Donna Champion

Validating Action Research field studies: PEArL

The difficulty of establishing the validity of Action Research field studies has been well documented. Enabling interested individuals to follow the route of inquiry, or “recover” the inquiry process, has provided some means of addressing the difficult issue of validation. Such an approach, however, still fails to provide a sense of the manner in which an inquiry was undertaken, which can be important when individuals, participants in the inquiry or otherwise, are making their own judgments concerning validity. In this paper we argue that by supporting any interested individuals in making their own judgments concerning the manner in which the inquiry process was undertaken, it is possible for a public perception of the authenticity and credibility, or character, of that inquiry process to emerge. We argue that such a perception is an essential aspect of making judgments concerning the validity of an Action Research project.

Client-Led Information System Creation (CLIC): navigating the gap

Abstract.  This paper offers a new framework to facilitate an interpretive approach to client‐led information system development, referred to as CLIC (Client‐Led Information System Creation). The challenge of moving seamlessly through a process of information systems (IS) design is still the subject of much research in the IS field. Attempts to address the difficulties of ‘bridging the gap’ between a clients business needs and an information system definition have hitherto not provided a coherent and practical approach. Rather than attempting to bridge the gap, this paper describes an approach to managing this gap by facilitating the clients’ navigating through the information system design process (or inquiry process) in a coherent manner. The framework has been developed through practice, and the paper provides an example of navigating through the design phase taken from an Action Research field study in a major UK bank.

PEArL: a systems approach to demonstrating authenticity in information systems design

The process of information systems (IS) design has been dominated by the demands inherent in providing a technical solution to a perceived problem or need. Engineering IS design methods applied in order to satisfy the problem situation tend to have a preoccupation with verifying specifications as being mathematically correct. Difficulties arise when the ideas underpinning verification are extended in an attempt to ‘prove’ the validity of a proposed design for an IS. A pure engineering approach does not facilitate a response to the subjective elements within social situations, which experience has shown to be essential in demonstrating the pertinence of new designs to those concerned. We suggest that, by applying interpretivist systems ideas, it is possible to support concerned individuals in reflecting upon crucial aspects of the inquiry, enabling those individuals to judge the relevance or ‘authenticity’ of the learning, according to their own values and beliefs. The elements of participants, engagement, authority, relationships and learning are suggested as being crucial. These make up the mnemonic PEArL, which is offered as an aide-mémoire for those concerned with IS design.

The impact of contingency factors on validation of problem structuring methods

AbstractAlthough much has been written about validating Decision support systems and other ‘hard’ OR models, less has been written about validating ‘soft’ OR models. This article seeks to determine which contingency factors known to influence DSS validation are also important factors influencing problem structuring methods (PSM) validation. In addition, after consultation with PSM experts other contingency factors influencing PSM validation are proposed. Evidence from these PSM experts concerning the levels of influence of these factors is used to support proposals for a contingency approach to PSM validation.

An holistic approach to understanding the changing nature of organisational structure

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on an exploratory study to revisit and critically reappraise the impact of IT upon organisational structure, by exploring how the deployment of ERP, when accompanied by a specific strategic orientation, impacted upon the host organisations structural design.Design/methodology/approach – The study was initially enacted through a postal questionnaire survey of IT managers within a sample of Chinas largest manufacturing organisations. Follow‐up interviews were then conducted with senior managers, who had first‐hand experience of working on ERP implementations, to help to more fully understand the impact of ERP upon organisational structure.Findings – The study found that the implementation of ERP technology and the strategic orientation of the host organisation are both likely to modify the structural design of Chinese manufacturing organisations. Moreover, it has been found that the success of an ERP deployment is a stronger predictor of organisational form...

Navigating the Gap Between Action and a Serving Information System

Creating, or adapting, information systems to support people undertaking purposeful action in organizational settings involves moving from: exploring the problem situation and thinking about what action to take, to thinking about how to support that action. In business settings this support will inevitably entail technology-based information systems. Most information system design approaches neglect the importance of the initial exploration and sense making phase and move directly to specifying the business process to be operationalised through the application of some software. The ideas described here have been developed with the intention of supporting a group of people navigating an inquiry through the shift in focus from: thinking about action, to thinking about support in a manner that promotes Client-led information system design. The ideas have been applied in practice through an Action Research field study in a UK banking organization and here we describe our navigational approach to IS design.

Using capital theory to explore problem solving and innovation in small firms

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how small firms work at a micro-level, applying Bourdieu’s Capital Theory to give insight into the way individuals use the social and cultural capital at their disposal, to innovate and solve problems. Design/methodology/approach – The authors applied qualitative methods to explore problem solving and innovation activities at the micro-level in small firms, using interviews and thematic analysis. Findings – The findings reveal that, compared to firms with lower levels of social and cultural capital, firms which possess higher levels of social and cultural capital have a higher success rate in problem solving and are more likely to engage in innovative activity. Social and cultural capitals complement and reinforce one another in small firms, for example an enhanced ability to utilise networks (social capital) allows small firms to access a greater diversity of knowledge (cultural capital). Originality/value – Little is known about how different forms o...

The benefits of using reduced item variable scales in marketing segmentation

This study investigated the use of two reduced item constructs in marketing research, Involvement Scale and Consumer Expertise and their relationships. Previous findings suggested that both constructs could use reduced items and that they would be useful as marketing segmentation tools. Response rates to consumer questionnaires are declining; therefore, shorter questionnaires in marketing communications are more likely to be completed. This study establishes the current reliability of using these two reduced item constructs in automotive research and tests their validity using triangulation questions. Data collection used a novel approach in which respondents to a motor show used the new Apple iPad to complete an online questionnaire. Results revealed that the reduced item constructs are reliable and valid and would be useful for research involving large ticket items. They would be particularly useful to researchers where they are used as part of, rather than the main focus of, the research.

The Impact of Mobile Phone Uses in the Developing World: Giving Voice to the Rural Poor in the Congo

In recent years, the rise of information and communication technologies (ICTs) contrasted with the dire living conditions of the world’s poorest has been the subject of debate among industry and academia. However, despite the amount of writings produced on mobile phones, Western bias is surprisingly unbridledly prevailing alongside the feted dissemination of mobile phones. Expansive literature tends to present the rapid adoption of mobile phones among rural individuals, with little to no indication of how local values and voices are respected or promoted. We undertook semi-structured interviews with 16 rural chiefs to inquire into ways in which mobile phones enabled socio-economic development in the rural Congo. Rather than using quantitative, large-scale, or top-down data, we sought to give voice to chiefs themselves about the role of mobile phones. We found that Western bias dominates the literature and deployment of mobile phones more than usually acknowledged. We suggested some paths forward, while bringing the African communal Utu or Ubuntu culture to the center stage.

Segmenting for complexity: persuading people to buy what they don't understand

Certain products arouse different levels of interest and enthusiasm between consumers; this interest is likely to have an impact on how they view new products. It is generally accepted that consumer perceptions of new products are based on the perceived relevance of an object to an individual which is represented by an individuals needs, goals, values and existing knowledge of the object and their attitude to the object. After several meetings and interviews with automotive manufacturers this research established that currently all automotive new car launches send the same marketing message to all customers; they do not take into account how consumers are likely to respond to the new products. If, however, marketing departments were to measure and capture more relevant information, such as the consumer characteristics identified in this research – familiarity, expertise and involvement – it would give them the ability to target more appealing launch campaigns and result in more effective marketing channels. This research is important as it reveals the limited impact that new innovative products have on consumers in the automotive market and the need to channel relevant information that increases the understanding and appeal to a segmented, rather than whole, market place.