Felix B. Tan

The repertory grid technique: a method for the study of cognition in information systems

Recent studies have confirmed the importance of understanding the cognition of users and information systems (IS) professionals. These works agree that organizational cognition is far too critical to be ignored as it can impact on IS outcomes. While cognition has been considered in a variety of IS contexts, no specific methodology has dominated. A theory and method suitable to the study of cognition-defined as personal constructs that individuals use to understand IT in organizations-is Kellys (1955) personal construct theory and its cognitive mapping tool known as the repertory grid (RepGrid). This article expounds on the potential of this technique to IS researchers by considering the variety of ways the RepGrid may be employed. The flexibility of the RepGrid is illustrated by examining published studies in IS. The diagnostic qualities of the RepGrid and its mapping outcomes can be used for practical intervention at the individual and organizational levels.

Antecedents of perceived playfulness: an exploratory study on user acceptance of general information-searching websites

Understanding user acceptance of the Internet, in particular user acceptance of general information-searching sites, is important in assessing its effectiveness. Such sites provide users with various information options while navigating the Internet. A well-designed general information-searching site helps to ensure a positive user experience and therefore repeat usage. This study extended existing research into user acceptance of the Internet. It explored the antecedents of Playfulness. Results indicated that website characteristics play a dominant role in influencing a users experience of Playfulness and that cognitive aspects and motivations for searching are also important. Implications are discussed.

Beyond Models of National Culture in Information Systems Research

Many IS scholars argue that global organizations need to understand cultural differences if they are to successfully deploy information technology. We agree that an understanding of cultural differences is important, but suggest that the concept of “national culture†that has tended to dominate the IS research literature is too simplistic. In this article, we challenge information systems researchers to go beyond models of national culture. We propose that IS researchers should adopt a more dynamic view of culture – one that sees culture as contested, temporal and emergent.

Online Consumer Trust: A Multi-Dimensional Model

Consumer trust is widely heralded as an essential element for the success of electronic commerce, yet the concept itself is still clouded in confusion by the numerous definitions and points of view held across multiple disciplines. It is the aim of this paper to synthesise the viewpoints from across the disciplines and bring them together in a multi-dimensional trust model. It is hoped that in doing so, these broad assortment of views will highlight the true underlying nature of trust in the online environment. From these multiple disciplines, three dimensions of trust emerged: dispositional trust, institutional trust and interpersonal trust, each bringing its own influencing factors into the overall intention to trust. From this model emerged the notion that the consumer as an individual is central to the understanding of trust, and in turn that the individual’s personality and culture form the foundation for the development of trust.

IT project managers' construction of successful project management practice: a repertory grid investigation

Although effective project management is critical to the success of information technology (IT) projects, little empirical research has investigated skill requirements for IT project managers (PMs). This study addressed this gap by asking 19 practicing IT PMs to describe the skills that successful IT PMs exhibit. A semi‐structured interview method known as the repertory grid (RepGrid) technique was used to elicit these skills. Nine skill categories emerged: client management, communication, general management, leadership, personal integrity, planning and control, problem solving, systems development and team development. Our study complements existing research by providing a richer understanding of several skills that were narrowly defined (client management, planning and control, and problem solving) and by introducing two new skill categories that had not been previously discussed (personal integrity and team development). Analysis of the individual RepGrids revealed four distinct ways in which study participants combined skill categories to form archetypes of effective IT PMs. We describe these four IT PM archetypes – General Manager, Problem Solver, Client Representative and Balanced Manager – and discuss how this knowledge can be useful for practitioners, researchers and educators. The paper concludes with suggestions for future research.

Aligning business and information systems thinking: a cognitive approach

Business-information systems (IS) alignment has become an important strategic imperative for organizations competing in the global economy. Recent research (Reich and Benbasat [56]) indicates that building a shared understanding between business and IS executives is one way of strengthening this alignment. This paper describes a study that examines the cognitive basis of shared understanding between business and IS executives. Using Personal Construct Theory (Kelly [36]), this study uses cognitive mapping techniques to explore the commonalities and individualities in the cognition between these executives. Eighty business and IS executives in six companies participated in this study. The results indicate that a higher level of cognitive commonality is positively related to a higher level of business-IS alignment. This is supported by findings that greater diversity in cognitive structure and cognitive content of business and IS executives coincide with a lower level of alignment. Implications for practitioners and researchers are discussed.

Attributes of Web Site Usability: A Study of Web Users with the Repertory Grid Technique

Research on Web site usability using the Microsoft Usability Guidelines (MUG) have (1) assumed the MUG categories and subcategories as a given and (2) focused on the relationships between these attributes and site usability, thereby largely ignoring their underlying meaning. Using the Repertory Grid Technique, the present research elicits the attributes that Web users consider important when using business-to-consumer (B2C) Web sites. The results support the MUG framework but identify three additional attributes that warrant being MUG subcategories: quality of Web site content, Web site appearance, and extent to which the site provides convenient services to facilitate on-line activities. An enhanced MUG is presented. The implications for research and practice are discussed.

The responsiveness of information technology to business strategy formulation: an empirical study

In a study involving 88 companies, the nature of the linkages between business strategy and information technology (IT) responsiveness was explored. The results indicate that variations in IT-strategy responsiveness, measured by the extent to which IT is explicitly considered in business strategy formulation, are linked to the type of business strategy being pursued by the organization. For example, IT is more responsive to business strategy in organizations which place heavy emphasis on innovation in their product and market strategies than in those which operate in a relatively stable product/market area. This implies that organizations with an aggressive business strategy are more likely than those with a conservative business strategy to explicitly consider IT as a strategic resource in formulating business strategy. This paper suggests that the extent to which IT is used to shape business strategy differs among organizations, and that business strategy can help us understand these differences.

Factors contributing to IT industry success in developing countries: the case of Thailand

A stream of research exists that explores a countrys information technology (IT) industry success. The theoretical model used in these studies is primarily focused on small developed countries. We contend that the factors that contribute to IT industry success in developing countries are likely to differ somewhat from those that play a role in small developed countries. Research to date on IT industry success has neglected developing countries. This study therefore presents an alternative IT industry success model for developing countries. It adapts Ein-dor, Myers, and Ramans (1997) model in developing such a conceptual model. The adapted framework is then applied in a study of IT industry in a developing country—Thailand. We found IT-related foreign direct investment to be vital to IT industry success in Thailand. Unlike findings from earlier studies on small developed countries, geographical location and to a lesser extent government investment promotion policies are also important to IT industry success in a developing country. These findings support the view that there are differences in the factors that affect IT industry success in developed and developing countries. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Students' Uses and Gratifications for Using Computer-Mediated Communication Media in Learning Contexts

Despite a growing stream of research into the use of computer-mediated communication (CMC) media in higher education, there remains limited understanding about the students‘ motivations for using CMC alongside non-CMC media within a learning context. This article identifies seven dimensions of motivation from the perspective of uses and gratifications (U&G), including information seeking, convenience, connectivity, problem solving, content management, social presence, and social context cues. It was found that each CMC satisfied different motivations for its use, and that overall CMC best fulfilled information seeking, convenience, connectivity, and content management motivations. This study also identifies a number of similarities and differences between CMC and nonCMC media in terms of the motivations for their use. Finally, the study concludes with a discussion of the implications for Information Systems (IS) researchers, higher education, and organizations.