Donald H. Drury

Managerial information overload

Overwhelmed by the organizational imperative to collect every kind of information available, and finding technical solutions generally miss the point, knowledge workers need to improve their personal capacity for inquiry.

A critque of the stage hypothesis: theory and empirical evidence

The stage hypothesis on the assimilation of computing technology provides one of the most popular models for describing and managing the growth of administrative information systems. Despite little formal evidence of its reliability or robustness, it has achieved a high level of acceptance among practitioners. We describe and summarize the findings of seven empirical studies conducted during the past six years that tested various hypotheses derived from this model. The accumulation of evidence from these studies casts considerable doubt on the validity of the stage hypothesis as an explanatory structure for the growth of computing in organizations. 3~

An empirical assessment of the stages of DP growth

This study attempts to validate the stages of growth hypothesis by analyzing data concerning the benchmarks that were prescribed by Nolan [15]. Although the hypothesis was not validated using the entire set of benchmarks for each stage, individual benchmarks were related to various DP management issues. The joint relationship of user awareness and technology to various management issues was also assessed. In addition, the planning and control techniques that have been used in the stages of growth literature were factor analyzed. The factor groupings were compared with those groupings that the stages of growth idea associate respectively with early and late states of DP evolution.

An evaluation of data processing steering committees

One approach to plan and control data processing functions is to use a steering committee. This committee, composed of user, top management, and data processing representatives, is intended to bring a broad perspective to focus on systems issues. The empirical study described in this article examines the actual practices of companies in utilizing steering committees. Committee benefits are statistically tested. The results indicate that some major structural and operating alternatives lead to maximizing steering committee benefits whereas others do not. The article closes with an evaluation of the alternatives and the consequent strategies for using steering committees effectively.

Innovation Diffusion and Implementation

Economic progress continues to be greatly influenced by the development and adoption of innovations. Maintaining momentum necessitates understanding factors that influence the choices made by organisations. Diffusion and implementation research have each sought to understand necessary conditions and motivations and to identify obstacles. Whether these two areas of research have the same determinants, overlap, or are separate is controversially affecting the interpretation of current research. This issue is the subject of this paper. The empirical investigation compares variables of the diffusion chronology with the choice decision in implementation. This macro-level analysis reveals that the two areas are connected but there are also substantial differences. The results of this study reconfirm the emerging evidence in the literature that the innovation adoption decision should not be treated as a dichotomous organisational choice. Furthermore, the evidence strongly points to the need to develop integrative theories that include the chronological aspects of the innovation adoption process.

A Hierarchical Structural Model Of Information Systems Success

AbstractThe evaluation of successful systems assists in obtaining those properties, which should be emphasized, and others, which need to be corrected. Investigations regarding the structure of systems success will be of increasing importance in the future as organizations seek to maximize the benefits of new systems in an increasingly competitive world.The properties of successful systems have been the focus of investigations since the earliest systems implementations. Diverse approaches have been used to examine and measure success. In consolidating these past studies, Delone and McLean in 1992 proposed a generic structure. Subsequent research has provided progressive modifications.This paper extends the success structure of information systems (IS). A hierarchical structural model is introduced based on the premise that the behavior of successful systems is influenced by a universe of properties common to all successful systems, and by a unique set of properties specific to each class of systems. The e...

Factors influencing electronic data interchange success

With the rapid proliferation of electronic data interchange (EDI) in recent years, there has been a growing need for understanding various issues surrounding the adoption, implementation, and evaluation of such systems. In particular, as an increasing number of firms are piloting, implementing, or using EDI, it is becoming crucial to identify the factors that influence the success of EDI. Through a survey of 242 companies that were at different stages of adopting EDI, we show that EDI success is affected by four distinct factors relating to information quality, systems outcomes, user participation, and system quality. Evidence of reliability and validity of the scale, along with some practical standards and evaluation baseline, are provided.

Information technology push/pull reactions

Abstract Innovation has not only become the domain of a few progressive enterprises but the key to success of many others. Innovative changes in management practices can assist in ensuring survival in an increasingly competitive world. Management information systems are critical to exploiting technological, process, and product innovations. Improvements in information technology continue to have a major impact on information systems. The relationships between different sources of new information technology and reactions of organizations are critical to adopting and exploiting innovations. These relationships are empirically tested using a growing and important systems innovation, Electronic Data Interchange. Two principal types of impetus are explored, technological-push and demand-pull forces. They are found to produce different external, internal, and cost/benefits. Further, the impetus for the usage of the system affects evaluations of systems, information, and management of systems. Technological-push requires user accessibility and support. The benefits are more clearly identifiable with demand-pull. Internal demand-pull results in the highest levels of benefits but is infrequently the major source of impetus. Comparisons of organization reactions to technological-push and demand-pull indicate that different management strategies and practices are required. Industries are affected differently depending on the impetus for change. Recommendations are made for managing the changing pattern of information technology innovation.

Conditions affecting chargeback effectiveness

Abstract A continuing problem of electronic data processing is allocating computer services so that management personnel use them more effectively. A frequent approach is a chargeback system whereby users are charged for data processing services. Data obtained from questionnaire responses indicate significant relationships between organization characteristics, data processing variables and management practices supporting chargeback systems. The focus of the analysis is intended to determine, empirically, the mix of management practices which lead to user awareness of computer applications and their costs and ultimately, improve data processing resource allocations in complex organizations.

A survey of data processing steering committees

Abstract An approach to attempting to plan and control data processing functions is to use a steering committee. The committee composed of user, top management, and data processing representatives, is intended to bring a broad perspective to focus on systems issues. This paper summarizes the results of a survey on data processing steering committees. The empirical results indicate the actual practices of companies in utilizing steering committees. The reasons for implementing the approach structure, and operating processes are presented. Business experience with the success or failure of these committees is evaluated. The results are interpreted within the context of the current steering committee literature and practices.