Ramaraj Palanisamy

Strategic information systems planning model for building flexibility and success

Purpose – This paper provides a model for IS planning for building flexibility and success, by considering volatile environment and the possibilities for leveraging the users cognitive capabilities.Design/methodology/approach – A review of existing IS planning models is given to identify the shortcomings in building flexibility and success. A model is evolved by hypothesizing user involvement in IS planning leads to IS flexibility; and flexibility in IS enables organizational flexibility and IS success. The control variables were considered at the user, IS, and organizational levels. The proposed model was examined by a questionnaire survey, in which 296 users and planners from 42 organizations participated.Findings – The study results validated the proposed model that IS success and organizational flexibility could be achieved through IS flexibility, which could be generated by involving users in IS planning. Also, the study results have shown that user expectations, perceived personal usefulness, and u...

Issues and challenges in e-governance planning

The emergence of information and communication technology (ICT) has affected the functions and roles of governments. E-governance has been one of the main impacts of ICT. Many governments have realised the benefits of e-governance and have started offering their services through the internet. Based on a review of literature, this paper summarises the recent issues and challenges in e-governance development. The following key issues were identified and addressed: e-governance trends, e-governance evolution, e-governance usage, e-governance websites, e-government services, connectivity, e-governance readiness, citizen participation, e-governance technology, change management and funding. The following major challenges were identified: trust building in e-governance, ICT management, and privacy and security. Lessons from the analysis of issues and challenges are summarised. Research oriented managerial implications in the form of action plan are given.

An empirical study on the influences on the acquisition of enterprise software decisions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the decision process of enterprise software acquisition. The research aims to focus on identifying significant influences on enterprise software acquisition decisions.Design/methodology/approach – As a research model and theoretical background, the organizational buying model (OBB) is proposed for the acquisition of enterprise systems. Influences on enterprise software acquisition decision processes were found by an empirical study carried out from a practitioners perspective. The study collected data via a mail survey administered to information systems (IS) professionals involved in the acquisition of enterprise software (ES). The survey questionnaire was developed based on a previous research project and a literature review. Organizational buying behavior (OBB) models in the literature served as the basis for the influences included in the survey instrument. Factor analysis was carried out on the survey data to identify the most significant factors/...

Leveraging Cognition for Competitive Advantage: A Knowledge-Based Strategy Process

The organisation that wants to build competitive advantages has to create and leverage its capabilities. One of the central bases for achieving competitive advantage is the organisational capability to create new knowledge and transfer it across various levels and parts of the organisation. Because knowledge is central to strategy formulation and implementation, knowledge management has become a key strategic task facing managers for achieving success in todays complex and dynamic environments. A major challenge facing strategic management is engineering and managing the individual and group level knowledge that facilitates better strategies and invokes commitment. A knowledge management based model of strategy formulation process is presented. Traditional strategy frameworks are evaluated and a comprehensive cognition and learning centered strategy framework is suggested as a better model of strategy formulation and implementation for achieving competitive advantage. The implications of the knowledge-based approach for strategic management practice and research are highlighted.

Achieving Organizational Flexibility and Competitive Advantage Through Information Systems Flexibility: A Path Analytic Study

This paper presents an empirical study to examine the relationship between IS flexibility, organizational flexibility, and competitive advantage. The study presumes IS usage and organizational learning as the intermediate variables. The study used a questionnaire survey to obtain responses from IS users. The survey was carried out with 296 user-respondents from 42 organizations across eight industrial sectors. For the purpose of gaining more insight into a variable, its dimensions were considered. These dimensions were evolved from the literature. The qualitative scales for the dimensions were explained with a scale table. The scale table was constructed using fuzzy possibility values. Each respondent used this table as a guideline before responding to each item in the questionnaire. The data analysis validates the relationship between IS flexibility, organizational flexibility, and competitive advantage. The results of path analysis confirmed that organizational flexibility and competitive advantage could be achieved through IS flexibility.

Leveraging Knowledge in Buyer-Supplier Alliances: A Theoretical Integration

Global competition, ever-demanding customer expectations, and rapid technological changes are forcing firms to restructure the scope of operations and then outsource non-core processes to outside suppliers. Such organisational efforts have resulted in increased dependence on supplier firms to sustain competitive advantage. This paper provides a theoretical model to understand the process of successful learning and knowledge transfer in buyer-supplier alliances. The proposed model uses a social exchange framework for effective knowledge exchange and learning. Reciprocal commitment, interorganisational trust, power sharing, and socialisation are identified as essential for collaborative behaviour for successful learning and knowledge transfer between alliance partners. Specific testable propositions are presented.

Factors Enabling Communication-Based Collaboration in Interprofessional Healthcare Practice: A Case Study

The healthcare system has moved from autonomous practice to a cross-disciplinary interprofessional team-based approach in which communication for collaborative care is vital. Ineffective communication contributes to the teams inability to work collaboratively and significantly increases the possibilities of mistakes occurring in the delivery of patient care. So, effective communication for collaborative care becomes necessary for ensuring patient safety. This paper aims to advance our understandings of current communication-based collaborative healthcare practices. Specifically, it explores the factors enabling communication-based inter-professional practice. A qualitative study was selected for obtaining real life experiences of healthcare professionals. Twenty-five participants participated in the study, and the descriptive interview method was used to obtain qualitative data. The enabling factors were grouped into five main themes: communication, coordination, cooperation, trust, and collaboration. Quotes from the participants are presented to augment the interpretation and enhanced description of the enabling factors. Managerial implications, areas for future research, and limitations are given besides the conclusions of the study.

An empirical analysis of user evaluation factors on attitude and intention of using a search engine

The main purpose of this study is to explore major factors that influence user evaluation and use of search engines. A research model was evolved based on the literature review for the user evaluation factors on attitude and intention of using a search engine. Research hypotheses were evolved to examine the various components of the model. In order to empirically test the model and hypotheses a questionnaire survey was administered to obtain responses from users of various search engines. The survey data was collected from 235 users who were university students and users of a local library. A statistical analysis was done on a total of 199 usable responses. The study results provide more insight into the user evaluation factors on attitude and intention of using search engines, and the empirically tested model offers more practical implications for evaluating any search engine.

The RFID Technology Adoption in e-Government: Issues and Challenges

The emergence of Radio Frequency Identification RFID technology has affected the functions and roles of business organizations. RFID technology provides technical solutions across a variety of industries in the public and private sectors. E-government is being increasingly utilized by governments in different countries to increase the efficiency of services provided to citizens. Although the use of e-Government is allowing timely, effective services online, many challenges must still be overcome to maximize the utility e-Government can provide to citizens. RFID is disseminating in a variety of new areas and movement exists toward the adoption of RFID in e-Government, but several issues and challenges must be addressed. This paper examines both e-Government and RFID from an individual perspective and explores the possible issues and challenges associated with RFID technology adoption in e-Government. Based on a review of literature, a conceptual model has been developed illustrating the various issues and challenges and how they would impact the RFID adoption in e-Government.

Information Systems Flexibility in Organizations: Conceptual Models and Research Issues

In order to be effective and efficient, an information system (IS) needs to be flexible, that is, it must be capable of accommodating business and technological changes. Though the importance of flexibility in information systems is acknowledged by many studies, the different components of IS flexibility are not yet well understood. This chapter addresses the different components for building flexibility in information systems. Based on a review of the literature, four conceptual models are presented and the different components of the models are discussed. The models will serve as a basis to (i) assess the capability of an IS to respond to business and technological changes, (ii) identify and measure the different dimensions of IS flexibility, and (iii) develop managerial guidelines on how to manage flexibility in an information system.