Martin West

Structural Equation Modelling of Large-scale Information System Application Development Productivity: the Hong Kong Experience

This paper reports on and examines a framework of large-scale business information system application development productivity. Taking a comprehensive and robust approach, the framework accommodates key factors that are identified in the literature concerning application development productivity. A partial least squares-based structural equation modelling approach is used to develop a causal model of system application development productivity. The empirical test of the model was performed within large Hong Kong organizations using a questionnaire-based survey method. Two of our hypotheses, concerning product-related issues (PRD) and project-related issues (PRJ), were found to significantly impact system development productivity (ADP). The study did not support the hypotheses relating IT issues (ITT) and environmental issues (ENV) to ADP. Implications of the results are discussed.

The productivity of large business information system development

We examine key factors that influence the productivity of large business information system application development. A survey method has been selected focusing on large business information system developers in eleven organisations in Hong Kong. The purposes of this study are to identify those factors which are considered by practitioners to have the potential to enhance productivity and also to identify the factors actually adopted in everyday practice. The research indicates that significant factors which affect large business information system development productivity include creating good developmental environments, employing capable and committed IT developers, sound project management and managing IT department activities effectively. We believe that the findings are universal and may be useful to any organisation seeking to improve the productivity of its system development.

Innovation of e-procurement: a case study

Many organisations are increasingly searching for innovative processes and methods to achieve competitive advantage and to more fully take advantage of what they have in order to improve. This article is an illustration of this in a particular company that investigated how to improve its e-procurement processes through business innovation. Specifically, it describes how the e-procurement process can be improved by taking advantage of information technology and systems for business innovation. We explore the possibility of applying Project Management (PM) principles in order to enhance e-procurement. An understanding of the issues involved has been gained through a case study of Motorola China Inc., which has implemented a fully functional e-procurement process since 2002. Our findings establish the potential benefits, feasibility and utility of applying PM technology as a way of enhancing the existing e-procurement process. The case study also indicates that the existing planning, reporting and database m...

Integer Programming Models of Bookmobile Routing

A bookmobile is a specially adapted bus or van used as part of the outreach operations of public library systems. Bookmobiles play a significant part in the service of the public library system in Buskerud County, Norway. They are used to deliver and collect library materials (printed books, audio books, periodicals, and music) to and from borrower groups throughout the County, many in remote areas. The question of how best to utilise the County’s bookmobile resources can be modelled as an interesting variation of one of the classical models of operational research — the travelling salesman problem. The combination of the features that make this scenario non-standard include multiple depots, simultaneous cost minimisation and prize collection objectives, differing customer service levels, time windows, route start time flexibility for some routes, multiple route duration restrictions, route lunch breaks, and overnight stays on certain routes. We report on models for the bookmobile problem, and the outcome of its application to the Buskerud County bookmobile system.

An eco-solution for track & trace of goods and third party logistics

This paper presents a new economic cost-effective solution known as the Web and telephony based method for tracking and tracing of goods and small and medium sized third party logistic providers. Considering that these companies usually operate on very flat margins, a comparison is made of the available track and trace technologies like GPS, mobile phone approximated GPS and Java based cell tracking in terms of costs, operating risks, and other evaluation criteria.