Hsin-Ginn Hwang

An exploration of the relationship between software development process maturity and project performance

Software projects have a high rate of failure. Organizations have tried to reduce the rate through methodological approaches but with little perceived success. A model of software development maturity (the capability maturity model (CMM)) describes managerial processes that can he used to attack software development difficulties from the managerial control perspective at five maturity levels. Our study examined performance of projects in relation to the activities at these various levels of maturity. A survey of software engineers indicated that the activities associated with the managerial control of development related positively to project performance measures. However, not each level of maturity demonstrated observable benefits, indicating that greater caution is needed in the planning and implementation of the activities.

Critical factors influencing the adoption of data warehouse technology: a study of the banking industry in Taiwan

Previous literature suggests that various factors play crucial roles in the adoption of an information system; however, there is little empirical research about the factors affecting adoption of data warehouse technology, particularly in a single information technology intensive industry. In this study, we used a survey to investigate the factors influencing adoption of data warehouse technology in the banking industry in Taiwan. A total of 50 questionnaires were mailed to CIOs in domestic banks. The response rate was 60%. Discriminant analysis was employed to test hypotheses. The results revealed that factors such as support from the top management, size of the bank, effect of champion, internal needs, and competitive pressure would affect the adoption of data warehouse technology. The results and conclusions from this study may be a good reference for global banks in these aforementioned countries to establish and develop operational strategies, which in turn will facilitate the implementation in overseas branches.

E‐commerce Web site design: strategies and models

The rapid adoption of the Web as a commercial medium has caused firms to experiment with innovative ways of doing business. Those firms that effectively market themselves on the Web have a distinct advantage. This paper presents two e‐commerce Web site design strategies and 12 e‐commerce models for gaining that advantage.

Factors affecting the adoption of electronic signature: Executives' perspective of hospital information department

Abstract The healthcare industry is experiencing a major transformation towards e-healthcare, which delivers and enhances related information through the Internet among healthcare stakeholders and makes the electronic signature (e-signature) more and more important. This paper uses a mature framework, Technology–Organization–Environment (TEO), in information system discipline to identify factors that affect hospitals in adopting e-signature. A survey was conducted on regional hospitals and medical centers in Taiwan to verify the validity of the research framework. The results show that TEO framework is useful in distinguishing hospitals as adopters and non-adopters of e-signature. Based on the research findings, implications and limitations are discussed.

A neural network evaluation model for ERP performance from SCM perspective to enhance enterprise competitive advantage

Due to increasing global competition, many enterprises are aware of the benefits of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). While the external environments and alliance partnerships facing an enterprise are becoming more complex, executives should consider appropriate partners to enhance efficiency and performance of supply chain management (SCM) as well as to gain potential competitive advantages. This study constructs a conceptual model to evaluate the performance and competitive advantages associated with ERP from a SCM perspective. The resulting model can be used to assist an enterprise in evaluating the potential partnerships. The survey data was gathered from a transnational textile firm in Taiwan. The training and learning models were based on the strategic thrust theory and used the Back-Propagation Network (BPN) as an evaluation tool.

Critical factors for adopting PACS in Taiwan: views of radiology department directors

To cope with the dramatic changes and fierce competition, healthcare industry is experiencing major transformation in its information technology base. Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS), an integral part of comprehensive electronic medical records, has been recognized as a strategic information technology tool to improve a hospitals competitiveness. Though many studies have investigated the critical factors concerning adoption of information systems, little attention has been focused on the healthcare industry and specifically on PACS. This study incorporates the views of Radiology Department directors and finds that the critical factors for adopting PACS in medical centers and regional hospitals of Taiwan are high-level manager support, governmental policy, and the expected benefits of using PACS.

Factors affecting cross-hospital exchange of Electronic Medical Records

Abstract Adopting Electronic Medical Record (EMR) exchange may save patients’ lives and also improve their health. Most Electronic Data Interchange studies have considered commercial enterprises and necessary funding to support business activities, EMR exchange focuses on saving patients’ lives. Our study combined transaction cost and sociological perspectives to identify factors that affect a hospitals’ willingness to implement EMR exchange. A survey was conducted with regional hospitals and medical centers in Taiwan to justify the validity of a resulting model. Our findings indicated that the model was valuable and determined which factors influenced the decision to implement EMR exchange at these hospitals (perceived benefits, uncertainty, influence, and reciprocal investments). Based on these findings, healthcare policy makers can promote EMR exchange and hospitals can identify desirable partners that will form a strategic alliance to meet the dynamic challenges in the healthcare industry.

Mobile commerce: the convergence of e-commerce and wireless technology

The power of the web brought in a new era for business. The ability to leverage and integrate the various data sources and processes that make up a corporations lifeblood and deliver them to the consumer via an integrated web site has given rise to the new world of e-business. At the same time, the world of wireless connectivity has given people the flexibility of doing business wherever they are. The decreasing cost and increasing speed of wireless devices is driving the move to wireless communication. Now there is a convergence underway, enabling wireless devices to act as clients in the exploding e-business world. This convergence of web power with the reach of wireless access is giving rise to a new business era, the age of mobile commerce or m-commerce. Companies that already operate a mobile business will have competitive advantages over their competitors who do not touch it yet.

An empirical study of the factors affecting Internet security for the financial industry in Taiwan

Abstract Security is a pre-requisite for internet banking. The purpose of this study is to explore the factors that are important to the implementation of Internet security of different types of financial institutes. A questionnaire survey was conducted on all types of financial institutions in Taiwan. A total of 573 questionnaires were mailed out to CIOs in domestic financial institutions with a response rate of 11.69%. The results of the study showed that different types of financial institutions have significantly different levels of concern in terms of factors such as the concern of software systems, hardware security, executives support, internal Internet system users, organizational characteristics, and organizational security policy. The implications of this study are discussed and suggestions for future research are presented.

A Call for Safer Utilization of Radio Frequency Identification in the e-Health Era

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of the electromagnetic interference (EMI) caused by radio frequency identification (RFID) with medical devices among hospitals as well as to call the attention of medical institutions to the development of RFID applications. A survey sponsored by the Department of Health of Taiwan was conducted and the target subjects were every hospital in Taiwan (486 in total). The survey topics included testing of RFID interference with medical devices and perceptions of safety issues of RFID. The main targets of the survey were the Chief Information Officers (CIOs) or the main person responsible for RFID systems in each hospital. Of the original 486 questionnaires mailed, 273 were returned. A return rate of 56.17% was obtained. The survey results revealed that only six hospitals had carried out tests on interference by RFID with medical devices, and the results of these tests indicated that RFID does not interfere with medical devices. A majority of hospitals understood that RFID may interfere with medical devices but did not think that this would seriously harm patients. The application of RFID in the healthcare industry is certainly promising; however, EMI issues must be appropriately handled. This study asserts that most hospitals do not understand or pay insufficient attention to the issue of RFID interference with patient safety or medical devices. In addition, most hospitals believe that the problem of RFID should be resolved by RFID vendors. Therefore, this study argues that medical institutions should develop more understanding of RFID issues and that more attention should be given to the potential problems of RFID interference when developing RFID applications.