Say Yen Teoh

Why Using Actor Network Theory (ANT) Can Help to Understand the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR) in Australia

Globally, healthcare reforms are being initiated to address the tremendous challenges facing healthcare systems. Without exception these reforms include the implementation of a variety of e-health solutions. Such e-health solutions are complex and have far reaching implications. In this paper, the authors argue that while these implementations and adoptions of e-health solutions are necessary, it is essential that an appropriate lens of analysis should be used to maximise and sustain the benefits of IS/IT (information systems/information technology) in healthcare delivery.

Resource management activities in healthcare information systems: A process perspective

Healthcare industries have not only been criticized for being slow in adopting IT (Barnes 2001) but also face tremendous challenges in developing and deploying HIS successfully (Teoh and Cai 2009). In view of these challenges, this study aims to articulate the theory and practice from Enterprise Systems (ES) as it is perceived to produce an extensive suite of strategic, managerial, and operational benefits in the healthcare setting. Healthcare institutions have begun to explore the possibilities of exploiting ES as a means to facilitate the delivery of high-quality and integrated patient care. In particular, one of the benefits of ES is that it leads to better resource management in terms of assets and manpower allocation. In our study, empirical data was collected and analyzed based on an in-depth case study of two ES implementations at Alexandra Hospital in Singapore. Our findings contribute to the ES research on how an organization manages its resource portfolio and activity during the implementation of a healthcare information system in a hospital. Theoretically, we adapted and extended Sirmon et al.’s (2007) Dynamic Resource Management Model of Value Creation and integrated it with the Technochange Life Cycle framework proposed by Markus (2004). Finally, this paper adds value by inductively deriving eight key resource management activities and seven key resources that correspond to the phases of the technochange life cycle.

Understanding the influences of social integration in enterprise systems use

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to aid in the understanding of the influence of social integration (SI) in enterprise information systems (EIS) use.Design/methodology/approach – An in‐depth case study was carried out, where 40 interviews were collected along with eight informal conversations, five observations, and secondary data from a company with ten years of experience in the management and application of EIS. Informants were EIS users from top management to middle management, different‐user departments, the IT department, as well as the IT vendor.Findings – A total of six social integration processes and three social integration mechanisms were identified that help to explain the influences of social integration in EIS use.Research limitations/implications – This research could be further extended to explore other possible social integration processes, enablers or inhibitors which could provide a more comprehensive understanding of EIS usage.Practical implications – By understanding the conc...

Customer‐centric relationship management system development: A generative knowledge integration perspective

Purpose – This study aims to create and deploy new configurations of resources via understanding issues concerning generative knowledge integration (KI) to create a customer‐centric relationship management system.Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative case study of a public‐listed housing developer was conducted to analyze its main issues and conceptualize the underlying generative knowledge integration process.Findings – Issues concerning generating KI were identified from the case study. The conceptualization of generative KI encompasses three main generative KI mechanisms, knowledge conceptualization, knowledge convergence, and knowledge assimilation, that are connected by three generative KI processes: accessing and exchanging knowledge, articulating and exchanging knowledge, and combining and exchanging knowledge.Practical implications – The importance of understanding the concept of generative knowledge integration for practitioners is emphasized, and suggestions are given to promote the deploy...

Coordinating the Processes of Resource Enrichment and Capability Deployment: Lessons from IT Implementation at a Medium-Sized Accounting Firm

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper has been to address the research question of how are the processes of resource enrichment and capability deployment coordinated during information technology (IT) implementation at a small- and medium-sized accounting firm (SMAF)? Increasingly, organizations need to respond to a wide range of IT-based opportunities and pressures. The situation is no different in an accounting firm. Many accounting practitioners have advocated investment in IT to improve accounting firms’ productivity. To date, there are many instances of how IT has radically transformed the nature of accounting practice. Nevertheless, little is known about how IT capability is developed in SMAFs. In particular, the resource enrichment process during IT capability development has been understudied. Design/methodology/approach - – The strategy of this paper was to undertake qualitative case research of an ERP systems upgrading project at SMAF. The case study approach is particularly appropriate for this exploratory study because it allows the capture of organizational dynamics of the phenomenon better (Newman and Sabherwal, 1996; Yin, 2003). Its strength also lies in its ability to explain the phenomenon based on the interpretation of data (Klein and Myers, 1999). Next, the paper will explain the case study approach. It approached fieldwork at SMAF, with a premise that resource enrichment and capability development exist and are identifiable using an existing theoretical lens. Accordingly, this study draws on Sirmon Findings - – The purpose of this paper has been to address the research question of how resource enrichment process may occur during IT capability development process of an SMAF. This study used a resource-based view of firms as its analytical lens. The study has drawn on SMAF’s sage ACCPAC ERP solution (ACCPAC) system upgrading experience by interviewing relevant project stakeholders and reviewing secondary data extensively. Our analysis identified two actions that were instrumental in enriching resources in the IT capability development process: collective leadership and managing change. Three attributes that supported the resource-enrichment process include effective governance structure, extensive IT knowledge and business experience, and stakeholder commitment. In addition, two coordinating mechanisms were put in place to enable an organization to transform existing resource and capability: informational and IT structure. Originality/value - – From research point of view, this paper makes several theoretical contributions. First, this study has contributed to the accounting information systems literature by examining the transformation processes of resource and capability enrichment during IT implementation of a context that is little known. It helps to address the call for more research into IT use and the impact of such tools by SMAFs by Omoteso and Sangster (2011). Second, this study extends the understanding of the IT capability development process by demonstrating how an organization developed IT capability. Through this case, how fundamental resources can be leveraged through specific actions and strategies undertaken have been uncovered. The empirical evidence gathered in the case of SMAF provides useful insights into how resources and capabilities may be enabled. Third, the coordination of the resource and capability transformation contributes to theory development as the coordination mechanisms derived from this analysis offer an insights into how a set of enriched resources and capabilities are synchronized during IT implementation.

The Need for a Socio-Technical Analysis in E-Health: The Case of the PCEHR

Healthcare systems around the globe are facing a number of challenges. Thus Increasing focus is being placed on constructing appropriate healthcare reforms which are attempting to address how to tackle these challenges. A critical enabler in these reforms is the adoption of an e-health solution. Such e-health solutions are not only expensive and complex endeavours, but also have far reaching implications. Given that the implementation and adoption of these e-health solutions is so important, not to mention also requiring a substantial investment in various resources such as time and money, it is therefore essential to ensure their success. The following proffers a socio-technical analysis as an appropriate strategy to ensure more successful outcomes. An exemplar case study of the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record PCEHR, the chosen e-health solution by the Australian government is provided to illustrate the benefits such an analysis might provide

Towards a resilience management framework for complex enterprise systems upgrade implementation

ABSTRACT The lack of knowledge of how resilience management supports enterprise system (ES) projects accounts for the failure of firms to leverage their investments in costly ES implementations. Using a structured-pragmatic-situational (SPS) case study research approach, this paper reports on an investigation into the resilience management of a large utility company as it implemented an ES upgrade. Drawing on the literature and on the case study findings, we developed a process-based resilience management framework that involves three strategies (developing situation awareness, demystifying threats, and executing restoration plans) and four organisational capabilities that transform resilience management concepts into practices. We identified the crucial phases of ES upgrade implementation and developed indicators for how different strategies and capabilities of resilience management can assist managers at different stages of an ES upgrade. This research advances the state of existing knowledge by providing specific and verifiable propositions for attaining a state of resilience, the knowledge being grounded in the empirical reality of a case study. Moreover, the framework offers ES practitioners a roadmap to better identify appropriate responses and levels of preparedness.

Trying to Streamline Healthcare Delivery in Australia via the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR)

Healthcare systems around the world are facing a number of challenges. Increasing focus is thus being placed on constructing appropriate healthcare reforms to address challenges and streamline healthcare services. One of the critical enablers in this reform is the adoption of an e-health solution. These e-health solutions are not only expensive and complex endeavours but also have far-reaching implications. Given that the implementation and adoption of these e-health solutions is so important; it is also vital to have an extensive evaluation and analysis of these systems with a theoretically informed lens. This then will serve to maximise and sustain the benefits of the proposed solution and realise its full potential for achieving superior healthcare delivery. To date the literature is void of such evaluations. Hence, this paper proffers the use of a sociotechnical systems (STS) analysis. The exemplar case study under consideration is that of the personally controlled electronic health record (PCEHR), the chosen e-health solution by the Australian government.

Healthcare Information Systems Design: Using a Strategic Improvisation Model

As globally governments start to move forward with regard to their respective healthcare reform policies, the role for HIS (healthcare information systems) will become ever more critical in the attainment of healthcare-value strategies. This in turn places pressure to hospitals to identify appropriate and superior design strategies. Drawing on the research pertaining to improvisation and IS design, a model of strategic improvisation is proffered as suitable in the context of HIS design. Multiple case study data from Singapore and the United States – countries with different and distinctive healthcare systems – are presented to illustrate the benefits of such an approach.