Robin L. Wakefield

Success factors for deploying cloud computing

Trust between client organization and cloud provider is a strong predictor of successful cloud deployment.

Mobile computing: a user study on hedonic/utilitarian mobile device usage

Intrinsic motivators of technology beliefs have received scant attention in the technology acceptance literature despite indications of their efficacy. This study uses the framework of TAM to explore the effect of intrinsic variables on technology beliefs and user behavior. Specifically, we examine the effect of cognitive absorption and playfulness on user beliefs including perceived enjoyment and perceived usefulness within the context of mobile devices. Moreover, we manipulate the hedonic and utilitarian purpose of the mobile device to determine how the nature of the device influences user beliefs. Findings indicate that cognitive absorption and user playfulness significantly impact beliefs and that the hedonic or utilitarian orientation of the technology has implications for maximizing use.

Measuring switching costs in IT outsourcing services

Switching costs play a major role in managerial decisions to (dis)continue an IT outsourcing service. This paper emphasizes the importance of switching cost analysis to the understanding of interorganizational exchange relationships. Based on transaction cost theory and social exchange theory, we specify a second-order switching cost model that provides greater insight into the underlying dimensions influencing switching behavior. The multidimensional nature of the switching cost construct is modeled and tested using data from organizations that outsource the application development function. Findings provide support for a higher-order construct with implications for how switching costs are defined, measured and operationalized in larger nomonological models.

Research Note—A Model of Conflict, Leadership, and Performance in Virtual Teams

Organizations in many different industries employ virtual teams in a variety of contexts, including research and development, customer support, software development, and product design. Many virtual teams are geographically and culturally dispersed in order to facilitate around-the-clock work and to allow the most qualified individuals to be assigned to a project team. As such dispersion increases, virtual teams tend to experience greater and more diverse conflict compared to co-located teams. Since the dynamics of virtual team leadership are not yet well understood, research that examines how team leaders alleviate threats to team cohesion and provide strategies for conflict resolution makes significant contributions to the literature. Our study uses a survey-based methodology to examine the perceptions of 159 virtual team members employed by a large U.S. telecommunications corporation and five Korean firms involved in construction, finance, business consulting, sales, and distribution. The study integrates the dynamic model of conflict in distributed teams with the behavioral complexity in leadership theory to investigate the roles that virtual team leaders must effectively employ to reduce various forms of virtual team conflict. Our findings indicate that communication technologies are effective in reducing task conflict; however, the team leader may also mitigate task conflict by assuming the role of monitor. Likewise, process conflict may be abated in the virtual team as the leader performs coordinator activities. An effective virtual team leader exhibits specific roles to manage different types of conflict and the leaders response to conflict plays an important part in virtual team success.

Identifying knowledge agents in a KM strategy: the use of the structural influence index

Knowledge transfer is a complex KM activity that integrates communication technologies with challenging social, cultural, and organizational issues. It is critical to effective KM systems (KMS) and the development of effective transfer strategies enhances competitive advantage. This study incorporated the theory of organizational influence to demonstrate the structural influence index within a network KMS. Using the research process in the pharmaceutical industry as a basis for knowledge transfer events, this study demonstrated the benefits of structural indexing, which identifies knowledge agents, evaluates knowledge sharing among organizational members, and objectively assesses the contribution of knowledge agents. Subgrouping knowledge agents gave insight into knowledge sharing among members and provided a basis for the coordination of knowledge resources in new and unique ways.

How website socialness leads to website use

Website designers are beginning to incorporate social cues, such as helpfulness and familiarity, into e-commerce sites to facilitate the exchange relationship. Website socialness elicits a social response from users of the site and this response produces enjoyment. Users patronize websites that are exciting, entertaining and stimulating. The purpose of our study is to explore the effects of website socialness perceptions on the formation of users’ beliefs, attitudes and subsequent behavioral intentions. We manipulate website socialness perceptions across two different online shopping contexts, one for functional products and the other for pleasure-oriented products, and draw from the responses of 300 Internet users. Our findings show that website socialness perceptions lead to enjoyment, have a strong influence on user intentions and these effects are invariant across shopping contexts.

The strategic choice to continue outsourcing, switch vendors, or backsource: Do switching costs matter?

IT outsourcing contracts are often discontinued in favor of other alternatives (returning to in-house development, or switching to another vendor). Switching costs are experienced when terminating a business relationship and securing an alternative. We tried to answer the question: do switching costs matter significantly in the strategic choice to continue outsourcing, switch vendors, or backsource? Switching costs were considered, such as those due to IT operations (sunk investment, lost performance, system upgrades, uncertainty, and induction-retraining-performance), personnel-replacement costs (candidate search, and IT/setup), and in-house learning (cognitive/behavioral learning). A field survey was conducted, and, for each of these cost types, the differences between group means across the three groups (outsourcing continuation, vendor switching, and backsourcing) were determined. The findings suggested that customer organizations preferred outsourcing continuation most and backsourcing least when their switching costs were high. However, the relative preference for vendor switching depended on the switching cost type.

The effects of IT capabilities and delivery model on cloud computing success and firm performance for cloud supported processes and operations

Organizations align IT-based capabilities with cloud delivery options to meet performance objectives.Managerial, technical and relational IT capability positively affect cloud success.Cloud success positively affects firm performance.The moderating effect of cloud strategy (public, private and hybrid) was partially significant. Our study examines the effect of relational, managerial and technical IT-based capabilities on cloud computing success; and analyzes how this success impacts firm performance with respect to the processes and operations supported by cloud computing. Additionally, we investigated the complex relationships that exist between IT capabilities and the public, private and hybrid cloud delivery models. Data from a sample of 302 organizations were collected to empirically test our model. The results indicate that a relational IT capability is the most influential factor to facilitate cloud success compared to technical and managerial IT capabilities. Furthermore, an evaluation of the interrelationships indicates that the public and hybrid cloud delivery models may be more dependent on relational IT capabilities for cloud success while the flexibility and agility of the firms internal IT (technical IT capability) facilitates the public cloud. We discuss how IT-based capabilities may be used to leverage cloud delivery models to positively influence the successful implementation of cloud computing, and ultimately, firm performance for the processes and operations supported by the cloud.

Globally distributed teams: the effect of diversity on trust, cohesion and individual performance

Globally distributed teams are becoming more common among organizations that seek to maximize knowledge creation and innovation for competitive advantage. Although they are becoming widely used among global organizations, distributed teams are creating an environment replete in cultural and functional diversity. Whereas synergy among members is desired, diversity is likely to hinder team cohesion and individual performance. Our study models and empirically tests the effect of perceptions of diversity on trust, cohesion, and individual performance in actual globally distributed teams. The results indicate that individual productivity is negatively influenced by the extent of diversity within a team; however, this liability may be restrained if an environment of trust is encouraged and team cohesion develops.

The Role of Web Site Characteristics in Initial Trust Formation

Within the context of the initial Trust Building Model (TBM) of McKnight et al. (39), we examine specific factors related to Web site quality and structural assurance. Our model is tested using an actual Web site and consumers experienced in e-commerce. Findings show that consumer perceptions of certain cognitive cues (i.e., communication, opportunism, product brand equity, Web site attractiveness) are important predictors of initial trust in an e-retailer. However, Web assurance structures are less important in the formation of initial trust and purchase intentions. It is important in the development of Web assurance and consultative services to address pertinent trust issues by offering specific Web site solutions.