Christine Fidler

Strategic Information Systems Planning: Its Adoption and Use

Advances in information provision have led organizations to attempt to develop IS/IT strategies which interrelate with their business strategies and which together support corporate missions. Strategic information systems planning (SISP) has become an accepted part of the overall corporate strategic planning process. The proliferation of methods and the variations in satisfaction indicate a need to provide a framework for classifying and comparing SISP approaches which will provide guidance on use and to explain why certain approaches are more commonly used than others. Develops a classification framework based on complexity and describes tools for using the framework. Provides indication as to the nature of a complete classification and comparison method for SISP based on complexity, scope and fit.

Security perception in e-commerce: Conflict between customer and organizational perspectives

Security is one of the principal and continuing concerns that restrict customers and organizations engaging with e-commerce. The aim of this paper is to explore the perception of security in e-commerce B2C and C2C websites from both customer and organisational perspectives. It explores factors that influence customers- perceptions of security. It also highlights conflicts between customer concerns with respect to security and those of an organization; existing research has not highlighted this issue greatly. This research provides a better understanding of customer needs and priorities on the subject of security, and enriches the currently available security perception literature, by providing new insights from empirical research conducted in Jordan. A qualitative research approach was adopted, since the research seeks an understanding of human (i.e., customer and organisational employee) perceptions.

Management communication: a technological revolution?

It may be reasonably argued that the advent of modern communications technologies should manifest itself to some extent in a change in the behavioural patterns of their users. Indeed, if no such changes occur it may prove difficult to justify the introduction of these technologies. Particularly, one might expect that the locations in which people perform their daily tasks should be impacted to some degree by improved communication facilities. A recent diary study of managerial work in UK organisations, conducted by the authors, suggests that the locational patterns of managers in the work‐place appear not to have changed significantly, if at all, over the past 30 years, despite the rapid technological changes that have taken place during that era. Additionally, the use of the conventional telephone has remained constant during that period despite technological improvements and the introduction of alternative technologies such as fax, electronic mail, cellular phones, messaging services and video‐conferencing. These findings suggest that the communication habits of managers are not significantly influenced by the introduction of new technologies, but rather that their work patterns are probably set by more complex factors that may be organisational, psychological or sociological in nature.

Barriers to e-Government Implementation in Jordan: The Role of Wasta

This paper identifies and highlights the significance of Wasta as a barrier to e-government implementation within The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and is part of a wider qualitative research study of all barriers. A longitudinal research approach was applied to explore any dynamism within the presence of barriers over a three year study, as well as to seek a richer understanding of such barriers. Data, principally collected via interviews with relevant stakeholders, was analysed using Strauss and Corbins variant of grounded theory. Using illustrative quotations primarily from interview transcripts, this paper enunciates the significant and persistent role that Wasta plays in hindering Jordans e-government implementation, both as an explicitly mentioned barrier and as cause of other barriers. The paper supports the view that culture is a root cause of e-government implementation difficulty, and that barriers vary with the different country settings in which e-government systems are embedded.

The social side of theory: A community-based narrative of research and theory.

Theory is a central issue to be considered by researchers, particularly new researchers such as research students. In this paper we describe the role theory had in developing a research community. This community, the Information Society Doctoral Programme, faced with the usual questions that researchers have regarding theory, undertook a prolonged discourse on theory, using a range of means of discussion. The current paper describes the development of this discourse and its influence on the development of a shared research identity. The result of the discourse was not agreement on any particular theoretical positions but an increased ability to understand one another across theoretical divides. The paper thus develops a narrative of the role theory can have in shaping community, a perspective usually neglected in theoretical discourses.

Current IS Practices within UK‐based Organizations

The evolving information systems (IS) field has been the subject of much research and observation in recent years. Much of the work has been US based. By contrast, this empirical survey analyses the current state of IS practices within UK‐based organizations. The survey evaluates the extent of computer usage within the UK at a general level, as well as focusing on specific areas such as management support systems, IS strategic planning and strategic alignment of business and IS. Where possible, compares the results of this survey with previous surveys and forecasts, and analyses differences. Identifies topics worthy of further investigation.

Understanding the relevance of ethics reviews of ICT research in UK computing departments using dialectical hermeneutics

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to attempt to investigate how Information and Communications Technology (ICT) researchers in UK computing departments address ethics in their research. Whilst research and innovation in ICT has blossomed in the last two decades, the ethical, social and legal challenges they present have also increased. However, the increasing attention the technical development receives has not been replicated in the area of developing effective guidelines that can address the moral issues inherent in ICT research. Design/methodology/approach – This research is qualitative and made use of interviews. The data analysis was done with dialectical hermeneutics. Through a dialectical hermeneutic process, this research unpacks different understandings of relevance attached to ethics reviews of ICT research in UK computing departments. Findings – The findings include that ethics reviews are relevant because; it is a moral duty, it improves trust for researchers, it is part of risk assessmen...