Murugan Anandarajan

IT acceptance in a less-developed country: a motivational factor perspective

Under-developed countries are recognizing the importance of information technology (IT). Studies show that many systems in these countries are under-utilized. This study examines factors that motivate users to accept technology. Data was collected from 143 computer users in Nigeria. The results suggest that social pressure is an important factor affecting technology acceptance.

Classifying inventory using an artificial neural network approach

This paper presents artificial neural networks (ANNs) for ABC classification of stock keeping units (SKUs) in a pharmaceutical company. Two learning methods were utilized in the ANNs, namely back propagation (BP) and genetic algorithms (GA). The reliability of the models was tested by comparing their classification ability with two data sets (a hold-out sample and an external data set). Furthermore, the ANN models were compared with the multiple discriminate analysis (MDA) technique. The results showed that both ANN models had higher predictive accuracy than MDA. The results also indicate that there was no significant difference between the two learning methods used to develop the ANN.

An exploratory investigation of the antecedents and impact of internet usage: An individual perspective

Internet usage in the US workplace is increasing at a phenomenal rate. This exploratory study examines factors influencing employee internet usage and individual perceptions of the consequences of such usage. Using the Theory of Reasoned Behaviour, a questionnaire was designed and circulated to part time MBA students in north-east United States. This preliminary study suggests that the personal factors of web skills and playfulness are associated with perceived internet usefulness, the degree of internet usage, and have both positive (enhanced job characteristics, job satisfaction) and negative (increased inefficiency) impacts. Neither the personal variables of age and gender nor any of the organizational variables are important antecedent variables. To those who perceive the internet as intimidating, there was, understandably, less internet usage. Perceived usefulness was positively related to increased time of use and internet impacts. In general, the findings indicate that extending the research on microcomputers to internet usage is a promising research focus. On the basis of this study, the leadership challenge is to harness the tremendous potential of the internet, working to control and improve inefficiencies while not discouraging internet usage.

Bankruptcy prediction of financially stressed firms: an examination of the predictive accuracy of artificial neural networks

This is an extension of prior studies that have used artificial neural networks to predict bankruptcy. The incremental contribution of this study is threefold. First, we use only financially stressed firms in our control sample. This enables the models to more closely approximate the actual decision processes of auditors and other interested parties. Second, we develop a more parsimonious model using qualitative ‘bad news’ variables that prior research indicates measure financial distress. Past research has focused on the ‘usefulness’ of accounting numbers and therefore often ignored non-accounting variables that may contribute to the classification accuracy of the distress prediction models. In addition, rather than use multiple financial ratios, we include a single variable of financial distress using the Zmijewski distress score that incorporates ratios measuring profitability, liquidity, and solvency. Finally, we develop and test a genetic algorithm neural network model. We examine its predictive ability to that of a backpropagation neural network and a model using multiple discriminant analysis. The results indicate that the misclassification cost of the genetic algorithm-based neural network was the lowest among the models. Copyright

Experiencing flow with instant messaging and its facilitating role on creative behaviors

The goal of this study is to explore how experiencing flow with IM, an Internet-based communication technology, can facilitate an individuals perception on creativity. We argue that certain capabilities in IM, telepresence and perceived control, provide users a means to experience flow. We further investigate whether flow and its outcomes, positive affect and exploratory behavior have any influence on the perception of creativity of the users. Using an online survey with 207 observations we found that users perceived control over the technology and its ability to transport the user to a virtual environment were shown to facilitate the experience of flow. We found that flow in itself does not influence perceived expected creativity in its users but does indirectly influence perceived expected creativity through exploratory behavior and positive affect. From these initial findings we believe that our study provides implications for both users and designers on IT. Furthermore, managers can apply the findings during implementation and use of interactive information technologies for communications in the workplace.

Technology acceptance in the banking industry: A perspective from a less developed country

In the last decade, information technology has proven to be the major enabler that has helped multinational corporations to integrate their worldwide operations. However, studies show that many of these foreign subsidiaries, especially in less‐developed countries, under‐utilize their information systems, thus not making a significant contribution in improving the performance of organizations. Previous research, which investigated the factors that motivated individuals in accepting information technology, were conducted in developed countries. Since less‐developed countries differ culturally from developed countries, it is important to identify the factors which motivate individuals in these countries to accept as well as use information technology. This study seeks to investigate this issue. A comprehensive questionnaire on microcomputer acceptance and its resulting impact was collected from 88 users in six banks in Nigeria. The results suggest that social pressure is an important factor affecting microcomputer usage.

Development of a Measure of Personal Web Usage in the Workplace

This research develops a measurement model representing personal web usage activities (PWU) in the workplace. A series of activities are used to identify potential items and validate three personal web usage dimensions. These dimensions of activity include personal external business, personal external socializing, and personal external interest and research. First and second order confirmatory factor analyses are used to validate the instrument. The results recommend the use of personal web usage construct in both investigating the factors that lead to personal web usage in the workplace and in providing advice for practitioners of potential consequences of these personal web usage dimensions.

DEVELOPING HUMAN CAPITAL THROUGH PERSONAL WEB USE IN THE WORKPLACE: MAPPING EMPLOYEE PERCEPTIONS

Personal web usage can be defined as any voluntary act of employees using their company’s web access during office hours to surf non-work related websites for non-work purposes. Previous research suggested that personal web usage is a negative force with productivity losses, congested computer resources, security costs, and the potential risk of legal liability. However, using qualitative research we investigated the attitudes of a diverse set of individuals to personal web usage. Our findings suggest that personal web usage in the workplace can be potentially constructive, although we acknowledge the potential for negative uses as well. We suggest an extension of social contract theory to explain these findings.

Extranets: a tool for cost control in a value chain framework

The purpose of this research is to show through a case study how the extranet has been used by one specific company to significantly reduce operating costs. The activities of the company are analyzed within the framework of the value chain concept developed by Porter. This, it is felt, will provide a greater insight into how the extranet can be used to improve profit margins. Prior research in this area has either been of a conceptual nature (explaining theoretically how the extranet should be employed) or of a survey nature (examining, by means of a survey instrument, the benefits accruing to companies that have adopted the extranet). This study is different in that it examines in detail, by means of a case study, how the extranet influences a retail company’s chain of activities and reduces the attendant costs thereon.

Generation Y Adoption of Instant Messaging: An Examination of the Impact of Social Usefulness and Media Richness on Use Richness

By integrating Media Richness Theory, Channel Expansion Theory, and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), we study the postadoption use behavior of instant messaging. We developed the construct “use richness” as a measure of the extent to which users use the media communication capacity after adoption and proposed a conceptual model of the antecedents of use richness. Through a field survey with 272 valid responses and structural equation modeling, we empirically tested our model and found that use richness is positively affected by perceived media richness, perceived usefulness, and perceived social usefulness.