Heli Aramo-Immonen

Social media utilization in business-to-business relationships of technology industry firms

Even today, it is a fairly common argument in business-to-business companies, especially in traditional industrial companies, that social media is only useful in the business-to-consumer sector. The perceived challenges, opportunities and social media use cases in business-to-business sector have received little attention in the literature. Therefore, this paper focuses on bridging this gap with a survey of social media use cases, opportunities and challenges in industrial business-to-business companies. The study also examines the essential differences between business-to-consumer and business-to-business in these respects. The paper starts by defining social media and Web 2.0, and then characterizes social media in business, and social media in business-to-business. Finally, we present and analyze the results of our empirical survey of 125 business-to-business companies in the Finnish technology industry sector. This paper suggests that there is a significant gap between the perceived potential of social media and social media use with customers and partners in business-to-business companies, and identifies potentially effective ways to reduce the gap.

Multicultural Software Development: The Productivity Perspective

Productivity management is a challenge for software engineering companies and, in this regard, there is a current trend toward globalization. Via acquisitions and mergers, business has become international and employs different national cultures. Therefore, the focus of this article is on the understanding of cultural differences affecting productivity in globalized software production. The relation between productivity and non coding activities in software development projects has not been proven. Software development is expert work, typically made in closely collaborating local teams and global distribution of expert work increases the degree of difficulty. In this paper, the authors analyze multicultural ICT companies from their productivity perspective through the lens of cultural differences. The purpose of this study is to report findings based on general cultural studies and reported experiences that seem to affect productivity in the software industry. Some company cases are also described and analyzed.

Trust Building in Globalized Software Engineering: A Cultural Perspective

Abstract Commitment is the manifestation of trust. Therefore the building of trust in global software engineering (SE) companies is a relevant question to study. The objective of this research is to explore the trust-building processes in global SE from a cultural perspective. In this research, staff from five large multinational SE companies were interviewed. In the conceptual part of the article, firstly the domain of SE is introduced, secondly there is a discussion on the concept of trust and trust-building processes and thirdly, cultural dimensions affecting trust-building processes are examined. Finally, findings from the case companies are discussed.

Mixed Methods Research Design

Mixed methods research is an approach to inquiry that combines or associates both qualitative and quantitative forms. Mixed methods designs provide researchers, across research disciplines, with a rigorous approach to answering research questions. In the case of holistic analysis of complex systems, such as the mega-project, this is a relevant approach. Mixing the data, the specific types of research designs, the notation system, terminology, diagrams of procedures includes a risk of entering to chaos. Therefore research design has to be clearly articulated to readers. Triangulation is an important part of research design. Denzin [10] has identified four basic types of triangulation. In this exploratory paper are discussed mixed method research, theory triangulation, economic science, design science and systems development. Finally is introduced utilization of mixed methods in multiple-case study conducted in industry.

Replacement of the Project Manager Reflected Through Activity Theory and Work–System Theory

Replacement of the project manager (RPM) is a known phenomenon in information systems (IS) projects, but scant attention is given to it in the project management or IS literature. Given its critical effects on the project business, the organization, the project team, and the project manager, it should be studied in more depth. We identified factors which make RPM occurrences inherently different and we show that work-system theory and activity theory give comprehensive lenses to advance research on RPM. For the future research on RPM we identified three objectives: experiences on RPM, process model for RPM, and organizational culture’s influence on RPM occurrences.

The digitalization push in universities

Digitalization is spreading across our current society and is a major source of the changes - incremental and also radical - encountered in daily life. It changes the content of jobs: some jobs are no longer needed, and new jobs are also needed. Digitalization in universities has several implications - in teaching, research, and in administration. The opportunities provided by digitalization are manifold. In our paper, we separate two digitalization related topic areas - i.e., networking and digitalization itself. Our paper focuses on academic publishing and we will analyze its role in the current academic world. The approach selected emphasizes the role of an individual researcher and, in particular, publishing the results of their work in academic forums. Digitalization provides a wide variety of new forums but also the means to recognize the impact of the forums and affect it. Networking as a phenomenon is also based on digitalization - physical networks and social networking related applications can be beneficial for researchers. Because teaching is the most visible work of universities, the role of digitalization in this sector is also addressed briefly in this paper.

Replacing Project Managers in Information Technology Projects: Contradictions that Explain the Phenomenon

According to anecdotal evidence, project managers working on information technology IT projects are occasionally replaced, although the literature on information systems IS and project management PM makes little mention of it. With a view to narrowing this knowledge gap the authors examined the reasons behind the practice. The authors took an interpretive approach to the data gathering and analysis, and collected descriptions about replacing project managers RPM from interviews and questionnaires n=43. The concept of contradiction served as a lens through which to identify the underlying reasons. Contradiction refers to statements asserting or expressing the opposite of another statement. The authors identified four contradictions explaining why RPM occurs in IT projects. These contradictions show that RPM appears to be a simplistic solution when there are more fundamental issues to consider. The implications extend to education, practice, and research in the context of IT project management.

Value added of social media in open innovation community: the perspective of a community-hosting company that produces B2B products

Social media and open innovation communities are becoming increasingly important not only for business-to-consumer (B2C) companies, in which context they have resulted in relatively large and fast-growing research body, but increasingly also to the development of business-to-business (B2B) products and innovations. In order to find out how social media and open innovation communities can be used to create value for the development of B2B product, we selected a single case study research method. The selected single case represents a unique case regarding open innovation community and social media use in the development of complex B2B products.

Mediator’s role in an innovation ecosystem

The diffusion of new innovations into a business ecosystem is an interesting phenomenon. In order to gain competitive advantage for SMEs and also to add value in SME networks, the dynamic nature of the business ecosystem demands the capability to adapt new ideas. On the other hand, the risk-bearing ability of SMEs alone can be a barrier to the utilisation of novel innovations. In order to answer our research question - how to improve innovation diffusion in a business ecosystem via SME networks in collaboration with academia? - in this article we introduce the mediator-assisted innovation diffusion (MAID) model. The model was tested in multiple case studies where a total of 18 organisations participated. In the conceptual part of this paper we discuss the context of business and innovation ecosystems, the process of innovation diffusion and the mediators role in value creation for SME networks in such an evolving ecosystem.

Social media utilization in b2b networks' organizational learning - review and research agenda proposal

The purpose of this study was to conduct an analysis of the financial performance on PT.Sandhy Putra Makmur, Representative Pontianak. Type of research is descriptive research with data collection consists of primary data that includes interviews and observations; and secondary data by studying the documentation of the records or documents from PT. Shandy Putra Makmur Representative Pontianak.Alat analysis used is Selling Relative Value Analysis and Analysis of Financial Performance Ratio consisting of Ratio Analysis Liquidity, Solvency Ratios, Profitability Ratios, and Activity Ratios. The results of this study indicate that: Selling Nijai Analysis Relative to the field of business Building Management, Network Cabling, Security Guard Business / TLH, Mechanical Electric, General Trading Enterprises, and business fields PSB / IKR / IKG experiencing fluctuating percentage relative sales value. Then on Liquidity Analysis consisting of Current Ratio and Quick Ratio has a very good ratio number of criteria, while Cash Ratio indicates the criteria is not good. In Solvency analysis consisting of Total Debt to Total Assets Ratio figures show the average ratio on standard criteria quite well, while on the Net Worth to Total Debt Ratio figures show the average ratio is less good on the standard criteria. In Profitability Analysis consisting of economic profitability and equity capital profitability ratio that is the ratio of the numbers in accordance with the standards and represents an average of the criteria very well. In the analysis of activity that consists of asset turnover ratio and working capital turnover ratio indicates the ratio in accordance with the standards and represents an average of both criteria.