Donald R. Chand

A balanced scorecard based framework for assessing the strategic impacts of ERP systems

Although there is no analytical framework for assessing the organizational benefits of ERP systems, several researchers have indicated that the balanced scorecard (BSC) approach may be an appropriate technique for evaluating the performance of ERP systems. This paper fills this gap in the literature by providing a balanced-scorecard based framework for valuing the strategic contributions of an ERP system. Using a successful SAP implementation by a major international aircraft engine manufacturing and service organization as a case study, this paper illustrates that an ERP system does indeed impacts the business objectives of the firm and derives a new innovative ERP framework for valuing the strategic impacts of ERP systems. The ERP valuation framework, called here an ERP scorecard, integrates the four Kaplan and Nortons balanced scorecard dimensions with Zuboffs automate, informate and transformate goals of information systems to provide a practical approach for measuring the contributions and impacts of ERP systems on the strategic goals of the company.

Diffusing software-engineering methods

The problems that surround software technology transfer are examined. It is suggested that for software engineers to understand these problems, they need to identify a conceptual framework that can provide a systematic understanding of diffusion processes and to identify priority areas through which the software-engineering community can effect the successful diffusion of its innovations. E.M. Rogers framework for diffusion of innovations (The Diffusion of Innovations, Free Press, NY, 1983) is discussed, and two ways to use it, as a descriptive model or as a prescriptive model, are described. A case study is presented to illustrate the arguments.<<ETX>>

Integrated collaboration across distributed sites: the perils of process and the promise of practice

In an era where a strategic command of global resources is becoming a requisite for success, firms are struggling to successfully unify their onshore and offshore sites. The literature on global virtual teams generally frames the impediments to coordination and collaboration based on divergent nationally based cultural attributes, language barriers, and the limitations of information and communication technologies. Drawing on world-systems theory, this paper argues for a decrease in the importance afforded to national boundaries and individual sites, and a re-orientation to the social dynamics across sites regardless of nationality. By changing the unit of analysis to the organization as a world system and focusing on emergent practices, this paper provides new insights regarding globally distributed collaborative work and identifies how to manage global relations to overcome structural impediments, to develop positive social relations, and achieve collaboration.

Listening to what is said--transcribing what is heard: the impact of speech recognition technology (SRT) on the practice of medical transcription (MT).

Medical records have become central to nearly all aspects of healthcare. However, little research exists on their creation. Using data from an ongoing ethnographic study of healthcare documentation production, this paper examines the process of medical record creation through the use of speech recognition technology (SRT) and subsequent editing by medical transcriptionists (MTs). Informed by ethnomethodology (EM) and conversation analysis (CA), the results demonstrate the professional knowledge involved in the work of medical transcription, which includes a combination of skilled worksite practices and an orientation toward the social order properties of recorded dictation. Furthermore, we examine how the advantages and limitations of SRTs can impact the work of transcription. We conclude with strategic recommendations for using SRTs to support medical records production and recommend against total automation.

An expert modeling support system for modeling an object system to specify its information requirements

Abstract This paper presents an anlyst support system that partially automates the process of determining information requirements. The focus of this paper is upon the problems associated in developing a clear and consistent understanding of the object system by the analysis team, where the object system is essentially the larger system that an information system serves. It describes the design of a computer aided tool which is based upon an extension of SADT and it incorporates the use of problem domain knowledge-base and decision concepts of Simon. The emphasis is on the rationale for the structure and components of this tool and how it may be used for modeling the object system and performing both component and precedence analysis. The problem of generating information system requirements is reduced to traversing the conceptual model.

Logical construction of software

The authors contend that it is both possible and necessary to clearly demark and explicitly define the transition between the software design and software implementation phases of the software life cycle. The output of the software design phase is defined to be a logical design of software, and the logical design can be described explicitly if the software is viewed as a system of data sets and data transforms. Logical Construction of Software (LCS) is a software design methodology that guides the designer in defining and describing these software components and their relationships. The methodology is illustrated via a practical application.

Understanding the work of medical transcriptionists in the production of medical records

Efforts to improve healthcare by reducing medical errors often center on the accuracy of medical records. At the same time, the impact of new technologies such as speech recognition technology on the process of producing medical records has not been sufficiently examined. In this article we analyzed interview data from medical transcriptionists (MTs) describing how they do the work of transcription to produce accurate medical records from doctors’ dictation. We found that medical transcriptionists rely on several types of skills that current speech recognition technology lacks. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of these findings for the design and implementation of SRT systems for the production of medical records and for how the work of MTs can help reduce medical errors.

Diffusion of Software Engineering Methods

The success of software engineering as a discipline depends not only on our ability to come up with creative and innovation methods for addressing the problems of software development, but, also on our ability to effectively diffuse these innovations into practice. In order to succeed well in the latter role, we need to have a good understanding of the process of diffusing innovations in general, and how they apply in the context of diffusion of software engineering methods. This paper attempts to provide that understanding using Rogers’ framework for diffusion of innovations.

An exploration of the impact of individual and group factors on programmer productivity

This paper reports on an empirical study that explores the impact of individual and group factors on programmer productivity. Programmer productivity is modeled as a function of Individual Characteristics, Group Cohesiveness and Leader Behavior. Individual Characteristics are measured in terms of years of college education, training, and months of experience in a language at the site. Group Cohesiveness is measured in terms of person to group attraction, person to person attraction, and person to leader attraction. Leader Behavior is measured in terms of production emphasis which is the application of pressure for productive output. Programmer productivity is measured in terms of lines of code (LOC), executable lines of code (ELOC), and Halsteads effort. This study found that person to group attraction, person to person attraction, person to leader attraction, years of college education, training, and programmers experience at the organization do not correlate to productivity measures in a statistically significant way. The implications of these finding are explored.

Reengineering of ITT Sheraton

Business reengineering is an approach that organizations use to redesign their work processes to achieve dramatic improvements in productivity and performance. Hammer (1990, 1993) and Davenport (1990, 1993) are two leading scholars who have given shape to business engineering as a field of study by synthesizing their observations of a number of business reengineering projects. Since business reengineering as a field has evolved by learning from practical business reengineering projects, the authors undertook a study of ITT Sheratons business reengineering project to assess how business reengineering projects fit the conceptual and methodological ideas presented in Hammers (1993) and in Davenports (1993) writings. The goal of this case study was to learn how organizations begin reengineering projects, how reengineering projects produce dramatic improvements, whether information technology is an integral or necessary component of business reengineering, and how business reengineering projects differ from other productivity and efficiency initiatives such as Total Quality Management (TQM) and Continuous Process Improvement (CPI). This paper describes the reengineering process at ITT Sheraton and makes observations that provide an understanding of how reengineering projects are executed and how business reengineering relates and complements CPI and TQM.