Ryad Titah

Information System Use--Related Activity: An Expanded Behavioral Conceptualization of Individual-Level Information System Use

Despite calls for improving current approaches to conceptualizing and measuring the construct of information system use, theoretical advances in this regard are still insufficient. The present paper proposes to expand the focus of existing conceptualizations that exclusively focus on technology interaction behaviors via the construct of IS use-related activity. Based on task-technology fit and activity theory, IS use-related activity is conceptualized as a second-order aggregate construct that comprises both technology interaction behaviors, as well as activities users undertake to adapt the task-technology-individual system. A multiple-indicators and multiple-causes analysis of data collected from 190 users in 21 organizations is found to support the proposed conceptualization.

E-Government Adoption and Acceptance: A Literature Review

Despite increased research interest on e-government, the field currently lacks sound theoretical frameworks that can be useful in addressing two key issues concerning the implementation of e-government systems: (1) a better understanding of the factors influencing the adoption of e-government systems, and (2) the integration of various e-government applications. The objective of this paper is to provide a foundation towards the development of a theoretical framework for the implementation of e-government systems via extensive literature review, which resulted in (1) a synthesis of existing empirical findings and theoretical perspectives related to e-government adoption, and (2) development of the premises of a conceptual model that would reflect the multi-level and multi-dimensional nature of e-government systems’ acceptance.

Nonlinearities between attitude and subjective norms in information technology acceptance: a negative synergy?

Empirical results both from information technology acceptance research as well as from other fields suggest that attitude and subjective norms may have a nonlinear relationship. Based on the economic theory of complementarities, the present paper hypothesizes a substitution relationship or negative synergy between attitude and subjective norms in organizational IT use contexts. Employing two methods for modeling and measuring nonlinear effects of latent constructs, as well as two approaches for visualizing and interpreting interaction and quadratic terms, structural equation modeling analysis of data collected from 258 users of a variety of IT applications in 14 organizations provides support for the hypothesis that attitude and subjective norms were substitutes in predicting intention to use.

Measure for Measure: A two study multi-trait multi-method investigation of construct validity in IS research

Given the importance and criticality of instrument validation in IS research, the main objective of this study is to provide a systematic assessment of IS construct validity via multi-trait multi-method (MTMM) matrix. To do so, the paper uses structurally different methods - neurophysiological and self-reported instruments - to measure three important and commonly used IS constructs: engagement, arousal and cognitive load in two different experimental settings. The experiments involved seventeen (17) and twenty-four (24) participants respectively and consisted in using different IS to execute a set of both instrumental and hedonic tasks. The results generally support MTMM matrix expectations and shed light on the complexity of detecting the nature of mono-method bias. Specifically, the results show that primitive perceptual IS constructs such as arousal seem to be less affected by mono-method bias, whereas more complex perceptual constructs such as engagement or cognitive load have higher within method correlations. There are two complementary explanations for the within method correlations: (a) a combination between complexity of trait and method and (b) method effects that are congeneric.

The Live Teaching Case: A New IS Method and its Application

When teaching Information Systems (IS), one of the crucial objectives is to make students understand the practical aspects of the integration of IS in organizations. Over the last decades, several pedagogical approaches were introduced to more tightly bridge theory and practice, e.g., hands on exercises, simulations, real world projects, guest speakers, and case studies. In this paper, we introduce a pedagogical approach novel to IS which brings practice into the classroom, i.e., the live teaching case method. The live teaching case method is a hybrid between a guest speaker event and a teaching case. The live teaching case method is different from a written case as it is the animator who experienced the case who is verbally presenting the case. The live teaching case is different from a guest speaker event as it is more focused around specific decision points, such as a written case would be. We believe that the live teaching case approach alleviates several of the traditional case method shortcomings while maximizing the benefits associated with the presence of a guest speaker in class. This paper outlines the various steps involved in the live teaching case including initiating contact, planning the decision points, selecting student readings and developing pre-course materials, guiding the initial presentation and discussion, guiding the presentation and discussion of the managerial decision points, and class wrap-up. This approach is explained and then illustrated using three different IS courses, namely, an IS project management course, a systems analysis and design course, and a capstone course on enterprise system implementation.

Conceptualizing citizen participation in open data use at the city level

Purpose Open data initiatives represent a critical pillar of smart cities’ strategies but remain insufficiently and poorly understood. This paper aims to advance a conceptualization of citizen participation and investigates its effect on open data use at the municipal level. Design/methodology/approach Based on 14 semi-structured interviews with citizens involved in open data projects within the city of Montreal (Canada), the paper develops a research model linking the multidimensional construct of citizen participation with initial use of open data in municipalities. Findings The study shows that citizen participation is a key contributor to the use of open data through four distinct categories of participation, namely, hands-on activities, greater responsibility, better communication and improved relations between citizens and the open data portal development team. While electronic government research often views open data implementation as a top-down project, the current study demonstrates that citizens are central to the success of open data initiatives and shows how their role can be effectively leveraged across various dimensions of participation. Originality/value This paper proposes a conceptualization of citizen participation on open data use at the municipal level. Citizen participation is a found to be a key contributor to the use of open data through four distinct categories of participation, namely, hands-on activities, greater responsibility, better communication and improved relations between citizens and the open data portal development team. This paper demonstrates the critical role of citizen participation in open government.

Neurophysiological Correlates of Information Systems Commonly Used Self-Reported Measures: A Multitrait Multimethod Study

Given the importance and criticality of instrument validation in IS research, the objective of this study is to provide a systematic assessment of IS construct validity via a multitrait multimethod (MTMM). In doing so, this paper uses structurally different methods -- neurophysiological and self-reported scales - to measure three commonly used IS constructs: engagement, arousal and cognitive load. The studys results generally support MTMM expectations and shed light on the complexity of detecting the nature of mono-method bias. More specifically, the studys results show that primitive perceptual IS constructs such as arousal are unlikely to suffer from mono-method bias, whereas more complex perceptual constructs such as engagement or cognitive load have higher within method correlations. There are two alternative explanations for the within method correlations: a) a method bias, or b) a combination between trait and method.

A Theoretical Framework of IT-Enabled Operations Strategy: A Multi-Method Approach

The pervasiveness of information technology (IT) forces organizations to develop capabilities in order to leverage IT-oriented resources and processes in operations. However, the system of IT-oriented resources and processes that organizations need to develop to achieve operational competency remains unclear. Using a multi-method approach that combines quantitative and qualitative data analyses, this paper presents a theoretical framework of IT-enabled operations strategy that conceptualizes the role of IT capability in leveraging resources and processes for operational agility. Drawing on operations and IT business value research, we advance that IT enables operational agility through two dimensions: resource leveraging and process enhancing. From the perspective of resourced-based operations strategy, we explore the role of IT in resource leveraging by investigating the nonlinear relationship between IT infrastructure and IT reconfiguration. From the perspective of process-oriented operations strategy, we explore the role of IT in process enhancing by investigating the nonlinear relationship between IT coordination and IT integration. Our PLS results, based on a sample of 113 organizations in Europe, Asia and North America, show that the interaction between IT infrastructure and IT reconfiguration positively influences operational agility, hence showing complementarity between the two constructs, while the interaction between IT coordination and IT integration negatively affects operational agility, hence indicating substitutability between the two constructs. A series of 56 interviews were further conducted to validate the PLS results, and to provide finer grained explanation of the research model and quantitative findings. Our findings offer an alternative explanation of the inconsistent relationship between IT capability and operational agility found in the literature.