Kakoli Bandyopadhyay

A framework for integrated risk management in information technology

The use of information technology (IT) in organizations is subject to various kinds of potential risks. Explores the environment of IT in organizations, identifies the probable threats, and proposes a framework for integrated risk management. The risk management process has four major components ‐‐ risk identification, risk analysis, risk‐reducing measures, and risk monitoring. The framework can be used to guide organizations in reducing the losses resulting from the realization of threats to IT use.

The role of software patents in sustaining IT-enabled competitive advantage: a call for research

A number of information technology (IT) researchers have examined IT and sustained competitive advantage. However, the relationship between software patents and IT sustained advantage is often unclear and incomplete. This paper reviews some of that research, pointing out various research contributions while indicating some of the problematic issues in dealing with competitive advantage and software patents. In addition, we highlight a number of software-based patents that have been awarded to organizations in diverse industries, including some that provide researchers and executives with insight into how organizations are protecting unique business methods with software patents. We also pose some intriguing research questions, including determining why firms do in fact patent software, and investigating the potential differences in doing business globally involving countries that either take steps to protect software assets with patents versus those that do not. Based on the information presented, we anticipate that IT researchers would be more open to investigating the relationship between software patents and sustaining IT-based competitive advantage.

Managing technology risks in the healthcare sector: disaster recovery and business continuity planning

The relentless onslaught of computers and communications technologies has recently descended on the healthcare industry. Fortunately, however, the utilization of technologies in healthcare delivery and administration could not be timelier because of the need to control escalating health costs. While the proliferation of information and communication technologies in healthcare, referred to as health management information systems (HMIS), is certainly long overdue in healthcare organizations (HCOs), it is important to recognize and be prepared for the vulnerabilities of these technologies to natural, technological, and man‐made disasters. This paper describes how HCOs have justifiably become dependent on HMIS and how these organizations may proactively plan for disasters which can impact on HMIS. A phased approach, referred to as the disaster recovery and business continuity (DRBC) planning model, is presented in the paper as an approach to develop and implement business continuity plans in HCOs.

An Analysis of Factors Affecting User Acceptance of ERP Systems in the United States

Enterprise Resource Planning ERP systems are widely used in most industries today because of the benefits they offer: improved integration of business processes, improved cost control, improved decision making, improved customer service, and improved profitability. Although much IS research has been published concerning acceptance of enterprise systems, adoption issues, or critical success factors in implementing an ERP system, little research has been presented that focuses on the ERP usage behavior. The purpose of this research is to to extend the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model in order to predict the acceptance of ERP systems among its users in the United States. This study will potentially benefit Information Technology IT professionals in a global environment. IT professionals can design acceptance strategies that promote ERP usage ultimately.

User acceptance of prepayment metering systems in India

The prepayment metering system is an Information Technology-based innovation which involves the purchase of electricity by consumers before its use. Utility companies throughout the world are now experimenting with this technology. While there are several million prepayment installations around the world, there are only a few thousands in India. However, the acceptance of the system is growing in India. As utilities invest in prepayment metering systems, consumer acceptance of the technology becomes an increasingly critical management issue. This study uses the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model to investigate the factors that influence the user acceptance of the prepayment metering systems in India.

An empirical investigation into factors relating to the use of course management software by post-secondary faculty

This research studies faculty use of Course Management Software (CMS) in post-secondary institutions. CMS allows faculty members to demonstrate skills, share knowledge and communicate with students at various times and through various means. There are a variety of methods to make CMS available for students; however, at some point, involvement by the faculty is required. This research centres on faculty constructs such as performance and effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, privacy and security concerns and implementation time. The moderating variables were gender, anxiety, years of teaching, experience and faculty rank. After surveying the faculty, logistic regression was applied to investigate the relationship between the utilisation of a CMS system by the post-secondary faculty and the six independent variables. Different sets of factors from performance and effort expectancy, facilitating conditions and years of teaching were found to be significantly related to the utilisation of the CMS system by post-secondary faculty.

Disaster‐preparedness of health maintenance organizations

Health maintenance organizations (HMOs) are becoming increasingly dependent on health management information systems (HMISs) for their effective functioning. Because of this reliance, HMOs must use disaster recovery planning to safeguard their HMIS assets from natural as well as man‐made disasters. This article assesses the HMIS environment and identifies the state of practice by HMOs as it pertains to HMIS disaster preparedness.

ERP integration in the college of business curriculum

The purposes of this paper are to address the declining management information systems (MIS) enrolment problem, to suggest an enterprise resource planning (ERP)-based MIS curriculum which could reverse the enrolment decline, and to facilitate ERP integration in the business curriculum by analysing ERP software usage across industries. Enterprise resource planning systems are popular today because of their many benefits. We analyse which ERP systems are predominately used in various industries in the USA. Additionally, we determine which ERP applications are most critical for business majors to learn; which challenges are encountered when implementing enterprise systems; which level of ERP proficiency business graduates should have upon graduation, and what recommendations these respondents would give business faculty when implementing ERP software in the business curriculum. Conclusions and recommendations are made, which may provide some insight to faculty at universities who are planning on implementing an ERP system into their curricula.

Year 2000 preparedness at Firstlogic: a case study

The Year 2000 (Y2K) problem threatens the effective functioning of all Information Technology‐enabled organizations. This paper illustrates the Y2K preparedness at Firstlogic, a software company in Wisconsin, USA. At Firstlogic, products have been tested for Y2K compliance, solutions have been suggested for non‐compliant systems, resources have been allocated to modify or replace affected systems, and relevant legal issues have been addressed to protect the company from Y2K‐related lawsuits.