Ciara Heavin

A Theoretical Model and Framework for Understanding Knowledge Management System Implementation

The study’s objective is to arrive at a theoretical model and framework to guide research into the implementation of KMS, while also seeking to inform practice. In order to achieve this, the paper applies the critical success factors (CSF) method in a field study of successful KMS implementations across 12 large multinational organisations operating in a range of sectors. The paper first generates a ‘collective set’ of CSFs from extant research to construct an a priori model and framework: this is then empirically validated and extended using the field study findings to arrive at a ‘collective set’ of CSFs for all 12 organisations. These are then employed to refine and extend the theoretical model using insights from the literature on capability theory. It is hoped that the model and framework will aid theory building and future empirical research on this highly important and relevant topic.

From knowledge activities to knowledge scenarios: cases in five Irish software SMEs

The importance of understanding how smaller organisations manage knowledge has become vital to their success, however in the main; research continues to pursue knowledge management (KM) approaches in large multinational organisations. Consequently, there remains a dearth of empirical research in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in information systems (IS) research. This study pursued a qualitative analysis approach across five SMEs, with the objective of developing ways to illustrate the knowledge approach pursued in a small software company. Leveraging the empirical findings from the five cases, an abstracted level of analysis led us to propose a typology of knowledge scenarios; the hybrid type, human-oriented type and techno-mediated type. This typology provides a characterisation of approaches to KM in software SMEs. The merit in establishing this typology of knowledge scenarios lies in further leveraging the vocabulary and iconisation of research on KM to uncover additional types in other organisations dealing with different knowledge domains.

Factors Influencing Ireland’s Software Industry

Although the Irish software industry has been in existence since the late 1960s, in the last ten years it has become an enormous success story and, by some estimates, is the largest exporter of software in the world. In this study, we derive a conceptual framework with which to investigate the emergence and evolution of the Irish software industry. In this framework endogenous factors — national, enterprise and individual — are examined against a backdrop of exogenous factors to explain Ireland’s success in the software industry. Two important themes emerged from the study. One is the shift towards a risk-taking, entrepreneurial spirit in the software sector that had historically been absent in Ireland. The other is the long-standing government policy of intervention in the software sector, which became increasingly more focused throughout the 1990s. The framework and the lessons from the study should prove useful to researching other countries who are seeking to learn lessons from the Irish experience.

Privacy by Design: Informed consent and Internet of Things for smart health

Abstract Check: I accept the terms and conditions and privacy policy statements associated with this technological artefact! The informed consent process is becoming more of a challenge with the emergence of Internet of Things (IoT) as data may be collected without the digital health citizen being aware. It is argued in this paper that the first phase for universal usability of IoT within the smart health domain is to ensure that digital health citizens (i.e. user of technology) are fully aware of what they are consenting to when they register an account with such technological artefacts. This point is further reinforced by the proposed ‘Privacy by Design’ requirements associated with the forthcoming General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This paper proposes some practical approaches which should be considered when designing and developing IoT for data collection and data sharing within the health domain.

First impressions are lasting impressions: intention to participate in mobile health projects within developing countries

Abstract With healthcare infrastructure and health services remaining inadequate in many countries, numerous mobile health (mHealth) development studies have been reported, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This reflects a broad recognition that mobile technologies can play an important role in the provision of healthcare services at the regional, community and individual levels. However, implementing large-scale mHealth programmes has proven difficult; hence the use of mHealth pilots or feasibility studies as precursors to full rollouts. Existing literature reports that social, cultural, economic, political, technological and institutional factors influence the successful implementation of mHealth artefacts, yet there remains a dearth of research investigating individuals’ intention to participate in mHealth feasibility projects. Typically, mHealth projects involve a number of key stakeholders, ranging from direct stakeholders (such as healthcare workers who use the applications) to indirect stakeholders (such as the patients themselves who are not direct users of the technologies). Through the lens of impression management and self-determination theories, this study examines the extent to which an indirect user’s first impression, i.e. their initial encounter with the project and the project team on the ground, influences their decision to engage with an mHealth pilot project. Findings indicate that initial impressions formulated by indirect users impact their intention to participate in larger scale mHealth implementations. Through these early impressions participants formulate their perceptions about the project, and this directly influences their decision to engage. Furthermore, an individual’s first impressions can influence other potential participants’ decision to participate, especially in the context of the healthcare worker–patient relationship. The paper concludes that understanding indirect users’ expectations regarding the role of mHealth in addressing societal problems is essential to the success of wider mHealth projects in developing countries.

How can mHealth applications that are developed in one area of the developing world be adapted for use in others

Abstract The quality of healthcare in developing countries remains a critical issue, due in part to the limited infrastructure and resources available. The development of mHealth systems has been proposed as a possible solution. These systems extend the reach of medical care into rural areas by integrating smartphones and other mobile devices. Yet it is not clear how mHealth solutions designed and tested for use in one developing region can be adapted for use in others. This research-in-progress study frames this problem using a sociomaterial/coping perspective. A case study is proposed to extend and refine this model.

Positioning predictive analytics for customer retention

Developing business vision should not be underestimated. Predictive analytics provides organisations with new opportunities to ‘know what they know’, but also predict future behaviours, leveraging these better insights to increase the value of their business. The power of propensity scoring based on historical data delivered as a service via cloud computing heralds the availability of capabilities that previously required teams of quantitative specialist to deliver. This paper outlines the development of a cloud-based self-service predictive decision support system (PDSS) for customer retention and attempts to position the outcomes of this implementation in the context of decision support, knowledge management and work practice evolution.

Sociocultural and Technological Barriers Across all Phases of Implementation for mobile Health in Developing Countries

Abstract In recent years, scholars are realizing the importance of examining mobile health (mHealth) implementation in developing countries. A vast array of research exists that focuses on barriers of mHealth adoption in such domains. However, the majority of these papers embrace the concept of adoption to cover the entire process of implementation. This chapter acknowledges that various phases of implementation exist. As a result, the researchers identify potential barriers for each phase of mHealth implementation in developing countries. By examining extant literature, this study reveals that various sociocultural and technological factors across individuals and organizations collectively can hinder mHealth implementation in developing regions. Extant research indicates that the focus of mHealth in these constituencies, a nascent area of research, places too much emphasis on the benefits associated with mHealth implementation. Subsequently, this chapter endeavors to outline the barriers that should assist with overcoming common obstacles in the successful implementation of mHealth initiatives in developing countries.

Supporting LIFE: Mobile Health Application for Classifying, Treating and Monitoring Disease Outbreaks of Sick Children in Developing Countries

This paper presents the Supporting LIFE L ow cost I ntervention F or dis E ase control project. Supporting LIFE applies a novel combination of Android based smartphone technology, patient vital sign sensors and expert decision support systems to assist Community Health Workers in resource-poor settings in their assessment, classification and treatment of seriously ill children, more specifically children from 2 months to 5 years of age. The application digitises widely accepted WHO/UNICEF paper based guidelines known as Community Case Management. The project also facilitates for disease monitoring and surveillance via a reporting website.

Developing eXtensible mHealth Solutions for Low Resource Settings

Over the last ten years there has been a proliferation of mHealth solutions to support patient diagnosis and treatment. Coupled with this, increased attention and resources have been attributed to the development of technologies to improve patient health care outcomes in low resource settings. Most significantly, it is the development of highly extensible, portable and scalable technologies which have received the most attention. As part of an mHealth intervention in Malawi Africa, an agnostic clinical guideline decision-support rule engine has been developed which uses classification and treatment rules for assessing a sick child defined in XML; namely, Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) and Community Case Management (CCM). Using a two-phased approach, 1) the rules underpinning the cloud-based mobile eCCM application were devised based on the widely accepted WHO/UNICEF paper based guidelines and 2) subsequently validated and extended through a user workshop conducted in Malawi, Africa.