These findings bear implications for understanding new organizational designs.

E-Commerce in Serbia: Where Roads Cross Electrons Will Flow

Abstract A qualitative exploration into conditions for diffusing e-commerce in Serbia was conducted by using a multidimensional model. Serbia is a country located at an important geographical location in southeast Europe, which descended on a path of political and economic changes after a decade of stagnation. Our main finding is that the process of diffusing e-commerce in Serbia resembles a car hesitating at a traffic light because all lights are flashing at the same time. Dynamics within the areas of software industry, e-payment/e-banking, and legislation support e-commerce. In contrast, the telecommunications infrastructure and ownership as well as customer beliefs and behaviors halt it. The ambivalent yellow light is triggered by the state of traffic/delivery and education. Research contributions of the study refer to advancing the understanding of trust as a major enabler of e-commerce and to filling the void in the literature on a potentially important country. Practical contributions refer to creating a country profile along with development prospects that can be useful to other developing countries and global e-commerce players.

Influence of Information Culture on Adoption of a Self-Service System

Introduction This article reports on a case study of a self-service based human resources management system (HRMS) in a Utilities Company (code name) in Canada, by extending the adoption analysis beyond previously illuminated cognitive aspects (Travica, 2007). The self-service model of information systems (IS) requires end-users to manipulate the system entirely and directly, with no help from an intermediary. Cash machines, various online services (banking, travel, exchanges) and stores accessible via the Internet, and you-scan-it checkout systems in grocery stores are some of many examples of self-service information systems. The focus of this study is on the self-service IS that support organizations internally. Examples include the student course registration system by which students today choose courses without facing registration clerks, and desktop applications for cubing data warehouses. The elimination of intermediaries in using self-service IS brings casual users to the foreground. These users can no longer count on help from specially trained users. Jumping into the seat of primary user can challenge the accustomed ways of manipulating information and working. Acquiring a broader access to data can generally be considered a beneficial outcome (Bhappu & Shultze, 2006; Curran, Meuter, & Suprenat, 2003). Still, this benefit needs to be paid by the work of operating a computer software and hardware. While the balance in this case is likely to be on the benefit side, the benefit differential may diminish when an increment in work is associated with less certain benefits. For example, a doctor that directly enters prescriptions in an electronic medical record system has lost the convenience of having a nurse record orally-conveyed prescriptions and may be losing time that otherwise would be allocated to diagnostic and other eminently professional work (cf. Lapointe & Rivard, 2005). Furthermore, as any other IS, a self-service system must be easy to use in order to achieve a higher adoption rate (Davis, 1989). This principle becomes even more urging with self-service IS because these typically employ some enterprise resource planning (ERP) software that usually is difficult or too expensive to supply with an easy to use user interface. Another consequence of an enterprise system is that the processes it supports cut across organizational functions. If the process owner is clearly defined, this owner cannot have authority over system adopters in other than his/her area of responsibility (e.g., human resources, or marketing). If the process owner is not clearly defined due to inter-departmental tensions (say, a process spans over the marketing and sales department), system adoption at large is rendered to a laissez faire. In either scenario, the enforcement of self-service system adoption is unravelled. Moreover, while supporting a larger and diverse body of users, the process of adoption a self-service system can trigger creation of elaborate mental imagery that is nearly impossible to control, and some of this imagery can work against adoption efforts (Travica, 2007). The discussion above outlines the space of a new research problem the importance of which is likely to grow with increasing use of self-service systems: What are the key factors in adopting intra-organizational self-service systems? The study presented here addressed this problem by investigating a self-service HRMS based on Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software by SAP[TM]. While there is no direct literature support for this particular topic, the topic references several established segments of literature. These include the literature on ERP systems (e.g., Bulkeley, 1996; Krumbholz & Maiden, 2001; Markus & Tanis, 2000), self-service variants of ERP and other enterprise systems (Lapointe & Rivard, 2005; Larsen & Myers, 1999; Stein, Hawking, & Wyld,, 2005), systems adoption theory (Davis, 1989; Rogers, 2003), and self-service technology in the extra-organizational context (Bhappu & Shultze, 2006; Curran et al. …

Organizational aspects of the virtual library: A survey of academic libraries

The virtual library is presently being investigated across disciplines, often with a strong technological emphasis. The present study takes an organizational approach by placing the virtual library in the context of the academic library, and focusing on opinions of the library directors concerning the virtual library. The problem investigated refers to the propensity of academic libraries to become organized as a virtual library, which is conceptualized in terms of four general models. Directors of academic libraries were surveyed, and the literature on changes in the library organization was reviewed. It has been found that academic libraries exhibit visible organizational changes. When the virtual library is concerned, however, library directors tend to understand it just as digital technology, are mainly supportive of such library, and demonstrate a number of limitations that prevent them from thinking of virtual libraries in more radical terms.

Soft decision support systems: GDSS in loosely affiliated and ad hoc groups

The authors describe a novel application of GroupSystems V, an electronic meeting system designed for structured corporate decision making, in the context of ad hoc, intermittent groups who use the facilities of the Institute for the Study for Developmental Disability at Indiana University. This unit caters for those who work with the disabled and a wider group of constituents. A content analysis of user evaluation transcripts has revealed seven areas where the value of an electronic meeting may be explored. The authors suggest that these might be the basis of a case-based reasoning system, which could act as a benchmark of meeting behaviours.

The ARgo: A strategic information system for group decision making

Where might group making decision systems (GDSS) fit in the complex of techniques which underlies strategic decision making in a large organization? Strategic decision making can be compared with the journey of the mythical Greek Argonauts who sailed in the Argo in search of the golden fleece. Like the Argonauts, strategic decision makers explore the terra incognita of existential problems. This paper describes the design parameters of ARgo, a conceptual information system for supporting strategic decision making in groups. ARgo draws on theories of strategic information resources management (SIRM), GDSS, garbage can decision making models (G.Can), and small group (SG) theory.

Examining the Informing View of Organization: Applying Theoretical and Managerial Approaches

Understanding the organizational dimensions that surround information systems is essential for professionals involved in the field, ultimately improving upon organizational design and performance. relevant perspectives to enhance theory and practice in the information systems area. By providing a framework for the Informing View of Organization, this book is a valuable resource for academics in the field, as well as managers and professionals in information systems. Market: This premier publication is essential for all academic and research library reference collections. It is a crucial tool for academicians, researchers, and practitioners. Ideal for classroom use.