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Dive into the research topics where Ian K. Allison is active.

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Featured researches published by Ian K. Allison.


Information & Software Technology | 2007

Software process improvement as emergent change: A structurational analysis

Ian K. Allison; Yasmin Merali

This paper presents a framework that draws on Structuration theory and dialectical hermeneutics to explicate the dynamics of software process improvement (SPI) in a packaged software organisation. Adding to the growing body of qualitative research, this approach overcomes some of the criticisms of interpretive studies, especially the need for the research to be reflexive in nature. Our longitudinal analysis of the case study shows SPI to be an emergent rather than a deterministic activity: the design and action of the change process are shown to be intertwined and shaped by their context. This understanding is based upon a structurational perspective that highlights how the unfolding/realisation of the process improvement (intent) are enabled and constrained by their context. The work builds on the recognition that the improvements can be understood from an organisational learning perspective. Fresh insights to the improvement process are developed by recognising the role of the individual to influence the improvement through facilitating or resisting the changes. The understanding gained here can be applied by organisations to enable them to improve the effectiveness of their SPI programmes, and so improve the quality of their software.


quality of information and communications technology | 2010

Organizational Factors Shaping Software Process Improvement in Small-Medium Sized Software Teams: A Multi-Case Analysis

Ian K. Allison

Previous work looking at software process improvement (SPI) in small organizations has highlighted difficulties faced by small organizations in implementing SPI successfully, but there is little analysis to understand why this is from an organization theory perspective. This paper presents an analysis of SPI across six software teams in the UK using a framework based on Giddens’ Structuration Theory. Using a structurational perspective helps to draw out how the process improvements are enabled and constrained by their context. By comparing these across the six situations the key similarities and differences across the cases are highlighted. This work extends the existing literature by helping to identify the areas of risk that need managing in small SPI initiatives. The study shows the issues as pertained to the six contexts and actions in each case. The paper highlights how the context influences the outcome.


EJISDC: The Electronic Journal on Information Systems in Developing Countries | 2014

Cloud Computing: Adoption Issues for Sub-Saharan Africa SMEs

Abubakar Abubakar Dahiru; Julian M. Bass; Ian K. Allison

This paper explores the emergence and adoption of cloud computing by small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) and points towards its implications for developing countries in sub‐Saharan Africa. Several studies have shown the importance of technologies to SMEs and the potentials of SMEs for economic growth. Using qualitative techniques we obtained and analysed data from ten SMEs that have adopted cloud computing as an IT strategy. These SMEs span across various sectors including finance, information and communication technology (ICT), and manufacturing in Nigeria, a developing country in sub‐Saharan Africa. We found that, contrary to the literature on cloud computing adoption in the global north, these SMEs are less concerned with challenges like security, privacy and data loss rather; they continue to show optimism in using the potential opportunities that cloud computing presents to them. We envisage that as cloud computing evolves, more SMEs in sub‐Saharan Africa will adopt it as an IT Strategy. This could positively contribute to the successes of these SMEs and consequently contribute to the economic growth desired by these developing countries.


ieee international multi disciplinary conference on cognitive methods in situation awareness and decision support | 2011

Situation awareness in context-aware case-based decision support

Nuka D. Nwiabu; Ian K. Allison; Patrik O'Brian Holt; Peter Lowit; Babs Oyeneyin

Humans naturally reuse recalled knowledge to solve problems and this includes understanding the context i.e. the information that identifies or characterizes these problems. For problems in complex and dynamic environments, providing effective solutions by operators requires their understanding of the situation of the environment together with the context. Context-aware case-based reasoning (CBR) applications uses the context of users to provide solutions to problems. The combination of a context-aware CBR with general domain knowledge has been shown to improve similarity assessment, solving domain specific problems and problems of uncertain knowledge. Whilst these CBR approaches in context awareness address problems of incomplete data and domain specific problems, future problems that are situation-dependent cannot be anticipated due to lack of the facility to predict the state of the environment. This paper builds on prior work to present an approach that combines situation awareness, context awareness, case-based reasoning, and general domain knowledge in a decision support system. In combining these concepts the architecture of this system provides the capability to handle uncertain knowledge and predict the state of the environment in order to solve specific domain problems. The paper evaluates the concepts through a trial implementation in the flow assurance control domain to predict the formation of hydrate in sub-sea oil and gas pipelines. The results show a clear improvement in both similarity assessment and problem solving prediction.


International Journal of Information Management | 1996

Executive information systems: An evaluation of current UK practice

Ian K. Allison

Executive information systems (EIS) have become an established part of the information systems infrastructure for large organizations. A review of how UK organizations have applied EIS was undertaken, the results from the study are presented and discussed. The findings show many successes in the implementation of EIS, such as the accessibility to managers of the organizations information resources. The monitoring of internal activity by middle management was identified as the principle application of EIS. However, to deliver their full potential, EIS need to be used by senior management to analyse the organizations strategic goals. By comparing the development methods in the study with the theoretical and experiential approaches shown in the literature, the paper shows how the techniques currently utilized could be improved to provide executives with better technological support.


EJISDC: The Electronic Journal on Information Systems in Developing Countries | 2017

Cloud-Computing: Adoption Issues for Ethiopian Public and Private Enterprises

Solomon Demissie Seifu; Abubakar Abubakar Dahiru; Julian M. Bass; Ian K. Allison

This paper explores the emergence and adoption of cloud computing by enterprises in sub‐Saharan Africa. Several studies have shown the benefits of cloud technologies for enterprises. Using qualitative techniques we obtained and analyzed data from nine enterprises regarding the adoption of cloud computing as an IT strategy. These enterprises span the finance, information and communication technology (ICT) training, research, construction and manufacturing sectors in Ethiopia. We found that, contrary to the literature on cloud computing adoption in the global north, these enterprises are yet to adopt cloud computing as an IT provisioning method and they lack awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of adopting the cloud. The enterprises are concerned with challenges like security, privacy and trust issues as well as government telecommunications infrastructure policies and cloud technology skills acquisition. This research is part of a wider study that has taken place in Nigeria and Ghana, where we have observed higher levels of adoption. This research raises awareness of the challenges and potential benefits of cloud adoption.


quality of information and communications technology | 2014

Overcoming Structural Resistance in SPI with Change Management

Henrique Narciso; Ian K. Allison

SPI initiatives can be seen as change programmes. Previous work has identified that such programmes are subject to resistance. A key challenge in the area is to understand the political issues in SPI change. However, at present there is little existing work in SPI related to the politics of improving. By adopting a view of politics as central to contemporary organizations, this paper reviews how we might understand resistance, how and why resistance occurs, and the implications of resistance for SPI. We provide a more detailed understanding of change management models (Katters 8 steps and Proscis Change Management Model) and their use in addressing resistance in SPI. It is argued that change management models can be used to accommodate the human factor of change in SPI. The paper explains the activities that help the successes of SPI initiatives and their relationship with the change management models. This paper contributes a structured change management approach to address resistance. We show from our experience how these approaches have been applied.


Archive | 2002

A virtual learning environment for introductory programming

Ian K. Allison; Paul Orton; Heather Powell


ieee international multi-disciplinary conference on cognitive methods in situation awareness and decision support | 2012

Case-based situation awareness

Nuka D. Nwiabu; Ian K. Allison; Patrik O'Brian Holt; Peter Lowit; Babs Oyeneyin


ieee international multi-disciplinary conference on cognitive methods in situation awareness and decision support | 2012

User interface design for situation-aware decision support systems

Nuka D. Nwiabu; Ian K. Allison; Patrik O'Brian Holt; Peter Lowit; Babs Oyeneyin

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Babs Oyeneyin

Robert Gordon University

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Nuka D. Nwiabu

Robert Gordon University

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Peter Lowit

Robert Gordon University

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Drew Robey

University of Nottingham

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Marc Werfs

University of St Andrews

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