Carlos Montenegro

An integrated model for ICT Governance and Management applied to the Council for Evaluation, Accreditation and Quality Assurance of Higher Education Institutions in Ecuador (CEAACES)

As an effect of the modernization policy in the administrative processes inside the Ecuadorean Central Government, the usage of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has increased during the last years within more than 300 of the most important and high-ranked public institutions. Likewise, the citizen access to Internet and eGovernment services has grown due to the democratization of the governmental ICT platform to ensure access to the most important public services, including those offered by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). However, the applicable regulatory and legal framework in the public sector has very little compliance with governance and management considerations. Our work develops a combined model for ICT governance and management based on academic models for governance and strategic alignment, aided by professional practices in the field, fully compliant with the regulatory mechanisms that operate within the Central Government of Ecuador. Also, our work analyzes the results, limitations and future work regarding the applicability of this model inside the Council for Evaluation, Accreditation and Quality Assurance of Higher Education Institutions (CEAACES) in order to support the process of continuous improvement of public higher education in Ecuador.

Using Probabilistic Topic Models to Study Orientation of Sustainable Supply Chain Research

Even though the notion of sustainable development calls for an equilibrium among social, environmental and economic dimensions, several studies have suggested that an unbalance exists about the attention given to the three dimensions. Nonetheless, few contributions have demonstrated such unbalance. In this article, we propose a method based on LDA Topic Model, conceived to speed up the analysis of the sustainable orientation of a corpus. To test the procedure, we compared the results obtained using our method against those from a manual coding procedure performed on about ten years of literature from top-tier journals dealing with Sustainable Supply Chain issues. Our results confirm unbalance on research in this field, as they were reported previously. They show that most research is oriented to environmental and economic aspects, leaving aside social issues.

Moving Beyond Limitations: Evaluating the Quality of Android Apps in Spanish for People with Disability

Autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy, constitute the most common disabilities from a medical point of view. In others individual fields, the Assistive Technology use constitute a current option to improve the Quality of Life. In this case, the free available specialized software covers several competences of life, like language and communication, autonomy, sensorimotor, social skills, mathematics, knowledge of the natural and social environment, and digital competences. The objective of this research was to evaluate the quality of Android apps using Mobile Application Rating Scale. A systematic search using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses was conducted using Google Play store as a base in August 2017. Evaluated apps were classified according to their respective competence of life. The results showed that the evaluated apps needed improvements in customization and interactivity. Also, an apps list based on Mobile Application Rating Scale scores, useful for therapist, parents, and people with disability has been established.

Identifying the Orientations of Sustainable Supply Chain Research Using Data Mining Techniques: Contributions and New Developments

To be effective, sustainable development must maintain an equilibrium between its social, environmental and economic efforts. Several studies have suggested that an unbalance exists about the attention given to those three dimensions; however, few contributions have demonstrated such unbalance. This research describes a synthesis of two manual and semiautomatic methods published in the technical literature and includes additional developments, conceived to speed up and increase the accuracy of the analysis of the sustainable orientation of a corpus. The results are compared with the previous studies on about ten years of literature from top-tier journals dealing with Sustainable Supply Chain issues. The results confirm unbalance on research in this field. They show that most of the studies have been focussed on environmental and economic aspects, leaving aside social issues.

Software Development Governance for VSE-SCRUM Teams: Model and Evaluation in a Developing Country

Using DSR approach, this research proposes the design and evaluation of a model type artifact for Software Development Governance in VSE Teams. Mainly, the model design is based on IT Governance best practices, COBIT 5, and SCRUM, with structural and dynamic components. The validation phase is done through the model application, in a case study, into an Ecuadorian Public Sector Organization. As a part of the research, the results of a survey show that, in a developing country, the IT and Software Development Governance practices are similar in public and private organizations, and in VSE and not-VSE teams. Besides, the model allowed to have the appropriate responses to the software requirements and facilitated the solution of the drawbacks presented in the project development. The work contributes providing a practical tool for the practitioners and academics and on the expansion of the existing body of knowledge in a topic where there is a research lack.

Alignment of Software Project Management with the Business Strategy in VSEs: Model and Evaluation

Using DSR approach, this paper proposes the design and evaluation of a model type artifact, for the alignment of software project management with business strategy in Very Small Entities (VSE). The model design phase establishes the alignment strategy and processes to value generation, as well as their indicators, using IT best practices combination. The validation phase is done through the model application in a case study, with three software projects with different levels of complexity and progress, into an Ecuadorian VSE. The Case Study evidences the following factors with the most significant effect: value generation assurance, application of alignment processes and procedures; and, early adoption of the model. So, the work contributes providing a practical tool for the practitioners and on the expansion of the existing body of knowledge concerning the alignment of Software Projects with the Business Strategy.

IT Process Improvement in Telehomecare Services for Diabetic/Hypertensive Patients in a Developing Country: Design and Evaluation into an Ecuadorian Company

This study shows a solution for IT process improvement in Telehomecare Services, developed by an Ecuadorian Company that provides services to Diabetic/Hypertensive patients. Based on the current situation, the Design combines the perspective and benefits of business process models and IT management best practices, through the concept of the responsibilities matrix, including an IT governance component. The Evaluation is done with the design implementation; besides, an impact analysis using the process capacity model is realized. Results show the technical and operational applicability of the model, as well as an effective improvement of IT services, consequently of service to patients. Thus, the work provides a practical tool formally developed according to DSR approach and using complementary methods. The solution includes components not explicitly integrated into technical literature for a sensitive issue.

IT Outsourcing Improvement: Contractual Model of Governance and Management from Customer Perspective

Following a Design Science Research (DSR) approach, this paper presents a model of Governance and Management for IT outsourcing services, from the perspective of specific governance mechanisms, strategic alignment, and management process; this combination is not explicit in the technical literature. The designed model references contractual mechanism of outsourcing, from a customer perspective. The evaluation process is carried out through a case study: applying the model in an Ecuadorian institution of the financial sector, which has chosen to outsource a number of their IT services. For data capture and recording, Participant Observation has used; also, using implementation Critical Success Factors found in technical literature a compliance check is done. The work contributes providing a practical tool for the practitioners, and subsequent expansion of the existing body of knowledge in business process outsourcing, IT related.

IT process improvement: Developing an agile model using the DSR approach

A wide range of models supports process improvement in organizations, nevertheless, the absence of a universal model becomes necessary to combine complementary models. The aim of this work is to design and to evaluate SFramework, a useful model for process improvement, because facilitates the reference models combination. The methodology used is Design Science Research (DSR), which prescribes the design and evaluation phases of the new artifact and use of a set of guidelines for this purpose. The design phase develops an agile structured model with generic phases; so, it can be generalizable. In evaluation phase, a case study based on IT standards and best practices is used; the structure and the content of the required documentation for business continuity process are defined. This study evidences that SFramework is operational and technically feasible and the effort expended in its application is relatively low; therefore, it is applicable for process improvement in environments SME type. Also shows a successful case using DSR and complementary methods.

Information security risk in SMEs: A hybrid model compatible with IFRS: Evaluation in two Ecuadorian SMEs of automotive sector

The study develops a hybrid model for Assessment and Reduction of Information Security Risk in SMEs. The Design, that proposes generalization mechanisms, combines benefits of quantitative and qualitative methods: ISO 27005, OCTAVE-S and MAGERIT contribute with qualitative techniques; IFRS supports a quantitative technique to estimate impact over assets subject to risk. The Evaluation is done applying model in two Ecuadorian SMEs of automotive sector. The case study allows concluding that model requires a reasonable effort, and involves business executives and operational staff with no greater ICT specialization; in addition, shows the technical and operational applicability. Thus, the work provides a practical tool formally developed, according to DSR approach and using complementary methods. The solution includes components not explicitly integrated in technical literature, and a proposal to promote generalizing its validity.