Jen-Her Wu

Measuring KMS success: a respecification of the DeLone and McLean's model

We proposed and empirically assessed a KMS success model. This was derived through an analysis of current practice of knowledge management and review of IS success literature. Five variables (system quality, knowledge or information quality, perceived KMS benefits, user satisfaction, and system use) were used as dependent variables in evaluating KMS success, and their interrelationships were suggested and empirically tested. The results provide an expanded understanding of the factors that measure KMS success and implications of this work are discussed.

Measuring ERP success: The key-users' viewpoint of the ERP to produce a viable IS in the organization

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are becoming mature technologies to support inter- and intra-company business processes even in small and medium enterprises. However, ERP systems are complex and expensive, and the decision to install an ERP system necessitates a choice of mechanisms for determining whether the ERP is needed, and once implemented, whether it is successful. User satisfaction is one evaluation mechanism for determining system success. This study looked at key-user satisfaction as a means of determining system success. Initial analyses of ERP system characteristics important for the environment were explored, and some previously validated user satisfaction instruments were selected for examination, using rigorous and systematic interview techniques and iterative development methods. A questionnaire was developed and then tested to prove its reliability and validity. Finally, a relationship was shown to exist between key-user satisfaction and perceived system success.

A methodology for ERP misfit analysis

Commercial off-the-shelf ERP systems have been adopted by many large companies to support their inter- and intra-business processes. Midsize market firms are now also investing their use. However, research has indicated that about three quarters of attempted ERP projects are unsuccessful: a common problem encountered in adopting ERP software has been the issue of fit or alignment. This paper presents an ERP selection methodology, grounded in task-technology fits theory, for measuring, at a high-level, the misfit between ERP candidates and the enterprises requirements ex-ante implementation. With this approach, organizations can more easily and systematically determine the locations of possible misfit and their degree of importance, thereby understanding the risk in their implementing an ERP. Our research thus contributes practical solutions to the problem of misfit analysis and ERP package selection.

Empirically Testing User Characteristics and Fitness Factors in Enterprise Resource Planning Success

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems for supporting inter- and intracompany business processes are reaching maturity in many organizations. However, ERP systems are complex and expensive, and the decision to install an ERP system necessitates a choice of mechanisms for determining whether the ERP is needed and, once implemented, whether it is successful. User satisfaction is one evaluation mechanism for gauging system success. In this study, the efficacy of user characteristics and fitness factors as determinants of ERP success was empirically evaluated. The findings indicate that the fitness factors (i.e., compatibility and task relevance) have significant positive influences on ERP satisfaction. As for user characteristics, higher educated users have greater user satisfaction and managers have greater satisfaction than nonmanagement users. However, the study finds that user age, information experience, and package localization have no significant effect on ERP user satisfaction. The study offers insights that adopters and consultants can focus on to improve the level of ERP user satisfaction.

IT management capability and its impact on the performance of a CIO

Viewed from the perspective of the activity competency model (ACM) and prior theoretical works, we developed a conceptual framework for investigating the capability of IT management personnel and its impact on the performance of a CIO. A scale for measuring a CIOs effectiveness and management capability was developed and validated. A partial least squares method was used to test the conceptual model empirically and hypotheses were tested through data collected in a large-scale survey. The results supported the proposed framework, and confirmed our hypotheses that both IT and managerial competencies have positive significant impact on the effectiveness of a CIO. We also found that his or her IT management capability significantly impacted the CIOs performance. Our findings are likely to be of particular value to those concerned with IT management training and competency development for CIOs.

Improving searching and reading performance: the effect of highlighting and text color coding

A message presentation and processing model is presented here. It was used, in two experiments, to study how different types of highlighting and text display color combinations affect reading performance. We found that highlighting can significantly improve table searching and that the best highlighting method was color, followed by reverse video and blinking. When different color combinations were used for textual display, the reading speed was higher but the visual preference was lower for situations in which the foreground luminance was lower than the background luminance or the foreground chroma was lower than the background chroma. Hue combinations also affected both visual preference and reading speed, but did not override the dominant impacts of luminance and chroma contrast. The color impact on visual preference was not consistent with its impact on reading speed. Based on these findings, design guidelines are proposed.

Developing a set of management needs for IS managers: a study of necessary managerial activities and skills

This study presents an activity competency model (ACM) that was developed to investigate the perceived importance of managerial activities and skills/knowledge required of three levels of information systems (IS) managers from three types of industries. Our findings indicate that, not surprisingly, the importance of IS managerial activities varies significantly for different levels of management but does not vary significantly for different industries. The results of this study have implications for management development, training, and IS management career planning. They can also serve as a guideline for recruiting the right IS managers.

A methodology for designing form-based decision support systems

Form-based decision support systems (FBDSS) are special types of information systems that use forms to present information for decision-making. Paper forms that are often used for collecting and disseminating information in offices are natural bases for eliciting user information requirements. They are particularly useful for user-oriented systems, such as executive information systems and DSS. The paper presents a methodology that uses factoring and synthesis to process knowledge involved in forms for designing FBDSS. The resulting system allows flexible creation and modification of computer-generated forms useful for decision-making. A prototype system illustrating the method is described.

What Drives Mobile Health Care? An Empirical Evaluation of Technology Acceptance

The proliferation of mobile communication and computing technologies in supporting highly specialized tasks and services in health care has made it increasingly important to understand the factors essential to technology acceptance by health care professionals. This paper presents a conceptual model to examine what determines medical professionals’ acceptance of mobile healthcare systems. The structural equation modeling technique was used to evaluate the causal model and confirmatory factor analysis was performed to test the reliability and validity of the measurement model. The results indicate that compatibility and computer self-efficacy (CSE) have significant direct effect on behavioral intent, whereas technical support and training have strong indirect impact on behavioral intent through the mediator of CSE. Among these, the compatibility has the most significant contribution to behavioral intent. Yet, the hypothesis for management support effect on behavioral intention to use is not supported.

An examination of ERP user satisfaction in Taiwan

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems for supporting inter- and intra-company business processes are reaching maturity in many organizations. However, ERP systems are complex and expensive, and the decision to install an ERP system necessitates a choice of mechanisms for determining whether the ERP is needed and, once implemented, whether it is successful. User satisfaction is one evaluation mechanism for determining system success. In this study, we concentrate on satisfaction results, examine factors related to satisfaction and compare satisfaction differences between firms implementing foreign and domestic ERP systems. A survey was conducted to identify user satisfaction patterns. A general observation was that several areas of low ERP satisfaction (mean value less than 0.5) exist among key users and end users. For key users, these are: system integrity, domain knowledge of the consultants, consultants project management, training and system understanding, and, for end users, feelings of user involvement, system understanding and system integrity.