Satya Prakash Saraswat

Organizational learning curve in software installation: an empirical investigation

Abstract Findings of an empirical investigation conducted to determine the presence of an organizational learning curve in the implementation of software packages for business applications are presented in this paper. Time spent by teams on the implementation of forty software packages on various mainframe, mini, and turnkey systems over a period of six years is analyzed. There is an organizational learning curve in the process of software implementation, and its magnitude varies from 6 to 36 percent. Higher rates of learning were observed for packages implemented on mainframes than those on mini-computers and turn-key systems. The paper suggests that these findings can be utilized for measuring and improving organizational productivity in the areas of software development and implementation and cost-benefit analysis of large systems projects.

Multinational issues in information technology: a perspective from less developed countries

Abstract This paper presents a survey of the emerging multinational issues in information technology from the perspective of the Less Developed Countries. The methodology of structured content analysis of published articles is used to examine 132 papers presented at international conferences and published in journals. Emerging from the debate, twenty three frequently raised issues are identified and ranked. Countries of authors of these papers have been ranked according to the importance of information technology in their international trade. The most frequently addressed multinational issues, important from the perspective of less developed countries, are: Information Technology Aid. Employment Creation with Information Technology, Indigenous Information Technology, Regional Information Technology Cooperation, High Cost of Information technology, Training of Information Technologists, Domination by Multinational Corporations, and Domination by Industrialized Countries. Twenty three issues identified from the study are categorized as Perceived Advantages, Perceived Disadvantages, and Implementation Issues. The challenges and opportunities created by the eight most important issues for U.S. multinational corporations in computer industry are also discussed.

Emerging Issues in United States Telecommunications Policy: An Analysis of Federal Communications Commission Activity

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 was expected to transform US telecommunications policy more than any regulation since the creation of the Federal Communications Commission in 1934. Rapid technological advances and business process transformations have created numerous issues since the passage of this Act that were unforeseen by legislators and regulators. Utilizing content analysis of Federal Communications Commission news releases, this paper identifies and categorizes the important emerging regulatory issues in the US telecommunications policy and discusses the implications of the focus of the Federal Communications Commission for the design, management, and deployment of network based information technology solutions in organizations. These implications may help local and national telecommunications regulators and managers throughout the world better focus their efforts.

A Phenomenological Investigation of Information and Communications Technology at a Multinational Enterprise from India

Abstract This article introduces the qualitative research methodology of “phenomenology ” and argues that it can be successfully utilized to investigate incipient global issues in information technology. Phenomenology was applied to investigate issues related to the deployment of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) at one of the largest government sector multinational banks in India. The study finds that the emerging architecture of ICT strategy in this organization, according to survey respondents, contains five categories of issues. In declining order of their importance, these categories are (1) ICT Culture in Organization, (2) Organizational ICT Politics, (3) Organizational ICT Sociology, (4) the Economics of ICT, and (5) the Infrastructure of ICT. The significance of these findings is discussed in the article with some examples that demonstrate that a phenomenological approach can reveal the hidden dimensions and root causes of the ICT related problems which may not be clear from empirical surveys.

Charity begins at home: a socio-technical analysis of corporate websites to study the response to September 11

In this study we performed a content analysis on the websites of the Fortune 100 corporations to examine their responses to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. We find that most corporations responded by providing financial assistance in the form of direct cash donations or matching employee contributions. Contributions of products or services, and enhanced security measures were the most frequently provided in-kind responses. Four variables influence the kinds of responses generated by the various companies: industry category, geographic location, physical impact, and profitability. The Industry category financial services, and the Northeast geographic location have the most significant effect on company responses. Physical impact of the tragedy is related to the provision of additional services or security measures. In addition, level of profitability is found to affect both donations to a fund and provision of volunteers. The paper explores some of the reasons behind the pattern of responses we observed and recommends some directions for future research.

A Comparative Study of Nonprofit and For-Profit Web-Based Issue Advocacy

Abstract Using the Web to advocate positions and actions on public issues is an emerging and potentially powerful means of shaping public opinion and action. Building on studies of Web advocacy in the political sector, this research employs content analysis to examine Web-based advocacy by U.S. for-profit and nonprofit organizations. For-profit organizations were found to engage in much more Web advocacy than nonprofit organizations. Those organizations that did engage in extensive advocacy, or were committed to multiple social values, appear to have come to adopt these postures or activities consistent with what a cost-benefit analysis of the impact on their enterprise would predict. With respect to region, the Northeast and South evidenced a higher and lower pattern of advocacy, respectively. Finally, greater financial resources predicted more extensive advocacy content generally; the particular issue areas this study examined were community focus, charitable causes, environmental issues, and diversity.

Best Practices for Enterprise Systems Deployment Projects in Global Corporations: An Exploratory Study from an Emerging Economy

Based on structured interviews with 56 professionals at four multinational corporations (MNC) in India, this paper identifies 20 best practices that lead to the success of Enterprise Systems (ES) deployment projects in MNCs. Information Systems (IS) professionals in four companies were interviewed to identify the best practices used by these corporations and to determine if these practices differ between Indian and Western MNCs. The findings of this exploratory study identify clear differences between the Indian and Western MNCs in their perception of ES best practices. These differences and some similarities are discussed in the paper.

Reflections on contemporary business ethics and the ancient wisdom of Kalidasa

In the past two decades, multinational corporations have relied on laws, codes of ethics and in-house awareness programmes for managers to deal with the problems of corporate social responsibility and business ethics. The current global financial crisis and other corporate scandals have exposed the limited utility of these approaches and the glaring need for innovative solutions to the perennial problems of moral philosophy. This paper argues that the secular poetry of the renowned Sanskrit poet Kalidasa can motivate employees and managers to bring about a personal and organisational transformation required for solving the mounting problems of business ethics. Selected verses and aphorisms from two epic poems of Kalidasa – RaghuvaMsha and KumarasaMbhavaM – are examined and interpreted with proper context for their inspirational wisdom and its relevance to ethical behaviour in contemporary global business management.