Lynne P. Baldwin

Outsourcing information systems: drawing lessons from a banking case study

Financial and costs benefits are often put forward as the reasons why organisations decide to outsource. Emerging patterns and trends indicate that todays outsourcing decisions are often motivated by factors other than cost. Thus, the decision-making process is more complex than it may at first appear. This paper presents findings from a case study from an organisation in the UK banking sector that was motivated to outsource aspects of its information technology/information system (IT/IS). The underlying motives and decision-making process that influenced the bank outsource its IT/IS are presented and discussed. Findings from the case study suggest political perspectives, as well as human and organisational issues influenced the banks strategic decision-making to outsource certain aspects of its business. An examination of the case study findings suggests that cost alone is not always responsible for decisions to outsource, as it was found the banks outsourcing decision was driven by a series of complex, interrelated motives in a bid to reduce the risks and uncertainties of managing its own technology. Considering the complex nature of the outsourcing process a frame of reference that can be used to assist managers with their decision to outsource IT/IS is propagated. The case study is used to present an organisations experiences as to how and why it decided to outsource its IS and thus offers a learning opportunity for other organisations facing similar difficulties. In addition, the case study findings highlight the need to focus greater attention on discriminating between the short and long-term consequences of IT/IS decision-making.

Web-based learning interaction and learning styles

This paper reports a study exploring the learning styles and perceptions of a group of undergraduate and postgraduate learners in a university in the UK in relation to using the web for learning. In particular, we explore the sequential/global learning style dimension (which is concerned with the progress of understanding) in relation to three categories of web-based interaction: learner-tutor, learner-learner, and learner-information. An Index of Learning Styles is used as the tool to explore this dimension. The findings are presented with regard to the learning preferences of a group of learners towards these three categories of interaction. We conclude with a discussion of these findings in relation to Interactive Learning Systems (ILSs) design.

Benchmarking information technology investment and benefits extraction

Despite the fact that many companies are increasing their expenditure on information technology (IT) to obtain or even sustain a competitive advantage in their respective marketplaces, many studies show that the benefits from IT systems have been considerably less than expected. Managers are often left with the quandary of how to evaluate investments and realise maximum benefits in IT. Reasons for this difficulty have been suggested in the normative literature centring around the socio‐technical (human and organisational) dimensions associated with IT deployment. The inability of managers to determine the true costs of deploying IT are considered attributable to a lack of knowledge and understanding of IT‐related costs and benefits measurements. This paper discusses from a critical point of view the evaluation of IT/IS investment and best practices in benefits extraction from such investment. The discussion is based on relevant literature and information from ongoing research by the authors involving companies in the construction, pharmaceutical and computer hardware sectors.

Re‐engineering manufacturing processes through simulation modelling

Previous research suggests that developing dynamic models of business processes prior to their radical change could increase the success of BPR projects. Identifies barriers encountered in existing business processes and presents an overview of business process modelling methods that can be used to identify ways of eliminating these barriers. A case study is used to demonstrate how simulation modelling can be used to effectively re‐engineer manufacturing processes. The developed model is then manipulated, with results being generated to discover the possibilities of increasing the through‐put of the system. The usability of simulation modelling for evaluating alternative business process strategies is then investigated. Guidelines for achieving more widespread use of business process simulation are then proposed.

Simulation in healthcare management: a soft approach (MAPIU)

Abstract Simulation application in healthcare is not as widely perceived for problem solving as it is in other application areas. This might be due to the way simulation is applied in healthcare modelling, as it follows a traditionally based on engineering approach. This may not be a problem in itself; however, healthcare systems are often complex in that they involve multiple decision-makers and thus understanding and communication between the various stakeholders is potentially problematic. Problem understanding and efficient communication means can widely contribute to the solution; consequently a modelling approach is proposed in this paper to enhance such understanding and communication. The approach is based on participation of stakeholders; it is also iterative. An example is given aiming to show how this approach has been used to successfully facilitate the modelling process, concluding that involving stakeholders throughout enables them to fully appreciate the findings. This approach thus serves to enrich the communication process.

Telemedicine and its role in improving communication in healthcare

Information and communication technology (ICT) plays an increasingly important role in delivering healthcare today. Healthcare professionals, including consultants, doctors and nurses, are engaged in what is seen as a radical action plan for improving the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. A major focus of this plan is the greater empowerment of the patient, and providing them with more information about their health needs and care. Information and communication technology has the potential to effectively support the complexities involved in the communication that takes place both amongst healthcare workers themselves and between healthcare workers and their patients in both primary and secondary care both in the UK and elsewhere. This paper explores the challenges involved in human interaction and describes how AIDMAN, a clinical information system, allows for richer communication between the patient and those involved in their health.

Evaluating WebCT Use in Relation to Students' Attitude and Performance

The World Wide Web (WWW) provides great opportunities for creating virtual classrooms (Mazza and Dimitrova, 2004) and for building integrated learning and teaching environments (Cheng and Yen, 1998) and it also helps in supporting traditional educational methods (Kalifa and Lam 2002). Teaching and learning are no longer limited by place or time (Kalifa and Lam 2002). The WWW and the internet are considered to be important new methods for delivering online courses (Jiang and Ting, 2000; Lee and Shih, 2001). The interest in web-based learning and technology to support learning is increasing in higher education and this can be seen in the large number of publications in higher education journals in this area (Hoskins and Hooff, 2005; Bower, 2001). Large numbers of educational institutions are offering web-based courses (Owston, 2000) or starting to use course management systems such as WebCT or Blackboard (Mazza and Dimitrova, 2004) Interaction is central in teaching and learning; the learning process is based on student interaction with instructors, other students, and with the course content (Lei et al., 2003). At the same time, communication and collaboration between the students and instructors can be enhanced by the internet and WWW (Cheng and Yen, 1998). ABSTRACT

Assessing multiple choice question (MCQ) tests - a mathematical perspective

The reasoning behind popular methods for analysing the raw data generated by multiple choice question (MCQ) tests is not always appreciated, occasionally with disastrous results.This article discusses and analyses three options for processing the raw data produced by MCQ tests. The article shows that one extreme option is not to penalize a student for wrong answers or for missing out questions, and the other extreme option is actually to penalize both aspects.The intermediate option of focusing on the number of questions actually attempted while penalizing wrong answers can be regarded as the fairest. In this case blind guessing will on average not help the student, although partial knowledge will lessen the negative impact on the final overall score. There are still many interesting challenges in designing techniques for MCQ tests.

Key Issues in Electronic Commerce in Today’s Global Information Infrastructure

Abstract: This paper presents an overview of some of the key issues which have emerged in recent years surrounding the growth and application of e-commerce in the global information infrastructure (GII). Increased access to the Internet, the Internet as a strategic resource for business, trust and security issues surrounding e-commerce, and calls for a regulatory and legal framework to protect buyers and sellers, are four critical areas that need to be addressed by industry, government and the individual. In attempting to synthesise some of the contemporary key issues in e-commerce, we conclude by suggesting that research into this subject must embrace both external and internal factors as this will engender a deeper understanding of the role of e-commerce in the so-called ‘knowledge-driven economy’.

Business process design: flexible modelling with multiple levels of detail

Purpose – Most manufacturing processes tend to involve more than one level of detail at the design phase. These often consist of a higher level that represents the building‐blocks of the firm and a lower level that represents a more detailed structure of the process. When designing such processes, this type of structure is difficult to capture without some form of modelling. In such cases simulation can be used to help overcome this problem. This paper presents an investigation of simulation packages.Design/methodology/approach – These simulation packages were investigated regarding their abilities to model business processes related to manufacturing systems.Findings – The research findings suggest that no one simulation package currently available can alone offer sufficiently flexible facilities for the variable detailed modelling of manufacturing systems design.Originality/value – The paper relates to one specific design framework called manufacturing system design (MSD). It defines the higher level of ...