Md. Mahbubur Rahim

Determinants of academic use of the Internet : A structural equation model

The last decade of the 20th century brought radical changes in information and communication technology. Internet usage is being widely researched in the business world. However, the use of the Internet in academic settings in general and in vocational and technical establishment in particular is a neglected area. Successful use of the Internet is largely dependent upon the users behaviour that, in turn, affects their attitudes. Even when remarkable opportunities exist for the deployment of technology, adverse attitude can inhibit use. Keeping this in mind, a survey of 166 academics of four technical and vocational colleges was conducted to study the attitudes of academics toward the use of the Internet. This study develops a model and validates two specific attitudinal variables--perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use--which are hypothesized to be fundamental determinants of use of the Internet. Adding two more variables--such as task characteristics and computer exposure--test the parsimony of the model further. A structural equation modelling technique is used to validate the model. The study confirmed that 79% of academics are using the Internet. Computer experience, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use remain to be fundamental determinants of attitude formation. No other variables have been found to be significant.

Factors Affecting Softlifting Intention of Computing Students: An Empirical Study

Softlifting, a form of software piracy, has received considerable attention in the information systems (IS) literature. However, existing studies have primarily focused on business students, academics, and managers. Softlifting practice of computing students has not been examined adequately. This paper aims to analyze the softlifting intention of computing students in Brunei Darussalam. A model was developed, which was tested using survey data collected from 205 respondents. Several important findings have emerged. First, softlifting intention of students varied depending on the type of task for which they intended to use pirated software. Second, attitude of students toward software piracy significantly affected their softlifting intention. Third, gender and family income also affected softlifting intention of students, but to a lesser extent. The implications of these findings are discussed.

A qualitative study of business-to-business electronic commerce adoption within the Indonesian grocery industry

This study explores the business-to-business electronic commerce (B2B EC) technology adoption experience of organizations within the supply chain of the grocery industry in Indonesia using a multi-theory perspective. Through a multiple case study with eight organizations, it provides a comprehensive understanding of the influence of adoption factors. This study shows the usefulness of complementarily deploying several adoption theories and offers important theoretical and practical implications for organizations as they extend their supply chains globally.

Organizational Motivation and Interorganizational Systems Adoption Process: Empirical Evaluation in the Australian Automotive Industry

Interorganizational systems (IOS) play a critical role in today’s e-commerce environment. These systems are introduced by different organizations following different adoption processes. Existing literature on IOS adoption, however, does not explain the variations in the IOS adoption processes initiated by different organizations. A theory of IOS adoption known as IOS Motivation Model (IMM) has recently been developed by the authors that explains the differences in IOS adoption processes in terms of differences in organizations’ adoption motivations for any given IOS project. This paper reports an application of the model in the Australian automotive industry. The findings provide support for the model and are useful for IT managers.

Software piracy among academics: an empirical study in Brunei Darussalam

This article reports the results of a survey in Brunei Darussalam concerning the use of pirated software among academics. Though, the suspicion of academics using pirated software has long been circulating around in East and South East Asia, no “hard data” has ever been collected. This article confirms the suspicion, and provides new information on the use of pirated software outside the USA. Also reveals the type of tasks accomplished by academics with pirated software, and identifies the reasons for using such software. Moreover, relates academics’ use of pirated software with nine factors related to demographics, computer exposure, and job profile of academics. The findings are discussed, and are compared with some related findings reported elsewhere. Finally, concludes with some suggestions to curb piracy, and identifies areas of further research.

Computer attitudes of non-computing academics: a study of technical colleges in Brunei Darussalam

Abstract Current information systems (IS) literature has paid considerable attention to measuring the computer attitudes of students and schoolteachers. Computer attitudes of non-computing academics working particularly in technical colleges have, however, received scant attention. Moreover, studies on computer attitudes among Asian academics are least reported. Keeping this in view, this study was undertaken by validating an instrument to measure computer attitudes of non-computing academics working among technical colleges in Brunei Darussalam. This study also identified factors that contributed to the formation of computer attitudes of academics. This was achieved by undertaking a survey of 192 non-computing academics from four technical colleges. Attributes related to demographics and education of academics appeared to have little impact on computer attitudes. In contrast, ownership of a personal computer (PC) and level of computer skill were found to be important.

A new framework for B2E portal development

Rapid changes in the Internet technology present businesses with significant challenges and opportunities. Having made major investment on B2B and B2C aspect of e-business, businesses are now looking to adopt B2E portal technology to improve organisational effectiveness and employee moral. However, the lack of a suitable framework may seriously impede B2E portals implementation, and as a result, businesses may not be able to achieve the potential benefits of B2E portals. To address this gap, we propose a comprehensive framework for B2E portal development, which provides clear guidelines for B2E portal implementation considering the specifics associated with B2E scenario.

A cross industry comparison of inter-organisational systems implementation activities

The Inter-organisational systems (IOS) Motivation Model (IMM) has recently been proposed as a theory that explains variations in IOS implementation processes initiated by organisations. The IMM classifies IOS adoption projects (regardless of the underlying technology used) into four generic motivation scenarios and explains different implementation processes for each motivation scenario. The theory was tested in the Australian pharmaceutical industry where it received broad support. In order to enhance its generality, in this study we explore the applicability of part of the IMM theory to a different industry context by addressing the research objective that organisations with the same motive for implementing an IOS initiate the same implementation activities regardless of differences in the industry contexts within which they operate. We have used a multiple case study approach and compared the implementation of a proprietary in-house built e-ordering system in a large Australian pharmaceutical manufacturing company with that of a web-based EDI system used by a large automotive manufacturing company using IMM as a theoretical lens. The empirical results indicate a striking similarity in the implementation processes of these two different IOS applications; this can largely be explained using the IMM theory. Furthermore, the differences in industry contexts do not appear to have a direct influence on the activities associated with implementing these systems.

Identifying Barriers to using Business-to-Employee (B2E) Portals: Some Lessons Learned from an Australian University

Business-to-employee (B2E) portal is an e-business initiative which if successfully implemented assists organisations in delivering useful information and services to their disperse employees which in turn creates productive and satisfied workforce needed for todays fast pace environment. However, despite considerable business values, the acceptance of B2E portals by employees working within organisations is reported to be slow. It is not clearly known exactly what barriers organisations encounter and how those barriers affect the usage of B2E portals by employees. To address this gap in the literature, this paper presents the experience of a large Australian university in introducing an employee portal, reports a very disappointing usage of the portal by employees, and identifies a constellation of barriers which are then discussed using theoretical constructs drawn from diverse streams of related literature. Finally, the implications of the findings are discussed

How Organization Goals Affect Interorganization System Implementation Projects: Evidence and Implications

The factors leading to the initial adoption of an interorganizational system (IOS) are reasonably well understood, but this is not true of the determinants of the activities performed following that decision. This paper proposes that the motivation to implement a system is the starting point for understanding the implementation process and develops a theory about the relationship between the motivation to implement an IOS system and the types of activities likely to be performed in the project. We then compare predictions against activities actually performed in three electronic data interchange (EDI) projects, and find that the patterns predicted are observed. On this basis, we assert that motivation influenced business decisions regarding which activities to conduct in each project. We finally assess the likely long-run consequences of each organizations activity pattern, noting that each motivation-based pattern brings with it a number of potential risks and opportunities that need to be managed carefully.