James A. Sena

Knowledge management and new product development: a study of two companies

The essence of new product development is the creation, utilization and exploitation of new knowledge. Business sustainability is embedded in the firm’s ability to manage its new product development (NPD) processes. This paper explores the complex relationship between organizational context, NPD and knowledge management. A design‐based framework is proposed and utilized in the investigation of two NPD units in telecommunication and software development organizations. Directions for future research are identified and briefly discussed.

Knowledge work teams and groupware technology: learning from Seagate’s experience

The goal of boosting creativity and productivity in knowledge‐based teams is shared by managers in technology‐oriented companies and industries. In this paper, we assess the nature of team performance and creativity in the context of computer‐supported technology. A field study of a Seagate Software project team provided the basis for the examination of four sub‐ teams’ overall functioning and creativity. Factors considered included technology support, team member relationships, decision making, performance and meeting deadlines, attention to quality, and innovation and creativity. Results varied, revealing less reliance on computer‐aided support and more on social support. Creativity was recognized and supported, but at times hampered.

Information Technology and the Integration of Change: Sociotechnical System Approach

The integration of change over time is one of the ongoing challenges in a firms life. Organizations seem to develop unique mechanisms that help them facilitate the integration of changes throughout and across organizational units. Information technologies based on electronic data processing are having a widespread impact on information flow within and between firms, on the structural configurations of the firm, and on managements ability to integrate change. This article proposes sociotechnical systems as a framework for examining the organizational implications of new information technology systems and as a tool for guiding the integration of change. The implications of the implementation of a local area network and its concomitant impact in a software development firm are examined over a 4-year period. The sociotechnical systems approach suggests that the same new information technology is likely to have different implications in various companies in terms of system integration, work design, and organization structure. These implications are likely to necessitate a realignment of the entire organization. The article concludes with the identification and discussion of some theoretical issues.

Intelligence systems: a sociotechnical systems perspective

To effectively compete a firm needs to take advantage of their intellectual capital. However, intellectual capital alone is not sufficient to capitalize on the intellectual assets of the firm. An intelligence system is also necessary. We propose an intelligence system, consisting of four evolving components: a corporate data base of transaction processing and management information systems, a decision-making environment of decision support and expert systems, a corporate-wide ability to examine the information resources, and a knowledge center to support individual and group decision making. We meld this view of an intelligence system into a sociotechnical system framework as means to explain and juxtaposition knowledge work.

The development of a purchase manager's decision support system for budgeting and contracting in a wood-processing company

Abstract In this paper we discuss the design of a specific decision support system for a purchasing manager in the Norwegian wood-processing industry. Using the decision reseach approach, we mapped the existing decision processes, and formulated a prescriptive model that described the logical processes critical for the success of this particular decision maker and his organization. Here we have used this formulation to create a specific design of a decision support system: the budgeting and contracting activity. We will demonstrate the applicability of our approach to the process of developing a general model of the supply chain, and discuss those specific design and implementation aspects that we found to be significant to the creation of this prototype.

ITs and structural change: the case of local area network implementation

New ITs are having a widespread impact on information flow within and between firms, on management practices and, on the basic processes and the structural configurations of the organization. This paper investigates a specific information system – Local Area Network – and its impact on the structural configuration of the firm. An initial discussion about a proposed framework for analysis is followed by an examination of the implementation of a local area network in a software development organization.

Exploring the Impact of Social Networking on Communication in Organizations

ABSTRACT Social networking technology has the potential to transform how organizations communicate, cooperate, and connect with key stakeholders. Our research explores how social networking technologies are deployed within organizations and how the use of these technologies is related to effectiveness in organizational communication and promotion. We also identify the facilitating factors and constraints around the use of social networking tools for communication. To examine these questions, we conducted interviews with 131 senior level executives across a broad range of organizations and employed both quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis. The executives were asked to rate numerically and then discuss in narrative form a series of questions about IT strategy and issues affecting social networking in their organization. We find important differences both in the types of tools used as well as how they are used and discuss the implications of our findings for companies seeking to more effectively harness social networking technologies.

A Structured Method for Strategic Deployment in a University Setting

This article shows how an approach, such as A3, can be adapted to describe and analyze the evolution of a strategic plan and its deployment process within a university setting. We used a case to illustrate how strategy deployment would work. The deployment was accompanied by a process, including workshops, surveys, and participation, under the direction of a strategic steering committee. The article begins by building the context for the strategic process from a historical perspective for the university in the study. A change management model was employed to supplement and evaluate the A3 approach. The research findings indicate that the A3 approach was a useful tool in the beginning stages of a strategic deployment process; however, as more stakeholders become involved, other organizational change dynamics came into play and needed to be addressed.

Security Design, Organization Dynamics and Performance: More than Meets the Eye

This manuscript explores the gap between organizational processes and security design. We begin with a presentation stressing the need for improved security in the corporation. Organizational processes, such as work design, creativity and innovation, culture, learning and change are considered in organizational design. The way the organization is designed and coordinated determines its ability to achieve its goals. Many factors influence the behavior and performance of the organization including the context, purpose, people, and structure as they interface with the core transformation and management support processes to set up the organization’s performance level. All factors are affected by security.

A data sublanguage for formulation of linear mathematical models

The database language SQL is extended to allow the specification of constraints, computed attributes, triggers, and optimizations for mathematical linear programming problems. QSL can be used directly to interface with various linear optimization routines. In this regard, an integration of these models and databases, from a user point of view, is achieved. A macro architecture for the implementation of the system is proposed.<<ETX>>