Inger V. Eriksson

Understanding shared knowledge creation spaces around business processes: precursors to process innovation implementation

The thesis of this paper is that the implementation success of process innovations is facilitated by having an organisational environment that is conducive to effective shared knowledge creation around the process that is being improved. The paper describes a research study to better understand shared knowledge creation around business processes by developing a model of shared knowledge spaces that includes catalysts, organisational values, information technology infrastructure, and SKC processes. The context used is the new product development process in two high technology companies in Finland. Findings are presented and implications for creating effective shared knowledge creation environments are drawn. The paper ends with a call for creating such spaces as precursors to process innovation implementation.

A model for IS quality

Different concepts of software quality are reviewed and discussed in this paper. Based on this, a hierarchical model of information system (IS) quality concepts developed in the research project SOLE* is presented. This model aims at a division of quality concepts consistent with the different decision makers and decisions made during the software life-cycle. The main division is into IS cost effectiveness, IS use quality and IS work quality. The last two are further divided into requirement quality, interface quality, and efficient IS management, evolution quality and operation quality, respectively.

A METHOD FOR SUPPORTING USERS'COMPREHENSIVE LEARNING

In this paper, an educational experiment is reported. The experiment was valuable in, at least, two senses. First, from the perspective of the users, qualifications related to the performance of computer-supported tasks were improved. In connection with this, the visibility of organizational collaboration, also when mediated by the computer, was facilitated. Second, the education also provided the users with qualifications which partly compensated the defects in the technical information system. The five phases of the experimental educational method are described: interviews, group discussions, lectures, simulation, and personal guidance. The educational programme is evaluated by presenting the results and discussing the effects of the experiment.

Introduction to IST special issue on information system quality

Information technology (IT) does not only offer benefits to business and other organizations but has become an imperative for them to successfully compete in the opening, volatile and multipolar world. Not only the push from technology development but much more the pull from the changing business environment dictates the needs and uses of IT. The development of IT from the 1950s till the 1990s which some authors call phases [l] and others paradigm shifts [2], progresses from paying attention to the benefits and constraints of computers and system software, to the specific types of applications, and into the broadening user categories. This shift of attention is reflected in the characteristics considered most important. During the first phase, cost effectiveness was the major issue. Computers were used for process control and to automate clerical tasks, and certainly were effective in this respect, especially since the cost/performance ratio for computers improved remarkably. The major issue during the second phase was productivity. The so-called ‘software crises’ should be overcome by improved information systems development techniques and tools. In the 1980s and 1990s the important issue has become quality. The publication of this special issue on quality, as well as other recent publications [3], bare witness of the actuality of the topic. Quality in context of IT is, however, not at all easy to define. There are some standard definitions of quality [4,5] and others which can be considered de facto standards [6,7]. Still, the very issue is what object the quality discussion is about. Is it the computer and how it performs or the software and how well it is designed or is it how useful the information system is for its user. In this issue we take a broad view of information system quality. We also discuss the distinction between information system and software quality. Information system quality according to our concept includes the requirements of the business organization, the users, and the IT personnel. We do not want to separate, but distinguish, the varying quality requirements of these

Information systems research: the 'infurgic' perspective

The information systems laboratory (LABORIS) is the focus of information systems research in the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. LABORIS itself has 12 researchers, three of whom have doctorates. The LABORIS activities are financed 40% by University, 40% by research funding and the rest by industrial contracts. LABORIS is part of the Turku Centre for Computer Science which co-ordinates work of IT related activities of the two Finnish and Swedish universities and Turku School of Economics and Business Administration. The Centres prime focus is the running of the Graduate School where 50 doctoral students are at work. The LABORIS was founded and managed by Professor Nurminen. The core of its competence lies in the relationships between information systems (IS) and work (in Latin labor). There is a significant overlap among people working in LABORIS and the IS group of the department. However, LABORIS is a useful organisational unit that works on various research contracts with industry and less on undergraduate teaching.

Information Systems for Responsible Actors

Many people today use computerized information systems intended to support their work tasks. However, we state that information systems as they are often designed do not support workers in their tasks as well as they could. It is hard for the worker to understand how the system performs, how to interpret the output, what its context is and what the consequences of using it are. There are few if any ways of adapting systems to fast-changing requirements, on a daily basis if needed, and possibly by oneself. All these features are relevant for “knowledge workers” and we stress that most work today is at least to some extent knowledge work. Including such features requires new ways of looking at information systems development and a corresponding reconstruction of some fundamental concepts.